this is my game face
But this is my happy face (and my happy.)
the wedding was awesome.
Showing posts with label Photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Photography. Show all posts
So I'm still trying to see family before we leave. I know it seems silly, we'll only be gone the summer. And Blake says there are lots people who see their extended family but every few years.
Well thats not me. Not my family.
So I met my grandma for breakfast today. She wouldnt let me take any pictures of her, but kaleb on the other hand...
I also snuck in one final family shoot before we left.
And I played with my two new favorie apps - VSCO cam & PicLab
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| this is lyrcis to "our" song and the wedding gift Blake got me 6.5 years ago. |
Last week I tried something new. I wrote down a little tid bit every day about something that stood out to me. Something that I knew I wanted to remember.
and I love it. This past week has been a whirl wind of family and awesomeness, so it probably merits a post all to itself, but for the normal every days I love this system.
I don't have time to write every day, but it seems like something precious happens every single moment. A tender moment with Kaleb, a loving gesture from Blake, or just some fun project I decided to do last minute. I want to capture my life right now. I want these moments to forever be available for my perusal and remembrance.
This "jotting-down-something-every-day-to-write-about-later" will be, I think, the best way for me to do that.
so this is what my list looked like:
Mon - Kaleb asks for Buh and hat at bedtime, I made a purse, wallet set
Tue - Park with mommies, session, Blake was awesome while I had a head ache, Rebrand blog
Wed - Mail throw away game, Kaleb Jumps,
Thur - film @ no limit, backpack, calm day, BK play outside, I read Nienie, birthday dinner date
Fri - Sick from vicodin, balloons to Blake, scampi
Sat - Surprise party, bow ties.
and this is what I remembered:
ON MONDAY
As I laid my baby boy down to sleep, he tucked his knees under himself and reached out for his plush Buzz Lightyear and said "Buh! Buh!" I tried so hard not to laugh out loud. Hes never requested a toy by name before and this was adorable The moment I handed it to him, he said "Hat! Hat!" it took a second, but I realized he was requesting his plush Woody.
(he has the "real" woody and enjoys removing and replacing his hat, so I guess that became Woody's new name)
I handed Woody over and my little one was, once again, content.
As I closed his door I said "Night night, baby." and I heard the smallest "Nigh nigh" in return.
My heart melted and my baby fell asleep.
Then I stayed up almost all night making a purse, wallet, coin purse, Key fob and card holder.
(I will ABSOLUTELY be posting more pictures of that, and of the one I tried to make the week earlier)
ON TUESDAY
Kaleb and I walked to the park to hang out with some our friends (mommies and babies) from Church.
Last Sunday was Kaleb's first official day in Nursery all by himself and that made me step back and kind of take a look at everything. Actually see what a little boy my baby is becoming. He has friends he "plays" with and he has a teacher (of sorts) and he has snack time and he is just growing.
So anyway, we're on our way to the park, listening to Yo Gabba Gabba songs and I'm so hot and wishing I had the car instead of Blake, but still (somewhere in very back of my mind) I know the walking is good for me.
When I got there, Kaleb jumped from his stroller and ran to his new bestie, James. They climbed up to uncomfortable heights and I had to "rescue" my son for my own sanity as he danced on the ledge that led to a "slide-down" pole. James maintained a safe distance, so he was allowed to stay up there.
It really is so fun to see Kaleb interact with other toddlers. and James is an awesome little one, so I'm glad he's the one Kaleb chose to follow around.
After lots of hesitation, Kaleb also started going down the slide solo. He would walk around, up the stairs, sit by the slide, scoot forward, slide down, jump off and do it all again.
Yeah, I broke out the video and got all choked up.
Kaleb also got slapped in the face by another little friend. It was the first time anything like that ever happened, but he kept it together until he saw me hold out my arms, then he buried his head in me and cried. It was only for a moment though, and the two were playing together soon after.
Later that day, I also had the opportunity to capture some very special family portraits. (more on that later) But when I came home, I had a HORRIBLE headache.
Blake was so sweet. Without skipping a beat, he gave Kaleb dinner, a bath and put him to bed while I was laying down with my eyes closed tight.
