Grr!

I'm annoyed. Maybe it's my limited knowledge of all things technical (especially computers), or maybe it's that Blogger has a plan to force me to stop adding content to Zesty, but either way, I'm close to throwing in the towel again.

Why can't I get my format kinks ironed out? This design/posting process used to be quite simple, in my opinion.

So, anyone have any quick and easy "You need to do this" advice to share?

The Sky Over Fargo/Moorhead on 7/5/10

Did you see it for yourself? It was gorgeous! And for once I thought to grab my camera. Just in case you missed it, let me fill you in:

Still nothing creative or juicy to report. Maybe if I remember to strap my camera around my neck more frequently I'll become a little more inspired. We'll see.

For now...

This week has been full of everything from sadness to joy.

A friend, Erin, from college just lost her younger (and only) brother to suicide. So final...and such a terrible, tragic loss. The one slightly bright side is that through this tragedy, our little circle of girls will be reuniting to support Erin at the prayer service tomorrow evening.

Avery attended his first buddy birthday party on Sunday. The birthday boy's family rented an inflatable Mickey Mouse play center that was comparable in size to my first apartment. Oh, what fun they had! Mama even climbed in to jump with the kids! Somehow my camera has been absent from my arms over the last few months...I'm regretting that more and more every day.

Matt's parents arrive Thursday evening for a visit. We've all tried to live healthier in the last 4-6 months, and the proof is clearly visible in Matt and his parents (I, on the other hand, just seem to grow, grow, grow!). Saturday they will test themselves at Fargo's marathon...though they will only be taking on the 10 K.

Eek! I still have carpets to steam clean, bed linens to freshen, bathrooms to scrub, and a kitchen to organize before they arrive!

So, this little snippet of an update will have to do until I get this laundry list of chores finished.

Ah crap - nearly forgot about the laundry...Better get moving!

IntelliGender Confusion

For some reason, I've been slightly convinced that this little bean I'm carrying just might be a girl. (Really, this is only supported by two very weak facts: 1. I've been crazy-sick this pregnancy, and 2. Baby's heart rate has been in the high 150's to low 160's range.) It's been killing me that we have to wait so long to find out the sex of the baby! I mean, hey, Matt and I have agreed that this is our last babe, so it's sort of our last hoorah - or something.

Anyway, our ultrasound is scheduled for May 28th. Woohoo. Great. Whoop-dee-doo. That's still another 3 weeks away! My in-laws are coming the week before, and it would be fantastic if we knew, and could celebrate, when they're here. I even considered calling my physician's office to see if we could move our appointment a week earlier. Then I remembered I'll just be 18 weeks on the 28th...and since the window of optimum heart imaging is between 18-20 weeks, I figured we'd better not push our luck. So I gave in.

Then I talked to my friend, Sara, last night! There is something called the IntelliGender Gender Prediction Test. As my pal was explaining this to me, I was thinking that it's probably about as accurate as dangling a pendant above your belly and waiting to see if it moves from side to side, or in circles (By the way, I did this one, too...and it made circles - which is supposed to mean it's a girl!). But apparently, some actual "doctors" claim that this test is 90% accurate, and can be performed as early as 10 weeks into your pregnancy. It detects hormones in your urine, indicating by a color code the sex of your baby.

Ok, so I wasn't exactly convinced yet...but I sure was curious. So this morning I headed to my local CVS pharmacy and bought a test ($40 plus tax!!!). Now, I didn't take photos of my results, but I can tell you they looked like the girl results on this page! I'm not about to rush out and buy everything pink and ruffly I can find, but it's sort of fun - especially if it's accurate! If, on the 28th, however, we're told we're having another boy, I will definitely regret the purchase price. My husband will surely have something to say on the matter, as well.

Success and Positive Thinking

1. Success!

Avery is going potty on the toilet. Hooray! I have to confess: I was really stressing over the idea that he may not be potty trained by his third birthday. Then, last Saturday morning, he woke up and wanted to wear some BBU's (Big Boy Underwear). We've tried this approach a couple of times in the last year; putting underwear on and telling him he can't go potty in them, placing him on the toilet, etc. He was excited about this whole idea previously, but never had the patience to sit and wait for the potty to come. Last weekend, though, he stayed on and peed like a champ! Occasionally, after that first successful attempt, he would reject the suggestions I made that he try to sit on the toilet again (usually in about 1/2 hour intervals). So to entice him, I used these little incentives:

- A squirt of baby soap in the toilet, so that when he went potty, he made bubbles!

