Family photos in the new house

Photos!  The lovely Jenny Hanlon of Jenny Hanlon Photography took some pictures of us in our new house the morning after we got keys.  Enjoy! 

Where I am today:

I'm guest blogging over at The Catholic Wife today, talking about my journey learning to be present in my own life.  Check it out, as well as her other posts, she's a lovely writer (and person!)

I'm also officially "back at work", so stay tuned on my business blog for more updates :).

Happy Fourth of July!

We got back from our week-long adventure (ohdeargoodnessnebraskawassoshotandhumid!) on Saturday and are still in recovery mode.  However; today, well, today Daddy doesn't have to work... which is like the best mid-week gift ever.  We're celebrating with George Foreman burgers (we aren't allowed to have grills on our porch), park trips and maybe, just maybe, a little swimming if little Miss-recovering-from-a-nasty-cold is up for it.

One of the good days

Today was one of those days where I didn't feel like I was failing as a parent.  I love these days.  We started out with a breakfast that went through two outfits (yogurt and applesauce... I should learn just to leave the jammies on until after she finishes those). 

I had a blood draw (oh, did I mention I'm still fighting that darn thyroid?  Yep, but it's sooo much better with some beautiful medicine the last few months) and Anni was amazing through the whole thing.  She sat in seats next to me, talked about what we were doing, rustled through her purse and put sunglasses on (which just makes me smile every time she does it) and was just generally charming.  Then we picked up medicine and italian sausage from the store and headed home to go through a couple more outfits with lunch.

After nap (during which I worked feverishly to edit a wedding), we opened all the doors and windows and lazed on our little balcony.  Best part of my day.
  

We talked about our one little tomato, and how mommy was going to do her best not to kill it.  We read "More Spaghetti, I Say!" and watched doggies walk by.  

After a little while, Anni requested to read by herself and I watched as she worked her way through books, telling me, "It a nice book, Mommy!" when was done and, "Get 'nother book, Mommy!" as she raced to her room.  I folded clothes on the couch just inside and smiled at how much I love moments just like that.  Peace and overwhelming joy in something so mundane.  I daydreamed a little about wanting a house with land and a big wraparound porch until Anni (strongly) requested bubbles.  Today, Miss Anni actually managed to blow a few bubbles!  Very exciting for a little girl who asks for them around the clock.

After a little while, we moved onto pizza dough (and another outfit change after Anni helped knead the dough) and playing hide and peek with extra t-shirts.

 Really, I couldn't ask for me.  I mean, sure, there are things I want... but need?  Nope, I've got it all right here.

Summer and the in-between

I know I'm behind on blogging, I really do.  But, all of the sudden it's wedding season and when I'm not shooting or editing, well, I owe it to my long-legged little chickadee to spend some real time with her.  So, if things are quiet for a little while, hang in there, I promise I'll be back and hopefully with a whole lot of summer adventure to share!

A little craftiness

So, like many, I discovered the fun of pinterest a few months ago.  I am determined to actually use the fun things I find; though, and not just make it another place to dump ideas that will never come to fruition.  We've used a lot of recipes and a couple of crafts... this one was one of my favorites.  You can find full directions here.  My project was even simpler (not that the original is hard), because we bought larger blocks that are sturdy enough to hold pictures by themselves with no weights.  So, honestly, my father-in-law did this project and we watched.  Whenever I send him a project, he always tells me to bring it up to grandpa's woodshop and we can make it happen.  It is such fun!

We made a set for Anni's room and a few more for some other littles in our lives ;).  Don't forget to check out the original post at plumpudding and make your own (she also tells you how to make them magnets)! 

Perspective

Sometimes I feel guilty about the fact that I work from home.  There are days when this little girl doesn't get the attention she deserves.  However, I let my mom guilt work in my favor today.  I coerced Anni to put her pants back on and asked her to pick out a hat, and we headed on our way.  The hat was definitely not what I had in mind, but other than the fact that we nearly lost it on our adventure, it was fortuitous as it made a perfect place to collect leaves.  We took a little trip across the street and into our neighborhood park, and when Anni stopped every few feet to sort everything (and I mean everything: rocks, leaves, wood chips, more leaves, more leaves...), I didn't get too impatient (I can't admit I wasn't impatient at all, I'm working on it).   