(I love you, Blake)
That night, when I was feeling better, I went to the computer and tried (for the third time) to "re-brand" our photography site. I knew I wanted something different, but each time I designed something Blake (or my trusted friend Emily) would veto, tell it was too different or not "us" or just plain old bad.
Well on Tuesday night I actually did it and created a softer look that wasn't too different to be unrecognizable but just different enough to appease me. I happen to really like it.
ON WEDNESDAY
Things stayed pretty chill. I decided to take Kaleb with me to check the mail (I usually don't) and it had been a couple of days so the junk mail was RIDICULOUS! I mean it was crammed in there.
We get so much junk mail. Everyone does. That's why our lovely complex managers bolted a huge trashcan right next to the mailboxes. :D
I went to throw the lot away when Kaleb reached for it. I handed him one piece and he put it in the trash and signed for more. We sat there as I handed him piece by piece and he happily tossed and tossed. It was one of those small moments that I hope he, maybe not remembers, but adds to the overall memory that his mommy tried to make the days fun and that she loves him so much.
Also later that day, while watching Yo Gabba Gabba, he jumped. Not the fake-out jump, where a toddler just tosses his upper body, but an actual jump where both his feet left the ground It was awesome. There was much rejoicing.
ON THURSDAY
Things started early, with the entire family (Me, Blake AND Kaleb) going to shoot a promo video for my new favorite place; No Limit Personal Training / Boot Camp.
I'm there almost every morning, so when I told Sako (the owner) that I may have to bring my little one in when we film, he said it was fine and that Kaleb was welcome.
So we're there for a few hours, Blake is filming the goings on and I'm taking testimonials and Kaleb is going back and forth between us. He's also having tons of fun playing with a little ball that Sako gave him and messing around with those huge work out ropes that you're supposed to swing up and down.
By the time we're ready to go, they had given Kaleb a little backpack with the NO LIMIT logo on it. He put it on and was ALL smiles! He loved the darn thing so much that when we tried to put him in the car-seat and had to remove it he started screaming. That was fun.
The afternoon was slow and beautiful. The day was bright and not too hot so all the windows and blinds were open wide. There is always something to do and a deadline to have it done by in our home. I felt AMAZING to just let everything go for a bit. To slow down and keep pace with the moment.
I started reading Stephanie Nielson's book Heaven is Here on my Kindle and was so touched by her words. I've been following her blog since just weeks before her accident in 2008, and I didn't think I would be so emotionally moved by the description of events that I not only knew about, but that occurred to people I have never met - but I was. (oh my run-on-sentence!) I hope to write a review of sorts when I finish the book.
While I was reading Blake took Kaleb outside to the grassy area right below our second story living room window. They ran and threw rocks and played with Kaleb's little Dino-ball. I love watching my husband be a father. I adore seeing him so carefully (and sometimes so very roughly) play with my baby. I know that he enjoys his role as father and sometimes I catch him gazing at our son in just absolute amazement. The love we have for our son binds us stronger and more fully than we were before. And I love that.
That evening Blake and I dropped off Kaleb Mom and Dad Green's and went out to celebrate his 30th (which was actually the next day, but Thursday is Blake's day off)
We had two gift cards, one to the Cheesecake Factory and one to a small Mexican restaurant. We decided on Cheesecake Factory for dinner and small Mexican restaurant for dessert.
When we arrived, Blake came around to my side and opened my car door (I'm sure he would every day, but I usually ask him to grab Kaleb from the back and let myself out). He held my hand as we walked through the large glass doors and while we waited for a table he wrapped me in his arms and we just stood there. It felt like dating. and that made me happy.
We sat down out side and chatted. We talked about getting ready to move and we talked about jobs. We talked about the little kid in the table next to us who looked like he'd rather be ANYWHERE else but in a booth with about eight women. I munched on my Firecracker Salmon Rolls (Amazing, by the way) and we made jokes and had a really enjoyable night.
Then we left the cheesecake factory and went the little Mexican restaurant (I wish I remembered the name!) just as they were closing. In fact, they opened up the doors for us. I had a ridiculous sundae thing and Blake chose churros and flan to go as his birthday treat.
While we were there, we started listing the places we've lived and the schools we've went to. I moved around A LOT when I was growing up so I totally won that exchange, but it was fun to surprise him after all these years. Apparently he didn't realize where I'd been and how many different places I've lived.
