Fabulous Friday Challenge

I took some pictures of a brand new little baby boy on Tuesday. It wasn't a portrait session....just me...snapping some pics of my friend's baby, but oh the joy in it. I love it. It was really hard to pick a favorite photo, but I think it's this one. It is not the best technical photo I took, but it is the emotion in this that I love. The smile on the mommy's face...looking at her first born nurture her second born. I can feel the LOVE in this shot, and that makes me happy.

What a beautiful experience. I'll be posting more pictures later, if I get permission.

My Week 25

March 20th was a day at home. I had lots of things I wanted to accomplish, but things got waylaid by an unexpected visitor. One of The Hubby's friends came over with his girlfriend, and her darling little 3 year old. While I wasn't really in the mood to entertain, Sugar Bear was very excited to have a "friend" to play with.

March 21st sent me searching for some sunlight. While I didn't find it....I did find something sunny to photograph. It has been raining here for a month...I swear....rain....rain....rain....but...this flower gave me a bit of a boost in mood. I really needed it.

March 22nd rained as usual, but it happened to stop for a short time, just as we got home for the day. Sugar hasn't had a chance to drive her Jeep in months and months, so we pulled it out, and she gave Ivy her first ride. It was super cute......but....Ivy didn't really LOVE it. The seat was too slippery, and she kept falling off when Sugar would stop.

March 23rd was a Wednesday.....and a rainy one at that. Again...I needed to find some color...some happy...some SPRING. I loved this shot with the water droplets nestled in the flower. I need to remember to take time to notice the little things.

March 24th sent Sugar Bear to Grandma and Grandpa's farm for a few days, and I had some time to get things done. My Aunt was down having a little personal vacation, so I met her at the coast, and had my favorite Fish and Chips.....then I took a few pics with a NEW LENS at the jetty. The weather wasn't very good...kept switching from rain to sun every 30 minutes, but I got a few shots in to test out my new lens. This Seagull was happy to have some attention. :)

March 25th I stayed at home in my jammies the entire day, and finished up some pictures that I so desperately needed to get edited. It was a good day to be inside, but I had to take several trips outside with little Ivy for Potty Breaks. She is so curious, and HARD.TO.PHOTOGRAPH. Man....I so wanted to test out my new lens further...but she wasn't not at all cooperating. :(

March 26th I picked up my little Sugar honey, and took her to a local fire station for a friend's 5th birthday. It was a great party, with the most wonderful children. Usually big get-togethers drive me bonkers, but I had a really good time. I chit chatted with a father of one of Sugar's daycare friends, and really learned a lot about him. I like getting to know folks better.

As for the lens....ugh...this weather is not giving me the situation I want to fully test out this lens. I purchased it for myself...but my motivation was for the THREE weddings I'll be doing this summer. I really want to see how this baby works in sunlight. Come on sun.....say Hello to Corey. She misses you.

Can't Get Enough

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future. -- Author Unknown

OH my delectable Sugar Bear....how I just can't get enough of you! ♥ You bring a smile to my face each and every time I think of you. There is absolutely NO doubt in my mind that I am the luckiest mama on the face of this great planet. I think sometimes....people don't believe me when I confess my great affection for you. They think, I'm not being "real"...that I'm simply not sharing the down and dirty of our relationship, but I can honestly say...that just isn't so. What you see is what you get when it comes to us two girls. Our relationship is transparent and easy. For THIS....I am forever grateful.

Sugar, I don't know if it's YOU....or if it's ME....or if it is a the crazy combination of US, but I do know that we are like "peanut butter and chocolate"......like "hide and seek"....like "the sand and the sea." We are meant to be together! I don't really know what I did to deserve this incredible experience of being your mother....but whatever it was......whew.....so very grateful. I love that I'm always happy to see you. I adore that you are always excited to see me. It makes me feel happy inside that when I ask.....you do your very best to meet my need. I only hope that I reciprocate on a consistent basis for YOU. I have always looked on our parent/child experience as a team effort, and I love to see that we often beat our personal best....together.

All to often, my dear readers, I shy away from talking about how parenting is going for me, because people tend to think I'm not being honest, or that I'm gloating...or that I think I "know it all." I find it unfair that I can not freely express my joy in the success that is our parent/child relationship, but others can talk all they want about the things that drive them nuts about parenting...or their child....and so on, and so forth. I want to feel at ease with discussing my personal relationship with my child. I want to feel okay in declaring how easy it is to be Sugar Bear's mama! I want to not feel guilty, or defensive...or silenced.

Do I think I'm the "best mama in the whole wide world?" NO....do I think I'm the best mama for my Sugar Bear. DARN TOOTIN' I DO!!! I also believe that I have done a pretty darn good job being true to my parenting style. I believe that I have parented purposefully, and that I have a right to be proud of that accomplishment. Gosh darn it...parenting isn't easy for anyone....and if you think I haven't had to put my whole self into it, you are sorely mistaken. The good news.....I'm having fun doing it. I am. ♥ and I just CAN'T.GET.ENOUGH of my amazing girl.

