Best of 2009: Photos

These are some of my favorite photos of 2009.

Some of them you've seen before.  Others are new to the blog.

There are so many photos that I love that it was almost nearly impossible to choose these few "favorites."  But these are the photos that always jump out to me when I'm looking through iPhoto.

And so I thought I would share them with you.

A rare portrait of Elena truly smiling.

Big.

Infectious.

I have an 8x10 print of this.

Two actually.

One in color, one in black and white.

It's stunning either way.

This is a perfect picture of Logan's personality.

Fun.

A little mischievous.

Middle name: Danger.

I call this shot Elena's "Michael Jordan."

Maybe because the basketball is black and red - the Chicago Bulls colors.

Or maybe it's the "don't you mess with me, homey" look in her eye.

This is Nadia.

We've been friends since the fourth grade.

She has always been this remarkable.

She always will be.

I cannot take credit for this photo.

DRL took it.

I just tweaked it a bit in Photoshop.

*The worm was NOT injured in the making of this photo!*

Daddy and his girl.

Playing in the park.

Photographically this might not be the greatest photo.

But just look at their faces.

This is what happy is all about.

This is bliss.

This was taken at Auntie Kristy's.

There is something about it that I just love.

The neutral colors.

The retro feel.

The pretty bow in Elena's hair.

*meow*

This is how you do sultry in a wedding photo.

I can't take credit for this one either.

Jenna Reye's mom Theresea took this photo.

With my camera and a rented 50mm 1.8.

Speaking of my friends' daughters.,,

This is Erin.

She's my friend Annie's girl.

She's 18, and she's trying to figure out her place in the world.

I remember 18.  All too well.

Best of luck, Erin.

The world is your oyster.  Go out there and seize it.

I shot this the day we took Elena's two year photos.

It never made the blog.

But I did get a 5x7 print of it.

I just love the angle.

The look on Elena's face.

The color of the Autumn sky.

Tina Logan.

I guess it's Janeshek now.

She was 18 when I started working for Timberlodge.

She was a bridesmaid in my wedding.

Here she is on her wedding day.

Stunning.

The Walstead boys.

One in focus, the other in the background.

Brothers.

These two were so much fun to photograph.

It could have been the D90 I got to use to shoot them, but I think it was their spirit.

Their smiles.

The way they played.

My newest nephew.

Alan J.

He's only a few weeks old in this photo.

And precious.

There you have it.
My favorites of this past year.
So far anyway.

I might have to do a round two.

There is that photo of Nadia's ring...
And Elena eating watermelon....
And DRL skateboarding and that one of Belle..
and...

Yeah, there will definitely be a round two.

Cheers,
A

This Just In

My 2.3 year old is potty trained.

That is all.

Thank you for listening.

Cheers,
A

What I Know For Sure

I've been the parent of two children for 20 days.  

So today, on the eve of my three-week mark, here is what I know for sure:

*"I need to go potty" can also mean I want out of my stroller/crib/pants, I don't want to take a nap, and my personal favorite, I'm looking for a reward (read: Candy) so I'm going to sit on the toilet.

*No matter what version of "I need to go potty" you're getting, you must listen to it and oblige the request.  Or you end up with poop in a perfectly good pair of Tinkerbell underpants. 

*The YMCA pool is the greatest place on the planet.  Elena asks for it daily.  Though to her it's the "YCmeA."  Which is better. I laugh every time.

*Nursing is a pain!  I know it's better for me and for the baby, but I really would like someone else to wake up in the middle of the night for a feeding or two (or three or four) one of these nights.  

*The fastest way to wake a newborn for a feeding/playtime/tummy time/pooping is to try to fall asleep yourself.  Trust me. This method is tested and proven time after time.  It's nearly 100% effective. 

*When buying an infant carseat, try it out in all positions of the backseat not just in the middle.  Or you'll end up with it installed behind your seat only to find there's no longer enough room for you to sit comfortably in your own car.  This will lead you to scour the interwebs for a new carseat that is not so ungodly huge.  And you will inevitably spend just as much money on a new carseat that you don't really need as you did on the first one that technically works just fine.  Or more.  

*Unless you plan on having larger than average babies/children, you don't need a carseat (infant carrier) that will hold a child up to 30 pounds.  Once your kid hits 15 pounds you aren't going to want to lug that carrier around anymore anyway.  It's friggen heavy.  So save yourself the backseat space, and the dollars up front, and just buy the smaller one.

*Daytime TV is horrid.

*Bouncy chairs and the Arms Reach Co-Sleeper are the stuff of legends.  I adore them.  If marriage to inanimate objects were allowed, you would be receiving a nice sheet of calligraphed parchment in your mailbox.  And soon.

*I am not a jungle gym.  I am not a jungle gym.  I am not a jungle gym.

*Huge boobs are not awesome, and they are certainly not welcome.  Not every woman (read: Me) wants to walk around with size D chesticles.  Some of us (again: Me) really enjoyed being a small B.  And would really REALLY like to go there again.  Really.

