This and That

day/pic 28

2012-01-28T11:21:00.000-08:00

back on track. computer was returned to me this morning. and everything seems to there. my computer guy was able to recover everything. mind you, i am going to have to re-install all my photography software and appraisal software.. but i am finally and officially 'backed-up'. something i should have been for the last 5+ years. if you EVER need a computer guy... i have an awesome gentlemen. who is fast, affordable and awesome.

so anyways. bennett and luke headed to the mountain house (condo) so that i can work (lucky me).

day/pic 27 (yesterday)

2012-01-28T08:56:00.000-08:00

so far, my start to 2012 has somewhat sucked... i've been without my computer twice which makes this 365 project (366 for the leap year) really hard. while my post haven't been everyday.. my pictures have. so, this is yesterday's pic. i had to work from my mom's house.. with a baby who didn't nap. not for the faint of heart. but luckily grammy pitched in like she always does... which is hard because this lady works more and harder than anybody i know. good...because her business is always doing so well, but hard because she could work 7 days a week around the clock. boo.

lashes

2012-01-26T18:29:00.000-08:00

day/pic 26 of 365 project

luke, 9 months

2012-01-25T20:30:00.000-08:00

9 month stats

length: 29 3/4 in (94%)

weight 23 lbs (91%)

head 18 3/4 (99%)

day/pic 25 of 365 project

at 9 months luke is clapping, army crawling, standing up, walking around furniture, loving his fruits, oatmeal, cheese, cold cuts, mum mums, pickles, sweet potatoes, yams, mashed potatoes, banana nut cheerios,and toast with butter (just a few of his faves). he loves to get into all my cabinets in the kitchen and take out all my pots and pans, he loves to crawl under my desk and play with all my computer cords, he loves to open and shut doors, loves his bath so much and loves to eat his bath bubbles and gulps his bath water. luke remains super calm, very easy to please, very sweet (starting to give us hugs and squeezes), smiles super easy,gives high 5's... does not say any words- and not even close, has 8 teeth (4 up, 4 down), he is just starting to babble a bit. like ba ba bab ba ba. he has gotten lots more giggly- which is so fun. he continues to be the best sleeper- and takes 2 naps a day. his sleep pattern is like clock work. i thank god everyday for a baby who has slept through the night since 3 months. he is beginning to be a mommas boy. like he's reaching out for me when he's in other people's arms. i love this. what can i say i love being someone's numero uno.

love bug

2012-01-24T21:27:00.000-08:00

remember how i said i don't have nicknames for luke? well, i call him love bug. this boy has turned me into complete mush. oh, and my computer? it crashed. dunzos. shitty. shitty. shitty. i've already had a long and hard cry. in the car driving to my mom's. you have no idea how much work i have to do. i'm currently at my mom's using her computer. most of you know me as a photographer, but my 'day' job is a real estate appraiser. and i have 2 appraisal reports due tomorrow... and no computer. it's no bueno. no bueno at all. waiting for my computer guy to rescue me. and honestly, not even sure it's an option. my computer is empty. can't even access my email. just lastnight i set myself up a new account with outlook, and it's not syncing with my comcast email.

day/pic 24 of 365 project

for the birds

2012-01-23T20:18:00.000-08:00

luke has a fever. and has his first diaper rash. an awful one because he has the runs. (so gross that i said that, but so true). he was super cuddly today and happy, but not feeling himself. even though i had to work today, i'm so happy that i can do it from home so that i can check on him, because lets be honest. i almost took him to the ER a couple times. but talked myself out of it. scratch that. my mom came over late lastnight and let us know she thought he was ok. this is when parenting is hard. i don't want to be someone who over-reacts, but i also don't want to not react. ahhhh. this overanalyzing is for the birds. and it's just begun. on another note... luke was well enough to do some more clapping(last pics).

day/pic 23 of 365 project

his favorite thing to do

2012-01-23T15:52:00.000-08:00

is walk around our little house.

and i'm learning (after listing to my hundreds of videos on my iphone.. that i'm quite giggly while videoing. and i don't know how to make the quality better. boo.

sparkles

2012-01-23T15:38:00.000-08:00

the strange thing is i don't like sparkles.. errr... so i thought. maybe with valentine's day approaching?

got something for my toes. since i have no nails. and the cute little bag from target- i'm gonna frame for my photwall. go sparkles!

hush little baby

2012-01-22T14:22:00.000-08:00

30 minutes before:i walked into a room with luke walking around the furniture. i told bennett i didn't want him walking around the furniture with only hardwoods beneath him. bennett told me luke was fine and didn't fall anymore. i told him that wasn't true, but told him it was his call. what do you think happened? and who do you think feels like a schmuck? yep. daddy. this time i didn't like being right. well. ok. i sort of did to bennett. but felt bad for luke's noggin (again).

day/pic 22 of 365 project

day/pic 21

2012-01-22T08:46:00.000-08:00

i fell asleep by 9 pm lastnight. meant to do my post, but snoozed instead. i've been working on clapping with luke. and today, out of the blue.. he just started clapping. well, sort of. still working on those fine motor skills, but this momma was still pretty impressed. and while the quality isn't the best, i just knew if i ran to get my big camera, that my boy would stop clapping. so- thank you iphone. you really are a lifesaver. and just so you know... he really hasn't clapped since. boo. but yipee. i got the first go's at it.

day/pic 21 of 365 project

round here

2012-01-20T19:41:00.000-08:00

today, he played and i cleaned house. a win win for all.

