2011 July | I Should Be Folding Laundry

Archive for July 2011 – Page 2

You Capture | Summertime

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

By Beth

No matter how hot it gets. (and I know some of you are sweltering out there.)

or how dry the earth. (I know some of you are desperate for rain.)

I still love summer more than any other season. Summers in Indiana are pretty much perfect. Especially at this moment, as I sit next to my window, feeling an actual cool breeze. (this is rare in July, of course.) I love July when you drive by cornfield after cornfield, the plush green and the straight lines are home. We live next to Lake Michigan, so in August when it’s so hot outside you can hardly breathe and you can get through the burning hot sand, you find relief in the warm waters of the lake, where you remain until you watch the most perfect sunset.

And then there’s winter where everything is cold and dumb. So, yes, SUMMER WINS. YAY!

Here are my shots.

I had a session with Kate (yes, THE Kate) of Big City Belly. She’s 35 weeks pregnant and lives in Chicago. I took pictures of her and we walked along the most perfect tree-lined streets in the quiet part of the city (Wrigleyville) and we sat and ate ice cream. I wish I looked this pretty when I was eating ice cream. (or at 35 weeks pregnant) (or EVER) Now that I think about it, I don’t think I like her very much.

bigcitybelly

Here’s a typical summer morning. Reason number 4,109 why I love summer. PEACE AND CALM. (at least for this moment) Also? This is the only part of my home that is messy. *cough* *COUGH* *COOOUUUUGGGHHHHH!*

summer-mornings

And here we have Noah’s first baseball game. Yes, I realize he’s like 47 and just now starting baseball. But we decided looooong ago to not force our kids into activities. They can play and play and play until they say “hey! I love baseball, can I join a team?”

And now he does. Perfection.

Noah

In our neighborhood, the girls are all about Barbies and Friendship bracelets. (both take me way back!) Plus, these activities keep the boys away.

barbies

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.}

Okay, so I asked Noah (who has a serious interest in my photography) what he thought people should take pictures of and this is what he told me “like trees and beautiful plants and little cute babies.”

so, this week:

Trees. Beautiful plants. Little cute babies. Choose one or do all three!

Happy Capturing!

(trying the thumbnails again – I’m having one little issue with them, like I can’t see last week’s, which annoys me. If this continues without a fix, I’ll have to go back to boring old words.) (and now I see them again. MAKE UP YOUR MIND, LINKY)

Categories: you capture.

That age

Monday, July 11th, 2011

By Beth

Eli3

He’s at that age where he starting to express himself with grunts and yells and stomping and cries. He loves to be entertained by anyone that’s around him. When we go to restaurants, he’ll talk to the waitress, the busboy, the people next to us just because it’s a new face.

He doesn’t actually use words, he just mumbles and nods and they laugh and talk and make faces and play peek-a-boo with him and he turns to us like “can’t you be more like these people?”

Eli7

He is exhausting and never stops moving and not only do we need to chase him around all of the time but we also have to begin teaching him right from wrong. That is exhausting.

I forgot how exhausting it was do continuously go back and forth with “no touches” and “no-nos” and “this is hot!” and “this is your sister’s pair of scissors! OOUUCH!” over and over and over again.

Eli5

And now that he’s hitting this MUST TOUCH EVERYTHING AND NEVER SIT DOWN STAGE during the stage of my pregnancy where all I want to do is sit? Well, I’m so tired I can hardly stand it. I absolutely can not turn my back for one second when he’s awake which means everything in the entire world must get done during nap times. This also includes my own personal nap time because I am so tired.

Eli6

So, we talk a lot about what it was like with Anna and Noah, who are less than a year apart and how did we do it and we both scratch our heads and can’t figure it out. Except that we were younger and when I was pregnant with Noah, Anna was not mobile (and we liked it that way!) Now eight years have passed and everything is different (especially our ages) and now I’m pregnant and have a business and a much bigger home and Brian’s in graduate school and this blog and that blog and that blog and older children, too. (and apparently neighbor’s kids = UGH.)

Eli4

When Anna and Noah were babies and toddlers I didn’t work. I played with them, I cleaned the house, I dreamed of becoming a photographer, I watched TV and I even went to the gym! Daily!

Eli2

So, things are different now and totally challenging and maybe even kicking my ass. And guess what? A newborn is coming to our home in just over two months. So, you know. HARDER.