ON FRIDAY
It was Blake's actually birthday and I intended to wake up and do Birthday Breakfast for him, but the night before I started to feel that horrible gallbladder pain, so I took HALF a painkiller. MISTAKE. I felt AWFUL the next morning. I hate those drugs! I was sick and headachy and just awful. So that sent a lovely birthday morning right out the window.
And Blake had to get off to work, so I felt pretty guilty.
So around lunch time, Kaleb and I went to Party City and the grocery to get Blake a little Birthday treat: a "Happy Birthday" Mylar Balloon and a bottle of root beer some imitation girls scout cookies. It was fun to see him in the middle of the day and I know he liked them.
That evening we had chicken scampi (one of Blake's favorites) at his parents house with Mom and Dad Green and (his bother and sister-in-law) Jordan and Freesia.
Thats also where Blake's parents presented him with his new and improved banjo. Blake had salvaged it from a neighbor's garage, when neighbor was going to throw it away. His parents had it restrung and fixed up for his birthday.
The rest of the night was pretty chill, just hanging out and being with family.
ON SATURDAY
Blake went to work in the morning like usual and I was going a little mad getting things ready for his surprise party that evening. It was to be VERY small, but I still wanted it to be nice. I remembered a surprise party I threw him when we were dating, it was so much fun and I hoped to recapture the excitement that he had on that day. I mean 30 is a BIG deal. A HUGE deal.
Any way, I made his 2 tier lemon cake and a yummy fruit/cookie dip. I bought six packs of IBC root beer and black cherry soda (the kind in the glass bottles) and ordered some pizzas.
In the midst of all this I realized I hadn't finished his birthday present, three bow ties, so I rushed to do it in 30 minutes. I actually only finished one in time, so thats what he got.
It didn't' look awful, but it didn't' look great.
When he came in with his brother (who picked him up from work) he walked in the opposite direction as everyone else! I called "Blake, can you come here for a minute" and when he walked back to us, everyone shouted "surprise!" and that moment was such fun.
We ate and talked and played games and celebrated my hubby. It was fun and I am very happy with how everything turned out.
BACK TO NOW
and I love it. This past week has been a whirl wind of family and awesomeness, so it probably merits a post all to itself, but for the normal every days I love this system.
I don't have time to write every day, but it seems like something precious happens every single moment. A tender moment with Kaleb, a loving gesture from Blake, or just some fun project I decided to do last minute. I want to capture my life right now. I want these moments to forever be available for my perusal and remembrance.
This "jotting-down-something-every-day-to-write-about-later" will be, I think, the best way for me to do that.
so this is what my list looked like:
Mon - Kaleb asks for Buh and hat at bedtime, I made a purse, wallet set
Tue - Park with mommies, session, Blake was awesome while I had a head ache, Rebrand blog
Wed - Mail throw away game, Kaleb Jumps,
Thur - film @ no limit, backpack, calm day, BK play outside, I read Nienie, birthday dinner date
Fri - Sick from vicodin, balloons to Blake, scampi
Sat - Surprise party, bow ties.
and this is what I remembered:
ON MONDAY
As I laid my baby boy down to sleep, he tucked his knees under himself and reached out for his plush Buzz Lightyear and said "Buh! Buh!" I tried so hard not to laugh out loud. Hes never requested a toy by name before and this was adorable The moment I handed it to him, he said "Hat! Hat!" it took a second, but I realized he was requesting his plush Woody.
(he has the "real" woody and enjoys removing and replacing his hat, so I guess that became Woody's new name)
I handed Woody over and my little one was, once again, content.
As I closed his door I said "Night night, baby." and I heard the smallest "Nigh nigh" in return.
My heart melted and my baby fell asleep.
Then I stayed up almost all night making a purse, wallet, coin purse, Key fob and card holder.
(I will ABSOLUTELY be posting more pictures of that, and of the one I tried to make the week earlier)
ON TUESDAY
Kaleb and I walked to the park to hang out with some our friends (mommies and babies) from Church.
Last Sunday was Kaleb's first official day in Nursery all by himself and that made me step back and kind of take a look at everything. Actually see what a little boy my baby is becoming. He has friends he "plays" with and he has a teacher (of sorts) and he has snack time and he is just growing.