- A Potty Poster - one star sticker for potty, two star stickers for poop (which we haven't succeeded at yet). Once the poster is filled, he gets to pick out a new toy from the toy store.

- One M&M for each time he even sat on the toilet the first day (thankfully, he forgot about this incentive by the second day, and was more focused on the bubbles and star stickers).

- Fun Disney character underwear. He was so excited to pull those pants down and see his Bob the Builder (actually, I don't think this one is Disney, but you know what I mean), Batman, and Finding Nemo undies every time we went into the bathroom!

It has now been just over a week since we started this potty training shove, and we've only had a handful of accidents. So far, he hasn't made a #2 deposit (he is still wearing diapers overnight and has saved the pooping for then), and aside from making sure he gets lots of fiber and drinks plenty of fluids, I'm not sure what to do to make this one happen on the toilet. I'm trying to be patient, though!

We have an adapter seat on the standard toilet that Avery usually goes potty on, but I've read that doing the "big job" on something so high up makes them feel nervous, which means they're unable to relax enough to poop. (I'm sorry, by the way, if anyone reading this is offended by my topic today. It's a Mama thing, and I doubt I'll offend other Mamas out there. Anyone else can just skip this first portion and go straight down to the Positive Thinking section of my post.) We have a little potty chair in both bathrooms (three kid toilets total)...so we have just been using each of the different ones randomly throughout the day, thinking that maybe he'll find one is "The Perfect Pooper."

So, the point is: I'm open to suggestions. How do I speed this process along? Or at least keep it on track?

2. Positive Thinking

My subtitle for this blog is a quote by Norman Vincent Peale. While I love the quote, I honestly hadn't even heard of Dr. Peale until I Googled famous quotes about zest for life. I decided it's quite uneducated and ridiculous, really, to quote someone about whom I know nothing (I just spent the last 10 minutes trying to figure out if I had written that last sentence properly).

To solve this issue, I decided to order this from Amazon last week. Since Dr. Peale was a minister (preacher?), much of his focus is on the role God plays in one's life. I would say that I'm spiritual, if not overly religious. The reviews I read before purchasing this book were pretty impressive - one reviewer even goes so far as to say the book is like a pocket psychotherapist. Hm...

I have barely begun reading it, but already it has me thinking about my beliefs. I have always questioned why Catholics believe their version of Christianity is better than all others. I have also wondered why each niche religion insists that what they believe is different from the beliefs of others'. From my standpoint, many - if not all - beliefs are centered on the idea that there is a greater power, and that we, as believers, followers, humans, disciples, etc. are to keep that in mind while going about our lives. We are not to feel entitled to everything the world has to offer, but to feel thankful when we are blessed with good things and experiences, and to reflect spiritually - internally - when those things or experiences are not so good.

If the intent of old Norm's book is to make people realize that sometimes we are not in control, I've already figured that out, thank you. I'm hoping I can take something more than that from this collection of three books in one, though. In the first few pages of The Power of Positive Thinking, Dr. Peale declares that the answer to diminishing self-doubt is to fill those doubt-filled spaces with God's love, support, and dependability.

Now I understand this idea...really, I do, but doesn't this thought process also give away responsibility for one's successes and failures? If I put God into every nook and cranny of my being, the way I'm told to, does that really solve my feelings of insecurity? It is my belief that we are ever-changing individuals - and we are intended to be this way. I think, for instance, that I could be a more generous, giving person...doing more to impact the lives of people who are less fortunate than I. But (unless I'm taking Dr. Peale's thoughts too literally) if I just fill this shortcoming with the knowledge that God accepts me as I am, does that really help me to become a better person?

Perhaps I haven't read far enough into this book yet. Maybe there are more defined, proactive steps to bettering myself than I have found in my initial 26 pages of reading. So far, though, I find myself a little doubtful that this book will be the magic tool I use to improve my quality of life.

Hmm...

For the most part, I don't like to delve too deep into the more personal, darker corners of my life here on Zesty. Occasionally, though, it's one of the best places to vent my frustrations, concerns, and painful experiences.

In October, I talked about this. However difficult it was (and sometimes, continues to be), I have stayed hopeful and mostly positive about the prospect of adding to our little family. So we waited until we got the go-ahead from our doctor, and started again.

