The Kelley Family

A ME Moment

Friday, October 12, 2012

I have had this finished CD of our maternity photos sitting on our dining room table for a week, unopened.

Why?

It's not because they aren't fabulous shots, my friend and photographer mentor Jenna shot this session and her work is anything less than stellar.

No---this envelope remain sealed because I didn't have the time...or more like I didn't make "ME" time.

I love photography...don't hear me wrong in any means (in fact someone better lay me to rest one day with my camera). But photography does get stressful. For the most part clients are great, especially those that keep coming back to me and all the new families I meet, exceptionally fun. I truly feel blessed that I have been given this gift to do what I do.

But on the other side it's not always bright rainbows and puppy dogs.

There is where life pulls you in every direction, it's the expectation to do it all---And it's not just doing everything at once, it's doing that everything flawlessly.

I am wife, a mother to a little boy, 2 cats, 2 dogs, expecting baby #2 next month, I work full time and part-time and somehow have to find time to cook, clean and sleep and prepare for baby and spend time with family.

One thing I am learning and I am sure I'll be learning probably for the rest of my life is it's impossible to do it all. It's like that movie with Jim Carey--"Yes Man." So... I've convinced myself to start saying no. I have to admit, saying no it's getting a little easier, especially when potential clients are trying to make you feel guilty for saying no (hello, I am 8 1/2 months pregnant--still high risk), or if it's the fact they just think you should be available and don't have a life or something.

The fact I am letting people make me feel guilty for wanting to have
"ME" time is ridiculous, and needed to be spelled out on this blog so I keep reminding myself of it. I shouldn't feel guilty for taking moments to capture my own life and putting it before clients. The reason I picked up that camera for the very first time was to capture my own family, my own life. If I have to feel guilty about doing that, than I shouldn't be doing what I am doing.

Today:

I spent time watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse snuggling with my pre-schooler
I made breakfast, and actually sat down to eat it
I cleaned Miles (baby #2) room, organized his closet
Washed Miles teeny-tiny clothes and packed them his diaper bag
Finished packing my hospital bag
Made a "house" out of blankets
Viewed the images from our maternity session
Finally opened up the diaper cake my friend Amanda dropped off a month ago
Played with the dogs
Dropped Harrison off at pre-school for a few hours to put my feet up
Went on Pinterest to look for things for Harrison's Mickey in Space birthday party.

and it's only 1:00 pm and my next photo session isn't until 3:30 pm---Dare I say a nap?

Nap. There, I said it.

Linked 52: Neighbor

For a nearly three year old, having a neighbor like this is a little boy's dream...

He rides his bike past the fire station almost everyday for a chance that the doors might be open to station. You can only imagine his excitement when I told him Wednesday morning that he was going to get sit in a fire truck that evening....in fact that is all he talked about that afternoon on our way back home from pre-school.

He "helped" put out the simulated fire and tried on some king-sized boots.

My friend Kristi who is also expecting (in January) and her adorable 20 month old son Micah came along on our venture to the open house. I had hoped to get some photos of the boys together, but letting a 1 & 2 year old loose in a fire station isn't a recipe for successful photo session. However these two blondie's caught the eye of a photographer at the local paper and were debuted online in all their cuteness!

Here is me (mom) capturing the capture.

HERE is the newspaper photographer's photo.

I am sure we will be visiting our neighbor soon again!

Who is your neighbor?

Linked 52: Colors

Friday, October 5, 2012

The leaf colors are just starting to peek in SE Minnesota, a photographers Christmas I call it. Now...if the wind would just die down a bit and leave a few leaves on the trees for the 18 + photo sessions I have left this month.

I took Harrison up behind the hills of one of my favorite places to photograph the colors of fall on Wednesday evening. It was a beautiful 70 degrees and warm sunshine. He didn't really want much to do with the session, he was more for "looking for his tools" (sticks, rocks etc.) which would have been ideal for last week's post. Ugh...I feel like I keep just missing these!

I do have to send HUGE kudos to him though...he totally rocked his birthday invite session. All I needed was one good photo for the invite itself and ended up with a good 10. Anyone who photographs a 2 year old, knows that number is amazing! He sat up perfectly....said, "Cheese Momma." I was in heaven.

