A photo? From me? Shock horror etc.

It's been ages since I posted photos. And alas, this still is not a recent one. But a recently edited one...does that count?

I wanted to join in i heart faces again, in hopes to get the ball rolling with photography again. I'm so behind in edits...
This week's theme is angles.

I want to add a disclaimer that I know this was badly done. I was using the mouse pad thingy on the laptop on a version on ps without any of my actions or shortcuts. So it's really naff but works for the purpose of getting me remotivated.



Click the pic below to join in

Share

Something is different.

Something's not right. I am a fan of summer. Summer is my favorite and my best. I love the heat, the playing in water, the ice cream, the crashing into an air conditioned home after sweating it out all day. I love getting sticky with sun lotion and drinks tasting too watery because the ice melts. I love having to wear shoes because the ground is too hot for the soles of your feet. Yard sales, picnics, barbecues, hand held fans, sun stroke. It's all good.

I love this stuff.

























And because I love Summer so much, and I'm not a fan of Winter; Fall is usually depressing for me. I love the leaves and the beauty. But it always feels like death to me. Partly because I remember the life and death of my firstborn in the fall of 2001. So the look and feel of fall bring back some mixed up memories and throw me in a rollercoaster of emotion.

But even before then, fall could bring me down in the dumps. The chill in the air, the death on the trees, the darker days and longer nights. In the middle of enjoying Summer, I've always found myself dreading Autumn.


But not this year. Something is different this year. This year I've noticed myself thinking forward to Halloween or Harvest time or raking up leaves, with excitement brewing up inside. What's up with that? Lately when I've been realizing the Summer must end soon, instead of grieving, I've been feeling anticipation and joy and a whole new sense of ambition and motivation.

This was so eerie to me, so I had to get to the bottom of it. Ok, I noticed that accompanying these positive feelings of my least favorite season were always memories of last fall. So the key must be somewhere in there. I ran my mind through memories of last year.

The pumpkin patch







The yellowing leaves



Dressing up



Bringing out sweaters




And as I remembered these things, I felt so good inside. Like I had just taken a drug. That warm, content, excited feeling which starts deep in your gut and resonates across your shoulders and through your whole body. I feel alive. It's wonderful. What is it about last fall that's causing such wonderful memories?

Did anything significant happen last fall?

Why of course it did. This happened last fall. September 18th, 2008 - I had the most amazing birth experience. I had my first son, at home, in the water, with only my husband and eldest daughter with me. It was peaceful, intimate, exciting and perfect. And oh my, the buzz.

I enjoyed my other births, as much as one can enjoy pitocin induced contractions while being strapped to a bed. I was happy to meet my little babies and I love newborn days.

But nothing could compare to the feeling of giving birth using only the normal, natural hormones and chemicals which God built in. And wow they are amazing chemicals! the adrenaline and the endorphins and the love hormones. I just felt on top of the world. It was the most amazing high.

People often ask, "why would anyone want to give birth without an epidural? It must be some sort of martyr mentality"

And if you can't grasp how amazing it feels to experience birth with all the natural lows and then incredible natural highs, then you will find it difficult to understand why anyone wouldn't want to numb the pain of labor.

I felt like I could conquer the world. I had done something incredible and I felt like I had super powers. I had created a little being and brought him into the world. He was mine. The Drs didn't give him to me. I made him and I brought him to life, and played a part in this incredible miracle of life which God set into motion.

If I'm having a difficult time in life, which I often do, lacking motivation etc, I just have to look at these newborn pictures or remember those early days and I am instantly infused with this sense of achievement and amazement and self worth. I can draw from the energies that I had back then, from that birth buzz.





I am woman, hear me roar.





Oh my gosh, look at that sweetness








It was about 11 months ago. And I can still tap in to those positive energies. How amazing is that? And I'm thinking this wonderful birth has cured my ill feelings about fall forever. So are you all convinced about natural childbirth yet? I'm just happy I'm embracing life in a new way, and am content to experience the changing seasons with my wonderful family, and empowering memories. yay.

Share

Baby Ground Squirrel

I've learned some things recently, about the difference between chipmunks and ground squirrels. Such as, chipmunks are smaller, have stripes on their faces and tend to walk with their tales raised. Thank you wikipedia.