The short version of this story?

Pregnancy test taken (two, actually...and done two days apart just to be sure).

Positive results.

Hours later...GONE.

Doctor visit (failed pregnancy).

More blood work.

Waiting for results.

Ugh. The waiting. I know I voiced my frustration about waiting for medical staff to return calls in my earlier post, as well. I truly do understand that I am not the only patient waiting for results...really, I do. But it doesn't make me want my results any less.

Matt asked me last night at the dinner table how I would take it if we got the news that I wasn't able to have any more children. Ohhhhhhhh, how I didn't want to go to that place. Voicing fears that had been tip-toeing around in my head for the last few months is so painful. So I took the safest route possible, and joked that we'd just have to con one of my sisters into being our surrogate. Really, I just wanted to yell and cry about how unfair that would be, and that he is never allowed to say things like that in my presence ever again.

But I didn't. And dinner continued with light conversations about things like the -87 degree wind chill (only a slight exaggeration) and what Avery did earlier in the day.

So today, hopefully, I'll finally get a call with my results. Again, I find myself praying harder than I probably have since October...and again I'm wondering why that is, and whether it's realistic for my prayer to be answered. I'm reminding myself that prayers are answered everyday, and in the next breath I'm reminding myself that prayers sometimes aren't answered at all how we'd like them to be; sometimes there's a whole different plan in store, and we have yet to find out what or why that is.

I Got Sidetracked...

I really have been meaning to get back here and tell you about more of our favorite things. My little hopeful business venture got an unexpected endorsement this week, though.

Oh. Dear. Me.

I had hopes of starting my own day care out of our home. It was put on the back burner, though, after our propery managers failed to install the fence we were promised. So Avery and I have been content just doing as our hearts desire each day.

Until Tuesday!

I've got a little guy starting twice a week with me! It turns out, it's not what you know that gets you places -- it's WHO you know. (I know...we've all heard this before, but in this instance, it was proven to me indefinitely.) A lady who works with my mom at the clinic was looking for someone to watch her adorable nearly-one-year-old son two days a week (her mother watches said cutie the rest of the week).

So, please excuse me if I've been a bit distracted. I've been scrambling to insert all of the outlet covers and crawl around looking for other dangers to little beings.

Hopefully we'll get into a better rhythm after the holidays.

Until then,
Merry Christmas!

A few of my favorite things!

...But first!...

I had every intention of posting something wonderful this morning.  Now morning has turned into very late morning, and still I have no blog post.

I spent the last hour (and then some) trying to figure out how to add "Zesty" to that neat little photo I took yesterday, which now adorns the top title area of my blog.  Yeesh.  I think I may need to be admitted to an inpatient psychiatric ward at this point.  I'm not especially techno-savvy, but I'd like to think that I can tough my way through this sort of situation.  I've thrown in the towel, though.  (Easy to understand instructions would be greatly appreciated, but not expected!)

So just pretend my title area actually includes the title of my blog, would ya, please?  Thank you very much.

Now...on with the show.

I promised a "Favorite Things" post, and you will receive one - even if it leads to a severe mental breakdown.

We'll start with some random offerings (because, let's face it, I don't have the mental capacity to create something organized.  And truthfully, it's kind of fitting).

1. Electric Toothbrushes! Not only do they clean your teeth effectively and quickly (even if you're still half asleep), but they're fun for children! In my humble, personal opinion, they do a much better job with less objections from the younger, shorter population. Avery spotted this Spiderman toothbrush in our local WalMart and decided we weren't leaving the store without it.  (Mommy and Daddy have their own grown-up versions, as well!)

2. This perfume! Never in my life did I think I would ever own something with Paris Hilton's name on it. Never ever EVER! But I'm loving this perfume! When I shop for fragrances, I usually just stroll along the counter, picking up bottles and sniffing, only hesitating when something pleases my scent pallatte. You can't imagine my dismay when I looked at the bottom of this bottle and found You-Know-Who's name. Ach. But really, it smells divine.

3. LIP BALM! I am a hopeless addict when it comes to this stuff. (How did cavewomen manage without it? Did they wish for something refreshing to spread onto their dry, chapped lips?) This and this are my favorites. You can usually find them on my nightstand - and one in my pocket.  And at least one in my purse.  One in the car..........You get the idea.

