365 Photos in 365 Days: Week 15

Just going to let the photos do the talking for this set, my friends.  Happy Holy Week, I hope it's a blessed one for you.

 

Some people renovate their own kitchen...

We, apparently, just renovate our little ones' kitchen.  Three Christmases ago, we got Anni a little play kitchen.  We kept it small, because we were living in an apartment, on a budget, and figured her imagination could make up for what it lacked in size.  Throw in some ikea pots and pans and we were set.

For most of the time we lived in the apartment, it lived in a variety of angles in a corner by our kitchen/eating area (I'm still completely unsure as to why apartments feel the needs to put carpet in the dining area, but that's neither here nor there).  At some point (a point I, of course, have no photos of) I bought a stack of ikea spice racks and we managed to get one hung before we moved. 
 

When we moved to the house, it took a few months, but we finally got that one lonely shelf back up.

 
It was good, but it definitely wasn't quite enough.  We had added play food, dishes, and some empty spice bottles since the original purchase of the kitchen, and I got really tired of finding places to stuff everything.  I had had other simple organization plans for awhile, but it took a day of Daniel's parents coming down to help us with other, more important, things (mainly a leaky kitchen pipe) to get our rears in gear and get it done.
   

Ta-da!  It's one of those things that the girls really don't care about either way, but this mama is very happy that there is a place for everything.

We added a second shelf, and, on the first shelf, we added a row of hooks for the tea cups and hot pads.  Then, we (I say we, but Daniel and his dad actually did the work... I just directed) added several "s" hooks the the little bar over the sink so that the pots and pans had a home of their own.  Maybe I should start thinking about some upgrades to my own kitchen now...

365 Photos in 365 Days: Week 14

 After a long day of boring-mommy-wasn't-quite-over-the-plague, I threw together a fort right before Daddy walked in... because this girl had never had a blanket fort (a huge blanket tent once, but she probably doesn't remember that).  Everyone needs a fort sometimes.  I love how happy it made her!

 Poor Lettie got the bug next.  Her favorite baby (other than her sister's favorite baby) ended up in the line of fire, and she was devastated when I took it away to wash.  I ended up throwing the baby's clothes in the washer, and wrapping the damp, but clean, little baby in a wash cloth for her.  She spent the rest of the morning requesting  I re-wrap it.

 And then went Anni.  Surprisingly, she wasn't first, and didn't even have it worst this time.  Maybe those probiotics really are helping our immuno-deficient chickadee?

 The long days of "I know you're hungry, but I also know if you eat more than a popsicle or applesauce, you're going to throw it all up".  I absolutely hate having to say no to the desperate "I'm hungry" pleas.

Woohoo, starting to recover!  Colette actually didn't do a ton of moaning and groaning, but I let her nurse as much as she wanted, and she was really pretty happy and normal except for her "early morning vomit" for several days running (probably from nursing in the night and her tummy not processing it all very quickly).  Aren't you glad you asked?

Anni's new "pincher" arrived just in time to help her get all rehydrated.  Seriously, my non-drinker probably downs more water than I do now that she can get it herself.  Excellent investment!

 So happy to be back to normal!  Getting dressed and making a mess never felt so good.

365 Photos in 365 Days: Week 13

Many nights, Anni will ask to say good night to the moon.  It was a tradition started in our last apartment that she remembered and started to ask about again recently.  It's such a sweet way to wrap up our night, even if they don't find it amongst the clouds. 

 When I think of it, I like to pull the love seat out a bit from the window to make opening and closing the curtains easier.  The girls love to chase each other behind the couch, and it gets them giggling hysterically if I peek over the top to catch them in the act.

 Library trips are always a blast!  Colette toddles from books, to tables, to me, mostly making messes wherever she.  Anni asks me to read every book she sets her eyes on before she moves to the CD players on the walls.  It's a love/love relationship.

 Technically, Daniel took this one... but I figured it was probably healthy to be in the shot occasionally!

Such a little doll!  I just loved everything about this one.

Who can so no to those pigtails?  Technically, I had to, since sister was playing outside while I cooked, and I can't trust the one-year-old out there yet, but she sure was sweet watching sissy play!

 

There was almost no photo for this day as I was struck by a stomach plague and spent most of the day passed out in bed.  I managed just a couple at story-time and oi-la!  The end of week 13.

Seven Quick Takes: XVII

-ONE-

Seeing the following this week was a big deal.  The truth is, it's all God and Raquel who swayed this mama, but my photo having the littlest part in that?  Felt pretty good. (PS Family: it's a little confusing that they use my family nickname as code for their client... but it's just a coincidence!) 

 

-TWO-

 I photographed a birth yesterday.  Oh, my stars, it was quite the night.  I got the call that my client's water broke in the evening on Wednesday, and then proceeded to stare at my phone, adrenaline pumping, as I awaited the news that she was far enough along for me to come join the party.  After a quick message to let me know she was at a five and they were going to rest, and making some plans for me to come in a couple of hours later, I got a rushed message that she was a 10 and baby was coming!  I hopped in the car so fast, I barely remember it.  Then I hit a nasty, slushy, icy, April snow storm (thanks, Colorado).  As I navigated the roads, I prayed both that I would avoid an accident and that somehow the baby wouldn't have been born yet (without causing any extra trauma to Mama). 

Prayers answered!  I made it into their room at about 5, baby was born at about 7, and I stuck around for a few hours of shooting this sweet littles first hours of life.  I don't know that I will take on many births in the future (the spur of the moment aspect is tough with little ones!) but I am so very glad I did this one.

-THREE-

Switching to the more random and inane: I really, really like Indian food.  Like, really.  Well, the less spicy stuff, because apparently I can't handle it (in comparison to my husband and two daughters who revel in the spicy things).  Last night, Daniel and I split an order after the girls had gone to bed.  so. good. and worth the fact that my previously-in-the-week sick tummy proooobably wasn't completely ready for it.  

-FOUR-

I'm starting to get excited for all of our trips this summer.  Then I realize I have to wear a swimsuit, and that excitement wanes a bit.  But, still, exciting!  A family trip to Nebraska (my family's vacations are definitely on the nerdy, find the diamond in the rough, side... meaning awesome) and a trip to California to celebrate Baba's 80th birthday (Daniel's very Yugoslavian grandmother) amidst several other smaller trips for weddings.  whew.  Maybe I should start planning a nap for the fall?

-FIVE-

We're also in the midst of "hey, everyone, let's puke up our guts".  Luckily, I got it and was over it first, both before anyone else came down with it and shooting the above birth.  Thank goodness!  It's much easier to take care of the littles when I (hopefully) won't get it and am feeling pretty well.  We ran out of detergent last night... and there were about eight loads waiting when Daniel brought some home tonight.  Sheets and jammies were first in... they are desperately needed!

-SIX-

I'm tired and there are funny shows to be watched with my darling, patient, husband upstairs... so let's wrap this up!  I know, things went downhill quickly. 

-SEVEN-

Check out more, much better thought out, seven quick takes at Conversion Diary.