Last month I went on a work trip to D.C., we had a half day to see the city. We hit the hot spots. Walking through downtown made me wish I lived in a bigger city or I could photograph in a new city. I love downtowns. I love the urban look. Seeing new places that were amazing photo spots with no family or kiddos to photograph was so hard! We still had fun though. My goal was to see Abe. And, that mission was accomplished!
That’s right. It’s barely May, and we’ve already been to the beach! Here’s to hoping it happens at least a handful or so more times this year. Brandon finished his LAST EXAM EVER a couple of weeks ago. He took work off the next day, and we headed to Lake Michigan. It’s nice to have a beach close. Obviously the water was frigid (expected), but the sand was perfect. And, we had the entire place to ourselves.
When we first put G into the sand he giggled and giggled and giggled. He seemed to enjoy playing and crawling around in the new texture. The freezing cold water was a different story. We let him get his does wet, and he wasn’t a fan of the cold. Here’s to hoping he likes pools this summer!
Can you believe my friend Michelle doesn’t have her own business yet?? She has no website I can refer you to YET, but she will soon. She is building her portfolio right now, and we did a little photo trade. Awhile back I did a quickie session of her mom and sisters, and then she offered to take Gavin’s 1 year photos. It seems backwards to have someone else take 1 year photos of a photographers kid, but I’m telling you, it was the best decision I made. She captured my little guy perfectly, and I know that if I had done it myself it probably wouldn’t have turned out nearly this perfectly. We were so crazy busy this spring, I didn’t have time to think about or plan anything. So, this was the perfect solution. And, I will probably do it every time!
The little man turned one on Saturday. He’s big now. Look out world.
More pictures coming (eventually)!
This month was CRAZY — Do I say that every month? Hah. But I loved the theme for this month. Joy is… I really wanted to capture giggles and laughter. Usually every evening after dinner, we have about an hour before Gavin goes to bed and we just play on the floor and talk and hang out. We usually chase each other around the bean bag, try to teach this kiddo to walk, etc. etc. We almost always blow belly raspberries and tickle this kiddo like crazy. Brandon took my camera and caught this smooshed nose photo of me loving on my boy. This is what brings me joy. This sweet, little boy. (The little boy that’s turning 1 on Saturday!)
And, we got out and enjoyed it! Even though life was crazy, we took an evening (before a session I had), and we GOT OUT AND ENJOYED IT. We lived life…for a few hours anyway. And, it was great. It’s crazy to think that we almost have to schedule “living” these days. THREE MORE WEEKS until Brandon is done with school, and maybe…just maybe…we can be normal. “Our” normal, but normal. I posted some on my photo blog too, but here’s a few more for the family.
(click to scroll through them larger)
This was a fun theme for me for our 12 for 2012 challenge. I’m really glad I took on this challenge with my friends. It’s helped me get out my camera more and go and do and take photos. It’s been a blast.
For those of you who apologize when your house is “messy” or things are out of order. You don’t need to. If I use my kitchen, this is what it looks like. If I don’t use my kitchen, it’s clean and we probably went out for dinner instead of cooking. 
Gavin’s teddy bear was sun bathing on this EIGHTY+ degree day in March.
Oh what’s that? You apologized for your living room too? No need. This is what mine looks like if we don’t pick up toys at night. Did I mention that my baby can only crawl? At least you can’t see the dust in this photo.
Gavin was taking a nap when I took those first two photos…so I did actually clean my kitchen (and I’m pretty sure I went out for dinner that night).
This was the first day that Gavin stood up in his crib. It was pretty stinkin cute, and he was VERY proud of himself. He thinks it’s pretty neat every time he does it.
Lunch time is often a challenge with this little man. He will eat one thing like a champ one day and will gag on it the next. He will eat bread, peanut butter, crackers, and bananas with zero complaints. He’s cautious about everything else. He loved cheeses and yogurt, but we had to go no dairy while he was on antibiotics for back to back ear infections. Hopefully we can bring it back now that he’s been off of it for a couple of weeks.
I’m lucky enough to have two good friends in our neighborhood. On the days I don’t work, we typically get together. They’re within walking distance. It’s usually random and last minute, and I love it that way. Whenever it works, we get together. It was so nice this day, we had some water fun too…well, their kids did.
This was Gavin’s first time in real grass. He kept trying to keep his knees off of it.
Love this little guy’s eyes.
G took a cat nap in the late afternoon. I went in to try to get a picture and woke up him. He was a little cranky pants after that. (P.S. I made his Boiler Up onesie with my Silhouette.)
March was so nice and warm. We literally spent every evening on our little patio people watching our neighbors and cars that drove by.
See those curls on the back of his head…we cut them off last weekend!
The living room was cleaned too. I’m just glad I didn’t photograph my office.
He loves his bath.
I was flying solo for the night time routine because Brandon had evening meetings. So, this is as close as I got to being in a photo.
And that’s all folks. This post should probably be called every other day life for me. I go to work every other day and stay home every other day. This is what a stay home day looks like for me. It’s fun. It’s relaxed, and it’s nice. I love it.
This is a very rare occasion anymore. He likes his little bed for sleeping, but we were visiting family, and he wasn’t sleeping very well. Before church, he conked out in my lap (I think after a bottle).
and he giggled
and giggled
and giggled
and giggled
and giggled
and giggled
and giggled
and giggled
and giggled
and giggled
and giggled
and giggled
and giggled some more.
Did you notice the weather today? I’m grateful for it. Even if it snows tomorrow — though I probably won’t be grateful for the snow.
Today, Gavin puked — real puke — for the first time(s). That explains why he hasn’t been eating anything for the past couple of days. I claim he’s picky, but really he’s trying to tell me how bad his belly hurt. I’m blaming the 2nd round of antibiotics — ear infection in the right ear at the beginning of february, left ear at the beginning of march. Can these please stop?
And on that note…can summer just go ahead and get here early? I’m tired of colds, coughs, ear infections, winter coats, etc. I’m ready for everyone to be healthy again. And for Brandon to be done with school. And to go outside.
On a more positive note, Gavin learned to crawl two weeks ago. At the beginning of the week, he was flopping his little legs and arms in an awkward army crawl and by the end of the week he was moving, grooving, and pulling himself up onto things. Babies are amazing. How long can I call him a baby? (Beyond a year?) He’s now adventuring beyond the living room when we play. Time to make sure dangerous objects and substances are out of reach. He’s so cute when he crawls. I love it.