day/pic 20 of 365 project

snow bunnies

2012-01-19T17:28:00.000-08:00

we lost power around 11 am... try as i might to keep our fire alive, it just wasn't enough to warm our house. so, we packed our things and headed to grammies house. already we've gone sledding. bennett is on his way over to join our sleep over. this is why i love the snow. takes an ordinary day and turns it into a mini winter vacation. and i swear. luke isn't in his snow outfit all the time. or in that hat. just lately.

day/pic 19 of 365 project

luke & his snow friends

2012-01-18T18:56:00.001-08:00

day/pic 18 of 365 project

swinging

2012-01-17T22:50:00.000-08:00

can't believe this was from lastweek. sunshine? now we are drenched in snow (me loves). but, i still wanted to document luke's first time on a swing. with his favorite lady... his grammy.

rocket man

2012-01-17T13:04:00.000-08:00

while bennett was loading up our 'snow supplies', he found this rocket that my mom had gotten luke in our shed. i did not think it would be a hit. i was wrong. such a hit.

day/pic 17 of 365 project

him laughing

2012-01-16T20:09:00.000-08:00

is the cutest.

Days/Pics 15 & 16

2012-01-16T17:49:00.000-08:00

ok. so, i was out of town on day 15, but took a pic... clearly, we are all about snow right now. and we just spent the weekend up at the mountain again, and our good friends the prentices joined us for a night.

day/pic 15 of 365 project

day/pic 16 of 365 project (luke at almst 9 months, and carson at almost 14 months)

a good team

2012-01-14T08:39:00.000-08:00

day/pic 14 of 365 project

when you get married, you think you know everything there is to know about living happily ever. we really have no idea. and totally not our fault. i def. was not thinking about what a great diaper changer bennett was gonna be. that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of what an awesome dad he is. the one lately that's winning the prize is when bennett comes home from work- he grabs luke from me and asks luke how his little best friend is. i totally wasn't thinking of those moments when i thought of forever with bennett. pretty great.

teeth

2012-01-13T14:22:00.000-08:00

he has 4 on the bottom now. and 4 up on top. we wouldn't even have a clue because his demeanor never changes...he doesn't get snotty. he doesn't stop sleeping. he's not grumpy. always so sweet. maybe drooly, but he's been drooly since 3 months. and lets be honest. i have a hound. i can deal with drool.

day/pic 13 of 365 project

rosey cheeks

2012-01-12T14:21:00.000-08:00

day/pic 12 of 365 project

and to be noted. work has begun on planning luke's 1st birthday. we are keeping it intimate & simple. just bestfriends and our immediate family. but that doesn't mean it can't be cute, right? not trying to be too 'themey'... but i am doing a nautical/pirate party. pretty excited over the planning. this cake is everything i want the party to be like. darling & simple.

oh dear

2012-01-11T20:51:00.000-08:00

i've had my phone less than a week and already have 113 pictures on it and 20 videos. and apparently i've found some apps.

today

2012-01-11T18:46:00.000-08:00

he went on a swing all by himself. he was more interested in the people watching than anything. it was a gorgeous day. lucky, lucky us.

day/pic 11 of 365 project

little bird mouth

2012-01-10T15:32:00.001-08:00

megan was right. he so has a little bird mouth.

day/pic 10 of 365

the art of playing

2012-01-10T15:18:00.000-08:00

i want him to remember me on the ground with him.

playing our little hearts out.

and we do.

we rough house. we sing. we 'walk'.

we read.

but, i also want for him to navigate his own way.

& find his own fun.

use his own brain. and his own hands.

one of the best things my parent's ever taught me was

to be able to be alone and enjoy my time alone.

to use my own brain. and my own hands.

it's when i'm the most creative.

and i can't begin to tell you how much i love

watching luke playing. learning....& falling.

yep. he got his first of many bruises on his big noggin.

dog and boy

2012-01-09T12:38:00.001-08:00

luke has mastered sharing. thanks reb.

day/pic 9 of 365

hello 2012

2012-01-09T11:09:00.000-08:00

i love this tradition of ringing in the new year at bennett's parent's condo at snoqualmie. i'm not a party girl- so this is perfect for me. all of us together under a tiny roof is near perfection. and luke's first time up at the snow- and having a sleepover with the whitsell's couldn't have gone any better. growing up, my parent's took us kids up to the pass to go sledding (we all loved the snow), and i always wished i could just stay up there. i'm so happy luke gets to grow up having a place to stay in the snow. it really is magical. and bennett? don't think his huge smile ever left his face. this is his VERY happy place.

our boy in bennett's ski boots.

opa's first time feeding luke. success.

i really love the look on gary's face in this one

and, off he goes

gosh. they are sure cute together.

little luke sledding down the mountain

this is the cute little powder pigs building where all the little ones learn how to ski. it is right next door to bennett's family's condo

luke is a little snow bunny. fo sho

family sledding- so fun!

bennett's twin brother and his girlfriend megan are expecting a baby this april! so excited for them!

i do love luke with family.. and sharing him with his uncles is so sweet

this is bennett's older brother greg. aka 'unky gregor' to luke

we did hand made gifts this year for our whitsell gift exchange. bennett and i made his dad a shot ski... and we mod podged/collaged it.. with a ton of photos. it was pretty rockin.

sideways

2012-01-08T15:47:00.000-08:00

i have no idea why this is sideways, but it is and i can't do a thing about it.it's not sideways on my computer, just when i upload to blogger. my mother in law just sent this to me today- and even though it wasn't taken today... i'm using it for my project. this was new year's weekend up at the condo. me and my boy

and.. good news. my computer was returned to me today.. and it is A-OK! such good news. i guess i should start backing my shiz up, huh? i know, i know...

and... i am fancy. i got a smart phone... an iphone. bennett got it for me for christmas. i swore i would never cave. famous last words, cuz i soooo caved. now i just need to figure out how to use it.

sooo, if you have a smart phone- what are you FAVE Apps? what MUST i get? don't be shy. i really wanna know. and you are gonna have to really sell me on the not free ones.