*Coffee is a miracle.  Not just a Festivus Miracle, but an every day, wake-me-up-when-I-question-my-ability-to-function miracle.

*I am far chubblier than I had hoped to be by this point.  I know...it took 9 months to put it on, so it will take 9 months to take it off...blah blah blah.  I call shenanigans on that logic.  I have to be in a swimsuit in Mexcio in three months.  You hear me Abs? Thighs? Lovehandles?  Your time on my body is severely limited.

*Jillian Michaels is mean.

 *Having two children is harder than I imagined. But it's also easier than I thought it would be, too. 

*I'm feeling a little housekept.

*Wine is delicious. Really really delicious.  Being away from it for 9 months has even turned me into a fan of red. (I think. More testing is needed....)

Cheers,

A

The Upside of Being Small

There are a lot of things small folks can do that big people can't.

Like wearing the same size clothes from the age of 11 well into adulthood.

Being able to wear adult size or kid size shoes interchangeably.

The ability to get entirely too drunk on two glasses of wine. Or bottles of beer. Or shots of vodka.  

Scratch that.

It only takes me one shot of vodka.

But Elena is not old enough for any of these special small-person privileges yet.  

So she must find some of her own.

She crawls into places not normally suited for two year olds.  

Places like this giant Land's End travel bag that Auntie Kristy gifted me for Christmas.

Or Festivus.

Or whatever.

And then we carry her around in it.

And she asks for more.

And we have to say no because we are horribly out of shape.

(Yes, Hello? YMCA? I'd like to sign up please...)

Her next frontier?

Probably the Dryer.

She asks to go into the refrigerator quite frequently...but luckily we manage to keep it stocked well enough with food for there to be no room for her. 

This might change...

With Burning Biceps,

A

Sleep When Baby Sleeps

That's what the experts say.

That's what everyone says.

But me?

I'm not a napper, you see.  

Never have been.

I wake up from naps feeling groggy.

Bogged down.

Like I'm moving through Corn Syrup.

So while Stella, DRL and Elena nap everyday from noon to 2...

I knit.

I blame my utter lack of any baby blues or postpartum depression on this one simple hobby.

It's also why my head and neck will be warm for the remainder of the winter.

(If I ever manage to get out of the house again!)

I made a hat.  Elena and Stella each got one that looks EXactly like this one.

And I made a Neckie.  I prefer to call it a Cowl.  Or a neck-warmer. 

I'll let you pick your own favorite nomenclature.

(I'm starting on matching mittens during tomorrow's nap!)

Now, I couldn't have done any of this knitting as easily or neatly as I have done it without this gift from my dear friend Rebecca:
What is it? you ask...

Let me unroll it and show you:

Ta Da!
Thank You Thank You Thank You Rebecca.  I LOVE this thing. 

Maybe "love" isn't a strong enough word....

My spidey-sense is tingling...and Stella is stirring.

Cheers!

A

Resolve

What kind of blogger would I be if I didn't post a list of things I hope to do or not do in 2010?

So as not to leave any of you 3.75 readers disappointed (yes! my readership has increased!), here are my resolutions.

In bullet point fashion.

'Cuz that's how I roll.

*I, like nearly everyone else in this large (pun-intended) country, would like to lose weight this year.  Primarily in the next 12 weeks, and in the amount of 20 pounds. At least.  25 would be nice.

*I resolve to grow out my hair.  And then cut it all off again.  Maybe.

*I resolve to add an arm tattoo to my collection.  

*I resolve to book at least one paying photography job. And not screw it up.

*I resolve to knit something for myself (besides a hat)

*I resolve to potty train my 2.3 year old.

*I resolve to do better at my job (when I return) and increase my earning potential.

*I resolve to be the best wife and mother I can be, and then do a little bit better still.

*I resolve to not use my middle finger or curse words while driving. At least not while the kids are in the car.

*I resolve to take more photos. And then post them.

*I resolve not to get pregnant again. Ever. And would like to take a moment to sincerely thank my uterus for the great work it has done.  Seriously. You rock.  I mean it.  And your services are no longer needed.  May you enjoy your retirement.

And...

Just because...

here is a list of things I would like to do, but won't...

*Start smoking again.

*Drink heavily.

*Incur mass amounts of credit card debt buying Minolo's, Gucci Sunglasses, and high-end jeans.

*Eat a box of chocolate every day.

Oh yeah....

And I resolve to start allowing DRL to take photos of me with our girls.  And then not delete them when he shows me the photo.  I then resolve to try to like these photos of myself.  I'm sure my girls won't care that I don't like the way my nose looks. Or how chubby my right elbow looks (I cropped it out).  They'll enjoy looking at photos of themselves with their mama.  

Photos like this:

Happy New Year Friends.

May it be filled with cigarettes, tattoos, alcohol, and love.

A