Well, I haven't blogged in about a month and a half and I'm starting to feel really guilty. One of my friends asked me yesterday to update her on Aspen's milestones and such. Her daughter was born the day before Aspen so we kinda bounce stuff back and forth. It's nice to have mommy friends even if we're far away. But that's the beauty of the internet!
On May 12 my beautiful niece arrived safe and sound into this world! Kaitlin Ann is growing and thriving just like a newborn babe should. She is being showered with love and affection, ya know, the things required to grow and thrive! She is 2 weeks old today and looks ever so much like her daddy.
This has been an adjustment for us. All this time I've only had nephews and as much as I love being an aunt, it's been difficult to be a part of their lives due to death or geographics. William is really great, and I love him so much but it's still hard to get together with my brother's crazy work schedule. Not to mention it's summertime and Jerrad's schedule gets pretty crazy too! But the adjustment has been with Katarina and I. We were so used to her playing Auntie Trina and me playing Momma that it's kinda odd for us to be wearing both hats now. I try not to bother them much because I know they are still working out the ever elusive sleep schedule, yet I know she desires to keep up to date on all things Aspen as well. But life is one big adjustment, isn't it?
Aspen
Aspen will be 6 months old next Friday. Can you believe it? I can and yet it still eludes me. She is so awesome and amazes me everyday!
She laughs a lot! She will roll wherever she wants and has started to get her knees under her so I can't just plop her down on the floor with confidence anymore. We are working on "high five" currently and she is getting the hang of it. She loves people. One of the greatest things about taking her to work with me is that she is very used to all sorts of people talking to her. And she loves all of the attention that is afforded her. Oh, and Dr. Bill seems to be one of the greatest people around! She will give him the flirtiest eyes and practically begs for his attention!
Some other great people in her life are Pappy and Grammy. Jerrad's dad has been working on getting her to say "Pappy" since before we got out of the hospital! When he gets her going she really starts moving her mouth around in effort for something, even if it's just his satisfaction. When she hears Grammy on the phone she'll look at the phone in a kind of confusion. She just knows Grammy should be there!
We started solid foods recently and she has really taken to it! She loves all of the foods we have put in front of her. Carrots, peas and a little bit of rice are what is on her regular menu. We tried butternut squash and while she really liked it, she was up that night with a tummy ache so we'll wait a bit longer to try that one again. I have been making my own baby food and I really enjoy that. I can't wait to start trying more complex foods for her in the future!
Since starting solid foods she also controls her drool a lot better. This is very nice for me! I'm sure that will change completely when she starts teething. We don't seem to be very close to teething, she's just doing normal baby things like sticking EVERYTHING in her mouth and chomping down. But only when there is something to be had. Her temperance is evening out (thankfully) so I should be able to notice those changes when she does start teething.
Aspen is also entertaining herself a lot better these days. This allows me to get a few more things done in peace, hence the blog! One of the ways she found to entertain herself was scooting over to her toy basket and stealing toys out of it. Ornery already! She is also finally (knock on wood) starting to take to a longer afternoon nap! She usually only naps about 45 minutes 3-4 times/day. The last few days she has taken a longer nap in the afternoon and we're hoping it's a habit, not a phase. She sleeps through the night though so I don't have much room to frown on the cat naps.
I think all the time she is spending in the high chair is great for her muscles. She is really starting to sit up on her own very well. Still has a bit of teeter-totter that sometimes gets the best of her but she is getting stronger all the time in that area.
I still take her to work with me in the mornings and Kitty takes her to the farm in the afternoons. We do a full day one day/week. This is for my workload and for her transitioning to full days eventually also. This summer when Kitty is at camp, we have friends in town that have agreed to help watch her. I will be very happy to know that she won't have to be in daycare. We have great daycares in our little town, but I really would rather not go that route if we can help it.
Well, once again I have managed to catch up by composing a bit of a novel. If I could score it with music and dance I could sell it as a musical - complete with intermission!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Ketchup... err... Catch up!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wisdom in Writing
#11 - From My Kitchen Window
I was given this book from my husband's "girlfriend", Donna Rae. (I may have to expound on that alone some other time for those of you that are not privelaged to know this amazing woman!) It was a gift shortly after we were married and I have read it through many times! It is a collections of articles written by Jessie Rice Sandberg (daughter of John R. Rice) for the Sword of the Lord publication. They are all set in the 50's and 60's but are so real to us today also.
