7 Months and Growing

Dear Claire,
Seven months ago today you were a little red and swollen baby who was screaming at the world after a very hard day and night.  Seven months ago today your daddy and I were in complete shock and overjoyed at your presence and we still are today.

Active babies are harder to get pictures of!

Seven Months.

At seven months you love to sit by yourself and I can barely make you lay down and play anymore, and tummy time is not happening at all unless you roll yourself into it.

You love your exersaucer and just started shrugging your shoulders yesterday.
You like to throw your hands in the air and squeal.
You have just started biting while nursing... we are working on stopping this activity as soon as possible.
You are eating sweet potatoes, squash, rice cereal and peas. You seem to like the peas most of all.
You still wake up every 3-4 hours at night, I don't agressively try to wean you from any night feedings until you reach at least 15 pounds (which I think we are near).
You are getting more wispy little hairs.

You giggle and shrug your shoulders when we kiss your back.
You love to stand and "take steps".
You like to blow bubbles and sometimes seem to say "Ma-ma" especially when you are upset.
You go to sleep on your own and roll over as if to say, "Now get out of my room please."
You have two, very sharp bottom teeth.
You love when mamma and daddy sing and dance for you.
You got a little pink ukelele while we were in Hawaii- I can only imagine that some day you will love it very much.
You love all people and other babies but typically melt down pretty quickly when I take you to the nursery.

When people see you they typically comment on how alert and attentive you are and that you are a long lean string green bean.
Now you are looking more like daddy.

Nap time/cousin time.

You look almost as big as your cousin Cooper!

Aloha and Mahalo! Hawaii Big Island Adventure Day 1 Photo Essay

Aloha and Greetings from blustery cold mainland Texas!

This past week we were extremely blessed to go with J to a conference in Hawaii. Baby flies free, husband's trip is covered so why not let me tag along?

We learned several things on this trip:

1. Claire is a great traveler and very very social.

We sort of already knew this but it is official now. Claire would make eye contact with people or "lock on" to someone and keep smiling at them, yelping and squealing until they looked AND smiled and then she would flap her arms, jump around and smile. She was infectious. Only one woman looked at her and didn't smile back. Heart of stone in that one I tell ya. I think she may have have been a heartless droid of some sort.

2. Pay for an extra piece of luggage and fill it with snacks. Resort food is pricey. You'll make back what you had to pay for the luggage easily and then can fill it with all of the seashells and ukeleles you are sure to buy.

3. Take an umbrella stroller. Our stroller weighed more than the 20 pound limit. Not ever having had a baby, travelling with one was quite the new experience. So when we learned that you can take your stroller up to the door of the plane and they will stow it away for you we considered it then rejected the idea since ours was two pounds over. Besides, we have carriers and they seemed just as easy.

A knowing friend insisted and brought over her umbrella stroller at 11pm the night before we left when I finally caved.

And...

She was brilliant. Take the stroller. Claire loved it in the airports, we hung our bags on it, and best yet- we used it non stop at the resort and would drape a nursing cover over it and park it under some waterfalls (caves in the swimming pool area= natural sound machine) and let her nap while we read when she would not in a million years nap on us.

4. When on the island, rent a car. What you get out of it outweighs the cost. This is not only true in great experiences but also since resort food is ridiculously expensive. I took oatmeal packets to eat and we shopped at a little market for sandwich stuff for one meal a day as well. But that other meal (think fourteen dollar sandwiches) really broke the bank. With the rental car we ventured out to some local dives for some good eats (the best actually) and saw breathtaking scenery.

Now for some pictures.

Kona sunrise- 6am. Claire did not understand that we could indeed sleep past 4 am. Eventually we consented and we went for a dark walk to see the Pacific for the first time, and watch the sun rise. Here Jacob gives her her very first geology lesson on lava and coral.

Claire is entranced with the coral of the sea.

The entire family at our early morning visit to the shore.

Daddy-daughter talk about the beauty of God's creation.

Claire's first time in the ocean. She loved it, just like mama!

Claire and mom slathered in sunblock spf 80.

The view from our balcony. Naptime meant mommy had lots of balcony reading time while daddy attended meetings.

Bible study, coffee, quiet alone time and a beautiful view... that is paradise.

Back to the sea! Claire loved all of the new things to see! She could really do this sort of thing every day.

"Caves" in the pools. These waterfalls and caves were perfect, cool, loud (natural sound machine) and out of the sun. We parked Claire and read while she napped.

Back to reading! James Dobson's "The New Strong willed Child", and trying to memorize the book of James- again- paradise.

There were dolphins there for a "dolphin experience" where you could pay to swim with them. We just watched and loved it. They also had a little baby dolphin.

More caves and the ever-used umbrella stroller. Claire was a little worn out by this point.

 Wiped Out! After a long journey (three flights), a sleepless night and getting up at 4am- naps in a cave couldn't give this baby enough rest. We were supposed to go to  Luau that night but her afternoon nap turned into this... our usual light sleeper didn't wake up when we moved her, watched t.v. and tried to wake her. We were both showered and dressed up and ended up eating in bed while watching HGTV and reading.

Laugh It Up

Some days you just need a giggle. I just had a birthday and like to giggle around birthday time.

February Days, Sun and Rocks: Photo Essay of Sorts

Today was a day where the sun said, "Season, I don't want it to be winter today."

And so it wasn't.

It was sun-shiny glorious beautimousness instead.

And I ate up every drop.