Color---Give me a E for EFFORT.

Why don't you brighten you day and check out all of these other colorful posts?

Violet

Thursday, October 4, 2012

There is a new girl in the house. I blogged a couple of photos of her from Sunday when we brought her home.

(the ride home)

Before I get into the details---do you want one too? More puppies will be ready for new homes just around Christmas. Here is the link.

Rewinding a bit---I talked to Doug about getting another dog over a year ago, in fact about year after Whitney Dog's medical scares. I pushed hard for it when we found out we were pregnant this past spring. Finally I decided to give up until dog came home on Monday evening and said there are Springer puppies available. I looked at him and told him, "No, absolutely not, we are 6 weeks away from Miles due date."

Obvious something happened between that thought and the following Sunday when we picked her up. I had time to think. I did A LOT of thinking. It was never a matter of if we were going to get a second dog, it has always been a matter of when. Whitney turns 9 in December....she is/has been the best dog anyone could ask for. This is why we chose to get another Springer Spaniel.

If you remember correctly we didn't get Whitney as a puppy, she was a rescue from a puppy mill at year and a half. Not that it wasn't convenient that she was house broken when we got her and knew some simple commands, we always knew the next dog we were going to get would be a puppy. In fact this was the first puppy I ever got to go and pick out... Even though Harrison won't remember picking her up and that drive home, but we will. Harrison had a blast playing with the other puppies, checking out the farm animals and tractors in beautiful Bay, City WI. What a great thing for Harrison to grow up with two dogs and so will brother Miles.

The timing isn't perfect, but in life we have learned your never always going to find that "perfect" time doesn't exist.

I feel like I need to start Violet her own baby book (Whitney has one). At just over 9 weeks old we estimate she weighs between 8 to 10 pounds. Potty training is challenge as expected. We pulled up all of our area rugs and put them in storage until it's safe for them to come back out again. I am glad our home is at least 75% hardwood floors or laminate.

She knows her name. Does Violet sound familiar? Yep? It should---that was our girl name we had picked out. I now feel a little less out numbered by the boys of the house.

The question I am sure you have and that I definitely have by now---how is Whitney Dog handling this?

Surprising well. There hasn't big miffs yet. Whitney has showed he teeth a few times when Violet wants to steal one of her toys or is just plain annoying her. I don't blame her, especially if I had to sit home all day and listen to her whimper and cry as we are in full fledged crate training mode.

I wish I could blow this entry away in puppy photos, but every time I bring out the camera she tumbles over to me making it impossible to get her photos---and if you saw in my last entry....I am just a little bit or a lotta it busy.

I am excited to see where the future takes us and having Violet a part of our family.

Waiting for Baby Miles

Our maternity session is up! When I get the CD I'll post the photos on here (since we hope to continue to print the blog yearly). However, I couldn't wait one minute longer so click here and grab a box of tissues, they are amazing. I am looking forward to Jenna capturing the birth of this guy :)

Alright...are you done tearing up? I personally lost it at Miles is still baking at 34 weeks. That's right 34 weeks 3 days as of now! I've been pregnant exactly 5 weeks longer today. It's so different this time... We are only 5 days away from being able to deliver at our hospital in safe measures. Today happened to also be my last two week check---I now will see the doctor weekly until Miles arrival.

I measured 34 weeks. I am no longer getting the, "Are you pregnant?" or the "Your so tiny" comments---the big guns have been brought in. I think I am going to start tailing up how many times a day I am asked, "So when are you due?" In other technical news, my blood pressure continues to look what was termed "fabulous" today. Miles growth is right on...The doctor said he couldn't be any happier on how things are progressing. Next week I get tested for Group B Strep and I am not looking forward to it, but I am looking forward to getting it done and over with it if that makes sense. The next big thing is taking the cerclage out at 37 weeks. I asked the doctor today if there is a typical amount of time someone goes into labor after the cerclage is removed. The short and long answer? No. He said, "I've had some that deliver the next day, some a week later and some not until their due dates." Currently I am less than 1 cm dilated. The stitches are doing their job.

