Around Here

I asked Lucy to get dressed before we went outside... a tutu, swim shoes, and a beanie. 

I love three year olds!

* I got my Christmas tree up! But that's about all I can say. And I mean just the Christmas tree...no ornaments or anything.
* I re-pierced my right ear. It's been closed for what seems like over a year. I have tried and tried I don't know how many times to re-pierce it! But I finally had the guts to get that earring back in. Yay for actually wearing jewelry again!!

* I scored 111 points on one word playing Words with Friends against my sister-in-law. Can you believe it?! It's got to be some kind of record! It is for me at least. The word? Maize. (triple letter on the z, plus a triple word!)
* I can't remember why, but the other day I said "What the?!" and Lucy echoes with "What the fritz?!"

The Fox

1. Here 2. Here 3. Target, found here and here 4. Here 5. Here 6. Here 7. Here 8. Here

I love Todd's name. It was one of those out-of-nowhere, hit-you-in-the-gut names for me. I just knew it when I heard it that this was his name.

His name literally means "fox".
That's it.

And because of that, I can't help but love anything with a fox on it. Seeing a fox reminds me of the sweet, cuddly, little boy that has blessed our family tremendously. 

Pretty much my heart melts at the sight of a fox these days. 

Now I bet the next time you see something with a fox on it, you'll probably think of me :)

A Home Away From Home

...we visit quite often.

22 Weeks

Baby's growing!! And jumping around in there! 

I can't believe I'm already 22 weeks along. This pregnancy has zoomed by so far. In fact I am constantly forgetting that I am even pregnant! I guess chasing around two little tornadoes would do that to a person. 

Lets see... this pregnancy I can't get enough of jalapenos, salami, sourdough toast, and chocolate milk. But the chocolate milk is a staple, pregnant or not. :)

I need this pregnancy to slow down...I'm not ready for a third one yet! I've only got two arms! 

But I'm sure by the time comes I'll be ready. 

Choose to Focus and Commit

Lucy woke me up at 4:30 this morning needing to go to the bathroom. I tried to go back to bed, but my mind was just racing a mile a minute. I contemplated getting up and writing down my thoughts. But just thinking about the day with my two littles and how tired I'll be come 11 a.m., I forced myself to stay under my covers to try and get more sleep.

After about an hour and a half of no luck, I gave up and here I am! Now the goal is to effectively and fluidly piece together my thoughts so they make sense to you. 

I read this article yesterday by Me Ra Koh and it spoke volumes to me. 

I am that type of person who has a million ideas, but hardly any get executed. I'll start a project and then half way through it ends up on my shelf just screaming to be completed, but I just ignore its cries. Why can't I just finish something I start?!

The article I read talked all about "committing yourself to your art". I may not know what "my art" is, but I do know that I love photography and I love documenting. I really want to become better at it - I have this vision of the end product of who I want to be, the talent I want to posses, the creativity I want to cultivate. And yet, my actual commitment to photography is only subpar. 

Me Ra says,

"Choosing to focus can sometimes feel like it may threaten our freedom or possibilities, and yet this belief underestimates the creative power we each carry. Whether you recognize yourself as an artist or not, your life is still ever-evolving, ever-changing. There is a knocking that comes to your door, a sense that you feel in your spirit. do you listen and follow the trail? Do you risk shaking up all that is known and familiar to follow a gut feeling that gives no guarantees of where it will lead?"

I've been so scared for some reason to really dive in to photography. The perfectionist part of me thinks I should be good at it instantly. I'm scared I'm going to fail at it. I'm scared that once I do jump all the way in that I won't like it anymore. 

But that's the risk I take. 

Things we love take hard work. It's going to be a lot of work for me to improve and to reach that potential I see myself being at. 

But why let these fears stop me before I even really start? It's silly really. 

Okay...

So here's my goal. (and I want to tell you so it keeps me accountable) :)

Now until Easter (that's 17 weeks!) I am going to blog once a day through the work week, M-F. Posts will include anything I want, even it it's just one photograph. 

I am choosing to focus and commit to my love of photography and writing. My hope is that with this goal, I will be able to push myself to be creative, to take many photographs, and to prove to myself that I can commit to something I love.

So how about you? Want to join me?! Choose to focus and commit to something from now until Easter. Can you do it? (I hope I can!!) Or maybe you could choose something to focus on and commit to on a day-by-day basis. But be specific!

Think about it. No reason a resolution has to wait until New Years!

Hello Morning!

Sun shining, crisp air, Christmas music, chocolate milk, and sourdough toast. 

It's going to be a good day.

Lucy Look-a-like?

My aunt emailed these pictures to me the other day. I showed them to Lucy and she was convinced that these pictures were of her. She even asked "What's my cousins names?" thinking she was standing with a couple of her cousins. :)
I'd say there are definite resemblances between the two of us.

(and I'm digging Ronnie's striped suit!...and Steven's necktie...??)