Next we'll have some Holiday Favorites, then possibly some Avery Favorites.  Look for them as soon as my brain has healed from today's injuries (jury's still out on how long that may take).

Just a quick note

My sister and her boyfriend, Jeff, are bringing home a little holiday gift today.

His name is Porter, and they found him here. If you're considering getting a pet, please check out the local shelters. Not only will it make you a happy pet owner, but you can feel great about adopting for a number of worthwhile reasons:

*Your pet (if old enough, and of the furry variety) will already be spayed/neutered.
*You will have the satisfaction of knowing - for certain - that your money is not going to an evil breeder.
*You will have supported a wonderful organization.

A word of warning: view the adoptable animals at your own risk. It's taking all the self-control I can muster not to rush off and adopt every single animal in the facility!

PetFinder.com

4LuvofDog.com

Blah Bloggy Blog...

...or Bloggy Blog Blah. Or Blog Bloggy Blah. Or Blah Blog Bloggy.

No matter how you say it, I either A) haven't had anything to say {yeah, right!}, or B) haven't had the ambition to write. The end result, no matter which option we choose, is that I've had a cookie recipe on the top of my blog for far too long. It's been nagging at the back of my mind.

I have a post tucked up my sleeve that would highlight some of my favorite everyday items. I haven't started photographing them, however, and I'm not entirely sure what I'll include and what I won't. For example, I love my face wash...but it really isn't blog-worthy. And I really don't think you care that Matt and I decided overnight diapers would be a good idea, since our toilet-challenged two-year-old soaks regular Pampers like nobody's business.

So...someday soon, probably after Thanksgiving, I'll find the ambition to write a more interesting post. And I promise I'll try to make it more fun than Aveeno and Pampers.

Have a Happy Holiday!

"Teghan baby"

***Have you ever tried to do a photo session of just you and someone else using a camera that has a little weight distribution problem (don't get me wrong, I LOVE my D60, but trying to just point it at yourself at arm's length is exremely difficult!)?

Anyway, I'm getting a little off the topic. Matt and I have been talking to Avery for the past six months or so about how he'd feel about having a little baby brother or sister. So far, he's really excited about the whole idea! (Not that we have news for y'all, because we don't YET.) And when asked if he'd like a baby brother or a baby sister, he states very emphatically, "I want a Teghan baby."

Teghan is Avery's cousin, whom he doesn't get to see often. She lives in Nebraska with her mommy and my in-laws. But the few occasions he's been able to bond with Teghan, he's loved every moment of it. Yes, part of that time is spent being the older (by three months) bully. But the majority of it was wonderful! At least from the mama's perspective...

My loving husband has only sisters - his own, whose name is also Megan, and my two, Danielle and Jessica. He has seen for himself the drama and mood swings that come along with having females in a household. Because of this, he has proclaimed that he will never have a girl - he even states he doesn't "make girls." Mmm hmmm. Yup. His "swimmers only make boys."

Well, Matthew, I have my heart set on a girl. And yes, as long as the baby is healthy I truly don't care about the sex. But darn it, if your negative attitude is the only thing keeping us from getting sugar and spice and everything nice, I'm gonna be a mama with one huge chip on her shoulder.

And trust me, you don't wanna cross this mama.

The proof's in the puddin'

I've denied my moderate road rage for quite some time. Most often, this occurs when my entire little family is in the car while I'm driving (usually as my husband reaches defensively toward his seat belt, making sure it is as secure as it should be).

I honestly felt that I was justified in my clever comments aimed at other vehicles on the road. I mean really, when the light is green, that means GO! If someone out there is trying to make a left turn out of a straight-bound lane, any law-abiding citizen should be letting them know of their mistake. And if there is an extremely rare horn honk now and then? They just deserved it, gosh darn it!

Here's the problem, though. Avery and I have been in the car together quite a bit lately (without my overly-dramatic, argumentative husband). The past three times my son and I have been in the car, stopped at a red light (with cars ahead of us), I've heard this statement hollered from the back seat:


"GO, DUDE!"


Yeesh.

1. Who knew I sounded like a washed-up surfer?

2. I hate it when my husband's right!

We're feeling the Christmas spirit!

I just couldn't imagine not having a tree up for the first Christmas Avery is really excited about. So Matt went out to the garage last night (in 4 degree weather) and hauled our Martha Stewart clearance special in, after some persistent nagging on my part.

