The greatest thing about the age in which we live, if you ask me, is video chat. Today, Jake, Nathaniel, David and I got to chat with my sister, my mom, my nephews, my grandmothers, and my dad all at the same time. It was the most awesome, wonderful moments I’ve had in weeks. I just love that we can all see each other even though we’re miles and miles and oceans apart. So thankful for technology.
I had been waiting for today for weeks. For the last two months, I hated my hair. I hated touching it. Looking at it. I just hated everything about it. I hadn’t been able to dye it cause of the pregnancy and nursing but the doctor finally gave me the go-ahead and I needed this cut so badly. So today I finally went to the hair dresser and it was worth every single penny.
So please indulge me as I share a few photos of me and Nathaniel.
This one was homework for the great Mondo Beyondo class I just finished. It’s important for me to remember this. I am not alone.
Don’t we both look so happy?
On Friday, I made this long, scary list of todo items for the weekend. I was so stressed just looking at it. And you know what? I did every single one of the items on my list!! Wee!!!
This is Nathaniel right after he woke up and had some milk. I love the rosy cheeks, the happy, satisfied look. I love him. He’s such a part of our life that I can’t remember our family without him.
He’s really enjoying the exersaucer. I love watching him discover and rediscover the toys.
And in case you think I forgot, here’s the other little boy in our lives. I love him madly.
And in case you wonder why I don’t have more photos of Nathaniel smiling, it’s not cause he doesn’t smile often. It’s cause when he smiles, he smiles so big and with so much of his body that all the photos come out blurry.
I spent almost all of today reading a book. Can’t think of a better way to spend the day.
Quite a few months ago, I read the sequel to this book without realizing it was a sequel. I didn’t dislike the book but I also didn’t think it was anything special. At least that’s how I remember feeling when I read Belong To Me. Had I known this book was the prequel, I might have never read Love Walked In.
I am so glad I had no idea.
This is, by far, one of the most touching and wonderful books I’ve read. The characters are interesting and well-developed. But that’s not why. The story is touching and beautiful. But that’s not why either. The reason this book spoke to me so much, so deeply is because of all the emotion in it and how well it’s expressed. All the attention the two main characters pay to life, to their emotions and to the others. The way it’s expressed so carefully, so eloquently, and so well.
Here’s a small example: What she came to what that even if someone wasn’t perfect or even especially good, you couldn’t dismiss the love they felt. Love was always love, it has a rightness all its own, even if the person feeling the love was full of wrongness.
So simply stated yet such a strong sentiment and so eloquently put.
I felt so much love, so many emotions at the surface of this book that I adored every single minute of it. I almost want to go back and reread Belong To Me now that I know these characters.
Feel free to let me know if anything is unclear or if you have questions. Next week is shutter speed. I am still planning on writing these up, please bear with me if you can’t watch YouTube videos.
Photography Tips is a weekly feature and is posted every Friday. You can find all of them here.
This is the joy of having two children, seeing them play together. It’s so wonderful and gives me so much joy.
David is the kindest big brother. He plays with Nathaniel so much and is so kind to him. Kisses and hugs him all the time.
And Nathaniel does the same. In his own way.
And the thumb is still in the mouth.
A productive day today. Working hard to go through my to-do list. This is looking like it will be a stressful weekend but I am hoping a productive one.
This week’s question is: “What are you eating right now?”
This week’s tag was interesting. I originally did it a completely different way but I wasn’t happy with the results so I redid it last night. I will show you both versions just so you can see the stark difference. I love this one much more but the other one had me trying techniques too so I wanted to keep it here to remember.
As soon as I saw this topic, I knew I would make it about my morning coffee and my favorite lunch which is a poppy bagel toasted really dark with cream cheese and tomatoes. I cut out the definition of each from the dictionary and just did my art around them making sure they are highlighted.
One more detail.
The original idea I had was to create a cup and a bagel and use flocking with glossy accents to create the poppy seeds on the bagel and some inking and glossy accents to create the glass with coffee. Here’s how it looked:
I just didn’t like the way it turned out.
I am combining Emily Falconbridge’s art journal questions with trying a new technique each week. You can see the full list: here.
Another one from the zoo trip. Have you had enough yet?
Nathaniel’s recently started to make use of his legs/feet as well as his hands and I am always amused to see how much more he can do when he’s using all four (arms and legs). Quite fun to watch how flexible he is.
He also turns five months today. Happy five months my boy. You’re growing up so quickly and I am so glad not to have to miss a moment of it.
Long and sort of a frustrating day today. Nathaniel didn’t want to nap again. At all! Yet he was whiny the WHOLE time. But I did get some quality work done so I spose that should make me feel better.
You are welcome to play with these as much as you want and use them anywhere you’d like. You are NOT allowed to sell them ever. You don’t have to but I’d appreciate a link back if you do use them.
This is part of a weekly digital download series. They are posted every Wednesday. You can find all of the ones that were posted here.
A little flower shot from the zoo. I love flowers, I can’t help myself.
I caught Nathaniel digging through my bag today. Naughty naughty.
Today was one of those days where I feel so very thankful for my life. I am so thankful for how supportive everyone at work has been with my wish to work from home. How incredibly kind and generous they are to me. I know that sometimes I get burned out or forget how amazing my life is so it’s best to write it down here so that I can come back and read. I am so so thankful.
I also want to thank my sister for her incredible support. My sister is far away but she is one of the most supportive people in my life. She goes out of her way to find ways to support me and she is so kind, so generous, and so wonderful to me. I know these are words we use often and they have almost worn out their value but I mean them with the depth they actually have and I mean them purely. Sometimes I forget how I am blessed to be among such amazing, genuine people who are there for me. It’s such a treasure to have that.
So today I am taking a moment to give thanks. I need to do this more often. Thank you, Yona, I love you so so much.
Another beauty from our zoo trip. I love owls. The are so soft and mysterious. I will never forget the day I got to touch one years ago at the Pittsburgh Zoo.
So Nathaniel must have slept all his sleep yesterday cause today he wouldn’t sleep!! Argh. I work upstairs in my bedroom for now so I’ve moved this little chair next to me so Nathaniel can entertain himself while I work and he’s been playing until he gets annoyed.
Feeling a little out of it today. Here’s to a more productive tomorrow.
Here’s another simple layout. Just about the photos and words. And a little bit of border punch fun.
Journaling Reads:
david, for the longest time
you weren’t into dress-up at all
you never did it at school
never asked for it at home
i figured you were just one of those
kids who didn’t care for it
i was wrong
yona sent two costumes for you
the last time amore was here
buzz lightyear and the hulk
now you wear them at least
twice a week
so i guess it wasn’t that you weren’t into it
it was just that we didn’t have the
right costumes
thanks so much auntie Yona.
Weekly layout is a series that focuses on simple layouts that highlight words and photos. It’s posted every Tuesday.
Today’s video shows how to create the ovelays I create for the digital downloads. It also shows how to change the color and how to use them.
Photoshop videos are weekly videos that show you how to create digital elements and photography tips on Photoshop. They are posted every Monday. Click here for all of the archives.
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