I have also had less pressure and pain in the last two weeks (a perk). The doctor said this is typical for this point in pregnancy since the baby usually shifts upwards in growth which is putting less of a strain on the cervix than it did at 0-30 weeks. My co-worker even said to me Monday, "You look different, like you are carrying higher." At the doctor's appointment today he could clearly tell baby was head down, but not too far into the pelvis yet (which isn't signifying pre-term labor). I've noticed Miles up higher too...his little butt in firmly against my rib cage.

With all this said, I am continuing my current work load and shooting as much as I can until Miles arrive. I have to admit I am little overwhelmed and tired right now between work, work and feeling like I am not prepared enough to be a second time mom. These pregnancy hormones are driving me on the verge of crazy. I feel like his room isn't completely finished, the house isn't ready, I haven't cleaned enough packed the hospital bag, I haven't cleaned the pump, bought any storage containers, enough of anything. I feel like I am struggling to spend as much time as I can with Harrison as a only child, somehow managing to do the cleaning each week. The inquiries for photo sessions are enormous...I am turning away new clients everyday and managing the current clientelle I have. Most e-mails are asking for me to refer them to other local photographers since "your taking it easy." Ok...that seriously got me. I am by no means "taking it easy." I work full time, shoot part time, have a near 3 year old, a house to maintain, 2 dogs, two cats and am 8.5 months pregnant---where is there easy in that?

As a very light moment. After snuggling and reading Harrison his bed time story tonight I asked him, "So...Do you think mommy can make it out of your bed?" With all his might he tried to help me get up and out, now that makes a night.

Between pregnancy, a new puppy (I know, we're crazy), work, work, continued pre-school struggles (a post to follow) and life---there is always Target. If you seen my posts on Facebook, you know what I am talking about. There is nothing like retail therapy to smooth over some bumps at least temporarily. I just may have bought a feel good when you pregnant dress (photos to also follow).

Welcome Home Violet!

Sunday, September 30, 2012

It's been busy weekend, but Sunday finally arrived for us to pick up this sweet girl... Meet 9 week old (Springer Spaniel) Violet, the newest Kelley family member.

She's only been home a few hours with us, but all is going well. Expect a full post on her, but for now here is one more of her.

34 Months

Saturday, September 29, 2012

This adorable guy is 2 months shy of his third birthday. This evening he took some fabulous Mickey Mouse photos for his birthday party invite, which also got ordered tonight (I'll see if I can manage to keep myself from posting them before the invites get sent out). I had to narrow down what invite to order from 54 pages of possible Mickey Mouse (invites) on ETSY. If you haven't become an addict of ETSY...consider yourself LUCKY and I mean this!

34 things about 34 Months:

Told me today, "Mickey is my friend."
Loves animals, minus Gorilla's (they are scary).
Now spends half of the week sleeping in his own bed (HUGE improvement)
Vocabulary is AMAZING---tonight I heard him use the word "Massage."
Talks in complete sentences.
Likes to eat....latest obsession Saltine Crackers.
Starting to play and interact more with other kids rather than just parallel play.
Wakes up usually around 7 am
Becoming more affectionate with hugs and kisses.
So incredibly polite....he sets a whole new standard for other kids. Yesterday he needed to put a spatula away and he said, "Excuse me Momma," he put the spatula away and said, "Thank you Momma." No prompts needed for this kid.
Includes Whitney Dog in whatever we are doing, he loves her!
When watching Mickey Mouse...he repeats sayings and follows Mickey's directions.
Hair Cuts are no longer a struggle...he just had his 4th one.
Loves attention! Newest saying, "Look at me, look at me."
Continues to love diggers, airplanes and big trucks.
He loves his carbs...Butter Milk Biscuits and bread sticks are a favorite.
If I want him to "sleep in" in the morning...I tell him, "It's too dark to get up." That usually buys me at least a half hour!
Two words...Cereal obsessed
Uses napkins at meal time, doesn't like food to get on his clothes
Bed time: between 8 and 9...usually aim for 8:30
Picked a favorite blanket. Yes, it happened. I am scared to death of this blanket getting lost. Ironically his favorite blanket is yellow, this was the color of my blanket and Doug's blanket as kids. When looking for the blanket Harrison sounds distressed and repeats, "yellow, yellow, yellow."
We play at the park 6 out of 7 days a week.
Biking skills improving full force...now he needs to learn to STOP. This has been slow going.
Still has his plug, but finding he is using it less and less.
When asked the name of Momma's baby, he says "Miles."
Melts my heart when I ask him, "Where does Momma work?" He responds, "pictures, momma take pictures of babies."
Becoming more patient and better at understanding taking turns.
Started pre-school
Attempting to take himself to the bathroom at home, but still hard for him to climb on the potty.
Knows 5 planets by name...he is obsessed with rocket and space.
Can differentiate his right from his left.
Fluent in knowing his colors, can count to 13, ABCs are a bit harder for him.
Observant of anything and everything... if you show or do something once he remembers it.
He's an AMAZING MIRACLE, enough said.

