sweet boy

This is my friend's third baby, who I never get to hold because I'm usually holding my own chunk of love. But Sunday he fell asleep on me in the church nursery. And I have to admit that snuggling him is a close second to snuggling my own. ;)

just one

Just a quick note: if you ever decide you're going to drive across the city after church, pick up lunch to enjoy with your friends who just had a baby, and then try to take photos of the newborn with your three kids in tow, shake yourself and tell yourself you're crazy! ;) It was nice to spend time with you all and have lunch, and hopefully I can try an actual newborn shoot soon...

two

Yep, she's officially two. ;)

abby

We've been waiting a long time to meet this little one. More on my photo blog here.

sunset

Sometimes it's handy to have that little point & shoot camera in your diaper bag. ;)

rollin'

That's right, we have a roller. He can roll from his stomach to his back (he actually learned that one first), but seems to have forgotten how now that he can roll from his back to him stomach. And it's hard work being stuck on your tummy. Obviously. ;) He's been waking up during naps and early, early morning because he's gotten stuck on his stomach and hates it. Oh well, the sleep was nice while it lasted. ;)

sometimes the last picture of the day...

...is my favorite.

morning routine

Love this article I found today by simple mom on finding motivation. One of the things she mentions is having a morning routine. I struggle with this...I usually roll out of bed after my hubby gets out of the shower (apparently I think the 15 minutes I'm not sleeping in bed is going to be restful) in the midst of everyone else getting up and needing me and things and...you get the picture.

So for two weeks I've been getting up at 6:30 and walking. Not every day. If I'm up often with the baby, or go to bed early, it just doesn't happen, and I've learned to just move on and not worry about it. But I'm finding it easier and easier to do, and actually look forward to a quiet walk before the hustle and bustle hits. The weather is usually perfect - not too hot or cold, I can hear myself think, and I come home with *usually* a few minutes to make coffee.

flashlight

finally a photo using just a flashlight. Thanks, Carmela, for the fun challenge. We had a busy weekend and I was a slacker about taking photos, but I'll try to do some more flashlight photos this week!

princess

Uncle Brian took her shopping this time for her birthday, and she picked out a princess outfit and football. Awesome.

may 20

favorite place in my house...


the baby's room. This is the room we decorated in a storybook theme for my oldest, until he outgrew it and is now in his big boy race-car room. The middle baby sleeps here now, and we added some "girly touches" but it's still very similar, and when we move baby #3 out of the dining room, he will inherit this room with his jungle theme bedding.

I love this corner specifically. We got this rocking chair as a gift before my first was born, and I've rocked all my babies in it. We've read countless books here, rocked away fevers and tears, fears and sleepy grumpies...I don't know if I'll ever be able to part with it. Maybe when this room ceases to be a nursery, this chair will get moved into the living room or play room (I think we've decided the dining room is gone for good) and my kids will continue to curl up in it with a good book.

Do you think I could just take this room with us if we ever move? ;)

may 19

favorite place away from my home (and a bit of a self-portrait)...



It's hard to pick a favorite place outside my home, but at the moment I would have to say Hadley's Tea. It isn't fancy - just a little tea shop close to my house, but my hubby comes home for lunch with the kids once a week and I get to have lunch by myself at Hadley's. I usually get a mug of Buckingham Palace, maybe a warmed up scone, and stake out a comfy chair by the window. They bring it all to you on a tray, with a cute little press to squeeze the tea out of your tea bag (made of loose teas, which you can also buy there) and a little ceramic tea holder for your bag when you're done. I get an iced tea to go every day as a thank you to my sweet husband for the refreshing time by myself.

I'm a little weird about just whipping out my camera and taking photos in a store, so here I am taking one of the window display (and juggling the iced tea, wallet, camera and keys, which may explain why I lost the straw...)

may 18

something from my yard...



oh, and these were in my yard while I was trying to take pictures...do they count? ;)

creative exercises abound...

So I've run out of steam on coming up with creative exercises, but fortunately, other people haven't. A friend on facebook created a group called "Random Photo Fun" and has listed these exercises for the week:

- a photo for the group
- self-portrait
- favorite place in your home
- something from your yard
- favorite place away from home

Well, I figured the first one should be a photo of a camera, and thought an antique camera would be cool, but I haven't started my antique camera collection yet. So I took a photo of my friend's (actually, my friend's husband's) antique camera. Thanks, Daniela!



I'm also exchanging challenges with a fellow 365 blogger and will get started on the challenge with lighting using only a flashlight as soon as I buy a flashlight. ;)

may 16

may 15

sometimes I just can't take enough photos of her...

this is what I was tempted to do...

...to my computer when it got infected with yet another nasty virus. I couldn't download pictures, open any programs, and had to keep the Internet and our phone turned off for a week while trying to get rid of it. Fortunately, my husband's solution to keep downloading virus protection to get rid of it was more sensible.

gardening

looking forward to fresh veggies this summer...

MOMS

Today was the last day of our MOMS group for the year. I have to admit that I'm ready for a break from leadership duties for the summer, but it was a fun end-of-the-year celebration, with lots of wonderful moms. And babies. Lots and lots of babies. ;)

Happy Mother's Day

May family self-portrait

so not perfect and blown out like crazy, but I love it.

The oldest just finished his first year of preschool. Unbelievable. He's in a stage of making funny faces for the camera, loves anything CARS or Hotwheels, is counting down the days until Christmas (I don't think he realizes his birthday comes first on the calendar), still torments his sister, just fished for the first time and is learning to play chess (sort-of). I'm grateful for his strong will - he isn't one to follow the crowd.

Middle baby is getting ready to turn 2. She's independent, daring, sensitive, cuddly, and spunky. I love that she's so independent and think it will serve her well as a woman, even though now it means lots of laundry since she won't accept any help using a spoon. She loves her brothers, wants to keep up with the oldest and adores her uncle. She's the life of the party, and draws attention wherever she goes.

The youngest baby is obviously malnourished (kidding). He's a little chunk at 19 pounds now. He sometimes sleeps through the night (when my humidifier is on and I can't hear him), likes to be held and walked, and finds his older siblings fascinating.

We're ready for cold & flu season to be over - all three have another cold, and three seems really hard when they're all sick and we're stuck at home. It's the middle of May - are we done yet?!

let's go fly a kite...

Mother's Day Tea

How is my baby old enough to be finishing his first year of preschool?!?

dusted off the walking shoes...

Sadly, it's been a while since I've done much exercising. I've had the best of intentions (including the purchase of a double jogging stroller) to go walking with the younger two after dropping off the oldest at preschool since...January? But it's been too cold, or the kids have been sick, or I've been too tired - you get the picture. I decided to start today. So I dropped off the preschooler, and walked the 3.3 mile loop around Albuquerque Academy pushing a double jogging stroller. Sounds reasonable for a reintroduction into the world of exercise, right? My gluts care to differ.

superhero "chest" (translation: chess)

The oldest is really into chess right now...not so much playing it as setting up the board, with some direction from dad (I'm no help in this area). I'm a little worried that he's learning on a superhero chess set - will he always associate knights with The Incredible Hulk and rooks with Spider Man? I can see him playing other kids and saying, "my hulk took your spidey." Only time will tell I suppose...And yes, Captain America is the king, but I don't know who that woman is who is queen. It should be Wonder Woman! ;)

there are no words...