Every entry is challenging and encouraging in the Lord. The forward in the book, written by her father, says that even men reading The Sword of the Lord have sent letters stating how they looked forward to reading Jessie's column each time. He jokes that even though the carnal side of him wants to be a little jealous he couldn't be more proud of his daughter.
She writes about normal, everyday things from cleaning house to keeping a good spirit for her children and husband. She writes of witnessing to strangers and her own children - hanging sheets on the line and the "junk drawer" in her desk. It's so real I can't help but connect with her. It's like reading a friend's journal - without getting in trouble! =)
I may start posting some excerpts from this book from time to time to give you a taste. It's too good not to share!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Hi... Um, do you remember me?
Whew! What in the world has kept me from you? I could list them, but it would be a short list...
Laundry
Dishes
Aspen
There you have it. Oh, and the job! Aspen has been SO interactive lately. I L-O-V-E it! It just takes a lot of my time and energy. I wouldn't want to spend my time any other way. Right now, I have Dinner to prep, laundry to fold, dishes to wash and an assortment of other projects but I'm Aspenless for a little while longer. So I decided to tell you about our wonderful Easter.
I found the perfect Easter dress for Aspen while we were in T. or C. (small town but a great outlet store) and I was super pumped. It was a little big for her but she hit a growth spurt last week and it fit her great on Sunday. I had a great dress in the closet that I had never worn and just remembered about a few weeks ago. Jerrad has more nice clothes than he has desire to wear them btu I begged and pleaded for all things Easter. So we all looked snazzy. I took my camera to church but I didn't get a single picture! I do have a picture of Aspen in her dress on Friday for her Project Aspen photo so all is not lost.
We went to church and had awesome services. Kitty accompanied me on a wonderful song called, "Come and See the Rising Son" and we actually made it through. Neither of us had ever heard it before so sightreading skills had to come back really quickly! But it turned out very well.
After church we had a church dinner. Everything from prime rib to leg of lamb. Green bean casserole to creamed asparagus. Rice Krispy treats to peach cobbler. It was the epitome of a Baptist meal!
When our church has a dinner, we often have an afternoon service rather than evening since the majority of our church drives quite a ways to get there. So we did, and had communion. It was a great time of worship and fellowship all day!
During the afternoon service I had to go to the nursery to feed Aspen. When she got done, I laid her on her tummy in the crib while I stepped in to the restroom. When I returned she was on her back! It was so hard to be happy and praise her while still being quiet! But she gave me a big grin so I know she knew I was proud of her.
Aspen was tuckered out by the time we got home. I put her down for a nap and we hit the sack too. We were both worn out from the day (not to mention Michael, Nancy and William were at our house pretty late the night before after we got back from bowling!) so we took a much needed (two hour) nap.
When we woke up I wanted to do some shooting. I hadn't shot anything since before I was pregnant. Jerrad built me a .223 AR-15 but I couldn't shoot it till after I had Aspen. Then, of course, I had a baby to tend to instead of shooting. So my wonderful hubby got me set up in the driveway then he went back and forth checking on the little girl.
We have nice shooting benches - somewhere - but yesterday I was sitting on the old piano bench shooting off of a 55 gallon drum! Haha! It was actually quite comfortable though. I went through about 100 rounds but it only took 1 for me to know I love my new rifle! Jerrad built it especially for me and you can tell. It's very simple and easy to use, but spot on for accuracy!
I can't tell you how good it was to feel the trigger under my finger and watch the bowling pins go down one by one. There was a cool breeze and plenty of sunshine. It was a little slice of heaven for this redneck girl! Jerrad came out after a while and said she was squirmy and about to wake up so I finished out my magazine and brought everything inside.
So yesterday was a wonderful day. It was so good for the soul. Even if I didn't take a single picture!
What did you do for Easter?
Sunday, March 28, 2010
I ♥ Faces - Dramatic B&W
As you can tell, I really love this picture. I use it a lot of places, including my blog header. This was a really boring picture until I turned it B&W and added a few tweaks. It is so much better now which is why I love looking at the other entries in this week's challenge!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
I♥Faces - All Bundled Up
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Saturday, March 6, 2010
I know...
