The Grouch Takes some Pictures

Considering my precarious emotional state today (i.e. extreme crankiness) I knew it was probably NOT a good idea to attempt pictures of the kids. (See Photographer's Child Syndrome Post), but I had shoo-ed the boys outside for some "fresh air" (read: sanity for myself) and the lighting conditions were so perfect, I decided to give it a go.

Last week it was REALLY cold here...like, high 30's and 40s during the day and around freezing at night. After living in Florida, and now here in Georgia, we haven't bought winter coats in about 3 years, and I was feel'n the brisk air run through my sweatshirt and knowing that the boys were in need of some warm coats. Of course, I went out and bought them coats last Saturday and it's been a pleasant 70 degrees ever since then. Anyway, their coats look so cute, I wanted some pictures so I forced them to put them on (I'm not a mean person - it HAS cooled to around 60 and there's a nice breeze) so I could take some pictures.

Here's AJ....his new coat has a furry hood which makes him look remarkably like an Eskimo, if you ask me. :)






Here's Owen. Couldn't decide if I liked black/white or color better.....

I'm Grouchy

I'm tired. For most of the day.
I'm nauseous. For a lot of the day.
My husband is gone. ALL the time.
My house is a total dump. Constantly.
My children are fighting and whining 24/7.
I've barely done any Christmas shopping.
Obedience is rare around here lately.
Spankings and other forms of discipline are not.
AJ is whining and hanging off my arm as I type.

I'm grouchy.

And I don't wanna talk about it.

Little Peanut #3

Went to the dr. this a.m.
As any woman of child-bearing age knows, a trip to the ob/gyn is no picnic. I'm still cringing from the experience....not to mention the number of times that i heard the word "panties", *shudder* among other cringe-inducing proper medical terms.I'll stop at that.
Moving on to happier thoughts....here's the little bugger. I'm 9 weeks along, everything looks great. He/She was wiggling around during the ultrasound so that was fun. I even got to see him/her in the 3D ultrasound technology for a minute, but they don't let you keep copies of those...they're just trying to seduce you to fork over the $150 (non-insurance covered) cost of the 3D ultrasound. I politely passed, but it WAS really cool.

Official due date is: July 12.

Here's info I found online about what's going on in my human incubator:

The baby is now approximately 13-17 mm crown to rump length, or about 0.51 - 0.66 inches. S/he also weighs in at 1 gram! Toe rays are present as the toes begin to form. Gonads have become testes (for boys) or ovaries (for girls), although it's still too early to determine the sex. Baby will move away if touched through the uterine wall, and can spontaneously move as well. Ossification (hardening) of the bones may begin. Eyes/eyelids have formed but are firmly sealed closed until further development. He or she now has all the major organs, muscles and nerves.

Here's the very first picture ever taken of our baby. Click to enlarge.

*Blink*

The *Blink * theory is about the first two seconds of looking--the decisive glance that knows in an instant.

This is an interesting idea to apply to photography, because how many times do I pass on an opportunity to capture a moment I love because the lighting isn't ideal, or the angle is weird, or the kids have snot all over their face? Or how many photos do I put in the computer trash bin because they're out of focus, or someone else would think it's weird, or it doesn't have much visual impact - it's just a foot, or a blur of a child running by?

Today I employed blink. AJ was sleeping on the air mattress in the computer room and I was working. I turned around and there he was - fast asleep, peacefully dreaming. How many times have I taken pictures of him sleeping? What would make this one any different from a million others?? *BLINK* I followed my gut and quietly snapped a few. It took 8 seconds. I didn't fiddle with settings, look for the best angle, I just took them. Are they technically perfect? No. Do they mean much to anyone but me? Probably not. But I'm glad I listened to my heart, and I'm glad I took these pictures. This is A.J....sleeping, taking a nap in the middle of the day. Normally he doesn't do this, but he has been fighting a cold for a few weeks now, so he's been more tired than usual. Or maybe he's growing. But daytime naps are few and far between for him, and I want to remember this time of siesta in the middle of my baby's day. Snuggled up with a warm blanket, binky plugged into his tiny mouth, chest gently rising and falling.

Photography doesn't have to be your medium - journals, blogs, scrapbooks, art...there are many ways to follow your gut and in a thousand different circumstances.
Blink. Follow your gut.

Today he is 2 years 8 months old, and I want to remember that.

Time for Some Jeopardy

Ok...everyone knows Jeopardy. And everyone knows the Jeopardy theme song.....so - go ahead. Start humming it. Out loud. I'm not moving on until you're humming it....doo-DOO-doo-doo-DOO-doo-doo........




Time for the question...or should I say the answer.


I'll take Irony for $500 Alex.



Answer: Steve and Tammi Nowack




Question?? Well, do you have it???

And the Question is: Who is the most fertile couple on the planet?





Yup. We're pregnant. Baby Nowack #3 should be here in July. Above you see preggo tests number 4 and number 5. When I called the dr. a few weeks ago to schedule an appt. this is how the phone conversation went:
"I'd like to schedule an appt. with Dr.----. Oh, and I'm a new patient"
"Ok...and the reason for your appt"
"I'm got myself knocked up"
"Oh, and are you sure?"
"Well....let's see: no period, sore boobs, constant nausea, 5 pregnancy tests...yup, other than a dead rabbit, I'm pretty sure"


Oh. And at the grocery store, apparently they now hide pregnancy tests behind the pharmacist's counter. After I looked for one up and down the aisles for about 10 minutes, I finally walked up to the counter and discreetly asked for a pregnancy test, all the while looking over my shoulder hoping to NOT see anyone I knew - I felt like an underage kid trying to score a pack of smokes as I kept twitching around in anxious anticipation...expecting one of my friends to walk up to me at any moment. This mission was VERY incognito.
Anyway, she showcases like Vanna White an entire 18 foot high shelf with no less than 427 different kinds of pregnancy tests. She smiled with a look of pity as my pupils grew twice their size. Quickly looking over my shoulder again, I fervently said, "Whatever. I don't care. They all look the same. Just give me one"
She proceeded to grab two, and was a little too perky when she exclaimed,
"This one is very reputable, but THIS one comes with THREE in it!" As if she was sharing a secret on the level of national security. Good heavens! THREE?! No!! Indeed I have discovered a treasure trove of HcG hormone predicting magic!
I bought them all and took them home. I took them throughout the next week and EVERY SINGLE ONE was positive. After I finally accepted the fact that yes, I was pregnant, I went back to the same grocery store for prenatal vitamins. After I had scoured the vitamin shelving unit for 13 minutes, I decided to seek help. Ironically, the same person was there.
"Can you help me find the prenatal vitamins?"
"Oh - sure they're right over----" and then she stopped and took a good look at me.
"Ohhhhh" she said, with a knowing smile.


"Yeah....Ohhh. It's me again"


We're still getting used to the idea. Ready or not....the countdown begins. #3 is on its way.

I Kid You Not

This afternoon I drove the boys downtown to play at the play park. As we're driving down there the boys are in the back saying, "ooohhh, the city - we're going to the city".

Well, we drive by this government building downtown - I'm not sure what it is - but it has a fountain and some flags out front.
From the back seat, I hear Owen point it out and say:


"Oh - THERE'S the United Nations"



What the ????

Sneak-Peek for Spees

Just starting weeding through my shoot with Steve's brother and his family. Here's a quick peek.


Sloan...


Sammi...


The Happy Couple...awww...aren't they cute?


And this one just makes me laugh. :)