So anyway, we're on our way to the park, listening to Yo Gabba Gabba songs and I'm so hot and wishing I had the car instead of Blake, but still (somewhere in very back of my mind) I know the walking is good for me.
When I got there, Kaleb jumped from his stroller and ran to his new bestie, James. They climbed up to uncomfortable heights and I had to "rescue" my son for my own sanity as he danced on the ledge that led to a "slide-down" pole. James maintained a safe distance, so he was allowed to stay up there.
It really is so fun to see Kaleb interact with other toddlers. and James is an awesome little one, so I'm glad he's the one Kaleb chose to follow around.
After lots of hesitation, Kaleb also started going down the slide solo. He would walk around, up the stairs, sit by the slide, scoot forward, slide down, jump off and do it all again.
Yeah, I broke out the video and got all choked up.
Kaleb also got slapped in the face by another little friend. It was the first time anything like that ever happened, but he kept it together until he saw me hold out my arms, then he buried his head in me and cried. It was only for a moment though, and the two were playing together soon after.
Later that day, I also had the opportunity to capture some very special family portraits. (more on that later) But when I came home, I had a HORRIBLE headache.
Blake was so sweet. Without skipping a beat, he gave Kaleb dinner, a bath and put him to bed while I was laying down with my eyes closed tight.
(I love you, Blake)
That night, when I was feeling better, I went to the computer and tried (for the third time) to "re-brand" our photography site. I knew I wanted something different, but each time I designed something Blake (or my trusted friend Emily) would veto, tell it was too different or not "us" or just plain old bad.
Well on Tuesday night I actually did it and created a softer look that wasn't too different to be unrecognizable but just different enough to appease me. I happen to really like it.
 |
| BEFORE & AFTER |
ON WEDNESDAY
Things stayed pretty chill. I decided to take Kaleb with me to check the mail (I usually don't) and it had been a couple of days so the junk mail was RIDICULOUS! I mean it was crammed in there.
We get so much junk mail. Everyone does. That's why our lovely complex managers bolted a huge trashcan right next to the mailboxes. :D
I went to throw the lot away when Kaleb reached for it. I handed him one piece and he put it in the trash and signed for more. We sat there as I handed him piece by piece and he happily tossed and tossed. It was one of those small moments that I hope he, maybe not remembers, but adds to the overall memory that his mommy tried to make the days fun and that she loves him so much.
Also later that day, while watching Yo Gabba Gabba, he jumped. Not the fake-out jump, where a toddler just tosses his upper body, but an actual jump where both his feet left the ground It was awesome. There was much rejoicing.
ON THURSDAY
Things started early, with the entire family (Me, Blake AND Kaleb) going to shoot a promo video for my new favorite place; No Limit Personal Training / Boot Camp.
I'm there almost every morning, so when I told Sako (the owner) that I may have to bring my little one in when we film, he said it was fine and that Kaleb was welcome.
So we're there for a few hours, Blake is filming the goings on and I'm taking testimonials and Kaleb is going back and forth between us. He's also having tons of fun playing with a little ball that Sako gave him and messing around with those huge work out ropes that you're supposed to swing up and down.
By the time we're ready to go, they had given Kaleb a little backpack with the NO LIMIT logo on it. He put it on and was ALL smiles! He loved the darn thing so much that when we tried to put him in the car-seat and had to remove it he started screaming. That was fun.
The afternoon was slow and beautiful. The day was bright and not too hot so all the windows and blinds were open wide. There is always something to do and a deadline to have it done by in our home. I felt AMAZING to just let everything go for a bit. To slow down and keep pace with the moment.I started reading Stephanie Nielson's book Heaven is Here on my Kindle and was so touched by her words. I've been following her blog since just weeks before her accident in 2008, and I didn't think I would be so emotionally moved by the description of events that I not only knew about, but that occurred to people I have never met - but I was. (oh my run-on-sentence!) I hope to write a review of sorts when I finish the book.
