Sorry bout that.

I know. I've been doing some major blog-slacking. I throw myself on the mercy of the blogosphere. I don't really have a great excuse except to admit that Lucas does NOT sleep through the night. Well, any more anyway. He's not exactly what you might call, "Calm." He's needy. And pinchy. And the backs of my arms and my neck skin are crying "uncle" at the mere sight of him.

But, oh! The sight of him.


Would you believe he made his grand debut already 6 months ago? (On Friday.) And he's sitting.


And trying desperately to get his knees under him. (Note to self: get a picture of it.)

And good heavens, he loves the solid foods. We're TRYING to be good and do all the typical baby food stuffs first, but certain people (MELINDA!!!) fed him some tiny licks of ice cream! And he's nommmed on a chocolate chip cookie! And he adored the pinto beans from Betos Panchos.

And not a moment too soon. Every thing within arms reach now enters his mouth. Hair, toys, blankets, your shirt, and on and on.


What can I say, kid likes to eat! And good thing too, since he needs to bulk up a bit. But I do so love this kid. Despite his neediness. Despite his "up at night" behavior. Despite the pinching. (Please, make the pinching stop.)


Yes, I think we'll keep him.

It's rare.

Very, very rarely, will I do one of these tagged thingies. But, like Char, I've got nothing better to post about.

2 names you go by: Alissa, Liss

2 things you are wearing right now: New maroon skirt from Target, brown shirt (also from Target)

2 things you want right now: A nap. Someone else to pick up Anna from school today.

2 things you did last night: Made white chili for dinner, zoned out after my kids went to bed.

2 things you ate today: Chicken Nuggets (Miles's birthday lunch), an apple.

2 favorite drinks: Water, and Mt. Dew

I don't tag, sorry.

Picture Odds & Ends

Every so often, I find that I have a slew of pictures which don't actually match with anything really postable, but deserve sharing. So, let's dive in, shall we?


First, this should have gone into the post about Miles and his Weird-cutes. This is his lovey-blankie. He will literally drag it around all day long if I don't take it away and put it up where he can't get it. When he does have it, he sucks his thumb and (I'm not kidding) shoves the corners up his nose. Qualify as weird, yes?


Anna just looking so freaking pretty. We're going to be in SO much trouble later.


This would be the "why hast thou forsaken me, mama?!" look. Dad just doesn't hold a candle to the incredible draw of mom. See my awesome power?!


I'd like to think he was blowing me a kiss here, but somehow I think he had food in his mouth. Every Sunday morning, in an effort to speed up the getting-ready-for-church process, the girls shower with mom and the boys shower with dad. I really do believe it to be faster. Plus, that way I don't have to lean over a bathtub. I hate that.


Ah yes. This would be before the haircut. I was feeling kinda wired one night. I look it, eh?

Miles is explaining something to me. I'm not sure what. He has started using "adult" phrases. For example, today I was returning some library books that were overdue (oops!) but didn't want to get out of the car, so we just did the bookdrop. Miles stated that he wanted to go inside and I explained, "Sorry buddy, we're not going in today." to which he replies, "Are you serious!?" and when I stated that I was, in fact, serious!?, he said, "I can't believe you!" Earning his disappointment was heartbreaking.


We have a tradition. Every Sunday after church we (meaning the kids) have the same exact snack. Tuna fish on crackers. Yesterday, the kids discovered the joy of double-decker sandwiches. Which left them looking like this:

and this:



Oh lovely. Another picture of me. Apparently, I had a headache. It's perpetual.

And wrapping up this lovely Odds & Ends session we have the LukLuk.

He NEVER smiles for the camera. He will be SO smiley and I'll bring out the camera to capture some of the glorious grins he gives me and suddenly he's Mr. Serious. So, I was thrilled to get a couple really smiley shots today.

Oh, and this:

Ah yes, nothing tastes better than the slat blinds in the office.

The Floridian's Lament.

aka The lack of Autumn

If you don't live in Florida (or other warm areas of the country, I'm sure), you don't realize how lucky you are. Right around the beginning to mid-September, it starts to cool off. Not so hot. Just a touch cool in the mornings. Slowly it turns to long sleeves and then jacket weather and the once bright green leaves start to change in shade to yellow, orange, red, purple and other shades in between. You begin to enjoy things like socks, pumpkin pie, chili, cuddling up with a blanket and a good book.