For the record, just because I'm proud of ME...doesn't mean I'm ashamed of YOU (the parent reading this). I'm allowed to celebrate all that is ME, without being accused of passing judgment on YOU, right? I don't know what is in your heart.....I am not in your house...or in your head, but I'd like the opportunity to share what's in my heart....my house...my head without feeling like a braggart. Can I do that? Cause I'm bursting at the seems with JOY....and LOVE.....and SATISFACTION. Life is good! Sugar Bear is AWESOME! and gosh darn......I'm pretty cool, too! :)

Wordless Wednesday~ The Hubby's New Toy

For more Wordless Wednesday, go HERE and HERE and HERE.

Shutter Love Tuesdays~ Hands

Simplicity~ Leaves

I found a little photography challenge that I wanted to enter, because the minute I read the theme (Leaves and Flowers) I just thought of this shot. I am a sucker for this red ivy. There is a certain time of year that I drive by this bright display every single day...and I always want to stop and take pics, but have only TWICE taken the time. Honestly...just yesterday, as I drove by and saw the new green leaves budding out, I thought, "oh man...I can't wait for fall!" It is one of my very favorite things.

Puppy Power

Having a puppy in the house makes for some pretty fun times....and certainly keeps you on your toes. Our little Ivy girl is a really an awesome little puppy so far. She is smart....and loving.....and adorable to boot! What more could we ask for? Well....yeah....potty trained would be nice! :)

As with all puppies....she does love to play. Sugar Bear is more than eager to indulge her in this manner, but it doesn't always end nicely. Those puppy teeth are so very sharp. Tug-o-war is a a favorite pastime, but....

It often ends with hurt. :( They are both learning though....and hopefully things will go smoother soon.

Ivy LOVES to be outside. I took these pics a week or more ago....and it is funny to see her struggling to get down the deck stairs....when in reality...she is bounding down them as we speak.

Run and chase is always good. Not only is it fun while it lasts...it wears our girl out, and then we have peaceful naptime. Who doesn't love a baby when it sleeps?

These two little ladies together just melt my heart. It is hard to know that while Sugar Bear was so very attached to Daisy......this little Ivy is likely to be the one that means the most to her. Sugar was only 18 months when we got Daisy. They bonded...but nothing like I'm seeing with Ivy. These girls are going to be the best of friends....I can feel it.

It blows my mind how quickly Ivy has grown. It must hurt to grow like that. I can't even imagine. I thought Sugar Bear got big quick. Nothing like this little honey. She is the light of our life right now.......and she is basking in the attention. What a lucky girl.

P.S. for you photography types....man, My camera does not like taking pictures of a black moving object. The focus is rarely any good. She just doesn't have enough contract for the auto focus to grab onto. Darn it.

52 Weeks of ME- Week Thirteen (Sunday Citar~ Over-Exposed)

Theme of the Week:

OVER-EXPOSED

Okay....so.....well.....I tried something new this week. Ummmmm....okay...so maybe SEVERAL new things. tee hee

Watch out....you may not like what you see, and for that, I'm truly sorry!

I did A LOT of thinking about this theme. While it would be rather easy to take a photo and over-expose the shot, I really started feeling like I wanted to say something MORE this week. This entire "52 weeks of ME" project has been incredibly interesting for me. I have felt, well......over-exposed. I have posted more pictures of myself in the last few months, than I have in nearly the entire time I've been blogging. I have taken WAY more pictures of myself than ever before, and I have felt....embarrassed....and awkward.....and vulnerable. Yes.....vulnerable, so I decided that I wanted to take some pics that portrayed how I've been feeling. EXPOSED.....VERY EXPOSED!

For the record...I have never taken photos of myself like this. The entire mood of these shots are nothing I have even ventured into. This was such an interesting project from conception to shooting....to editing. It doesn't end there. The idea of actually posting these on my blog is terrifying. BUT....isn't that the point? OVER-EXPOSED!

This first shot is what I imagined when conjuring up this project, but instead of just posting one photo....I decided to go ahead and post them all. Why not? I might as well lay it all out there.

“Most urgently, women's identity must be premised upon our "beauty" so that we will remain vulnerable to outside approval, carrying the vital sensitive organ of self-esteem exposed to the air”~ Naomi Wolf

So....there you have it! Corey....in the raw....feeling so very exposed.

I had a little fun with one of the shots....and for some reason...I rather like the result. I just might print it up for my mom for Mother's Day!

Just kidding! tee hee....

Be sure to head on over to visit Jessie and Cara to see all the fabulous ladies taking part in this cool project.

My Week 24

March 13th was a wonderful day at home. We've just been needing some quiet time together more than anything. Sugar Bear and I had a blast working on some of her Science Kit experiments. This was and underwater volcano. Such fun!.....and pretty, too!

March 14th was the third Observation Day at dance this school year. I love Observation Day. It is so fun to see what the kiddos have been working on each week. Sugar is enjoying the process of learning how to do hand stands.

March 15th was a pretty regular sort of day. Sugar Bear and I were excited to get home and have some daylight hours to play with Ivy. She is growing so very fast. The Hubby is lucky to be home with her each day. She is a wonderful puppy, and so very smart. What a great addition to our family.