While I was reading Blake took Kaleb outside to the grassy area right below our second story living room window. They ran and threw rocks and played with Kaleb's little Dino-ball. I love watching my husband be a father. I adore seeing him so carefully (and sometimes so very roughly) play with my baby. I know that he enjoys his role as father and sometimes I catch him gazing at our son in just absolute amazement. The love we have for our son binds us stronger and more fully than we were before. And I love that.
That evening Blake and I dropped off Kaleb Mom and Dad Green's and went out to celebrate his 30th (which was actually the next day, but Thursday is Blake's day off)
We had two gift cards, one to the Cheesecake Factory and one to a small Mexican restaurant. We decided on Cheesecake Factory for dinner and small Mexican restaurant for dessert.
When we arrived, Blake came around to my side and opened my car door (I'm sure he would every day, but I usually ask him to grab Kaleb from the back and let myself out). He held my hand as we walked through the large glass doors and while we waited for a table he wrapped me in his arms and we just stood there. It felt like dating. and that made me happy.
We sat down out side and chatted. We talked about getting ready to move and we talked about jobs. We talked about the little kid in the table next to us who looked like he'd rather be ANYWHERE else but in a booth with about eight women. I munched on my Firecracker Salmon Rolls (Amazing, by the way) and we made jokes and had a really enjoyable night.Then we left the cheesecake factory and went the little Mexican restaurant (I wish I remembered the name!) just as they were closing. In fact, they opened up the doors for us. I had a ridiculous sundae thing and Blake chose churros and flan to go as his birthday treat.
While we were there, we started listing the places we've lived and the schools we've went to. I moved around A LOT when I was growing up so I totally won that exchange, but it was fun to surprise him after all these years. Apparently he didn't realize where I'd been and how many different places I've lived.
ON FRIDAY
It was Blake's actually birthday and I intended to wake up and do Birthday Breakfast for him, but the night before I started to feel that horrible gallbladder pain, so I took HALF a painkiller. MISTAKE. I felt AWFUL the next morning. I hate those drugs! I was sick and headachy and just awful. So that sent a lovely birthday morning right out the window.
And Blake had to get off to work, so I felt pretty guilty.
So around lunch time, Kaleb and I went to Party City and the grocery to get Blake a little Birthday treat: a "Happy Birthday" Mylar Balloon and a bottle of root beer some imitation girls scout cookies. It was fun to see him in the middle of the day and I know he liked them.
That evening we had chicken scampi (one of Blake's favorites) at his parents house with Mom and Dad Green and (his bother and sister-in-law) Jordan and Freesia.
Thats also where Blake's parents presented him with his new and improved banjo. Blake had salvaged it from a neighbor's garage, when neighbor was going to throw it away. His parents had it restrung and fixed up for his birthday.
The rest of the night was pretty chill, just hanging out and being with family.
ON SATURDAY
Blake went to work in the morning like usual and I was going a little mad getting things ready for his surprise party that evening. It was to be VERY small, but I still wanted it to be nice. I remembered a surprise party I threw him when we were dating, it was so much fun and I hoped to recapture the excitement that he had on that day. I mean 30 is a BIG deal. A HUGE deal.
Any way, I made his 2 tier lemon cake and a yummy fruit/cookie dip. I bought six packs of IBC root beer and black cherry soda (the kind in the glass bottles) and ordered some pizzas.
In the midst of all this I realized I hadn't finished his birthday present, three bow ties, so I rushed to do it in 30 minutes. I actually only finished one in time, so thats what he got.
It didn't' look awful, but it didn't' look great.
When he came in with his brother (who picked him up from work) he walked in the opposite direction as everyone else! I called "Blake, can you come here for a minute" and when he walked back to us, everyone shouted "surprise!" and that moment was such fun.
We ate and talked and played games and celebrated my hubby. It was fun and I am very happy with how everything turned out.
BACK TO NOW
PHEW! That was LOT to write in one post! So, I'm thinking I'll just find time to do one a night, or I'll write separate posts and back date them when I publish. Anyway, I really do love this system and it helps me remember those little things I don't ever want to forget.
When I was younger and in dire need of subjects to photograph, my little sister always seemed to be my eager little model (and good thing too, because I probably would have made her anyway.)
These were all taken with a disposable camera, developed at somewhere like Walgreens put into an album then rediscovered and scanned by me the other day.
