Embrace the Camera: March 3, 2011 - Photo Booth Edition

When Daddy is away, the mice will play! J is out of town again so I took the kids to the mall to get out of the house and our usual free activity took a turn for the worst (worse?) when I got the brilliant idea to take both of the kids into a photo booth. One teeny tiny little stool that swivels and two children up past nap time = not the greatest pictures in the world (that second picture is awful!). Especially when you consider the $5!! spent (sorry, honey). But, alas, we have a fun memory...right? :)

Embrace the Camera: February 17, 2011

Cuddles with Dad: so exhausted, yet so bored.

Did you know cell phones disrupt heart monitors or something like that? It is with good reason, then, that I don't have a sad little picture of me and my baby boy lying on a hospital bed. That's what we did today. Yesterday was a low-grade fever, but this morning he was having a very hard time breathing and looked awful, awful, awful. As an overexaggerator I have a hard time figuring out if I'm just worstcasescenario-ing (yes, that's a verb) a situation or if it truly is an emergency. Turns out, my intuition was right this morning. He has croup and poor baby was administered epi through a mask (screaming bloody murder fun) and then given a steroid to help out his little lungs. He looked so much better on the way home from the hospital and actually gave me a smile or two. Apparently croup is much worse at night and I've read it is a "three night thing." If there is one thing that really gets me, it's sleep deprivation. This is not quite how I imagined family time for our "family day" long weekend (for all you US residents, Canada now has a holiday (this coming Monday) called family day). However, I am so thankful he is feeling better. Now, does someone want to come make dinner for me? ;-) {This post was written yesterday, the 17th of February, but I went to bed early without publishing!}

Embrace the Camera: February 3, 2011

It has been insanely busy at our house lately which is why I've missed a few weeks of Embrace the Camera. I feel okay about that, though, because in doing so I feel like I've really been living intentionally around here so far this year. Other than birthing a baby and nourishing it for a year, I didn't do much else in 2010. I really want to step up my life in 2011 - spiritually, personally, physically, etc. Basically in all aspects (except having a baby!) ha, ha. So please excuse my absence, but know that I'm doing good things :)

I really am in this week's picture, it's just hard to tell. I'm the one on the left, the big, fat troll --


Zoe and I recently made a shadow box and are slowly growing our list of characters. During brother's nap we tip toe back to mommy's closet, close the door, turn on the flashlight, and set the stage. She loves it. And so do I. This is such a special time I'm trying to hold onto -- one-on-one time with my little girl. She is growing up so fast! I know Colby will drop the two nap schedule soon, but until then, I'm going to cherish these moments.

Embrace the Camera: January 13, 2011

Me and Zoe soaking up our vitamin D while "little brudder" takes a nap. This is such a cozy spot on sunny, winter days!

And, just for fun, a flashback to me and Zoe last year at this time --

41 weeks pregnant. Everything about this picture cracks me up. The birthing pool in the background. Zoe's missing pigtail. Zoe's hair in general. The look on her face. The look on my face. How huge I am. Clearly, baby boy, we were doing nothing but waitin' on YOU! And, boy, were we tired of it!


Embrace the camera! It's fun!

Embrace the Camera: January 6, 2011

That (above) was my first time writing 2011. Feels weird, like it always does at the beginning of a new year. I sure hope this one doesn't go as fast as last year. The years seem to fly by now that we have kids. Time flies when you're having fun, right? Or, maybe, time flies when you're sleep deprived, changing countless diapers, nursing 8 times a day, constantly cleaning up puke, making dinner, doing laundry, etc. etc. etc! :) 2010 was a great year (I can say that now that it's over :) ) But I'm really looking forward to new beginnings around here. Happy new year!

This week's picture is from our time in the states {over the holidays} at my parents' house. J and Zoe playing in the snow. Zoe is officially not my daughter. She loves the snow. I do not. I'm more like Colby, who, yesterday, as I was dressing him for an outing in the snow, screamed the entire time. I sat him near the window as I was putting on my coat hoping the view would intrigue him, but the poor boy was so padded in snow gear (think A Christmas Story) that he fell straight back, hitting his head on the air vent. I just kept telling myself that once we got out there he would love it and stop crying. I was wrong. He cried the entire time. Then I cried once we got back inside and finally took off all of our layers. Can we say - not. worth. it?!

Without further ado, here are my two snow bunnies on a beautiful snowy day in Pennsylvania

Embrace the Camera: December 9, 2010 - Flashback

We didn't take a single picture this week (until today; I got my camera back!), so today's embrace the camera features a flashback to last year at this time. Looking at this picture, I have to laugh. It was only the second week in December, my due date was January 10th, but I was so completely certain that my baby was coming early. In fact, I was pretty confident he'd be here on or before December 29th. He had to be. I was huge. And very uncomfortable. But baby boy didn't show up until January 19th! Yes, 9 days AFTER my due date! Oh well, he came when he was good and ready.

Zoe's hair {and outfit!} crack me up.

To make matters worse, my husband and child liked to mock me.

Embrace the Camera: December 2, 2010

My last Embrace the Camera featured pictures from my birthday "party," during which, the flash on my camera completely and randomly died. So, my NEW Nikon was rushed to the shop in hopes that we might get it back before the holidays! Despite the fact that I haven't had my camera, I do have some fabulous embrace-worthy photos to share today. We got the rest of our pictures back from our family photo shoot and I am beyond pleased with them!

There are many more to share, but at an average of 10 minutes per photo to upload onto here, forget it!

Enjoy...and embrace your camera!