When I get caught up...and I will, I'll post the rest of the photos from the session above. This was his "make-up" session from earlier morning, he wanted nothing to do with family maternity photos. I'll also get some sneak peeks of our session up too!

Linked 52: Tools

Friday, September 28, 2012

Nothing a little boy loves more than his "tools."

This is how we spend (almost all) our evenings with "tools" in hand he fixes slides, stairs and his "rocket ship" (swing).

Check out these other ladies who challenge themselves every week with a different theme.

Week 3: Pre-School

MY MAN.

This is how Mom feels about pre-school...

nap time = potty accidents
drop offs = horrible
play time = biting

NAP TIME:

I thought the transition itself from the toddler to pre-school room was going well, but that was very short lived. The last two weeks have been a BIG struggle. Harrison went from dry nap times to having an accident EVERY single day during nap time. It seemed I would talk to the staff everyday, each said they would make notes. I also found out they weren't using any hands on for toileting, just standing in the door way---so there was no way to know if he was actually going to the bathroom before nap time. I requested more help and he be taken last before nap, but there was no change, the nap time potty accidents continued. It was even suggested that we could bring diapers again. ABSOLUTELY NOT. This is not an option as we are transitioning from a family of three to a soon family of four. The ironic part of all of these nap time accidents is that he is dry for nap time Friday through Sunday, so accidents are ONLY happening at pre-school. I am not sure if this is a behavior or just a plain reaction to the transition. Last Thursday I lectured Harrison about having potty accidents. That morning he wanted a Fruit By The Foot fruit snack. I brought it in the car and set it next to him and told him, "if you don't have any potty accidents today, you have have these fruit snacks." I picked him up that day in the same clothes that I brought him in that day. It was a small victory. I asked him when I picked him up that day, "What did Momma say you could have if you had an all dry day?" He replied, "More fruit snacks." At Monday's drop of this week I lectured the same and promised Harrison a car wash if he had a dry day. When I picked him up that evening he had a dry day. I asked him, "What did Momma say you could have if you have a dry day today?" He said, "car wash, clean car." He gained mini cupcakes on day 3 and since then the struggle has started over.

With toileting being an issue...there could be worse things than this, however this certainly is a frustrating part of this transition.

BITING:

It started again. A staff member told me the other day, "I think it's his self defense." Self defense? Do we need to get this kid enrolled in a class at our local police station to protect himself against the 4 & 5 year olds? Words (vocabulary wise) he talks really well now, often in complete sentences. This behavior isn't typical for him...usually if a toy is taken away from him or he gets frustrated he completely shuts down (throws himself to the ground/cries). So this whole biting?!?! Another piece to this puzzle that just doesn't fit.

DROP OFFS:

Horrible. He is back to crying everyday. Normally I can just walk away and know he will be fine, but I don't have this same feeling for pre-school. He isn't greeted the way he was when he was a toddler (and that was just a couple of weeks ago). I honestly don't know if the staff in there pay attention during drop off---there is so many kids and such few staff which is another frustration of mine. I feel like he has just become a number. The staff in the toddler room were awesome at distraction and very receptive to his needs. I had one staff member in the past two weeks in the pre-school room that has taken the time with him...She sat on the floor and started playing---a little girl tried to direct her away and she responded, "Let's play with Harrison, so he doesn't get sad when his mommy leaves." Whoever she was I haven't seen her since...But oh how I liked her.