***added a picture actually taken from today, from my iphone using instagram. i sort of don't get instagram tho. boo. technology. but then hip hip hooray for technology. love/hate. already

day/pic 8 of 365.

free bird

2012-01-07T15:00:00.000-08:00

do you know i can probably count on one hand the times luke has gone 'pantless' around the house. it just never happens. he is always fully dressed by 8 am. today, he was in his jammies til after his first nap (bennett was on duty), and then after his second nap... we got wild. i took off his pants and let him roam around. i didn't even put socks on him. extra wild.

pic/day 6 of 365

one of those days

2012-01-06T14:51:00.000-08:00

my computer is dead in the water. it got a virus. a really bad one. the computer guy came and picked it up today, no word yet. but that couldn't stop me from posting. i hopped on bennett's ancient mac- took a pic with my ancient phone and here we are.

day/pic 6 of 365 project

beyond measure

2012-01-05T13:32:00.000-08:00

we call him nosey rosey. and this is his look. always looking past whoever is right in front of him to see what is going on beyond that person. i didn't ever wanto forget this look. so him right now

his little mouth gets me every time.

he's not insanely silly, but he thinks i can be pretty funny. and him happy and smiley is like winning the lottery round these parts. and my oh my. how much like his pops does he look like when he smiles?

he is beginning to get interested in books. touching them. turning the pages

has no problem sitting back. putting his feet up. must have gotten that from his dad too

is starting to really wonder what is over the edge of things

and is as sweet as sweet can be

day/pic 5 of 365 project

mis-matchy

2012-01-04T14:19:00.000-08:00

i dress him like i decorate my house. lots of stripes...color spots of red.

what you can't see is his little shirt says 'my mom is #1'. COMPLETELY out of character for me. shirts with cheesey/dumb stuff on them usually make me cringe but for some reason, him in this makes me smile. and lets be real. sometimes $1.25 at target is just too hard to pass up.

*pic/day4 of 365 project

wherever i go, there you are

2012-01-03T17:08:00.000-08:00

a week ago, i had to click my tongue, clap my hands.. and say 'c'mon boy...'. not so much anymore. he is underfoot. no doubts about it.

day/pic 3 of 365 project

pull-ups and stand-ups

2012-01-02T15:41:00.000-08:00

anything and everything these days (in luke's eyes) is leverage to pull-up so that he can stand-up

*day/pic 2 of 365 project

i love you more than all the stars

2012-01-01T22:49:00.000-08:00

a thousand times a day... i whisper into luke's ear..i love you more than all the stars. and a thousand times a day, i smile when i think of these two.

we celebrated the new year as we do each year.. with the whitsell's at their 'snow house'. and today, a dream came true for bennett. his little man and him hiked up in front of powder pigs and took some turns down the mountain. it was a great start to the new year.

the best.

***

and, i am going to be doing a 365 project. a photo. each day. for an entire year. this my friends... is photo numero uno.

who me?

2011-12-28T20:06:00.000-08:00

i'm beginning to see this face a bit more often.

luke at 8 months

2011-12-27T15:24:00.000-08:00

scooching everwhere, all over the house

loves to play under the table or under his high chair

loves to scooch to rebel's paws

is happy. the happiest

continues to be very calm and content- all the time

is still a champion sleeper

challenged me on the 2nd nap, but after a week of consistency i won- 2+ hour afternoon naps are back

loves his bath and is playing with bath toys a lot now

continues to be a sweetheart

lights up whenever bennett or my mom walk into a room

had his first and second sleep over with my mom

is a great eater. loves anything orange- along with all fruits. and mashed potatoes and beets

loves his 'puffs'

loves to 'walk' while we holds his hands. he hops.

squeals alot

is not the biggest giggler

hates putting on shirts

pants when he is excited

loves to be in the bjorn (kicks his legs with excitement)

has 3 bottom teeth and 2 more on the top are at the gums

will stay in place on all 4's (crawl position)

pulls himself up and stands

is starting to navigate/walk around furniture while holding on

no longer cares about his owls

luke is chubby, happy, smiley, playful, calm and loveable. i may want another just like him.

the best gift

2011-12-26T12:07:00.000-08:00

my mom. was at our house by 8 am.. and didn't leave til 11:30 pm. she spoiled luke beyond. not to mention bennett and me. luke loved all his tissue wrapped presents (my mom's trademark) and boxes. but most of all he LOOOVES her. sometimes i think more than me. they are best buddies. best pals. she made my christmas by just being her... hope your christmas was awesome. yes.i said awesome.

merry christmas and it's HIS toe.

