Photography

As I've said before, I am trying to develop my photography skills. Lately, as in the past 9 months, I have not found much time to pursue such an interest. To state my point; 1)I got a really cool macro lens for Christmas and have failed to even put it on my camera and 2) Andrew gave me photoshop elements for Christmas and I just barley downloaded it to the computer. As in this afternoon. It was a goal/repeated guilty thought of mine to get to know how to use the lens and edit my pictures before Little Tank came. So with 2-3 weeks left in the pregnancy, I thought I could at least pretend to meet that goal.

Here are some shots of me just playing around;

Easter

Bug's excitement upon finding her easter basket. She had been coveting that ball for months

Working hard at opening her eggs.

Bug was all excited to dye eggs until she smelled the vinegar in the dye. I have a particularly sensitive nose and Bug has definitely inherited it. Quite often she will come into a room and pronounce something as "stinky." Usually she is right. Lets just hope she has Andrew's hearing because mine is not so great.

The smell was forgot as soon as the "pretty" dye was placed in front of her.

Bug's excitement at being offered a chocolate ball aka cadbery egg, if she would just let us take one final picture in her easter/spring dress from Grandma.

We then spent the evening at my sister's house enjoying a traditional easter dinner and having yet another easter egg hunt! We are so grateful for the reminder easter gives us of Jesus Christ and His resurrection.

California with the cousins

Shortly before Easter we had the opportunity to go to California for a visit. My brother and his family were in town and we couldn't miss the opportunity of seeing them. It was so much fun watching all the cousins interact with each other!


There was an early easter egg hunt. Papa did a good job of making sure everyone found their eggs.

Checking out the loot. Bug caught on pretty quickly this year.


Reaping the rewards of the search.

Cousin Z brought fake nails for everyone to put on. There were just a few concerned tears when they fell off.

Enjoying a bedtime show.

And the zoo!

Considering there was only a two day overlap we did a lot!

Sandbox

Andrew has lots of fond childhood memories spending warm summer days playing in a sandbox in his backyard. Last weekend he announced it was time he built one for Bug. She was more than willing to go to Home Depot and "help" in the process. Here is hoping she spends just as many warm summer days in this sandbox as Andrew did as a child.

Piano bench make over

I am starting a series of reupholstering our living room furniture. Last week I started with the piano bench.

Before

After

Now onto the couch cushions!

Apple tree

I love apples and have been on the hunt for some bare root apple trees since moving to Washington. I found a tree, but there were two problems. First, when we move this tree has to come with us. Consequently, it had to go in a big pot rather than the ground. Second, it is super windy here. So windy that we had to track down our garbage can after it blew across the street and half way down the block. The tree looks so skinny and fragile for such weather. So for now it sits happily growing blossoms in our kitchen. Bug loves watering it and although it is seriously in the way, I am so excited to get some fresh grown apples...even if I have to wait a year or two.

Dedication

I knew Andrew was a good dad when he got up with me at 3am to feed Little Bug when she was an infant. I also knew Andrew was a good dad when he sang and danced 'ring around the rosy' over and over and over again with Bug. But Andrew's excellent dad skills recently went above and beyond when he agreed, amidst Little Bug's 'pleases', to let her paint his toenails pink. It was fun walking around the kitchen corner witnessing the event. Not too bad for a two year old I might add. I think Andrew might really be wanting a boy now.

Big girl everything

I was dreading the day I would have to take potty training seriously. The idea of being confined to home, dealing with accidents, scoping out public restrooms, and taking Bug potty 50 times a day for all serious alerts and false alarms seemed like a big commitment. However, when we moved to Washington I knew the time had come.

This is how it really went. Bug excitedly picked out some "lady" aka princess underwear. I had no idea one could get so excited over underwear. It was at this exact moment I knew I had to be serious about this. I started panicking at the thought of my week long confinement and forever having to know where the nearest public restroom was. That night Andrew put on a show for her to watch while she sat on the potty and fifteen minutes later she went to the bathroom! She of course got handsomely rewarded with candy and lots of praise. Then off to bed she went. The next morning I did the same thing and she had numerous successes. After that, Bug flat out refused to wear anything but her lady underwear. No pull ups and certainly no diapers. Apparently, those are just insulting in comparison. She's only had one accident at home, no problem using public restrooms and most times goes to the bathroom on her own. I have no idea what I was worrying about and love the fact I haven't had to buy diapers in months!

After this, I quickly realized how odd it was having a potty trained child using a pacifier at night. That habit obviously had to go. Little Bug was more than willing to exchange her pacifier use for a big girl bed. She had a ball picking out her bedding and mattress and upheld her end of the bargain by handing over the pacifiers. She happily take naps in her big girl bed, but hasn't yet mustered up enough courage for an overnight in it. Since the potty training, no pacifier and big girl bed development all happened within a two week period, I am more than happy to put her to bed in the crib. It makes me feel like there is still a little baby in her after all.

Now the only problem is, since potty training, Bug has realized how freeing it is to be without clothes. It is hard to get clothes on this girl to leave the house and as soon as we're home, the clothes are off! Hence the top picture.

Miniature golf

We took Little Bug miniature golfing this weekend. She played a very strategic game, eying every shot through the many rock tunnels.

Little Tank

Due June 2011!