Hot Chocolate.

There is just something about a true sign of the warmer days behind us when the first cup of hot chocolate is served for the season.

Miles @ 23 Months

Favorite capture @ 23 months.

Oh goodness... The next post is the big one. TWO.


I've started to put together at least one set-up for two year pictures. YIKES...I'm trying a studio session with a 2 year old, so I just maybe setting myself up for failure. Though have you seen the recent Viking/Flannel posts on istagram? He was pretty much hamming it up for those and even saying cheese... too bad my camera sucks on my phone and he was blurry in most of them. It's time to upgrade to the iPhone 6 soon. So, just maybe he will give me a few more smiles than he did last year. I honestly don't need a 1,000 good ones. I would settle for one awesome one and 4-5 decent ones. :)

We haven't decided what we are doing for his birthday. It's a Monday, Doug will be at work and it's normally a daycare/pre-school day, but I'll plan to keep Miles home that day and his cake will have big trucks on it  and that's about as far as I've gotten with planning (better get a move on this).

At 23 months he is:


1. Saying "Momma & Dadda" FINALLY.  (Big truck was his first word).
2. Loves bubbles and would stay in the bath tub all night if you let him or until he ran out of bubbles.
3. He has some mad dance skills and uses them all the time (I need to get video).
4. Doesn't like watermelon, but could live off butter.
5. Has at least 10 blankets and plugs in rotation. He seems to have gotten off having favorites (yes).
6. Mimics everything.
7. Time outs 1-2 times a day (does AMAZING with them, even says sorry unprompted).
8. LOVES to be carried. Or to be rephrased, "WILL NOT WALK LONG DISTANCES."
9. Jumping. Jumping from the coffee table to the couch, jumping on/off beds and tables. He's a jumper.
10. Attempting small transitions to potty training. Having him sit at bath time, or getting dressed.
11. He thinks he needs to brush his teeth every time he goes into the bathroom.
12. Likes watch (cooking, writing, editing, typing).
13. Loves applying lip gloss--- it's his favorite morning activity while I am getting ready.
14. He is fascinated by poop. Another favorite activity is picking up dog poop in the yard.
15. When he is done he is done. The minute he announces he is done and you don't jump on it a sippy cup goes flying off the high chair or he climbs out of the shopping cart.
16. Will practically do anything for fruit snacks or a sucker.
17. Separation anxiety is finally winding down a little, no more crying at daycare drop off.
18. Likes to frustrate his big brother---knocking down his tower or blocks is a favorite.
19. The word "treat" is pretty much magic at this house.
20. Napping has been inconsistent over the past month, shorter or non at all (it's not pretty without).
21. Besides loving trucks, he likes Bears.
22. No toddler bed, anytime soon. We transitioned Harrison between 20-22 months---won't be happening this time :)
23. He is so stinking cute and friendly. Randomly says hi/bye to people at stores hams himself up to people he doesn't know.

Ready or not.. TWO is next.





 

Miles @ 4 Months

Time to dust off the key board and post something on here.

I'm late on Miles 4 month update, but what have you come to expect from me? They always say you never take as many pictures of the second child or keep up with the things you did with first born. Miles is getting the shaft... I promise to be a better blogger about him and take more pictures!

4 months---

Sleep: He's been consistently sleeping through the night (minus this past weekend with fever and cold following his 4 months well check-up and shots). He usually put him down at about 9 or 10pm and he wakes up anywhere from 5 to 6:30. He's still sleeping in our room in the Sleep and Rock or Rock and Sleep---whatever it's called made by Fisher Price. Doug talked about transitioning him to his crib the other day. I changed the subject, I don't think I'm ready for that yet. I need to soak up every little baby moment, knowing he just maybe our last baby.

Feeding: Miles prefers the all you can eat buffet. He'd nurse all night you let him. I guess he's a boob man. When I have to whip out the artificial boob (aka--the bottle) he drinks 4-6 oz a feeding. I continue to supplement 1-2 bottles a day of formula because there is no way that I could figure our another time to pump a third time during the work day. I travel so much as it is now. It's an obstacle to find a empty parking lot and climb into the back seat and hook myself up to the milking machine. My co-worker actually told me the other day she used to pump and drive and the same time. That sounds like a good idea, but if I was pulled over I don't know what I would tell the officer. The best thing about taking the time to pump is that is forces me to take a break in my work day and it's a much healthier than taking a 15 minute smoke break.

At Miles 4 month check up he weighed in 14lbs 1 oz. That is roughly 1-2 lbs more than Harrison weighed at this age.  I keep thinking Miles just looks so much bigger than Harrison did. I searched all over for Harrison 4 month check, but being a preemie, his check ups were same regular intervals as Miles are. Miles has stretched out to 24 inches long. That's quite the length jump from birth when he measured 18.5 inches long. Head circumference (which I rarely pay attention to) was 40.1 cm. All around he is in the 15 percentile for weight, length and head circumference.

Personality: He laughs out loud and squeals in delight. He's becoming very ticklish (I think he gets that from me). I love all of his toothless smiles. Overall he is a happy baby. I couldn't have imagined that we were ever be where we are after what he had in store for us his first 6 weeks!

