Learning to Shine ~ Best Shot Monday

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I fully intended to post this picture (among others) for Stacy’s playtime theme last week, but [insert excuse].  I did have the chance to play around with PS a little more this week/weekend and I’d like to say I’m starting to get it, but I think that’s being generous.  There are still SO many things that happen that I don’t know I could duplicate. 

I followed the steps in this tutorialto build more a different type of frame and I think it worked relatively well.  I’m still playing with borders and such.  I believe the image itself is SOOC (so I could have played along with Melody on Saturday too, but [insert different excuse]).  I was SO excited to get this shot!  We just replaced the batteries in Calder’s little toy (first and last time since they were already dying a few hours later!) and I took this in near darkness using my remote.  So, a few days late and in under the wire tonight…here’s my best shot for this fine Monday (it’s even better big)!

Flashy Toy

Zip on over to Tracey’s to see what’s lighting up others’ lives this week!

Feelin’ the blues ~ BSM

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I know I’m not the only one who says “we’ll have to get together sometime” to friends or family members, only to find days, weeks, months pass by without actually following through.  So, I was beyond delighted to actually make plans to meet with my cousin a couple of weeks ago.  We met at my Mom’s house which is about the half-way point for us.  We spent the afternoon talking and catching up on how life as mom’s changed us in ways more profound than either of us could have imagined. 

She, is a stay-at-home mother of four adorable children.  Two boys and two girls.  The boys were in school for the day, so it was just time with the girls.  I can only hope that Seneca, Cieara and Madisyn are able to grow up cherishing their relationship with one another as much as we did!

I think this little lady was pretty curious about the big camera in her face!!!

Cieara

And Miss Madi is quite comfortable posing for a picture!  Though they’re a bit overexposed, I still couldn’t resist the way her eyes just sparkle!

Madisyn

Doesn’t she look so much older than her 2.5 years?

Madisyn

And this, is my best shot – the pure goofiness of it cracks me up every time!

Madisyn

Swing by Tracey’s to see other best shots this fine Monday morning!

One, Two, and Ten

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For Calder’s first year, we did the picture thing every three months.  I loved all the props, the cute poses and the professional quality.  Then I got my camera for Christmas.  G. jokes often about how I can’t go anywhere without it, but I think he secretly loves it (read: is darn thankful I’m using it considering the cost!). 

When we went to get Christmas pictures we were quite disappointed.  We ended up using one my brother-in-law snapped at our house – and we love it!  So instead of spending the time and money going that route again, I’ve been inspired by friends and fellow bloggers to capture the moments myself.  This is a great challenge for me because I always go for the candid shots, which is great.  But I also want more posed or portrait shots too.

Here’s my attempt to get a picture of my little lady at one month.  The subject is breathtaking (think I’m biased?) but the image was a little weird, so I processed it a bunch and was a little heavy-handed with the softening effect.  I still want to improve my post-processing skills but have decided to cut myself some slack and do what I can for now…until I really have the time to get a good grasp of PS. 

Seneca ~ One Month

Regarding yesterday’s post about my sleepless night…well, we know the reason for Calder’s case.  Double ear infection!  If we can actually get him to swallow his antibiotic he should be feeling better before too long.  And last night, I put Garth on duty at 10:30.  Imagine my delight go have enjoyed 7 straight hours of sleep!  I don’t think my body was sure what to do with so much rest!

We took a walk to the library this morning through the light drizzle and checked out a few books.  We’re on a Dr. Seuss kick, and I remember loving Ten Apples Up on Topwhen I was a kid.  So as my sicky snuggled in for his afternoon nap, we read our way back to my own childhood!

I have proof

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I really can’t complain about sleep patterns around here.  For the most part things have gone remarkably well.  Seneca is actually a very good sleeper.  Sometimes she forgets that sleep happens at night time, but when I think back to how Calder slept at this age, let’s just say I’m happy with her habits (we’re talking 4-6 hour stretches, folks!)! 

Honestly, it’s most the big boy who is throwing me off kilter these days.  Perhaps it took him a while to fully realize that this new little being was here to stay or the monstrous teeth that are pushing their way through his tender little gums.  Or maybe it’s the incessant snot that’s making him persnickety. 

Whatever the case may be, I can’t seem to get a handle on his unpredictability.  And Garth is equally perplexed.  One night we’ll do bedtime and he’ll go down like a champ without making so much as a peep.  Other nights, he’s screeching off and on for 30+ minutes!  We’re second-guessing ourselves so much now, or trying to help him get back to the beautiful bedtimes we’d enjoyed for nearly 10 months now that we’re starting to muddle the routine.

I guess this is the first of many experiences that humbles me and softens my attitude towards my own parents.  As the oldest, I guess now I should cut my folks a little slack because clearly I can see that much of parenting is trial and error.  And believe me, I’m not above learning from others’ trials or errors.  So if there’s any advice to be had, please (PLEASE!) comment away!

Until then, I’ll meditate on these images, trusting that they both know how to sleep…we’ll just keep working to get it at the right time! 🙂 

Sweet Sleep

Sleepy Girl

Sleepy Eater

Sweet Dreams