I know I haven't been here in a while.
I know I didn't finish my 28 Things I Love (I plan to soon).
I know it's 1:00 P.M. and I've done nothing today aside from sewing and playing with my daughter.
But...
You know I work a full time job.
You know I have a 3 month old to wait on hand and foot (my favorite full time job).
You know I have a niece coming in May that I must spoil beyond the point of no return!
And...
I am going to tell you something that I am soooo excited about!
A few night ago I got a phone call from my good friend, Crystal. She was telling me about a gift she had gotten for Aspen. Then she asked me to be a part of her Suzie Homemaker blog. I have been following this blog for some time now, so of course I agreed!
So what does this mean for my blog?
Will it still be here?
What's the difference?
My blog will still be here as often as ever... ummmmmm..........
Yah.
The difference is, whatever I usually do here that fits into the format of Suzie Homemaker will be posted there instead. I will still be posting things about my personal life and my photography right here. But crafts, recipes, and product reviews will be over on Suzie Homemaker.
There are great things happenning over there. Starting with a giveaway going on RIGHT NOW!! So hover over that link and make the click - the contest ends the 10th of this month!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
I ♥ Faces - Hands - on Fun
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Out of jealousy comes friendship
Quiet Cobwebs Photography
As we were sitting in the office at Tax Time yesterday evening, our tax preparer, Jennie, was talking to us about her babies. A topic I have gotten used to thoroughly enjoying with people. She asked if I got anything done besides holding Aspen. We chuckled. Then she and I fumbled around trying to remember the last line or two of a poem. I came home and looked it up. I read it over and over again. This poem is about living in the moment and appreciating what you have because it will too soon be gone.
Babies Don’t Keep
by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton
Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren’t his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.
The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.
That is exactly the essence of pictures and what I want my photographs to be. I have been struggling for some time about what to name my photography business. I had a little time to think about it so I wasn't going to rush into anything. But this hits the nail on the head!
St. Co. Clinic
#13 - My Job
Since I was fired from Skyland Grain on June 13th at 1300 hours I thought it would be fitting to make #13 the thing I love that conspired from that event.
I had an overall awful experince working at the local grain elevators. I hated my job after only 3 months but stuck with it because, well, that's what you're supposed to do. 16 months of knives in my back, two - faced friends, an oppressive supervisor and crying almost everyday when it was time to get out of my car and go inside. That is the sum of it. I prayed, literally, to be sick when I woke up. Then I would pray to not be sick so no one would be mad at me for being sick. I was afraid to quit because the benefits and pay were awesome. I wouldn't get that anywhere else.
Then a series of events happenned. Some my fault and some were not. Overall, my supervisor that had seemed to want me gone for some time, lucked out on those events and was finally able to get rid of me.
I slipped into a slight depression, then pulled myself out and started humbly looking for a new job. That's when I read of an opening and my doctor's clinic.
I had always seen the group of people out eating together and having a very enjoyable time with eachother. I took my resume to the clinic with hopes out of my reach. When I went in for an interview Dr. Bill was the most gentle and professional person I could have ever imagined. I loved him as my doctor, but as a boss I was still yet to be impressed. He and I talked about what happenned with me at Skyland just enough to get the idea. He didn't press or pry.
Needless to say, I got the job. I enjoy going to work. Sure there are days I want to sleep in, but don't we all? I actually missed my job when I was on maternity leave.
Everyone comes in, does their job and goes home. We all have a sense of humor with great respect for eachother.
I was devastated about being fired, but so relieved to be out of the position I once loathed. God had his plans for me and they were beyond what I could've dreamed for myself. And guess what? He also took care of the material matters.
I have watched girls come in with the thoughts of pink lines in the forefront of their minds and over a few months and watch women leave with new life in their arms. This has helped me so much after my nephew, Keagen, was born and passed. I was terrified of childbirth and the unknown. Once again, God knew!
Magical, magical, magical...
Nutella (Italian: /nuˈtɛlːa/; English: /nʌˈtɛlə/) is the brand name of a hazelnut-based sweet spread registered by the Italian company Ferrero at the end of 1963. The recipe was developed from an earlier Ferrero spread released in 1949. Nutella is sold in over 75 countries.
Bon Apetit!