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| This was just before Halloween (she was a little cave girl, obviously) when I was in 6th grade So that would make it 1997. |
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| She was be two years old. |
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| This was from a little session right after they moved out of state. I made this (adorable) pink dress for her and made her model it when I went to visit. |
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| It was so cold, which made it look like she was sad or crying (that might also have been the eyeliner, which she had never worn before, being 9 and all) |
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| This is probably my favorite ... possibly from all our little shoots. |
Anyway, my sister is awesome. Shes all grown up now and even more beautiful.
(even though I think she wears too much make up and has too many piercings, but what else am I supposed to think? I'm the big sister.)
For our 6th anniversary Blake arranged for his parents to watch Kaleb for the night and then surprised me with something I've been begging to do for years!
He took me to the shooting range.
It was awesome .... and kinda scary too.
When we first got there, this guy was shooting next to us and his casings (HOT casings) kept flying over and hitting/burning us. . . yeah, we moved.
Blake was pretty awesome right off the block, but I kept letting it jerk and closing my eyes.
Overall I think my accuracy WAS better... but that could just be wishful thinking/remembering.
After the shooting range we headed over to Ferrel's and ate delicious things that are really bad for us.
Including a chocolate sundae covered in peanuts, which we wouldn't (couldn't) eat if we were anywhere around Kaleb.
Then they sang a fabulous "anniversary" song and we left very happy.
We then took a break from festivities to capture the lovely Amanda and her honey, Aaron.
We also took that time to film their "interview film". I have to say, there was no better way to remember my own love story then to listen to these two tell theirs.
After we packed up with them, we headed home and Blake made us super yummy crepes.
Lemon / Strawberry.
(Made with this deliciousness
)
)
Blake also made some chocolate-y ones, but the lemon was still the best.
We ended the night (or at least the part I can write about) with a rip roaring game of MONOPOLY.
You would think Blake would let me win on our anniversary, or at least not destroy me... but now. He made me mortgage my last piece of property drove me to the poor house.
Despite that, we really did have a great day.
This past Saturday was our very fist wedding since we had our little one.
It was also the absolute longest I've been away from him.
Thank goodness it was an awesome wedding.
Just look at this bride.
Everything turned out fine. Kaleb had a good time over all, but still refuses to eat from a bottle and only nibbled on his baby food, so he was starved by the time I got home.
Hopefully he's more bottle receptive this Saturday when we shoot in San Diego. :(
I should be writing my Relief Society lesson for tomorrow.
I teach the "Teaching for our times" lesson once a month, where you create a lesson from conference talks... yeah. I don't even have a lesson book to fall back on.
Tomorrows (Today's?) lesson is based on Elder Uchtdorf's October 2011 General Conference talk "Forget Me Not"
I did manage to cut out a large Forget-me-not for the board and make these hand outs for the "Group Discussion", other wise known as the "please-talk-for-a-long-time-because-I-didn't-prepare-much-else" time.
*Note to self: don't wait 'till the last minute to prepare lessons. Or if you do, don't insist on elaborate lessons.*
On the way home, I told Blake I wanted a picture of the two of us.
Something I hadn't done in years.
I try to avoid pictures as much as possible, unless its some kind of special occasion or my son is with me.
I avoided being infront of the camera because I was so embarrassed and hated how I looked.
Well, I still hate how I look, but I'm not embarrassed so much.
I think my previous post was some kind of liberation. I mean, everyone knows my secret shame now, might as well stop pretending.
Thats not to say I'm going to stop trying (though at the Elders Quorum activity I ate pasta, bread, cake and ice cream all before I even realized what I was doing... lame.) But I might as well stop hiding and document my life with out fear.
and my progress too. :D
*On a completely different side note: I changed the sidebar of this blog a bit. I gave Blake and I our own picture (from our last professional shoot right before I got pregnant, November 2010), I updated Kaleb's picture and I added two new tracker thingies. One for how long we've been married (under Blake's picture) and one for my fitness goal (weight) progress (under my picture).*
I teach the "Teaching for our times" lesson once a month, where you create a lesson from conference talks... yeah. I don't even have a lesson book to fall back on.