Embrace the Camera: November 18, 2010 -- Birthday Edition

Tuesday was my birthday and, boy, did I get spoiled! My sweet husband did so many thoughtful things to make this birthday a special one. I think my most favorite moment was when Zoe came blasting through my bedroom door at 7am (I'm sound asleep, mind you) shouting "Happy birthday, Mommy!" Then she pulled herself up onto the bed, handed me a gift and an envelope. As I opened the card, I heard, in a soft whisper - "go, go" and then, in a sweet little voice - "happy birthday to mommy, happy birthday to mommy..." {Johnnie recorded her singing; it was one of those recordable cards}Ah, it melted my heart. Thank you, Johnnie and Zoe and Colby for making momma feel so special this year!

So, without further ado, here are some photos from my special day --

Discussing the art of blowing out a candle. Zoe loves it.

 

A special red plate for a red-plate-series-cupcake! (Thanks, mom)

The chaos that is my life :)

Side note #1: I really need to figure out my camera. I think the cupcake is in focus in most of these shots!

Side note #2: I think it's time for an Embrace the Camera: Spouse Edition. We are definitely lacking in that department!

Embrace the Camera: November 11, 2010

This week I am sharing about a sweet routine that's fallen into place in our household. Every night around 6:30-7pm our baby boy crashes and is miserable until he's put to bed. Apparently his daddy was the same way, though I can't imagine :-). So as me and the babe make our way to the back of the house for the last nursing session of the day and bedtime rituals, Zoe and her father snuggle up on the couch to read two Bible books and, Zoe's favorite, Curious George. It's very sweet. And I'm willing to bet it's her favorite time of day. Love them!

Starting to read along :)

Next week, I promise, I'm going to be in the picture!

Embrace the Camera: November 4, 2010

I wasn't sure if Zoe was really going to get into (or get) halloween but, boy, was I wrong! She loved it. When the first door opened, she said "I want candy." Ha! We worked on that. After each door closed, she ran down the steps saying "another door, another door." It was cute. I don't know if our family will choose to celebrate halloween every year, but for this year, it was fun.

Here we are - me and my monkey. Freezing.

And in the spirit of halloween, here's a picture of Zoe and J just as they are exiting the haunted house -- poor girl!

Embrace the Camera: October 28, 2010

There's been a lot of baking going on. But now it's time to embrace the camera. I missed last week. It was a truly hectic week! But, we're back :) This past weekend we met up with our photographer. Here is one of the family shots from our "sneak peek" --

And I must also share this picture because it captures my children so perfectly --

Embrace your camera!

Embrace the Camera: October 7, 2010

Today we captured one of our daily activities - the wagon ride. We got some vitamin D and good exercise. And though we only go around the block, it takes about half an hour because we pick up every single dandelion and crunchy leaf along the way. These wagon rides play a vital role in keeping us all sane during the week. Colby never makes a peep while in the wagon (he's been whining a lot lately). And Zoe gets the required exercise needed for her daily nap (which is crucial to ME!) Colby is also sitting up like a big boy in there now which is totally cute.

Embrace the Camera: September 30, 2010

Style hair or blog? This morning I chose to blog. Who am I kidding, I almost never choose to style my hair! It's a busy day, so let's get to it - it's Embrace the Camera Thursday!







I was spying on dad and baby here, so please pardon all the distracting wood. Looks like Colby is "checking in" with dad. I love how they look to us to know how to feel about certain situations. "Mom thinks this is okay? Okay, I'm good." Know what I mean?

Oh, and I love that dimple.

I'm not in the photo below, but I might as well be. My heart and soul go into my baking and to let a little two year old help me, well, let's just say that's a giant step for this perfectionist! J was out of town until late. Baby was in bed. I wanted to bake some cupcakes, but I didn't want to wait another hour until Zoe went to bed. Plus, I thought she'd enjoy it. She loves helping me do the pancakes and we've done cookies before, too. I'm so glad we did it together. She loved it. She accidentally snorted the cinnamon which caused some upset, but she recovered well. So here she is, fresh out of the bath, pjs on, baking some cupcakes with her momma. How cute is this?

Embrace the Camera: The Trying Twos Edition - September 23, 2010

I just love this picture. My two year old daughter is being, well, a two year old, and lately has either been running from the camera or cheesing it up so much that her eyes are closed. Here she is with her daddy in a very natural embrace. The new camera is great at capturing what I once called "my baby, the blur!"

Here's me with the little man again because that two year old was refusing a picture with her mother. Sigh.

Embrace the Camera: September 16, 2010

Here we are this week. It doesn't get any more real life than this. Momma and babies still in their pjs at noon. 3 years ago today we found out I was pregnant with Zoe. Now look at me! 

And because we're embracing the camera more, here's another shot just for fun. Me with my little man. Zoe under the table. A very normal day, indeed. {I need to do something about those cords behind the shelves! And probably my postpartum sideburns, too!}

Fellow picture-takers out there, we're in the market for a nice, new camera, leave some advice if you have any!

Embrace the Camera: September 9

With a few hours to spare, I am keeping to my resolution to blog more and embrace the camera! This is Zoe and Johnnie in my parents' backyard in Pennsylvania. Zoe is enjoying fruit straight from the tree. My parents live "in the middle of nowhere" and, although I would love them to be closer, their house and property is such a wonderful place to visit, especially for grandchildren. We're looking forward to another visit in the fall when the leaves are colorful and gorgeous!

Tomorrow is Friday, woo hoo! And, I'm getting my hair cut! Have a wonderful weekend :)