Eli1

I’m pretty sure we are going to survive. I’m pretty sure we’ll look back on the days of toddler Eli and baby girl and we’ll be like “it wasn’t that bad!”

Because these days of chasing and teaching and waddling and aching are long, for sure. But I imagine the days, when they’re all in college and Brian and I are walking around the house trying to find something to do, this time scratching our heads, trying to figure out where it all went, well, I imagine those days will seem even longer.

And as I was proofreading this, Eli, asleep in his crib, where he’s been for nearly two hours now, he cried out, he cried hard. I picked him up and he instantly nuzzled into my body. I sat with him and thought “I was all he needed, just me for just one moment.”

And THAT was all I needed, too.

Yep. We’ll survive.

Categories: Being a Mama

Friday Morning Coffee

Friday, July 8th, 2011

By Beth

This Friday morning has been very kind to me. I heard Eli cry at 6:45 this morning and shortly thereafter I heard Brian’s footsteps head towards his room and scoop him up and taken him back downstairs.

And then I fell back asleep until 8:45. (Brian was supposed to work!)

I worked for awhile, now I’m sitting on my bed, drinking coffee and eating a strawberry pop-tart. (by the way, I choose strawberry because it’s low-fat, otherwise, I’d be all over s’mores or chocolate fudge, etc.) I’m sitting on my iComfort bed from Serta. The kind Stephanie is giving away RIGHT NOW. I’m in lounge position. It’s so amazing. (I’ll be giving one away soon, so be on the look out, in the meantime, check out Stephanie’s blog to enter!)

Anna is next to me watching some freaky-barbie-mermaid movie and making friendship bracelets. She’s been selling them on the sidewalk. So far she’s sold one to some neighbors and also a construction worker.

Today I’m going to be working on a Clickin’ Moms workshop that started a few days ago. I’m hours and hours behind but I should be able to catch up today. (I HOPE, at least.)

West-WM-1443

And yesterday? I captured twins. They were perfect, willing, stunning models. Erin came to help me, which added to the awesomeness of the session.

West-WM-1264

I’m still struggling with my belief that I’m a good enough photographer. I am completely okay with that because I feel pretty strongly that this is what will help me improve. But still, sometimes, I’d like to feel…REALLY GOOD at what I do.

Does that make sense?

West-WM-1192

But until then, I’ll keep trying, keep clicking, keep scheduling, keep dreaming and keep on loving what I’m doing.

Which is capturing beautiful things like family and light and gorgeous smelling sweet little babies.

Happy Friday, friends!

Categories: Friday Morning Coffee

You Capture – Patriotism

Thursday, July 7th, 2011

By Beth

Hiya, friends. (I don’t really say “hiya” in real life. Do you?)

I hope you all had a great time celebrating the 4th and if you don’t live in the United States, I hope you had fun photographing patriotism. I love that patriotism exists everywhere.

At least, we hope it does.

Here are my shots.

After a storm.

sunset

Our little firecracker. (who pretty much loved everything about fireworks except that they kept him up so late each night!)

little-firecracker

And of course. The parade. A flag. Proud veterans.

flag

Now it’s your turn to share!

Summertime

Happy Capturing!

(trying a new way to link up using images! What are your thoughts?)

Categories: you capture.

Don’t ask me

Tuesday, July 5th, 2011

By Beth

Right now. Today. I do not have time to come here and write a post. In fact, it’s criminal that I’ve opened up this draft and am now typing. I’m not even sure why I’m doing it. I have so much to do.

I guess I just don’t know where to begin. Since Eli has become crazy mobile my time during the day to get work done has diminished quite a bit. I put him down for a nap 50 minutes ago. It may last another 30 minutes. I still have to shower and put some makeup so I don’t scare my children, I have about 4,320 photos to edit, three print orders to place, laundry to do, clients to email, I also have three children at home with me, oh and I started a new Clickin’ Moms workshop yesterday and am already overwhelmed.

Also, I’m pretty sure I left a pop tart lying around the house somewhere. I should probably find it immediately.

Yet, I am here.

Thank you for saving me from the crazy.

But now I must go. This weekend was beautiful and long with blue skies and naps and fireworks and s’mores made with peanut butter cups.

But now, real life is here.

So, if you miss me, you can see a sneak peek on my BFP blog here from a session this past Saturday. (feel free to leave feedback, k?) And also, I posted here, too.

Wishing you the happiest of Mondays. errr….Tuesdays.

Categories: stupid crap

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