March 16th was another Observation Day at Dance. I can't get enough of those sweet little dancing feet. ♥

March 17th, of course, is St. Patrick's day. I found this cute little hat in Sugar Bear's classroom. It was a festive day at school, and it was fun to see all the excitement.

March 18th I was lucky enough to have a few extra minutes to stop in at the library. You all know...I'm slightly addicted, and have a bit of a library book hoarding issue. Just knowing I have time to drop by the library makes my day. :)

March 19th marked Ivy's first trip to the Vet. She did so well. In fact....she took a little nap on the exam table. What a healthy little happy puppy!

All in all, it was a good week. No drama......just how I like it!

I can just hear them.....

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one”~C.S. Lewis

Well then....they'll be friends for life!

Oh yes....these two....they have something very much in common. Can you guess what it is? Nope....not that. Sorry.....not that either! Try again.....! Yes....both in Kindergarten....but THAT isn't it! Do you give up? do you? Okay....I'll tell you......or maybe they will tell you.....

Danny: "Pssst......hey.....pssst.....Your mom is just as crazy as my mom is about this "picture taking thing", huh?"

Sugar: "ummmmm...you think? sigh.....I'm so bored. I'm sick of posing."

Danny: "Forget them......I'm gonna get you.....gonna get you!"

Sugar: "Hands off buster!"

Me: "Hey kids.....look over here. Just a few more shots!"

Danny: "They'll never quit will they?"

Sugar: "NOPE!" tee hee

Seriously.....these kids deserve awards for being so very patient with not ONE, but TWO extremely annoying momtogs! Could it be any more exhausting for a couple of 6 year olds? Poor little cuties! Now where did they run off to? I still have another memory card to fill!

Wordless Wednesday~ Capturing Sam

For more Wordless Wednesday, go HERE and HERE and HERE.

Together

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. ~Rajneesh




It isn't often that I get a chance to hang out with someone that loves photography as much as I do, so while I was in the presence of Miss Carol down in Orange County, I just had to request that she nab some shots of me and my Sugar....and she was more than happy to oblige.



Let's be clear here....we did not prepare of the an official portrait session. It was off the cuff....just a quick, "Hey would you mind getting some shots of Sugar and I?" So, needless to say....we are as we normally are. Sugar looking cute as ever, and I looking the way I do 90% of the time. NO makeup....hair pulled back (to keep from blowing into my lens field of vision, and not very well thought out clothing, but....BUT....I cherish these photos so very much. If you know me at all....you know that I'm a bit over the moon when it comes to my daughter. And as Carol and her family can attest...the feeling is pretty much mutual. How did I ever come to deserve such unconditional love?




The precursor of the mirror is the mother's face. ~D.W. Winnicott, Playing and Reality, 1971




While some of these shots are obviously posed....most you will see are the ones were we let go of the pose, and were just.....TOGETHER. Those are my favorite. The moments when we are just where we want to be. I can not thank Carol enough for capturing these images of my best girl...and me. ♥



A mom reads you like a book, and wherever she goes, people read you like a glowing book review. ~Robert Brault



I leave you with a snippet of a conversation between Sugar Bear and I, on the third evening of our Disney Vacation, as we lay in bed together.

ME: "Sugar......what has been your favorite part of our vacation so far?"
Sugar: (with a shy smile) "You!"
ME: (giggling) "Now Sugar Bear.....I'm serious.....tell Mama what has been the BEST so far!"
Sugar: (quite seriously) "You Mama! Being with you!"
Me: (Wondering why I've just spent a fortune on plane tickets, and Disneyland admission) "Huh, really? Who knew I was better than Disneyland?"
Sugar: (giggling) "I did!"



Our next vacation....we are staying home and visiting a landfill. Apparently...as long as I'm there....it will be FABULOUS! :)

Playful Moments

I know...I know....I haven't posted my Disney pics...but to be honest...I'm overwhelmed by the amount of pics I took, and haven't really edited but a few of them. I have other pics I NEED to be working on.....NEED TO, so I'm not really allowing myself to touch the Disney shots until I'm done. Sort of punishing myself. Yeah....bad Corey!

But....I did sneak in a few edits of some of the photos I took after Disney while we were still in Orange County with Carol and her family. THIS is the REAL reason we went down there. I wanted soooooooooooooooooo badly to meet Carol....and take pictures by her side. It was everything I dreamed it would be. EVERYTHING!!! The kids had fun....but I'm certain Carol and I enjoyed ourselves a little bit more. We happily snapped away. Sigh.....BEST of times.

These were taken on our last day there. We went to a fun place......of which, I can't remember the name. tee hee.....BUT....I'll never forget what it FELT like to be there among good people.

There is no better way to bond a friendship like playing together. While the children played in their own way.....us ladies played in our special way. It was such a special treat.

Every single day since we've been back....our minds drift back to our trip, and while Disney was a treat.....creating bonds that will last a lifetime.....priceless. We miss them.

They brought out the BEST in us. Watching Sugar Bear bloom under their gaze.....was fabulous. Seeing their fondness for her grow....was something I'll be forever grateful for.

There are just not enough words to express how wonderful it felt to be a part of their family for a few days. We are truly blessed!