I feel like I am nagging. I don't think my kid needs extra attention or privileges but I feel like I am repeating myself everyday. We talk about toileting issues. I found out in the beginning staff stood outside of the bathroom, but weren't in there with him so there was know way knowing if he was going or not going. I have asked for staff to be in there with him to make sure he uses the potty and goes. Despite this it seems like we aren't getting anywhere. What I can't understand is he can be dry the three days a week he is home with us and wet himself 4 days in a row at pre-school (during nap time)---this doesn't add up and I can't be there to see if the staff follows through or not.

Also when Harrison transitioned I (we) understood that Harrison was going to be in a class of 3 year olds. This isn't happening and doesn't sound like it will be happening anytime soon. He is two months shy of 3 and in a group of 3-5 year olds. I think this gap in age is too much. There needs to be a middle class for 3 year olds or 3-4 year olds, not 5 year olds. In a most recent news letter Harrison will be in a 3-5 year old group termed, "Whales."

I actually needed to flex my hours a few days in the last couple of weeks and picked up Harrison early without notice. Both days I picked him up was during story time. With so many children I think it's harder for him to stay on task. I found him in the back of the group turned around not engaged at all. This is where I feel like smaller age groups would be more appropriate.

Lastly the room is very much set up for older children. There is no stool for him to reach the sink, the gate so tall he can't even see over it---he looks so little next to those big kids.

Ok, I lied, one more gripe. This may make sound super picky, but seriously upset with when staff if changing his clothing. The other day he came home in one of those stretchy swim tops and pair of khakis. Another day he came home in his shorts and someone elses top---2 sizes too big. Seriously? They had to go to the bin to get his shorts, how do you manage to go to another cubby and pick out a tee that he was swimming in? I know this is minuscule---but I am the kind of parent that bathes my child nightly (and cleans the dirt out of the toe nails and finger nails), combs his hair or spikes it up ever day and people, my kid looks cute when he leave the house in his matching outfit---yes, I am one of those mom's. I know it's only pre-school...but I don't think my standards are too high to have him match.

Oh and boogers! YUCK. I hate them. The kid has a package of Kleenex in his cubby, coat pocket and a couple of sheets in his pair of jeans--how his is face dried with snot and boogers on it when I pick him up? I know my standards aren't too high for this.

How is Harrison liking the transition to pre-school? I have mixed feelings about it. He comes home in a mood like he always has, but when I talk about what friends he played with he always refers to his toddler friends. I don't blame him for not knowing names---there are SO many kids, none in which I know their names.

There maybe big changes to pre-school/daycare for Harrison/Miles. The director resigned this week. Harrison will have a teacher starting soon in his classroom (he's been without since the transition).

What will week four bring?

Just a little note:

I am way behind in blogging! I started this post more than a week ago and I am FINALLY posting it now.

I have some incredibly cute series of photos to share. Harrison decided not to participate in our maternity session last weekend, but he made up with it with flashing me some smiles and silly faces when we got back home---go figure right?

Stay tuned for a Linked 52 post, 34 month update and possibly a surprise addition to our family (no, not Baby Miles, he is still baking). I will get caught up, I PROMISE.

Prairie Island Park

Sunday, September 23, 2012

I love FRIDAYS!

Not only do I not work most FRIDAYS...I get to spend the day with this guy!

I was up late cleaning Thursday night so we could sneak in extra time at the park. As October is nearing I will be busy with a lot of client photo sessions, so it's moments like this when it's just the two of us together that I truly cherish.

The park---his favorite place.

Not only can he blow bubbles now...he can also finally blow dandelion seeds. How exited am I? This my water mark!

Everyday it seems so much changes, it's these little things that make the BIG things.

Linked 52: Autumn

Friday, September 21, 2012

We took a trip to a apple orchard over Labor Day Weekend. It's a tradition Doug and I started before Harrison was born. I can't remember ever going to an orchard as a kid and so much fun they are! It's hard to believe next year this time we will have 10 month with us!

It could have been a little less sunny for better photos, but you can't fight with mother nature!