Weekly Photo Project

I found this photo project at younghouselove.com They are a couple who have a sweet little girl, just a week older than my Little Pumpkin, and they blog about their adventures of DIY home improvements. I didn't read about the project until Gordon was already 14 weeks old, but I started him that day, and have gotten a photo (almost) every week since then.

What I'm doing is taking a picture of Little Mister every week, on the day of the week that he was born, in a plain white onesie, then Photoshopping the week number onto his shirt. So every Wednesday afternoon, you can find me on a ladder, screeching and squealing, and looking crazy - trying to get my Little Man to hold still long enough for me to flash a few new pics of him... but I think I end up with more pictures of him crawling away, than I do of him lying on his back. But we try. :)

Oh and one other problem that I've had with the project -that the DIYers over at younghouselove.com do great at- is that I haven't been using the same onesie every week - so you can't see it slowly getting tighter as the weeks go by. But I'm hoping that I can get it all organized and start using the same one consistently from now on.
Well, I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!
Here's to hoping I can upload them all in the right order! :)

Conflicted

I know normally I write fun updates and things, but this time i write because I'm a little more confused than I thought I would be. about Santa.
We've taught Madi that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ and that is what we should be focusing on, especially this time of year. We are teaching her that we need to focus on giving and helping other people... but we get lost when it comes to Santa. I most certainly won't tell her " there is no Santa" or "Santa isn't real", but I also don't want to just blindly tell her that a man that she's never met comes into our house at night and leaves her presents - if shes a good girl.
This has come up because lots of people that we've chated with over the past few weeks have just outright asked Madi if she's excited for Santa to come, what she asked him to bring her, and if she has gone to see him. All of this Santa talk has confused her, because we hadn't talked to her about him yet. I fumbled when she questioned me about it, and John told her that Santa is a nice story. he didn't expound - just that he's a story.
I never thought I'd have this problem. To me, if you're Christian, you would obviously teach that Christmas is about Christ. But where does that leave Santa? We're trying to figure out how to make Santa part of the spirit of Christmas, and giving, and that he's a symbol of Christmas ... but I don't think it's working out the right way. Even in writing this out, I'm confused...
I'm not asking for everyone who reads this to tell me what to do, I'm just wondering if you've faced this question in your parenting, or how you have decided/dealt with this puzzle? And then I also hope that those who do offer advice, or are in contact with our children will respect that in the end, we will TRY to do what we feel is right for our little family.
I feel like I'm floundering and hope that someone out there will be willing to share what has worked, or hasn't worked for them.
Thanks you guys!

My Little Santa

Because of Gordon's newest sleeping arrangements I don't currently have internet on my Photoshop computer, so I can't show all my photos I've been working on. This is one that I just had to share though. I guess this can be a little sneak peak of what I've been up to lately with my new studio lights.
This makes me laugh out loud every time I see his "denture-less" face. (at least that's what it makes me think of.)

Studio Lights!

I just thought I'd share a fun little tidbit and let you all know that I (finally) have studio lights! It's been a long time coming and I sometimes wondered if i was really going to get here, but I did it! (took me long enough, I graduated 4 years ago!)
They aren't the exact lights I was dreaming for, but they are the same brand that I know and trust, just one step down the ladder from what I originally wanted. And I still love them!
So there you have it, I'm one step closer to my dream of being a photographer with a REAL studio, and not just another basement- joe-photo. (though my degree in photography should have put me above that status before now)
It feels like Christmas, and I just thought I'd share some of my happiness with you! So, who wants their photo taken?! :)

Madi's Interview

While Madi and I were eating lunch yesterday and talking about the preschool class she just finished, I decided to interview her and find out some of her favorites. :) She gave me more straight forward answers than i thought she would, but had some fun moments too. :-) I hope you enjoy this half as much as I did.

“What’s your favorite Animal?”

“Um, Elephant! Elephants say Woooo! And Baby Elephants cry for their mamas.”

“What’s your favorite Color?”

“Blue”

“What’s your favorite Shape?”

“Circle” (as she motions a circle with her finger)

“What’s your favorite Book?”

“Dinosaurs go to School”

“What’s your favorite Song?”

“Brightly Beams”

“What’s your favorite Food?”

“Yogurt, cereal, rolls” (she answered with whatever the most recent food she ate was)

“What’s your favorite Dinner?”

“Pizza!” ….. “Say what’s your favorite Napkin.”

“Okay, what’s your favorite napkin?”

“um, it’s kinda white.” …….. “Do this!” (makes surprise face)

“Is that your favorite face?”

“yea”

“What’s your favorite Number?”

“1”

“What’s your favorite Letter?”

“D!”

“Can you tell me a word that starts with D?”

“Elephant! ... no, elephant starts with E.. … Dinosaur!”

“What’s your favorite Toy?”

“Mermaid, and Belle, and their dresses”

“What’s your favorite Place?”

“Preschool”

“What things do you learn at preschool?”

Um, how things grow, dinosaurs roar, shapes, the earth is home to me and you…”

“Where do you like to go?”

“to Grandma and Grandpa”

“What’s your favorite Treat?”

“M&M’s!”

“What’s your favorite Show?”

“WordWorld”

“What are your favorite Shoes?”

“Black and pink, with lights”

“What are your favorite Clothes?”

“Jackets. Pink, green, and purple jacket” … “Say ‘what’s my favorite’”

“Okay, what’s your favorite?”

“windows. I like light.”

“What’s your favorite Holiday?”

“umm…. Fireworks. Fireworks are really loud. There were fireworks at the beach and I was eating a snack and watching Wall-e with Joshy and Buttercup was eating my snack.”

“What do you like to do outside?”

“Run around and kick my soccer ball.” …”Say ‘what’s my favorite’ again”

“Okay, what’s your favorite?”

“Um, Mommy and Daddy!!”

I thought that was an excellent way to end her interview, don't you? I love this girl so much and I'm so happy to have this. I'd like to interview her every year or so and see how her answers change as she grows.
What a sweatheart!

articles I just have to share

I know I have a lot of events that I need to blog about, but I just have to share these links first. I first saw this when my sis posted a link to it on facebook.
The article "the disease called perfection" hit me really hard. I don't know why, maybe because he hit the nail on the head for me ( or at least that's how I've been feeling the last few days).
Even as i write this and share these with you, I'm worried about it not being socially acceptable for me to do so, but i think that's just the problem.
I know the articles are long, but if you get the chance, please please please read them.
His follow up post " The cure for Perfection" is also very helpful and profound.
And the last (unrelated to the first two) is " You just broke your child. Congratulations." It is written to Dads, but is really for any parent or anyone who has contact with Children.
Even if you don't have time now, I pray that you can all take the time soon to read these blog posts.

Thanks for putting up with my neurosis on this one, but i do feel strongly about all of these points he has talked about.
I hope you'll leave me comments on wheat you think about these articles, and if you also feel we all need a little more "Real" in our lives.

What a gift!

I know I've been a total slacker about posting anything on my blog and I'm sorry. I thought i'd just give you a little teaser photo and say "yes, we are still here. We are alive. "
Gordon has been very colicky, but still sweet. Madi is my sweet sweet two year old who talks back, but is still so cute she almost gets away with it sometimes. almost. I love my kiddos! We are here, and I PROMISE whenever i can, I will post a little more. :)

By the way, we had an Excellent trip to Oregon that was 6weeks long, and didn't have our camera the whole time. John had taken it to England. While we were in Oregon he went to England, twice; and in two days he leaves for Ghana Africa. yay. :(

Love you all!