2011-12-25T11:04:00.000-08:00

well. you have either noticed something pretty dang hilarious about my christmas card. or you have not. and if you
haven't...bless you. if you have.. screw you.. kidding. but honestly,... i'm an idiot. i should have noticed. apparently... luke's big toe- looks like his...... ding-a-ling! dying. seriously dying. apparently the christmas lights aren't the only thing hung this year.

and the original picture looks like this... i think in color it looks more like a toe, right? please say right.

christmas crafting with my girls & their kiddos

2011-12-24T14:03:00.000-08:00

the week of christmas, we managed to all get together under my very small roof.. and craft. i was in heaven. my mom stopped by and watched luke so i could paint the kiddos hands white for their snow people ornaments.. and then paint their fingers brown for their reindeer prints. i thought megan was in hell. turns out the next day... she went to michaels to get her very own supplies to make more! who knew. and it's times like these... when i wish more than anything that i was crafting with my nieces and nephews in arizona, but so thankful that i have besties that are just like family.

christmas craft

2011-12-20T21:34:00.000-08:00

it's not perfect. i had to wait til luke fell asleep, so i could paint his paw white and then smooshed it onto this ball... that's why his pinky finger looks like it's connected to his (one day) ring finger. just another day in crafting. kasie and megan came over. with ALL their kids. in my tiny house. we crafted. i was in heaven. i think megan wanted to kill herself.

tomato - to mah toe

the light show

2011-12-20T20:43:00.000-08:00

a certain little somebody was more impressed by the lightshow behind him.. than me. the photographer/momographer. can't say i blame him. in an attempt to get our christmas card out the door.. i strung some lights up behind him.i say some but mean A LOT.lets just say they were brrrrrriiiiight!and lets just say that taping strands of lights on a wall while a scooching baby is on the bed- is not easy. the good news? i got a picture. made a card. and got them ordered this afternoon.nothing like the week of christmas.

the point and shoot

2011-12-19T20:06:00.000-08:00

i never take pics of luke and i because my camera is so damn huge. i guess along the way i became a camera snob and forgot about my trusty point and shoot. the one with the flash. that always makes my cheeks look shiny. the one i can hold with one hand. the one i can take a SP of my boy and myself. smudged make-up and all. bath time with my little shark tonight.

sunday

2011-12-18T18:40:00.000-08:00

i hated sundays growing up. hated them. there wasn't much going on. we had to do chores. we just kind of hung out. and now... i love sundays- for all the reasons i hated them growing up. it's really the only day on my calendar that i don't schedule anything- or feel the need to leave the house. or want to see anybody but my family.i'm already sort of a hermit.. but on sundays.. i totally am. i love just playing on my bed together. it's the sweetest.

omygosh. he's such a little pie face lately (always?) .. ok.. moreso than normal. and i love it. so squishable & so damn loveable.

my boys putting on the final ornaments... took me awhile this year to decorate my tree.

a little merry merry

2011-12-16T14:54:00.000-08:00

i walked into luke's room to find him standing at his crib looking at his tree. i ran and got my camera.the whole time i was pregnant... i never thought about these tiny little moments. they are the best.

he still

2011-12-16T10:35:00.001-08:00

sleeps with his little hooves crossed.

2 days in a row

2011-12-12T23:07:00.000-08:00

we had our annual (3 years strong) prentice/whitsell christmas dinner this weekend and then their family shoot. seeing them 2 days in a row is quite the luxury. and not being drunk for either is a miracle. just a cute shot from their session. check back HERE for more soon. & just wait til you see their darling new little buddy.

luke's christmas tree

2011-12-12T10:23:00.000-08:00

i have always known that i would like my kids to have their own christmas trees. teeny tiny little charlie browns. and i love the colored bulb lights. you can't see them... but it also has bubble lights. reminds me of my dad.

the little inch-worm that could

2011-12-11T19:53:00.000-08:00

luke had his first overnight stay lastnight at my mom's... and when we picked him up- she was like 'oh... and he started crawling lastnight'...well... come to find out- he has started scooching/inch-worming it... whatever you'd like to call it.. the boy is on the move... albeit a very slow 'on the move'.. but on the move...

reinBeers

2011-12-11T11:40:00.000-08:00

i knew when i saw these on pinterest... that i would have to make them and bring them to our annual prentice/whitsell christmas party. meg LOVES this kind of stuff. that's why i love her. anyways.. such a hit- and so easy to make. these are my reinbeers. cute, no? and if you don't drink... rootbeer bottles would be super cute too.

rudolph's got nothin on my boy

2011-12-08T09:56:00.000-08:00

7.5 months

2011-12-07T19:02:00.000-08:00

did i say 6 months was my favorite? i meant 7.5 months.

by the light of the tree & heart bokeh

2011-12-06T08:37:00.000-08:00

been wanting to try some heart bokeh & the tree lights were perfect practice. lastnight, with the baby fast asleep and bennett too.. while i watched real housewives of beverly hills... i used this super easy tutorial. now that i've got the basics down, i'm gonna practice. you should too. super fun. although, you need a good prime lens- fyi.

fah la la la la la... la la la la

2011-12-05T19:13:00.000-08:00

luke in a pair of his christmas jammies in front of the tree. kind of a baby's christmas right of passage, no? & then a video of him in the very early stages of thinking about crawling

holly jolly

2011-12-04T19:59:00.000-08:00

egg nog latte in a red cup. breakfast with my boys. christmas tree. maybe an itty bitty tree for luke's room too. 106.9 christmas tunes in the car. christmas jim jammies for luke. house almost all decked out. tree almost all decked out. great little sunday.