Most of the trip, she zoned in to her sorting.  However, when I started to sing the "Mr. Sun" song, adorable grins broke out.

I discovered a little pathway that is autumn beauty at it's best.  Fluttering leaves, golden light, and a sweet little girl, what more could a mama ask for?  Well, some things, but this was pretty good. 

See, sometimes, a little bit of that guilt is good for me.  It reminds me that my sweet will not be little forever, and there are only so many fall days in her 2nd year for me to take her leaf-sorting.  Balance between mommyhood and work will always be hard for me.  I was a photographer long before I was a mommy, so the transition is a little strange.  I've had to shift my perspective quite a bit, and I've realized, that if it comes right down to it, I'd rather disappoint a client (something I find terrifying and mortifying) than not take enough fall walks with my baby. 

The end.  ...and the beginning of mommy carrying the tired one home.

All about Anni

I know I've been away.  Miss Anni and I just spent a week with my family in Kansas... trying to do a little rest and relaxation, as well as be there for my beautiful sister's first craft fair while my hubby took a business trip.  We had a wonderful time, but I admit to still feeling a little overwhelmed with life.

How do you deal with the overwhelming demands of motherhood, being a wife, business and life in general?  I think I need some new coping mechanisms... and we're going to start with a little update on my sweet little one.  Yesterday marked 17 months since her birth, so I just want to revel in her little personality for a few minutes.

Nugget has definitely gotten the hang of walking.  She tends to do it at full speed with her arms in the air, yelling "Go, go, go!" or "Yaaaaaay!"  She's also picked up the "Go Big!"  of "Go Big Red!"  after spending a week with hardcore Cornhusker fans.  She is still a little unsteady, especially when she demands to walk on our jaunts outside, but I can't really blame her, I still trip over my own feet.

Our gal has hit the sorting phase.  It's pretty awesome.  These buttons keep her happily entertained and were especially helpful when I had to run out to a meeting and my mom watched her.  I love watching her little self busily at work sorting and thinking through what she's going to dump, pour and sometimes throw next.  She likes to sort other things as well (drawers full of paper, books and kitchen supplies), but this is probably the easiest to keep contained and takes up very little space.

This girl has a very distinct personality, and I love discovering all of its little facets.  She has very distinct body language for "shy" (a little chin dip and tiny smile while she keeps her eyes on the new person) as well as "nervous" (holding her wrists and plucking at her clothes a little).  She also has a wide array of smiles, some of which I haven't quite figured out yet (can a 17 month old have a sarcastic smile?).  As wonderful as it is to watch her grow, I also have to admit to being scared stiff that I will mess it up.  She is such a beautiful little soul and I'm a new mommy, just trying to figure all of this out.  My dad reminded me this weekend that he still didn't have it all figured out.

  
Anni got to spend a lot of time with her cousin, Charlie, and she loved it!  He was amazingly patient with her and she just wanted to follow him around and make sure she could pat his head whenever she wanted.  I love getting to see her love others.

We find her in some interesting positions as her flexibility lets her stretch beyond that of a normal toddler.  Even the normal toddler squat stretches into a little froggie pose.   Oh, and speaking of body parts (great segue right?), she knows a whole lot of hers.  She can point to her belly button, mouth, nose, eyes, ears, hair, feet and hands (well, she just wiggles the feet and hands, but she knows what they are).  Isn't it amazing watching little ones learn?

Oh, and we can't forget the temper tantrums.  She has a good scream on her and likes to instantly alert us to things that are not going her way.  We're working on it :).  

 
Sweet Anni, I love watching you grow!