He loves the bath. We are on a e/o day bathing routine but I'm sure he wouldn't object to more often. The excitement on his face when his feet hit the water. Other things that excite him are music, flashing lights, rattles, bouncing, peek-a-boo and singing. If we were only entertained  that easily.

Call him Mr. Social. This is the biggest difference I've seen between Miles and Harrison. Miles is very talkative...lots of cooing and gurgling back. I am hoping his personality stays the way it is, Doug and I were always pretty shy as children.

Appearance/Size: He looks huge to us! We visited the children's museum yesterday and as we got off the elevator a lady said, "Oh look at that newbie." She had to be talking to us because we were the only ones that were on the elevator. From photo to photo he doesn't look very big, but lugging around the heavy car seat tells us he is packing on the baby chub.

Milestones this month:
-Starting daycare
-Laughing out loud
-Grabbing at toys

What I am looking forward to:
-Rolling over
-Long naps
-More smiles & giggles

And since I've been less than a regular blogger lately I am jamming his 4 Month Well Check Appointment and daycare up date in this post.

4 Month Well Check: The appointment went as normal---wake them up. take off the clothes, even the diaper so they are freezing cold, weigh them, stretch them out, hear them scream and once you get them calmed down it's time for shots. Happy Well-Check! However shots this time were the same as at his two month appointment but he spiked a fever the next morning and it followed the next day as well. It also made him lose his appetite. From the time we woke up at 5 am Sunday morning he only drink a total of 4 ounces by 1 pm. Despite the fever and lack of food he was happy.

Daycare: The road I didn't want to go on again. It's not that I think daycare is a bad thing because it's not. There are parts of it that I love and parts of it I don't. Monday of last week Miles started at daycare. Day one went well (for both Mom and Miles). Doug came with to drop off everything. It was day #2 that was mom's (my) breaking point. He slept from the time Doug picked him up at daycare until 9:15pm when he finally let me wake him up. Then ate and went back to bed. I never saw awake more than a half hour the entire day. Talk about missing your kids life while you at work. It's was like I'm paying someone to do the job I am supposed to be doing. The next morning I bawled the entire morning. I think the 5 weeks I've been back at work, thinking I was doing OK was bottled up and exploded. Am I better now? I like to think so. But there are moments like when I picked him up today and staff member asks, "So which one is yours?" That makes me look at daycare as a baby factory. Oh, and he's got a cold after 4 days too. I'm still adjusting, I think Miles is too.





I've got more pictures...I promise to post soon!

iphone photo dump

I am trying really hard to #1 take more photos and #2 upload the photos and #3 place an actual photo order.

I am baby stepping updating photos around our house. I haven't updated a frame in 13 months. I think photographers are the worst at this.

Last week I printed a collage of Miles birth photos (which you will get to see...I promise!) I want to put together a video with music, but at this rate I hope to get it done by his first birthday. Do you need a preview of those photos? ClickHERE. Oh and grab a tissue or two and get comfy, it's an amazing post.

I am in the midst of trying to upload additional photos to make more prints, but my account says it's full. I tried to log under my second account, same thing and then I tried Doug's account, same thing. Apparently there are technical difficulties.

At least I am getting caught up posting iphone captures...

 

 

Bee Report: Weeks 20-24

6 Months PREGNANT! (2 days early)

An early post? Yes, this even is surprising me! Looking at the week a head...it's so busy I didn't want this post to go on the back burner, so here it is on the front burner.

I have been less than creative lately with myself (our family) for photo sessions since photography season is in FULL swing for the summer and the sooner than we want it to be fall. Feel free to check out my latest sessions on my FACEBOOK FAN PAGE (and even become a fan if you want too!) I have huge aspirations for putting together a new website/blog when I am on maternity leave. And if you have wondering where my creativity has gone---the sneak peeks posted FACEBOOK will tell you where my mind has been!

I have always told myself I would stop doing photography if I didn't have enough time to edit my own non-client sessions. As busy as I am right now, family comes first, this blog comes first...always has and always will. Harrison is the reason I picked up the camera and have spent the last 2.5 years learning how to use it. I feel like I have been given a gift to be able capture memories for other families.

As much as I love the camera and operating behind it, sometimes I have hand over it over, so I can be part of the memories.

I ALWAYS want to remember being pregnant. I feel like we were"cheated" with our pregnancy with Harrison. The closer I get to 29 week marker...the more I think about what happened and could have happened. To put it right out there on the table... I scared to death everyday Bee will be born before that 29 week point. I don't see 29 weeks as a success, but a milestone bigger than the ocean. At 24 weeks Bee would have a 17% chance of survival if he was born...at 25 weeks it's 39%. Every single day counts.

Today I decided to put on my faithful purple little dress on for 6 month bump photos...I was astounded it fit, not perfect, but I could breathe and move in it = good enough. I even got fancy pulling out the curling iron for the first time in a month (summer makes me lazy).