I got to spend the morning with my two nephews. I have two nephews- did you know that? And they are two of the sweetest little gumdrops in the whole world. With hearts sweet like honey and as kind as they can be.

We went for a walk while the sun and the season were still talking out who would take over the day.

We picked up rocks, threw rocks and hopped on rocks. That's what boys do. And aunts if they know what's good for them.

And in a semi-arid desert like area there is always an abundance of rocks... even in the place of grass.

We did the normal Wednesday things- Bible study, church small group, and when daddy got home Claire gave him one little smile and we were out the door to lap up all of that gorgeous sun that we could.

Jacob helped me to find gorgeous photos for my 365 project... That's what this amazing husband does.

And Claire kept practicing her fake cry and fake cough- which are especially hard to believe when she's doing them with this smile on her face...

Cough! Cough!

Yep.. it was a gorgeous, sun shiny-wanna-go-on-a-walk kind of day.

"Because your love is better than life,
   my lips will glorify you." -Psalm 63:3

January 2012- 365 and Media

As of today I have officially finished one complete month of the 365 project!

Whew. It's quite the commitment. Already though I really enjoy looking back over the pictures to see where we've come from.


It's been fun to see milestones and how are days have been spent (like Claire getting her second tooth today!).

This month has been a special month for us because Jacob and I have been on a media fast (aside from the blog of course).

We sat and made lists of other things we could do with our time other than "unplugging" in front of the tv.

Already this month we have spent more time reading, organizing and.. you know.. talking.

It's been a really good exercise and I'm sad to see it end in a lot of ways. My to do wish list and books to read is still there and typically shrinks must slower than it has this past month.

Picture Post: J& B's Wedding Shower

This was a very special weekend. Jacob's sister is getting married and it was such a joy to be able to take part in showering her and her fiancee with love.

It was also such a joy to be able to see Claire learn the world and people around her better.

Beautiful people in a beautiful home full of beautiful love and gifts...

 Paula's home is decorated in such a way that I want to move in.. tomorrow...

Call me Paula, my bags are packed!

 Ladies love to chat. It's just what we do.

 And there are no friends like old friends.

 Three generations of sweetness!

 I wanted to steal this blanket but it just didn't seem right.

 The hostesses.

 The very happy couple.

 Family.

 Someone broke into the punch!

 And Uncle John's heart!

And great Aunt Linda's as well!

365 Rejects Galore: How to Choose a Photo You Love

365 is a project/challenge I've hear about for years. The premise is that you take a picture every day for a year and that you will have a fun group of photos to look back on and that you will become a better photographer.

I have never really felt up to the challenge (though I have tried it once before). Until now. I have officially started the 365 project this year.

Already I feel that I've gotten a lot out of it. If only being more brave with my camera and taking it everywhere with me.

The hardest thing by far is picking only one picture to share.

So how do you choose a photo you love?

1. Get feedback from other people.

I talk to friends who also like taking pictures and value their feedback. I am a part of a group on Flickr where I regularly get feedback. Sometimes a fresh eye and a different perspective help a lot.

I first go through and rate my photos, culling out the top ten or so photos that catch my eye and are meaningful. I normally have some that are more "artistic" and some that simply highlight a milestone or a memorable moment (whether they are 'beautiful' or not).

2. Ask a non photographer their opinion.

I always ask Jacob for his opinion. He loves to take the occasional picture but really doesn't get all excited like I do. I value his "top choices" because it helps me to see what someone who doesn't consider themselves "artsy" likes or, sometimes, doesn't like.

In the end though, pick what you like. It's your project and you know how you want the project to go.

 3. Break the Rules!

There are rules to everything in life and photography is no different. Rule of thirds, exposure etc. But sometimes you should just go with your gut. If no one else likes it you can just consider it good experience and move on. After all, a lot of being creative is trusting your instincts and taking chances.

To put it simply, sometimes when I just cannot for the life of me choose one photo I love- I don't. I choose two. It's your project. Do what you like and pick what YOU love.

4. Consider the overall story.

Many people bind their finished project or blog into a book. Ever wondered why that person seems to talk about things that only interest them? Well.. It is their blog/project after all and they have a motive besides entertaining you. Shocking- I know.

When I look at my pictures I hope to be able to look back in five years and remember shopping for that wedding gift, or Claire getting her first tooth. It's entirely subjective and I am ultimately, the only person who really needs to be over the moon about all of the subjects. I really love each photo I choose. And I even really love the  "alternates" and "rejects" I almost choose.

So when I look at my photos I always ask myself, "Is this beautiful?", "Is it unique?", "Is it meaningful to me?" and "Does it tell a bigger story?" And on that note, have an idea the story you want to tell. The story of your year? Of the drought? Of the election? What is the story you want to be able to communicate some day to other people?

In the end- it's simply not easy making the cut. But the more you practice the easier it gets.

5. Remember that you are unique- and so is your documentation of this world! 

No one else in the entire world sees things quite like you. No one. Amazing isn't it? So dare to capture life around you in little snippets. Dare to document the world as you see it. Someone will appreciate it even if it's only your significant other or child down the road.
Your story is unique- so share it!

If you're interested in taking up the challenge- you can start on any day of the year, try many variations (some people take one picture a week),  and you can use ANY camera you have (phones too!). And you don't have to be a photographer (though if you're using a camera... you ARE), you just have to be willing!

Don't be afraid of failure. This isn't even my first time to try this project. After all, what do you have to lose?

Happy Shooting!

 If you've done this or a similar project- how do you choose that one special photo?