Tomorrows (Today's?) lesson is based on Elder Uchtdorf's October 2011 General Conference talk "Forget Me Not"
I did manage to cut out a large Forget-me-not for the board and make these hand outs for the "Group Discussion", other wise known as the "please-talk-for-a-long-time-because-I-didn't-prepare-much-else" time.
 |
| Its the first hand out I've ever made. Simple, I know, but it took, like... three hours. |
I also want to shorten the video of the talk to show a portion of it in class... so I have that uploading to iMovie... should in done in about two hours.
*Note to self: don't wait 'till the last minute to prepare lessons. Or if you do, don't insist on elaborate lessons.*
Anyway, last night (Friday night) was awful.
Kaleb now refuses to sleep in his crib longer than an hour, but thats a different post, what I'm getting to is the fact that I was completely exhausted this morning.
Basically I had a rough start to what ended up being a good day.
Blake left in the morning to play basketball, so when he came home around 10am, I had finally gotten Kaleb to sleep for his first nap. I'm completely drained and Blake's like:
"So how was your workout time?"
Granted "Paige's Workout Time" in on the schedule I put on the wall, but I still felt so defensive and snappy. I believe my response was some sort of guttural noise... he didn't press the issue.
So, I'm feeling crappy because I didn't work out and was kinda called on it.
I go to the kitchen to make breakfast and our sink is FULL of dishes. Completely overflowing on both sides. Now, I dont know why I just expect Blake to do them, but he knows how much I detest doing them so I think he should always just do them.
Apparently I'm wrong.
I asked him (probably accusatorially) why the dishes weren't done and he says something to the effect of "I don't know why aren't they done?"
Not a pleasant morning.
But then I started getting our cameras ready and getting pumped for the day's engagement session.
I was honestly really excited.
It was my first engagement session since I had Kaleb.
And these clients are pretty rock'in.
So we dropped the little dude off with Grandma and Grandpa Green for safe keeping until we returned.
Well, the session was fun, and I found my groove easier and more smoothly then I had anticipated.
We shot in Old Town Orange where the shops and street make for good times.
It also really helped that these particular clients were attractive and fun.
I'd probably hang out with them even if they didn't pay me.
We ended the shoot at Old Towne Grinder and Ice Cream Parlor. Hands down best part of the shoot.
Its this cool place with a million different varieties of bottled soda (or "pop". When I say "bottled" I just feel like "pop" sounds better than "soda"... anyway...) and after we got some cool shots, Blake and I decided to get a bottle ourselves.
I chose this deliciously refreshing pottle of pumpkin pie soda. So yummy.
But Blake chose this. This nasty bottle of Bacon Soda. In his defense, he was looking for black licorice soda, but our clients... with some help from me... convinced that he should get bacon soda just for the bragging rights.
Blake made us all drink some too.
It smelled like gym feet.
It tasted like carbonated liquid smoke.
Blake kept burping and shivering in disgust.
It was freaking hilarious. :D
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| Our clients, tasting the nasty Bacon Soda. |
On the way home, I told Blake I wanted a picture of the two of us.
Something I hadn't done in years.
I try to avoid pictures as much as possible, unless its some kind of special occasion or my son is with me.
I avoided being infront of the camera because I was so embarrassed and hated how I looked.
Well, I still hate how I look, but I'm not embarrassed so much.
I think my previous post was some kind of liberation. I mean, everyone knows my secret shame now, might as well stop pretending.
Thats not to say I'm going to stop trying (though at the Elders Quorum activity I ate pasta, bread, cake and ice cream all before I even realized what I was doing... lame.) But I might as well stop hiding and document my life with out fear.
and my progress too. :D
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| So here's my "happy day and no makeup" picture, at a red light with my awesome husband who often tells me he loves me and that I'm beautiful. |
So, yeah. Overall... Good day.
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| Oh, and here's one of my favorite's from today's session! |
The birth story of my baby boy, Kaleb.
As captured by the talented LDS photographer and friend, Ashley Perez.
It started on September 6, 2011.
My water broke just after I had finished making a burrito.
Figures, right?
Well, I changed my pants, finished my burrito, did a little primping and we made our way to the hospital.
I wasn't feeling any contractions at that point. Just excitement and relief that we would soon have our baby boy.
While preparing for our little one, we devised a birthing plan that included the use of "Hypnobabies".
