New Year Thoughts

I Wish: I were taller
I Love: unsolicited hugs from my Caleb
I Long: for time to read for FUN!
I Hurt: for people who've lost loved ones--particularly during the holiday season.
I Imagine: new ways to run my classes next semester
I Wonder: how what another year will bring
I Pray: Caleb sees Christ's love in his family and chooses to one day accept Him as his savior.
I Sing: alto, but I miss it since we haven't been going to church lately.
I Hope: to do a better job of focusing on what God has planned for me and my life, rather than focusing on my own agenda.
I Hate: that I don't always make time for friends.
I Talk: when I should sometimes keep my mouth shut, and keep my mouth shut when sometimes I should talk.
I Hear: there are some churches who are healthy
I Miss: spending time in downtown Chicago during the holiday season
I Misbehave: when I go to bed early, when I should be researching or preparing for my classes.
I Envy: people who balance motherhood and working.
I Fear: I'll never find a church family where I feel I can be myself, and be challenged in my walk with Christ.
I Need: to learn to be more open to people

This blog was inspired by Bri's blog!

Scrapbooking--changes

While I don't have much time to scrapbook, I LOVE it! It combines my love of photography & my need to do something hands-on. I love cutting paper, getting glue on my hands, cutting shapes, and having a huge pile of paper scraps that I hope to do something amazing with someday. I love using ribbon, epoxy stickers, and stamps. Pretty much, if Hobby Lobby sells it for scrapbooking, I love it!

However, since having Caleb, my main concern is journalling. I want to make sure that I've written down all the cute little nuances that make me enjoy him so much. I don't want to someday forget these moments that have allowed me to be ok with NOT multi-tasking, but instead basking in the moment. So my journally occurs on the computer after Caleb goes to bed. I print these off, and keep them with my scrapping materials, to inspire my pages.

My organization of my photos and layouts have changed too since having Caleb. I no longer feel that I have to scrap "events." Instead I go more with themes like, "Truck, Trains, & Tractors" or "PJ's." So a reciepe box stores these photos by theme. So by the time I scrap the page, I may have photos from when he is 6 months old scrapped with ones where he is 2. It keeps me from feeling like I'm "behind" in scrapping, but allows me to always be thinking of journaling ideas as well as themes and even layouts.

My need for journally has also leaked out into my family. For Thanksgiving, I had family members write on some tags I made out of cardstock, a list of the 5 things they were most thankful for. I collected them, typed them up into a handout, and had everyone guess whose list belonged to who. It was fun, allowed us time to reflect, and will also give me and my sister-in-law something different to scrap for the Thanksgiving page.

So for Christmas, I'm having us all list our Fav's of 2008. I took photos of all my family members at Thanksgiving, (for a Caleb Christmas project) made them black & whits, and I plan on using those photos to display these lists in my scrapbook. I think it would be fun years later, to look back at our favorite songs, TV show, scripture, phrase to say, hobby, etc... Its a way to capture a moment in time! Luckily the family has been good so far in indulging me in my requests! :)

I'm Back!

Well, those of you who have known me for years know that I have had a passion for photography. And although I have an advanced degree in Educational Technology, I never fully made the transition to digital. I bought my first big "film" camera in the early 90's, a Nikon and it worked well for me. But since I wasn't taking photos for a photography business anymore, I wasn't sure the move to a digital SLR was necessary. Even when I was pregnant with Caleb, I didn't think I was ready for the jump. So the Pansonic DMC-LX1 was my choice. It had a lot of manual features, allowed me to shoot in three different sizes (4:3, 3:2, or 16:9). I particularly like the movie feature. However, since my bff Bri has gotten into photography, I realize how much I've missed it. I love talking f-stops with her and always looking for that "perfect shot." Plus I realized that there's no better subject than my little man.

Therefore, I'm Back Baby! With Christmas money, Craig bought me a Canon EOS Rebel XT via Ebay. I choose this particular model for its small camera body and for its ability to take great photos in low light situations! I've only had it for a few days, but here are some photos I took of the ice storm that is keeping us all indoors! I already love the aperture priority mode, the amount of photos I can take one right after the other, and most importantly, that the camera takes a photo the instant I release the shutter! I'm loving this!

The Boys and an ISU Basketball Game

Craig took his Dad and Caleb to an ISU Basketball game. They were all decked out in their ISU wear, and ready to cheer on the redbirds! Caleb got to open a Christmas present early, so he could take his ISU sippy cup to the game! They had a great time!

Decorating for Christmas

Being a family of three has changed my view of family traditions. Making cookies and decking the halls mean a lot more for some reason. Here are a few shots of us trimming the tree. You'll notice that when Caleb was given complete decorating control, that one side of the tree was more heavily ornamented than the other side! And I was ok with that! Also...I learned that bulbs that are sold as "shatter resistant" does NOT mean they won't break or crack. It just means the pieces aren't as dangerous as the glass? hum...

Caleb and Santa

Well, Caleb went to see Santa for the first time. We went to the Gridley Fireman's Breakfast. Caleb LOVES anything to do with firetrucks. This summer we went over the see the trucks whenever the doors were open. And Grandpa takes him to see the Chenoa firetrucks too. So we thought this would be the perfect environment to introduce him to the large, jolly, white-bearded fellow. He was fine during breakfast, fine as we posed in front of the trucks, fine while we stood in line, but NOT fine when put him in Santa's lap. Ah...we tried! Cute photos anyways.

Christmas Cookies

We decided to make Christmas cookies this past Sunday. Caleb enjoyed the rolling of the dough and sneaking bites here and there.





He then helped Dad ice the cookies.