2011 July | I Should Be Folding Laundry

Archive for July 2011

Friday Morning Coffee

Friday, July 29th, 2011

By Beth

I’ve have a surge of creativity running through my body and brain lady. It’s all I can do to catch up with it, hold onto it and listen to it’s whispers. But I’m listening and trying to do what I can with the little, tiny bit of time that I have.

We are in the process of planning new bedrooms and moving furniture and purchasing furniture, picking out paint colors and me explaining why certain purchases are absolutely necessary to my husband. (it’s part of the process, I accept it.)

Today, we are heading out to embark on making some of this real.

But the most creative part of all of this, is trying to find a way to creatively find more time in my life to make all of this happen.

In my mind, I keep saying it’s impossible but my heart is telling me I’m wrong. I hope my heart is right.

My heart is right, RIGHT?

source

Happy Friday, Friends. Wishing you a weekend full of exploring your own creativity.

If you think it…do it.

Categories: Friday Morning Coffee

You Capture | Fruit

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

By Beth

Happy Thursday, friends! I hope you were able to capture some fruit this week and then able to eat it all up. One reason why I’m a huge fan of summer, the fruit is plentiful and ripe and cheap. Well, except for grapes. jerks.

Here are my images for this week!

Eli is eating a banana, so this totally counts. His hand could also be known as his “left shovel.”

banana

Peaches are our current favorite in the house. Except for Anna, she says they’re disgusting but that’s because she’s an 8 year old girl.

peach

And strawberries at the park.

strawberry

Now, it’s your turn to share!

PLEASE READ THIS GUIDELINES, especially, yes, especially if you have never linked up!
1. Anyone can join in on the challenge at anytime.
2. Please make sure the photos you use were taken for the challenge, meaning do not search your archives for an appropriate photo. The goal of You Capture is to get you out taking photos each week!
3. Use YOUR photos.
4. When linking up, only link to your You Capture blog post, not your main blog URL. (incorrect links will be deleted.)
5. You MUST link back to You Capture in your post.
6. I encourage you to visit other participants and leave comments. This is a great way to meet new friends!
{more You Capture info can be found here.}

White

Happy Capturing!

Categories: you capture.

The truth is.

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

By Beth

I’m really grouchy and emotional. I’m short tempered, too. I have felt insanely lonely over these past few weeks. This is not a complaint, it’s just my state of being. I can accept how I’m feeling because I know it’s just a season but I’m afraid it won’t end until after the baby is born. Actually, I’m afraid it won’t end until LONG after the baby is born.

I guess it’s okay.

Despite being emotional and lonely, I still have really great moments in my life and am surrounded by many things that I love.

Like my belly. I’ll be 29 weeks tomorrow. Today, we scheduled her birthday. I begin weekly NSTs tomorrow. In August, we give her a bedroom.

nearly-29-week-shadow

I think it’s funny that my belly looks like a dunce cap in this photo. I’m pretty sure it’s because of the corner of the house. But I suppose it really does look like this.

I love my zinnias in the front of my home. They’ve exploded into giant yellow and green balls. Anna and I planted them in late May, early June. They were so tiny. I actually wanted to plant five but they only had enough for three. The purple flower in front was a surprise return from last year. I thought I had pulled them out but they eased their way back into our garden. I love how they accent the zinnia and the sidewalk.

zinnia

Today, I needed to disconnect, so I packed up lunches and the kids and we went to the park. Such a perfect day for it.

Towards the end, when I was getting really tired, I asked the kids to sit on the bench. I finally got Eli to sit perfectly for me and saw that Anna was making ridiculous faces at the camera.

Lest you think I am always calm. I placed my lens cap on my camera, picked Eli up, put him in the stroller and said “let’s go.”

And we did. I’m still so frustrated that my oldest child ruined such a great photo but I look at it and I have to admit, I do love all of their faces in this photo. But still. ANGRY MAMA.

park-kids

I’ve been making headbands.

headband2

Because of my newborn sessions, I spend a lot of money on Etsy, particularly on headbands, sometimes I’d spend $50 a month on headbands alone. OUCH.

I decided to try making them on my own and guess what? I spent about $60 on supplies and have made about 15 headbands so far with plenty of supplies left over.