the comb over

2011-12-03T09:55:00.000-08:00

his hair. is the perfect comb over. it too is tragic and cute. i'm not one for styling a baby's hair (but i do believe in trims)... so he'll just be sporting a comb over.

and we got a new hat in the mail yesterday- maybe some mittens and jeans too! so fun. i didn't think i'd like dressing a boy, but it's pretty fun. it's not as obvious fun as a girl, but lucky for me... i like to shop and see what's out there, so it's pretty fun. and just a note for myself... in the second to last pic.. luke is holding his favorite toy of late... a toothbrush. he loves it. more than anything.

fresh from the tubby

2011-12-02T14:10:00.000-08:00

still a favorite time of mine. it's just so sweet. and luke might have met his future nanny today- we are going to be doing a very part time thing.. really more like scheduled baby sitting. couple days a week for a 5 hours... at our house. and, we are gonna do our holiday thang this weekend.. probably sunday.. go get our tree. bring out my holiday decorations- haven't been too excited for it, but am getting closer. maybe even think about our christmas card. i've got ideas uh brewing... so, we'll see.

cross your fingers for good weather tomorrow.. i've got 5 shoots. hello holidays!
oh. & pinterest? wow. so addicting, but in a good way. i'm actually doing some fun stuff. i'll show you some stuff on monday.baby bow ties.. just sayin'

and someone is still a little thumb sucker

best pals

2011-12-01T23:31:00.000-08:00

this summer, my brother's oldest boy asked my mom if she'd marry him. i think one day.. when luke finds his words.. he may just ask her too. my mom. she's so good. lucky us. lucky us.

he seems like such a boy to me

2011-12-01T20:34:00.000-08:00

i think that's what i like about this age... less 'newborn' and more kiddo. (thanks meg for the shirt). bennett finally dropped that crib down. now he just chomps on the rail. need to get a guard pronto pup.

house slippers & a cardigan

2011-11-28T22:15:00.000-08:00

my boo has his first cold. he sounds like a pug when he breathes. it's tragic. & cute. & maybe. just maybe... an hour after he went down, bennett & crept into his room to make sure he was still breathing.

luke, 7 months

2011-11-27T17:54:00.000-08:00

luke loves his food. man oh man. and he loves our food. and he loves people's food that are walking by. he is sitting unattended. & plays with is toys a lot by himself now. he smiles at whoever walks into a room. we call him nosey rosey because he swivels his head to watch whoever. he sleeps from 7-7. 12 hours is awesome. his naps have really shortened up though. we need to work on them a bit. we don't use his infant seat in his bob anymore. he loves his bath and is soothed by his blanket. he has a pretty cute comb over. and is starting to get his 3rd bottom tooth. no uppers. all bottoms.

and this blue hat? i got it for luke when he was a baby.. was suppose to fit from 6-9 months... so i just brought it out again.. his noggin??? so big and round. and the hat doesn't even fit. i took these pics just for fun. you know. just to laugh at my boy.his head/face look perfectly round.

happy thanksgiving

2011-11-23T18:47:00.000-08:00

we crafted with luke tonight. put some paint on his cute little paws and made a some cute turkey friends. so cute, no? thank you pinterest for the darling idea. i'm a huge sucker for anything and everything baby handprint... you can probably be expecting some kind of christmas craft with a handprint. just saying.

snow bunny

2011-11-23T08:30:00.000-08:00

bennett's mom (luke's oma) watches luke at our house on monday mornings & she always brings something for luke.

well.... this time, it was his first snowsuit. a right of passage in the whitsell household. and... looks like we are headed to the mountain this weekend, so it couldn't come at a better time. is luke too small for sledding?

a year ago today

2011-11-22T07:19:00.000-08:00

it was snowing & i was getting ready to meet this little boy. a year ago today, i learned a thing or two about love at first sight. i met carson just minutes old. go HERE to see his 'after' birth story.

and it's moments like this... .when i think back to meg and i in mrs. king's kindergarten class. not sure what brought us together... but, in a text the other day i told it was serendipity. her and i meeting. and when you are a part of someone's story like this... it all feels very much like it was meant to be

lately

2011-11-21T20:18:00.000-08:00

i've been telling anybody who will listen how much i love luke at this 6-7 month age. it's the best... that's what i say. but somehow, i forgot about this...just one day new. you have no idea how much time i lost today looking through old pictures of luke on my computer. 2 cups of cafe vienna (trying to not get so many starbucks) later. in someways, i don't even see any of this tiny little baby (ok, he was never so tiny, but still....) in my pal. deep sigh. followed by a deep breath. just another reminder to me... to slow down. this life. it's just so damn precious.

twinsies

2011-11-20T08:51:00.000-08:00

ok. not so much, but hat wearing twinsies for sure. i LOVE this time of year. love the clear days. the cold cold weather. i love seeing my breath. i love tucking my hair in and putting on a hat & taking the boy and the hound for a walk. maybe we get a latte a long the way. i LOVE picking up christmas decorations and hiding them from bennett (he doesn't understand all the decorations). i love the week of thanksgiving because it's like the eve of the holiday season. there is a spark that only the holidays can bring. and we are on the cusp. now i just want it to snow. really bad.

luke uh baaaby

2011-11-19T14:29:00.000-08:00

bundled

2011-11-16T10:44:00.000-08:00

oh you know....