#15 - Cooking
Another one of my outlets is cooking. I love going into the kitchen and coming out with something delicious to eat. I guess the biggest part of this is my passion for food and eating. One can also assume it could be a downfall to be able to constantly feed one's own addiction. But it sure is yummy!
I didn't cook very much growing up but I watched a lot so I had the basic idea. When I would visit my Uncle Dale and Aunt Mary we would eat wonderful meals! My aunt is from up north so she had a much different recipe collection. It was neat to have some different stuff. It wasn't weird different, just stuff that my mom didn't usually make. I remember having her potato soup and the whole time she was making it I was wondering how I was going to choke it down. I had never eaten potato soup that I liked. It was always potatoes, milk, salt and pepper. Thin, bland and blech! But when she put that soup on the table for us I knew that if potato soup could be good, you could make almost anything good!
When I got married there were pitfalls beyond our control with the house we were going to rent and we ended up living in Jerrad's grandparents' basement for 7 months. It was actually a very enjoyable time for us. Marmie got my hands dirty in the kitchen. It was the first summer for Kitty to be at camp so Marmie was a little frazzled without her help. She would go do stuff on the farm and leave me with simple directions for lunch. I had some flops, but overall we still ate.
Kitty, my MIL, has taught me a bunch too. She has taught me more about baking. I remember her teaching me how to make bread. I asked her something about tweaking recipes and how she felt confident to do that. She told me that cooking was simply a chemical reaction and if you knew the purpose of each ingredient and how it reacted you could do anything.
That sparked a memory for me. In 8th grade I had a science teacher. Coach Callahan. He was a typical young coach. Liked the kids in sports, didn't like much of anyone else. I had many rough experiences with him that year. I wanted so badly for him to like me, I wasn't a bad person, I did my work, I got decent grades - why did he hate me? So one day we were doing a "lab" as a class. We made chocolate no-bake cookies and bacon. Coach Callahan was trying to flip bacon in a skillet over a Bunsen (sp?) burner with a plastic fork! He was having trouble not only because of the plastic fork but because the grease was popping on his arm. He asked if someone else wanted to do it for him (because having one of your 8th grade students get burned by popping bacon grease is better than injuring yourself anyday!). Still anxious for his approval, I volunteered. I'm sure he was glad to pass the scorching, rogue droplets to my arms! I ignored his teaching and just watched the bacon change from raw, cold and floppy to a curly, hot strip of fattenning goodness!
This popped into my head as Kitty was telling me this in her kitchen above the hum of the KitchenAid. Duh! Didn't you listen in 8th grade science? There are some snippets of knowledge that you have and you don't remember that you have them!
Overall, I'd say I'm not too bad at this cooking thing. I have impressed people, yet I have also embarrassed myself, and I've made frozen pizza as a substitute on a few occasions. Nonetheless, I do enjoy it.
Here are pics from our Valentine's dinner Sunday evening.
Italian Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Lasagna Rollups
Fried Asparagus
Pink Tapioca Pudding
Don't let the pictures fool you... The chicken was under cooked and the pudding never sat up. But it tasted yummy!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Every once in a while
Every once in a while even a redneck tomboy needs something a little girly.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
My outlet
#16 - Singing
When people get frustrated, depressed, or even happy they usually have some way of expressing it. For some it is art. For others it is poetry or some other for of writing. Some people do something destructive. And there are some of us that resort to music. There is something about music that reaches places in our soul that nothing else can.
My sister in law plays the piano to beat out her mind and heart. When Jerrad is heartbroken he plays a song on his fiddle. Yet he is happiest when he is by his Momma at the piano with fiddle in hand.
Me - I sing. I have always loved music but there is a person who made it come alive for me. Her name is Janet Walker. She was my choir teacher in high school. She showed me how to make the music come from my whole body, not just my throat. She invested so much time in me and for nothing in return. I didn't have money for voice lessons so I worked of my debt, yet I feel indebted to her forever for the gift she gave me.
When I sing I feel confident. I feel like everything will eventually be ok. I feel I can communicate my innermost feelings to someone just by opening my mouth in song.
This is my favorite song to sing in times of joy or despair.
God's Been Good
My cousins
I hope and pray that my daughter will have this bond with her cousins because it has enriched my life so much!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
SSBYC
#19 - Silver State Baptist Youth Camp
Good morning campers! It's time to rise and shine in the beautiful, colorful, coooool, Colorado Rockies! *Commence the twangiest well-played banjo music ever.