Florida does NOT have these things. And I'm sorry, but I just can't fake it. If it's not cool outside, I can't bring myself to bake pumpkin cookies or even decorate for the season. I pretend that Halloween is a billion years away even though the stores are all bedecked in Orange and Black and I've got just over a month to figure out costumes for 4 children. Granted, it does cool off here. And November is just plain pleasant. Mid to upper 70s. But if you want fall weather, you'll have to come in February, just in time for Valentine's Day.

We've talked about how we don't have plans to stay in Florida forever. Mostly for this reason: We miss our seasons. We want them back. We've heard Portland is nice. Anyone wanna weigh in?

Gratuitous baby shot:

Weird-cute. Whatever that means.

Miles will be turning 3 on Wednesday. I don't even want to think about how quickly the time has flown by, because it makes me start to hyperventilate.

There are a million tiny reasons why Miles is just about the cutest/strangest kid you ever met. I'll just share a couple.

First... well, there's this.

I think he was pretending to be a "bad guy." Notice the location of his thumbs? What you gratefully miss here is that about .624 of a second later, Miles unpantsed himself and went running around the house screaming hysterically, pantyhose still on head, but otherwise naked. Still not sure what that was about! And, the best part was that we had company over.


Miles has suddenly started fancying himself an artist. This is apparently our family. This also represents the very first time I've caught him drawing anything other than scribbles. That little mouthless conehead on the right end is Lucas. Or so he tells me.

And here we have Miles demonstrating how he can afford to refuse to eat the delicious dinner I made tonight. Drinking every drop of his breakfast "cerealmilk" is sure to stave off midnight hunger pangs, right?

I've said this before, but he really is quite an enjoyable little boy. Two's been good to us. Let's hope three treats us with a little respect (and less wet underpants, okay buddy?)

The Sad-ish News

I've hemmed and hawed and agonized over this for months, but I've come to the decision to no longer do photography as a business. There are a lot of reasons behind it, but basically, my family is my most important obligation. And I was hating the time I was spending away from them.

I still love photography and I still intend to take pictures. If you are a client that has a Better School Picture Day photo shoot scheduled, we are still on. If, you're just dying without my photography services (ha!), I may be persuaded to take on a photoshoot once in a while. But I'll be pulling down my website in the next couple of weeks. Thank you to everyone who supported, encouraged and hired me to capture their family.

From the other side of 29.

So, I had a birthday. It was fabulous. As fabulous as your first 29th birthday can be, right?

Matt stepped up and ordered the mattress topper which has been bringing me (and by default, him, the cheater) comfort and a delightful night's sleep (as delightful as it can be to be waking up twice a night to feed a kid... don't get me started on that) ever since.

We had a sweet gift card for P.F. Chang's so we splurged on babysitting and dragged ourselves to dinner (with Lucas). Yum.

We also went to Borders where I picked up Stiff, as recommended by Shelah. So far, so good. Highly recommended.

Other than that, it was a highly uneventful birthday. I'm fairly certain that's what happens when you get old. No one brings you Dora balloons or the like, for which you're immensely grateful.



29's not so bad. So far. Oh! Note the new glasses. Loving them.

Matt also went all out and ordered me a fancy bakery cake from the Cake Lady.

It was Almond Brandy flavored. My mother would have died on the spot. She loves alcohol in her baked goods. Shh... She's a righteous Mormon lady, don't tell.


And Melinda, my friend who has been to Target with me more times than my husband. She picked this up for me.

I've been dying for this platter for well over a year. I have picture plans for it. You'll have to wait and see.

I have more pictures to post... but they'll have to wait for another day since this post is all about me. Neener, neener. Yes, 29 is mature.

Fried.

A really annoying lightning storm last night knocked out my internet via frying my modem, router and possibly the network card on my computer? (I know nothing.)

So, I'm checking in via Matt's computer, which I was lucky he let me touch.

I promise to be back as soon as possible with lotsa pictures and some kinda sad news.

Oh. Hi There.

There's not a whole lot going on round these parts. I'm inundated with school lunches, dropoff times, nap schedules and potty training. I'm TRYING to keep on top of laundry, dinners, and trying to get my chubby buns to the gym a couple of times per week. I did manage to get a sweet new hairdo, scrapbook a couple new pages, and make it to Target 3 times in the last week (I'd go everyday if I could).