2011-11-15T21:29:00.000-08:00

just a couple videos.

p.s. does anyone/everyone feels as dorky as i do when they hear themselves on video?

our morning

2011-11-15T09:55:00.000-08:00

my boy use to sleep til 9 am. now he's up at 7. as soon as you think you've got a routine- it always seems to change. thankfully, i'm good with the change-up.

clarification:he use to wake up at 7 to get fed and then go back down til 9. now he's just up.

um.. hello 7 am.

our snaps

2011-11-14T18:37:00.000-08:00

check out my recent trip to arizona HERE

auntie josie

2011-11-09T19:19:00.000-08:00

the best part of going to arizona is spending time with my favorite 3 little girls. my brother and sundi are the best. they let me act like they are my very own. i get to dress them. do their hair. bake cakes and cupcakes. take them grocery shopping at 8 in the morning. take them to get my morning coffee. take them to my dad's to go swimming. you name it. and i love them something fierce. and wow. growing up, huh?

2 of my favorite things

2011-11-08T08:57:00.000-08:00

fall & my boy at 6 months.

i love this age

in 15 months

2011-11-06T13:54:00.000-08:00

they go from this

to this...

back in the saddle

2011-11-06T13:10:00.000-08:00

ahhh. me and my boy in stripes. happens a lot. we are back. successful plane ride. family time. sunshine. 33rd birthday. az state fair. swimming. drinking. you name it. we did it. excited to be back home. loving this crisp fall weather. i'm ready. totally ready.

out of the office

2011-10-26T15:39:00.000-07:00

it's that time again... off to arizona we go. first plane ride for my boy! can't wait to see my family and some warm sunshine!going to ring in my 33rd birthday. yipee:)

luke, 6 months

2011-10-25T21:26:00.000-07:00

did you know i wasn't even sure i wanted to have a baby? i use to say that i'd be just fine not having kids. shame on me. shame. shame. shame. and did you know that it took us over a year to make this baby? we weren't sure we could make a baby. and that we made him during the time we were told by my doctor to stop trying? i found out i was pregnant in the parking lot at QFC. right after our annual lake chelan trip. right after getting thrown off of the jet ski for a whole week. and maybe drinking a few too many cocktails. but whatevs.

did you also know that never. ever. ever. in my life have i ever been more happy and full of love. that the past 6 months has been the greatest. hands down. the best. this baby, this new life- has breathed a life so huge inside of me... it can literally take the breath right out of me. my boy.

he is 6 months. rolling. finally rolling people. and sitting pretty good (said his doc today at his appt). is sleeping through the night. loves to grab at anything and everything. has a pretty good schedule. takes 2 cat naps, and then a 2-3 hour nap mid day. has lots of new toys that he loves. he spins on the ground. loves applesauce, bananas and squash so much. will let you know when he's not happy. turns his lip down and pouts. smiles instantly at whoever walks in a room. he's a good baby. the best.

today his hooligan friends came over. i swear just yesterday, it was just megan and hadley coming to my house to visit. and now look at her. she's seriously all grown up! and carson? gosh. he sure is cute. and megan just loves him. she's a sucker for little boys.

this is what luke has to look forward to:)

these two. megan made me fall in love with the idea of becoming a mom. she really did. she is a gal who does it all. works, is a kick ass wife, a best friend, is a fun mom, has a darling house, has a sense of humor, and makes time for friends and family. and always is my best gal. i love her hadley's nose touch. too cute.

and always, always... laughing. we were just with the prentice's sunday night. for almost 6 hours of drinking at daniels sans kiddos. went for the 4 pm happy hour. stayed for the 9 pm as well. total awesomeness always with the prentice's.

and just because it's totally fall here. i clipped some branches off my maple tree. i just love seattle this time of year. late afternoon sunlight through my windows. the best.

luke & his pals

2011-10-24T07:48:00.000-07:00

kasie and the twins stopped by the other day and we had to get a pic of the boys together. drew is on the left, luke in the middle and camden on the right. the twins are 4 months and luke is 6 months. they are catching up fast. so cute, right?

(i found this picture of hayley when she was just a baby... i think camden (right twin) looks just like her! don't you?

my. how things have changed from this picture.

luke 26 weeks (almost 6 months!)

2011-10-20T18:51:00.000-07:00

just shy of 6 months. say what? he loves his squash so much right now. rolled over 2 times this week (back to belly). his rash cleared up. stopped giving him so many baths (thanks heidi & katy). left us wondering how to kill time in the evening. that nightly bath was as much for us as it was for him. ok. more for us:). has been getting more and more formula. i'm done pumping and my reserves are gone. i said i wanted to make it to 6 months of breastfeeding exclusively. and i did. but now i'm supplementing. and when this boy sees his cute little bottle? he about dies. i've been told 4 times this week that he looks like me. don't any of YOU say differently. i love that he may look like me a bit. i started taking him out of his car seat when we go grocery shopping and letting him sit like a big boy in the grocery cart. i love this age right now. so so so much.