By the time we got it assembled, fluffed (because that's what you have to do to fake trees after they've been in a box for a year), strung with lights, and decorated, Matt and I were sufficiently frustrated. All we are supposed to have to do is put the three sections of tree together, then plug it into the wall...and WHOILA! "Ooohs" and "Aahs" that took only minutes to achieve! However, try as we might, we could only get two of the three sections to light up.

So if you stop by the Weatherby residence this Christmas, don't get too close to the tree, otherwise you'll be able to see all the bulbs that WILL NOT LIGHT UP. And Mr. and Mrs. Weatherby would rather not be reminded of this issue.



All in all, I think it turned out quite nice. Even after stringing a couple of strands of lights on, trying to strategically position the shatter-proof decorations on the lower section, and competing for assistance with televised college football, I'm still feeling optimistic.

That warm, hopeful feeling was multiplied a few times over this morning when I came out of the bedroom to see not a single decoration had been pulled off the tree by the cat. Plus, as soon as Avery saw it, he said this: "Wow, pretty!"

So far, so good!

Shepherd's Pie, Newborn Hats, and Laundry

Those are the three most blog-worthy items from my day.

1. Shepherd's Pie. I'd never made it before today. But what's not to like? Steaming hot veggies (corn, carrots, onion, and peas) and ground beef in a savory gravy topped with creamy mashed potatoes. Mmm mmmmmmm. And did I mention how much I love meals that can be served out of one dish? I do. I love them a lot. If you understood how vehemently I despise doing dishes, you'd comprehend this kind of love.

2. Newborn Hats. Not just for any newborn, either. Read this to find out more. I've never done anything that took much thought or effort when it comes to doing something for the benefit of others. I follow the SouleMama blog. I also adore Ree's blog, Confessions of a Pioneer Woman. Check them out, you won't be sorry. Anyway, the point is, both of these women have been focusing on what living conditions are like in Haiti. And so, after reading and learning more, I couldn't help but want to participate somehow. So I made half a dozen newborn hats from shirts that have been hanging - unworn - in my closet for who knows how long, and sent them off to Amanda Soule.

At a time of year when we're supposed give special thanks for loved ones, good health, and good fortune, I feel infinitely better knowing that someone out there may place a hat - sewn on my mother's sewing machine - on a tiny newborn's head and be grateful for it being there.

3. Laundry. Sweet Lord, the laundry. I did SEVEN loads of it today. And it's still not all done. I realize laundry is not a new concept. But I honestly think I deserve a little sympathy here. My nearly two-year-old boy pees, poops, and drops globs of food on his clothes almost hourly (okay, slight exaggeration, but you get the idea). But my husband! He's nearly as bad! Every morning, the love of my life wakes, showers, puts on a clean pair of boxers, undershirt, work shirt, jeans, and socks. He goes off, earns his day's wage, and returns home. Once inside the door, he throws his work shirt, undershirt, jeans, and socks on the floor, showers, and puts on FRESH boxers, t-shirt, and shorts...which he wears for approximately 4-5 hours. At bed time, he strips off the t-shirt and shorts, sleeping only in his boxers (I promise, y'all, this is as naughty as it's gonna get).

In the morning, we start this process all over again. And do you think he can wear the same shorts and t-shirt he wore the previous night again? No way! You see, after they were taken off, they were thrown on the floor. That's where the cat lays. So they're covered in cat hair. And we can't wear clothes that have cat hair on them. Sheesh.

The Kodak is Kaput

Yup - that's right.

Obviously I've been talking too much lately about replacing my EasyShare. I also probably shouldn't have spoken about Avery being obsessed with the camera and seeing himself in photos.

Today, while I was working on my Libby's Pumpkin Roll in the kitchen, Avery decided to be a photographer. This wouldn't have been so bad if, upon discovery of this situation, I hadn't turned on the camera to check it, seeing a partially black screen. The remainder of the screen, I might add, is now made up of criss-crossing gray lines, a couple of red and blue streaks, and a pulsating light.

I guess we're getting that new camera sooner rather than later.

Kickin' Ass

I don't mind telling you that for the first time, I'm paying fairly close attention to a presidential election. I watched the first presidential debate and the vice-presidential debate (only missing the second and third presidential ones because I wasn't home - I caught up a little online after each).