An awesome program that helped me get through most of my pregnancy pain, including Sciatica.
The main part of our "plan" however, was to roll with the punches. If something happened not on our birthing plan, to just go with it and make it work.
Good thing too, because nothing went according to plan.
I did not think my water would break, but it did so I had to stay at the hospital the entire time.
I wasn't progressing hardly at all, so the doctors suggested pitocin.
I said "no" I didn't want to interfere if I could help it, so we waited another painful 4 hours and still nothing.
Blake (my husband) and I talked about it, and came to the conclusion; we weren't inducing labor (which we absolutely did not want to do) we were helping it along a bit.
So they pumped me full of pitocin and labor got intense very quickly.
I used the techniques learned from Hypnobabies through the coaching and support of my husband.
(and oh my goodness, he was amazing. So gentle and attentive. So loving and sweet. He was amazing)
However, 24 hours after labor started I was completely exhausted, and slightly delusional.
(apparently I was telling Blake about a man who wasn't allowed in the room...?)
Not to mention I had to constantly wear a fetal monitor around my belly, had the IV of pitocin in my hand and had to pee every two minutes. There was constantly unhooking, rolling over, hobbling, re hooking just to do it all over again.
Everything was so intense, and I was so exhausted, Blake made the executive decision to have me get an epidural.
I cried.
Blake reminded me I had to have enough energy to push, or we would have to have a C-section.
(because my water broke, bacteria was able to enter my uterus and Kaleb and I were starting to run a fever)
So, I yielded and cried felt the most icky thing ever as a tube entered my spine.
However, two minutes after that, I watched the little contraction tracker shoot up and I didn't feel a thing.
You also have to have catheter put in when you have an epidural, and as gross as that sounds, I didn't have to get up every two minutes anymore so that was a relief as well
I started laughing.
Then I "passed out". (read: feel asleep from exhaustion)
Thats about when Ashley joined us.
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| Blake was reading Kaleb The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe almost every night so he, Kaleb, would know Blake's voice. |
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| My mother in law cam in and felt my little boy squirming |
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| Blake was so wonderful. He was comforting me here. |
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| Trying to say hello to Kaleb |
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| I was so very exhausted |
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| ... and a little delirious. |
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| Blake was my rock |
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| My little brother's came in to visit. (Dig my Hospital gown? I got it at Gownies along with another one that I wore the following day.) |
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| My dad came by too. |
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| When my fingers became too bloated for my wedding ring, I started waring Blake's Spanish CTR ring. |
I started to feel the urge to push, and told my nurses. We got things ready. I started pushing.
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| For three hours I was pushing. I was so exhausted. |
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| Blake said a silent prayer while things stalled. (I didn't know about this until we got the images back from Ashley) |
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| There was about a minute in between pushes... I fell asleep each time. |
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| Blake could see Kaleb's head! |
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| Just a few more pushes and he would here... have I mentioned how exhausted I was? |
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| Then finally, late in the evening on September 7, 2011, he was finally here. |
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| See that cone head? Thats what happens when you hang out in the birth canal for three hours. His head is perfect now, in case you were wondering. |
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| The first time I held him he was right on top of where he spent the last 9 months. |
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| Because had a fever and possible infection, they took him away to clean and monitor him right away. Normally they would have just handed him to me and I could have held him. This is was saddest part of the day in retrospect, but at the time I just saying "make sure hes OK." |
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| And Blake got to stay with him. |
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| They handed him to me for a quick minute... |
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| and I got to kiss him for the first time. |
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| Then Kaleb and his daddy went to the NICU for bath and antibiotics. And my daddy came by to see how I was feeling. |
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| Along with more family. I loved having them there for support. |
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| It was a good thing Blake read to our little baby so often, because Blake was able to sooth him while I was getting stitched and squeezed and waiting to see my boy. |
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| There is a painting at the hospital with a little red button in the center, and if you've just delivered you can push the button as you pass by and it plays Brahms Lullaby throughout the hospital. |
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| And when I finally got to hold him, I could barely breathe. He looked just like a mini my father. He was MY son. I had a son. I could barely breathe. |
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| My little kicker baby was in my arms. |
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| Our family had its newest addition. We were complete. We were whole. |
And I'm thankful for my darling little family.
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