AND....yes. i went private ( a very pathetic attempt) and now i'm not. i changed my mind after hearing how my latest photography client found me all the way from new york (LOVED THIS), getting stopped at nordstrom's today by someone who 'recognized luke'(LOVED that she said hi!)and then at target, after luke's rash cleared up thanks to my blog commenter's, and having my dad not know how to log in using a google account.i realized... private is for the birds. but... i did deactivate my facebook account. and let me tell you. it feels amazing. so, please don't be annoyed with me. i can't explain (intelligently) the way i was feeling... and i've decided to not think about it too much. i just sort of felt like i was blogging, pinning, facebooking & looking at blogs. way. too. damn. much. makes me wonder though, have you ever thought of going private?

morning nap time

2011-10-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

i swear, when i put him down he was fast asleep. then, 10 minutes later i hear him chatting with his owls. then it was all about the toe touches.

this is the reason why...at almost 6 months- he naps in our bed still. i can't get him to fall asleep during the day in his crib for longer than a 1//2 hour. then he thinks it's play time. it's now 2 pm.. and he's fast asleep in our bed. going on 2 hours. guess it's time to ferber for naptime?

25 weeks

2011-10-13T00:23:00.000-07:00

luke found his toes and is never letting them go. put the boy on his back and to his toes he goes. i am really noticing luke beginning to be really interested in toys/objects. for the first time this week he actually played on that monster toy for over 15 minutes. and when he sits (still using this term very loosely) he will grab for his toys. really loving his squash. not as interested in my boob (sorry dad if you are reading this). would much rather have a bottle. so we'll see how that progesses. and i had to finally get him new jeans. size 6-12 . say what? started a new face this week. motor boat with his lips. yep. too cute. has slept 10 hours 2 nights this week & we are slowly putting him down earlier and earlier. at around 7:30 pm now.

the pumpkin lot

2011-10-11T20:09:00.000-07:00

yes. we are real fancy round here. would look so cute on my blog to put cute little pics of a pumpkin patch... but i'm too cheap for that. so, my luke will just have to peruse the pumpkins like as i did as a kiddo. and guess what? this is the exact grocery store i picked my pumpkins from when i was a kid. and how cute is my boy with his arm around that pumpkin?

nesting

2011-10-10T21:02:00.000-07:00

bennett was on my computer and saw this picture and was like 'what is this?' if only he knew the half of it. somedays your baby was just meant to nap on the floor.

something other than luke

2011-10-10T17:24:00.000-07:00

i had a photowall, then last december when i was 5 months pregnant and bennett was gone skiing, i decided i no longer liked it or the color of my walls. so, i painted the walls.. and then they've been sitting nakeds ever since.

so this summer sometime, i got some letters (blank wood ones and cardboard ones) and some paper and paint

and did this. AND, am almost finished with that photowall. for the almost done wall go HERE.

24 weeks

2011-10-07T09:07:00.000-07:00

things are getting super fun round here. i like this age alot. luke really notices everyone that walks into a room. is totally intrigued by rebel and mouse (cat and dog). he loves my paper starbucks cups. grabs them and pulls them to his mouth. is super quick to smile at people (this i love). only thing i don't like about this week is my boy is super rashy. no idea why. rashy on his face. rashy on his body. i'm a bit nervous he's gonna be one of those kiddos that gets a rash just by human touch. katy.. (if you are reading).. i may need your special skin care stuff:). me thinks it's time to get some pumpkins this weekend to carve.

gearing up for winter

2011-10-04T21:53:00.001-07:00

(thanks grammy for the hat)

keeping my hands busy

2011-10-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

when i'm not holding my baby, or clickng a camera, or writing an appraisal, i'm trying to keep my mind creative and my hands moving. yesterday, i did this silhouette of luke for my photo wall. dog, cat, husband, and me are coming soon. now that i know how to do them... i'm probably gonna re-do this one of luke. it looks like he's wearing a mock neck. and i promise you. he's not.

23 weeks

2011-10-02T19:22:00.000-07:00

this week kind of felt like a doozy. luke had his first ER visit. and his first temperature (not why we took him). but he's totally ok. as in- probably shouldn't have gone to the ER, but when you've got grammy in the car and the boy is breathing wierd... i guess you go to the ER. we were those parent's:) i made luke some pureed squash. he loved it (5th pic down.. that's his face he makes when u take his spoon away). we enjoyed our last day of summer out on the lawn. i read US and People magazines while luke stared up at the sky. i put luke in his first pair of skinny jeans. ended up rolling them up & thinking they were cute. and then thinking he sort of looks like a girl. a really round little girl. luke woke up one morning at 4 and cried on and off til 7. that was a first. and a lot of fun as i'm sure you can imagine. i maybe called him a few names to bennett. then he napped the afternoon away and i only said nice things about him. 3 people said what beautiful red hair he has this week. bennett and i looked at eachother like they were crazy. we don't think he
has red hair. i guess we are crazy. that about sums up our week

dear momma,

2011-09-27T19:28:00.000-07:00

please stop making me 'sit'.

ahhh. that's a bit better

xo,

your round little pumpkin

sunday's sunshine

2011-09-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

so, it's totally fall, right? i'm sort of loving it. see the front door inthe background? use to be red. now, it's green, but looks yellowish in these pics. i guess it's in between. i love it though.

this is what happens, when a certain somebody's small dog barks. my mom rushes to put her hands over luke's ear's. i just happened to catch it, and cracked up over his little/big face.

this is the certain small little somebody

luke & 21 weeks

2011-09-23T15:46:00.000-07:00

um. can u say hello two teeth? and lots of slobber? that about sums up 21 weeks

check out the last pic. my attempt at getting a good shot of his little nuggets.

if only you knew

2011-09-21T13:53:00.000-07:00

how many pictures of him i don't post. sort of nuts. and these are just from yesterday. and a typical day for us entails at least 2 outfit changes. sometimes 3. just is what it is.

best craft i've ever done? his owl mobile. he has been obsessed with them from day one. they don't seem to get old.