Or if it's Wednesday, in honor of Biscuits and gravy, you'll hear "Rollie Polie, daddy's little fatty..."
I LOVE this place. It's one of my favorite places on this earth. The smell of the Ponderosa Pines, the sound of the gravel popping under tires, the majestic mountains blocking everything around, Jimmy Carter's crazy little laugh, the preaching, the Holy Spirit, the changed lives, the heritage, and the Tabernacle (old and new).
I have been going to this camp since 1996. There has only been one summer (2008) which I did not make it to the camp at some time or another. The best summer was in 2003. I worked at the camp for 8 weeks. A dream come true. As far as I know, no one else from my home church has worked at camp. There are former workers on staff at my home church now, but not ones originally from our church.
I was actually afraid to apply before I went to college. You see, the Dumas group had a reputation so infamous (not for bad behavior, just loud and obnoxious) that I thought if they saw my address as Dumas that they would burn my application. I was never really part of the "in crowd" of my youth group that was recognized as "Dumas girls" but they wouldn't know that by looking at an application. I was rejected at first (my pastor refused to send a recommendation because he wanted me to work at my home church that summer), but when someone withdrew Bro. Carter called me. He was going to be in OKC and wanted to talk to me about it. When the day came that he would be there I got a stomach bug (It was so bad that when I was working the jewelry counter and showing a man a diamond necklace I dropped everything right in front of him and ran to the bathroom. Good thing he was honest. He even bought the necklace when I got back.) so I called Christy Pittman and told her that when she met with him to tell him I would be there for the summer but couldn't talk to him that day.
God had plans greater than my pastor's, so I was an employee of SSBYC for 8 wonderful weeks. The 2nd of which I got saved. Then the 4th week I made amends with someone from my youth group. Then the 6th week I re-met Jerrad. We had met at youth rallies and youth retreats a few years before but this is when we really started talking. We went on a date and the rest is, as they say, history.
I wanted to get married there, but there were certain requirements that Jerrad and I could not meet. Nothing big, but our entire relationship was long distance and the requirements consisted of us being geographically together. My SIL got to live that dream of mine though!
This place has more meaning to me than all of that though. My parents met there, as did my husband and I. Jerrad's great grandma, grandma, mom, and sister all work(ed) there as well as Jerrad. Jerrad worked the 2 summers before mine. His sister and I worked together that one summer also.
This is one place I am constantly yearning to be and I could go on and on about it. Here are a few over-exposed photos (from my 35mm) of the campground.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
#20 - Sunshine
Right now as I look outside there is snow covering the dark, moist earth. How do I know it's moist if there is snow covering it? Because there was a lot more of it a week ago and the sun is showing its lovely face today.
There are people, myself included, that slip into depression without enough sunlight. Somedays it would be ideal for me to live in Alaska and other days it would be almost destructive. I need sunshine fairly often.
I've been hearing loud crashes up against my house today because the icicles are releasing themselves from their temporary home on my eaves. This is a much welcomed sound because it means that there will be lots of sunshine pouring through my windows today. I was very happy to realize that today because I've been inside this house since Saturday night. Aspen is sick and so am I. We are battling our sinuses. In a little while I will bundle us up, turn off the heater and open the windows for a bit. It's 41 degrees here, but I need to air out the house a little. I wish it were warm enough and dry enough to go for a walk but oh well. It will be soon.
Spring, you will be welcomed with open arms whenever you decide to return!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Matrimonial Affection
#21 - Weddings
I went to Hays this weekend with The Seal Clan to see Maggie and go to a bridal show. Maggie is getting married in September and wanted all of her bridesmaids to come to the show with her. We had a ton of fun and laughed so hard! Luke (the groom to be) was in town and his parents met us there. His parents were awesome, just like him. I know I keep saying it but the best way to sum up our weekend was "a ton of fun!"
The wedding showcase helped seal the deal in my head that I've always thought and occasionally voiced. I would love to have about 5 more weddings - all to the same man. I want to try so many different styles and ideas.
From the invitations to the favors I love weddings. I will look at someone's wedding pictures over and over again just to grasp every last photographed detail. Here are a few weddings I've been to/shot that I love starting with my own!