We have tons of ground squirrel holes in our yard and you see them frolicking around all the time. I *love* them. I snapped up some pics of some friendly baby ones who were popping up to say hi.

Share

Way back When-sday

I stumbled across this meme, and I think it's a great idea. I *love* looking through old photos.

Check out twinfatuation blog and join in.


I looked out some old pics of Kaya, which were some of my favs. I used to do a photo shoot of the girls in Calendar Park,Falklirk (Scotland), every fall.

That park has significance for Rene and I. He sort of almost asked me out there (he had a conversation where he hinted at it, because he was too nervous, then started talking about "our relationship" and assumed us to be an item. And we have been ever since). We had our first kiss there (um...later that same day). We had many teenage-frustrated-hormone-driven fights there. We saw Hanson play there.

We took Heather there in fall 2001. And got this photo.



The following year, we were blessed to be able to bring Kaya there.



And also the year after that






But I'm not going to post those pics today (oops, I just did).

Because I loved these ones, from fall 2004. Kaya was 2, and Lana was about 3.5 months. Such pretty wee lassies. This was actually a difficult time in our marriage. We were having issues, and hadn't started counseling yet. We were very much in a rut, and spent a lot of time fighting or crying. But we'd sometimes just get out of the house, just forget about the stresses, the lack of money, the depression, the mess. We'd get out and just be a family. And have fun. And those moments sustained us.

I remember this day. It was a good day.






















Check out Daddy's beard. hehe.

I don't miss tons about Scotland, other than the people and some food stuffs. Mostly, our lives have improved so much since coming here that I hardly stop to look back and miss the place. But I must admit, I feel a longing to stroll around Calendar park again, feed the ducks, watch the squirrels. Or in summer, watch the kids on the bouncy castle. A lot of memories in that place.

Share

Check him out

My baby boy covered in strawberry juices at the berry patch, signing for a diaper change.

Share

Picture Wall

I, like many others, was in awe when I saw Tara Whitney's Photo Wall. I drooled and thought about how much I wanted one of those for myself!

When my mum kindly gave me some money for my birthday in May (thanks mum!) I knew right away what I wanted to spend it on. I had wanted a photo wall for months. So I started investigating options and found a great deal.

I got paint from good old walmart. It was $12. Then I got self adhesive foamboard from artsupply.com for $45.

And the 12 by 12 prints came from Scrapbooks Please and might I add (no I'm not getting paid to say this!) that these are extraordinary in quality. Amazingly beautiful luster prints. I am completely satisfied by the prints, and I never say that. I always have something to nit pick about when I get prints back. But I have nothing but praises for this company. I completely recommend them. I also happened to get a special deal for $2.99 per premium luster print, though usually it's $4.99. But I assure you they are worth $4.99 each! You won't be disappointed. And you get one free 8 by 8 premium luster if you're a new customer, so give it a try! You can't beat free.

Anyway I was so excited when everything arrived, and Rene helped me try to put them up straight last night. I didn't get it perfect, but I'm still thrilled with my wall.

Ok so here's the wall before. Just a plain old white wall.




And here it is after. Nowhere near as good as Tara's, because I'm not as good a photographer. But here is my wall, inspired by Tara Whitney's (just don't compare it to hers!)






Ready?






Here it is.














The Scottish flag pic, was actually a pair of white tights which I cut up, and Kaya and Lana held one leg while Daddy and Zoe held the other (it was tied on her wrist). I laid down on the ground and shot this against the blue sky. It was hilarious because Zoe didn't understand what to do and she kept running round in circles. I had hoped to get some where you see more of people's hands, but I am happy to have go this one as it is. Here are the outtakes







Lana got upset because it was cold outside that day, and she wanted to go back to the car. So she did. And I'm happy I got my one shot in amongst those.


Anyway, a couple more shots of the wall.








The one of our hands, in the top right, was taken by Kaya. Isn't she great?

And then the one with our shoes, since Turtle doesn't wear shoes yet, we got his feet wet and made a feet print on the ground beside our shoes. I thought it was sweet.

Share