I made these two for my neighbor’s newborn. (who happens to have a head FULL of shiny black hair.)

headbands1

I’m no expert and that’s totally okay with me. It’s a great creative outlet. I’ll be editing photos and stand up, walk into the kitchen and just make a headband. Literally takes minutes. Sometimes I make them while Eli plays with bowls and spoons while, literally, sitting on my feet. It’s enjoyable.

Speaking of Eli:

VIP

He’s very busy these days, as you can see.

He’s grown up so quickly and cries so hard when Mommy or Daddy leave the house. His kisses are adorable and he loves carrots more than any other food in the world. He is such a sweetheart.

I guess that’s all I have for you. I did post images from a recent newborn session here, feel free to check it out.

And don’t worry about the first paragraph, I really am okay, I’ve just been uninspired to post here and I wanted to let you know exactly why.

Categories: Baby Fletcher 2011, Being a Mama, Family, stupid crap

Friday Morning Coffee

Friday, July 22nd, 2011

By Beth

When I first started Friday Morning Coffee, I was pregnant with Eli. I would drop the older kids off at school, come home, top off my coffee, grab a bowl of cocoa puffs and my laptop, sit on the couch and share whatever was on my mind.

Um. Those days have gone bye-bye. Right now, however, I am sitting on my couch with my laptop, for the first time in weeks. I am drinking coffee and I just had a pop tart. (okay, two pop tarts, leave me alone)

This moment of peace is brought to you by Eli waking up at 5:00 this morning. This is also known as UNACCEPTABLE and NOW HE IS GROUNDED.

So, not only am I not sitting around blogging, relaxing and eating cocoa puffs.

Now, I’m chasing Eli, waking up early and I’m in my third trimester.

Can you believe it, friends? TWENTY-EIGHT WEEKS PREGNANT.

28-weeks

(by the way, I decided to crop out my fingers because they are soverylarge.)

Baby girl is becoming so strong. During the past 8 weeks or so, I’ve grown a little frustrated with her lack of movement, I’d become convinced that something was wrong. And then, finally, after hours of freaking out, I’d feel a little *taptaptap* way down low. Like a little reminder, her letting me know she’s okay, she’s just resting because she’s going to be busy for the rest of her life.

But now, she’s making her movements known to the world. Her kicks are hard and her rolls are vigorous and she’s getting so very big. We had an ultrasound the other day and found that she weighs 3.1 pounds already. I love how wonderfully large she is.

She’s becoming the main topic of our conversation these days. Her nursery. Her entrance. Her sweet baby toes. Planning time off from BFP, Brian planning time off from work…

We don’t have time to just sit around and wait which means time is flying, right past our eyes.

I absolutely can not believe how fleeting these moments are, how soon our last child will be in our arms, ready for us to nurture her and watch her grow. I’m so ready for those moments to come but I’m also holding tight to these moments now.

Before we are six. I love that we’ll be six.

Happy Friday, friends.

Categories: Friday Morning Coffee

You Capture | Trees, beautiful flowers, little cute babies

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

By Beth

Oh, hi there. So, apparently, I haven’t logged into my blog in a week. It’s not my fault. My brother, who was deployed for a year was in town with his family and then my sister and her kids came here and well, you know, THE HEAT made my keyboard melt. Okay, almost all of that was true.

Anyway, let’s not focus on that. Last week Noah chose our You Capture for this week, such a smart fellow, he is.

I was able to capture almost all of those things.

I captured Eli because he’s a baby. He IS a baby, right? At least until #4 is born. That’s the rule, the youngest of the family is always the baby. Just ask my 33 year old sister. She very much believes in this rule, I think.

summer-boy

And flowers from the European Market. I love flowers from the European Market.

flowers

And then I had a session last Friday. This baby was quite cooperative and one of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen. No. I’m serious.

Collard-WM-1919

Her name is Keri.

Collard WM 1974

Now it’s your turn to share! But first, checkity out these basic guidelines, m’kay?

Okay, so I asked Anna this week and she said “things…um…I don’t know.” (she very seriously considered this question but after much consideration, her mind drew a blank.) So, I said, how about fruit and she said, “okay.”

so, this week:

Fruit! (hanging from a tree, in a can, frozen or in your mouth, whatever!)

Happy Capturing!

Categories: you capture.