2nd best craft? his little onesie's i made out of freezer paper. so fun.

he got a mid-day bath yesterday. he loves his bath and i totally ran out of fun things for him to do... so i gave him a bath. bennett and i like to think he likes his bath more than most. but, i read lots of blogs with mom's with kids. and apparently 'our little swimmer' is just like every other kid:) my mom got him this shark towel. so cute.

and tummy time has now turned into trying to get luke to roll time. he hasn't rolled from his back to his tummy yet. he just stays on his side and arches his back. then finds his thumb. and sucks and sucks and sucks.

he is really starting to like this new view. his scrunchity scrunchy sitting position. by no means is the boy sitting. most def. scrunching. big head, little body. love. it.

dear johnny

2011-09-19T21:32:00.000-07:00

who knew barely jumping could be so fun?

p.s. thanks grammy for finding us this vintage johnny jump up:) luke and i love it. as i'm sure you can imagine...you have my husband thinking it doesn't meet code.

the sum of a weekend

2011-09-18T21:46:00.000-07:00

non eventful. that's how i'd sum up our weekend. not complaining. at all.

it meant i got to sew lots of pillows for our couch. & guess who enjoyed the hum of the sewing machine? yep. bennett would also like me to insert that luke enjoys watching football. (along with sewing).

he always looks like a deer in the headlights.

and today was stupid sunday football. oh, and yesterday was stupid saturday football. and i'm pretty sure tomorrow is stupid monday football. but these boys enjoyed themselves. wish i was one of those girls who updated their FB status with a 'go cougs, or a go dawgs'. but i'm not. big thumbs down for me. and the boy isn't one of those kiddos with a mini college jersey. i can barely handle grown-ups wearing jersey's. just saying.

and then these two slugs fell asleep. while i cleaned. i'm beginning to think i should take up watching football. jokes on me.

20 weeks

2011-09-16T13:20:00.000-07:00

my main man is 20 weeks and it was sort of a big deal. like, he has now been sleeping in his crib for a week and a half. no 3 am feedings. we 'ferberized him'. it worked. he wimpered for 1 night. and hasn't bothered to wake-up any of the rest. we wake up each morning practically high-fiving the boy. i started working on sitting with luke. he looks funny. like he has a huge noggin. which he totally does and then no body. he is in size 3 diapers. continues to nap each day for 3- 1/2 hours. loves his bath. loves him thumb. is outgrowing all his clothes. is kind of getting a 'comb-over'. learned how to scream.

oh, and he's getting 2 teeth. that's sort of huge news. tuesday- he and i had a day. i just could't figure him out. and when he was screaming i thought i saw two white dots on his gums. the next day, i swore i could feel little somethings. and then yesterday morning, when we were at megan's...she confirmed it. our boy has 2 teeth. well, sort of. they are just at the top of his gums poking out. so crazy. just when i think he's still a newborn, he goes and grows teeth on me.

this was my buddy on tuesday. out of sorts

so, i of course had to take pictures.

yesterday

2011-09-14T13:20:00.000-07:00

i sent my mom an email.

it went something like this-

mom, today your grandson isn't being so grand.
its been interesting.

to say the least.

me now thinks he was just upset about me dressing him like a girl. note to self. cute shirt. cute little pants. not cute together. on a little boy.

comings and goings

2011-09-12T13:48:00.000-07:00

this past saturday, i shot my last summer wedding. which reminds me, i haven't posted any of them yet. will work on that stat!

fisheye

2011-09-08T14:06:00.000-07:00

i rented some lenses. one of which is a fisheye (this ONE to be exact). don't love it. thought i'd like the vignetting, but not really. i do love the concept as a whole though, would just choose a different lensbaby optic and/or lens. sort of fun though.

and i of course like anything out of focus!

photowall in our living room. adding and adding to it lately!

19 weeks, crib time, 'wimpering it out' and big toys!

2011-09-07T21:41:00.000-07:00

well, i told you luke was leaving the nest (his bassinet in our room) at 3 months, but i found every excuse in the book to keep in there. like, if monday passed- i had to wait the following week because i like to start things on mondays. truth is- i loved him in our room. but, THIS monday (almost 2 months later!)- i decided... it was time. so, off he went . i din't make a big deal out of it. just did it. and we also decided to start working on the 'crying it out' method if he woke up. our boy doesn't really cry though, more like wimpers... but nonetheless. the boy is no longer getting fed if he wakes up.tough love round these parts.

but i'll tell you what...2 nights

of total success. i'm a big believer in consistency over time. so, we'll see what the next few nights bring

and he's finally enjoying his monster toy that my mom's bestie gave him. i remember when she gave it to us.. it was really hard to picture him being big enough to ever fit in it. & he loves it!

i though this view of his legs was too cute!

an evening in the park

2011-09-05T11:23:00.000-07:00

the perfect evening. time spent with bestfriends. pizza at mod pizza. smuggled beers into the park (via the diaper bag). kiddos running around. gorgeous light. and seriously. run don't walk to mod pizza. every pizza is $6.98. oh, and apparently, i'm the only human who doesn't own a pair of tom's.

finally

2011-09-04T12:26:00.000-07:00

a family picture of us, taken very impromptu after a night of mod pizza and a fun rendezvous at bellevue park. thanks kasie!!!