Overall, there's just really nothing super eventful going on. We like it that way.

It's NOT a sign! Right??

So, I have an affliction.

I haven't been able to wear my wedding ring for over 2 months because of this. I can't begin to tell you how much this makes me sad. Apparently, I'm allergic to some metal in my wedding ring. This is just cruel. Imagine the looks I get when I show up pretty much anywhere (library, park, store, school, etc) with 4 young kids and no ring.

So, I ask you. How bad would it be to go get a fake ring from Walmart?

ETA: Good news! There's a jeweler in my ward who says that he will re-dip/re-plate it for $10! I'll be sporting my ring again soon!

Things I want to remember:

...the way Anna is the eternal compromiser. Regardless of who she's compromising with, she's always the one who bends. Always the kind little girl who cares about others feelings.

...the fact that Miles went to sit on the potty this morning and while peeing said, "It's working Mom! It's working!"

...how ticklish my kids are. They play this game with Matt we like to call, "So tell me Kids." They beg for it. He always complies, mercilessly.


Anna's penmanship.


The way Miles ends up sleeping on the floor in the girls' room. Every. Single. Night.

The wonderful conversations that Abbie and I have while we're walking hand in hand to school every morning. Such a smart little girl.

The way Lukie (I admit the nickname) is happy as a clam as long as someone is paying attention to him, but as soon as no one is in his sight, he starts whimpering. Social beasty!

The fact that Miles HATES the pickles on his McDonald's Cheeseburger. He will bring it to me and say, "You want the pickle, mama?" (Always Mama, never Mom or mommy.) Then after I eat it he says, "Yummy, huh?" even though he thinks its totally gross.

And so much more. I feel this pressing urgency to hold onto every last memory. Every last quirk, funny game, or hilarious comment. I want to stop time, and squeeze all the lovejuice out of our days. I want to hold on.

Two down, Two to go.

Yes, everyone. I now have 2 children in school.


I was initally really worried that Anna wouldn't cope very well with being away from me all day. She's very sensitive and somewhat emotionally needy.



I'm happy to report that so far, I've had no reason to fear. Her teacher, who I love and who was also Abbie's PreK teacher, sings her praises. She is amazed at Anna's drawing abilities and fabulous handwriting. And today! Anna got an extra sticker for being super about cleaning up the area quicker than the other kids. Um, excuse me? This is not possibly the same Anna.



While it's wonderful to only have the boys at home, I do often miss her sweet cuddles. I don't, however, miss the screaming fights between her and Miles.

I know I said tiny.

But I should have said uber-small. Or diminutive, elfin, itty-bitty, lilliputian, microscopic, miniature, minuscule, minute, negligible, peewee, petite, pocket-size, small, teensy, teeny, teeny-weeny, wee, weeny (copied from Thesaurus.com)

At 5 months old (today), Lucas weighed 12 pounds 1 ounce.





Showing off his after-bath cutes. Too bad this one's not a scratch n sniff, eh?

Problem? Solution! & How this benefits you...

Do you hate paying a fortune for school pictures like I do? I absolutely refused to pay the prices for the AWFUL stuff they give you. I mean, PLEASE! I can do a better job than that! And I do!

Last year, instead of paying for school pictures, I sat Abbie down for 5 minutes and snapped off a couple of fun shots of her.



I then took that shot and ordered some wallets from my favorite cheap online photo place and ta da! Abbie had way better pictures to hand out to her friends. And I had a wonderful picture memorializing her Kindergarten year without paying a fortune for a hideous picture.

The moral of the story is that I'm here to offer this service to you.

The Better School Picture Day
Saturday, September 27th, 2008
9am - 11am at the Library Park in Lake Mary.
For $25 per child, I spend 5-10 minutes with each of your children. Just time enough to get 3-5 great shots of them. Your pictures will be fully edited and presented in an online gallery. The $25 pays for the sitting and ONE fully edited full-resolution file with rights to print. If you decide you would like all 3-5 files, the cost is only $20/file.

Contact me now to reserve your spot!

This offer is for children in preschool through high school! More fun examples of my child photography skillz:












So, hurry! Space is limited!