We drove to one of my favorite areas for photos and as soon as the car hit park rain started to fall... I said, "Seriously? And I was having a good hair day." After sitting in the car with my eyes glued to the radar on weather.com, Doug and I realized the rain wasn't going any where...Disappointment was cut short with Doug's motivation for me to just get out and do the photos. So here I am finding relief from rain under the tree. My good hair day was short lived.

This isn't the typical Bee Report photos, I'll grab some of those shots later this week...My needing to be a little more fun & creative need to be unleashed.

 I love these images...

 These photos would fool you, but it's raining during all of these...

I hardly look pregnant if at all in these next ones....so if need a reminder scroll up, the bump is there! I am a pinterest-aholic, I admit it. Loved this idea so much I HAD to use it. What I love even better is he let me write on his belly with marker and WILLING laid down for these shots. Accomplishment.

 Loving the silliness in this one :)

size of baby: 20 weeks: banana, 21 weeks: pomegranate, 22weeks: papaya, 23 weeks: grapefruit, 24 weeks: cantaloupe. At 24 weeks Bee is 10.5-to-11.8-inch fetus weighs about 12.7 to 20.8 ounces and every week he is getting closer and closer to being ready to survive (and thrive!) in the outside world.

cravings: M&MS every night before bed... Cheez-Its are pretty good too!

what I love: Being pregnant...even if it means wearing support hose at night for painful and the VERY unsightly veins in my legs.

what I am looking forward to most: Painting his room! I picked up the paint weeks ago, now it just needs to make it's way to on to the wall! I am also excited to help create some of the art work for the room.

worries: preterm labor, work hours--financial stand point for maternity leave and return to work based on the most recent cuts. Do I look for new employment on maternity leave? The upside to work worrying? My boss is resigning in September. :) Hopefully this will put an end to all of this worrying. I celebrated the news with fudge striped cookies.

what's different this time around: No Charlie horses yet, but not like I traded those cramps for anything better...A lot, a lot, a lot of back pain (not the worry pressure pain). Actually feeling less pressure (a relief). The heating pad has become my best friend. I also maybe the only person you know who is driving around with the heated seats on in the car with the air conditioning on high. I have to find relief when I can. I also developed the inability to sit on hard surfaces without it feeling like I just rode a bike non-stop for days and days. I read online that the cause of this pain is the bones in the pelvis and hips shifting, preparing for delivery. If there was ever a doubt that you were wondering if "things" go back to the way they were before you had a baby...Apparently they do, because these bones have done a TON of shifting preparing for Bee. I am also carrying a lot, a lot lower.

symptoms: back ache, unsightly varicose veins, bathroom breaks (I lost track of how many times a day I go---has to be more than dozen times a day), mild break out most recently, itchy belly.

maternity clothes: Yes, but I prefer athletic clothes (and they can be made to look stylish). I even have a one full panel pair of work shorts...and I was one to say I would never be caught wearing something like this. I have a new motto, "if it fits, wear it."

sleep: been sleeping overall better, not as many crazy hormonal dreams. Sleep could be better if we had a 2.5 year old that actually slept through the night more than 2 days a week! An on going/current struggle of ours.

belly: huge change...growing like a weed. No stretch marks yet (didn't have any with Harrison, I think these veins are payoff for the stretch marks) and lots of lotion.

movement: All the time...triple as active as my pregnancy was with Harrison. Usually more movement on the right side. I felt my first kick today over my belly button, but now tonight he is hanging out on my bladder. Apparently whatever I am feeding him keeps him going like the Energizer Bunny.

boy/girl: Boy! Harrison still thinks it's a girl!

milestone: More than half way through the second trimester!

comments from the general public: When are you due? Do you know what you are having? I officially look pregnant enough people are starting to treat me nicer...Those people holding the doors longer for me and giving me priority in line. Too bad this will be short lived!

best moment of the month: I tie between those belly shots of Harrison and I above and kick from Miles hard enough to startle me into a little jump.


A special thank you goes out to Doug for putting up with my photo pickiness. I am a hard critic. Thank you for these memories.

I'm A Planner

I am a planner and can't help it. There should be a support group for people like me. I can't be the only one plagued with being a plannaholic.

I starting planning Miles (aka Baby Bee) nursery yesterday. The crib bedding is order, in fact it was shipped out today. Like Harrison, I am starting with the bedding and working the room colors/design around that. We finished Harrison's room at 26 weeks---just 3 weeks before his arrival. Most likely paint won't hit the walls for several more weeks here and I a doubting a room completion at 26 weeks this time...but I am excited for the transformation. I am actually losing my photography studio as Miles moves in, but I hope to regain that in a new home in the next year or two. Harrison also won't be moving rooms. He will be upgrading to a bigger, big boy bed, (a super fun modern set we picked out at IKEA).



I bought this binder months ago (before I knew to buy blue). It's been holding my insurance documents. I took out a whole additional plan knowing this is a high risk pregnancy....more of my plannaholic tendency.

Now the binder is stuffed with paint samples, bedding, room essentials among some other upgrades we need this time around, like a baby monitor (Harrison's broke at 6 months), double stroller and better infant carrier/sling. Those are just a few MUSTS.

Here are a few images I grabbed of the binder tonight with my phone---

Are you laughing at these images? Or are you too considering yourself a plannaholic?