Fulfillment

As we head into a new weekend, I figured I should take the time out of recovering from last weekend and do a little sharing on it :).  Our little family returned to the land of our college days on the pretense of a wedding and five other photo shoots... all in just 3 days.  Whew.  It was busy, exhausting and fulfilling.  Not only was it professionally fulfilling (I am so proud of some of the images I shot, I really felt like I'm taking some new knowledge to the next level), but on a personal, social level I totally got my love tank filled.  We were blessed to have a friend offer her basement at the last minute so that we didn't have to stay at a hotel.  It was a double blessing of extra time with a former college roomie (and her beautiful family!) as well as a little place to call our own for a few days.  Anni's nap schedule was eternally grateful.  

My formerly stranger-terrified little girl was thrilled with the opportunity to crawl to the dance floor and all over the other little ones rolling around on the floor.  Did I mention my family was invited to the wedding, too?  I LOVE when they are at weddings I'm working. 

 In addition, the wedding was the wedding of a college friend, so a lot of my college friends (and one of my own bridesmaids!) were there... meaning, as soon as I was on vacation Sunday evening, we did a little celebrating!

Flyer's on the river will always bring me back to college days.  We had that place filled and loud!  We were able to celebrate Jessie's birthday and eat some favorite Atchison food.   I can't even tell you how much I've missed some of my college friends, so this was a good time for everyone (plus, I can't resist all the loving Nugget got, girl has got to know by now how adorable and loved she is).
 

And then we moseyed on over to two more of my former roomies' new apartment.  It. is. beautiful.  Seriously, I want to live there.  They are going to decorate it up all cute... I can't wait to see! 

 

And Anni is a huge fan of the big spaces to crawl around in... Lellen kept an eye on her tricky ways.

And don't worry, there was more.  About an hour or two after her bedtime, we took advantage of our one hotel night to let Anni try swimming out.  As she and I walked in, I thought she wouldn't like it, because it was cold.  Lo and behold, this girl is a natural!  She didn't stop grinning, splashing or giggling the entire time.  I'm so glad my friend, Alicia, was there to take a few pictures so I could be in the water with her. 

And, since we were planning on driving out on Monday, you'd think the story ends there... but you'd be wrong.  The next morning we met up with Jess to grab some breakfast and... of course every single place we tried was closed (right, Memorial Day, they should be, but we still didn't plan for it!)  And the little greasy oasis in the desert?  McDonald's!  My friend Amanda is actually a swing manager there, so we managed to torture her a little as more friends randomly showed up.  It was an awesome way to end our trip... and we didn't end up leaving until after noon.

Oh, and Miss Antonia was introduced to the french fry.  She was, erm, a little obsessed.  Good thing we don't eat out very much.  Jess had finished hers and turned them so Anni could get them.  She slowly pulled them out, one by one, and laid them in her own little pile.  Hilarious, a little sneaky, and adorable.

Yep, good weekend.  Fulfilling.

Sweet baby love

Those of you that follow both of my blogs will recognize this from my photography blog, because it's the photographer in me that loves every grainy, dimly lit inch of this photograph of a daddy loving his girl.  But, it's the momma and wife in me too.  Seriously, though this is the one I want her to see when she's 23 and wants to get married.  If she ever needs to know how much her daddy loves her, this picture says it all.

[And if curiosity gets the better of you, this was late this evening when we had to retape her oxygen to her face long after she'd been asleep.  Poor girl was very confused afterwards and daddy just snuggled her back to sleep with this loving smile on his face the whole time.]

Celebrations

Tomorrow morning, we'll all get up just as the sun begins to peek over the horizon, because that's how our Nugget likes it recently.  We'll load all kinds of party things into our cars, and spend the morning getting girly haircuts (um, for the girls) and baking cakes and cupcakes and setting out pretty little favor boxes.

And the thing is, I know she won't remember this day.  But I will, and I'm so ready to party and celebrate the fact that we made it a year... that this little girl is so not letting the word "premature" define her and that we, as her parents, have survived the sleepless nights and reveled in the baby chuckles. 

Plus, it's an excuse to eat yummy treats and watch a baby destroy a piece of cake.

 
She is so loved.  (And I LOVE this photo - thank you to Jenny Hanlon Photography for our family pictures!)