There's just something about the way Sarah Palin spoke during the VP debate that rubbed me wrong. Yes, I had already decided I agreed more with Obama's economic plan, so I was already leaning toward that side. But why does a woman think she needs to "dumb it down" in order to appeal to the general population? Her "gosh darnit" "darn tootin'" phrases made me think we'd gone to the remotest of hills in West Virginia, found us an uneducated mama of a dozen kids, polished her up, and threw her on stage with Senator Biden. I know, I know. Maybe I'm being unfair. But what's wrong with winning over the American voters with dialogue that matches her intelligence level?

I suppose now would be the time to mention that regardless of her debate tactics, I think she could bring a number of positive things to the country. Her pregnant teenage daughter would certainly focus more attention on that particular problem. Having her as our VP would also force our nation to respect intelligent women more, as well. However, her stance on gay and lesbian unions is one I cannot get behind. All in all, it is my opinion that the negatives outweigh the positives for the McCain/Palin party.

Anyway, I came across something today that made me laugh - hysterically! As we all know, this is pretty serious campaign, "gosh darnit." Leave it to Madonna to provide us with a dose of much needed ridiculousness as we prepare to go to the polls.

Madonna vs. Sarah Palin

Matt vs. Megan: A Debate About Schooling

Last night Matt and were discussing the pros and cons of certain forms of education. We talked about big schools vs. small schools and public schooling vs. home schooling. We have very different outlooks, my husband and I.

I think it's wonderful that there are still areas of the U.S. that do not require the use of metal detectors, security personnel, or drug dogs in schools. I'm so glad we live in a place where our children can retain some of their innocence just a bit longer than the rest of the country.

Matt thinks it's idiotic to not have these things already implemented, that it's stupid to wait until something terrible happens and then try to keep it from happening again. He says we should start preventing these things before it even touches this community a first time. And while I agree that it does seem slightly backward to have to correct something rather than prevent it in the first place, I still can't help but want to hold onto simpler times.

As I stated earlier, we also talked about public vs. home schooling. I trust our region's teachers; I admire them. They are paid poorly, and they go far beyond what's expected of them. I know this from experience. The teachers in my high school would spend as much time as necessary to make sure each student understood every lesson. This was true of every math, english, music, and science teacher I ever had (including post-secondary). Not being especially bright in math and science, I spent a good deal of time after school hours with my instructors.

I've tried to imagine how my views would change had I been brought up in a city such as New York, Los Angeles, Phoenix, or Dallas. I surely would not have gotten the one-on-one attention I needed to grasp certain school subjects. I'd also be numb to things like random drug searches, which doesn't seem like a good thing at all. Would my parents have felt like keeping me at home, educating me in the safety of our own residence rather than taking the chance with the public school system? Probably, and I wouldn't blame them one bit. I'd probably do the same thing with my son.

However, if my husband had his way, Avery would be sent on his merry way to one of those schools I find so frightening. He thinks it's silly for teachers to devote so much time to one student when they won't get the same treatment in the "real world." He thinks it's better - usually - to make children find a way to overcome challenges on their own...that they end up being stronger individuals if they have to find their own route, without a guide.

**This might be the time to mention the fact that Matt is an Army brat. He moved around a lot as a child, to many different regions of the country, having to make new friends, meet new teachers, and walk his little sister to strange schools frequently.**

So, how do two people who have such very different outlooks on education compromise?

You tell us.

Did you know?

Spaghetti sauce is great for the skin. The acidic juices of the tomato gently peel away unhealthy skin. The herbs cool and calm any red, irritated spots. It's also especially helpful in aiding the healing of any carpet burns, bruises, bumps, and scrapes.

Oh, wait. I'm making this up. I just thought I'd try to make Avery feel better about his slightly out-of-control self-feeding episode the other night.

Autumn Greeting

Apparently summer is backing away from us, and autumn is eager to fill its place. This week, we're already getting down into the 40's during the night. Brrr!

I'm one of those people who are impossible to please. I hate sweating the second I walk out the door during the summer months, but I also despise shoveling snow and bundling up. I suppose that's human nature, right? Let me feel a little bit better about my constant state of discontent when it comes to this region's weather...agree with me, please.

I dragged out my crock pot today. This chilly weather is putting me in the mood for something slow-cooked and wholesome. Beef roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, and some fresh garden peas should do the trick. Mmmm...I can't wait for supper and it's not even noon!

Sweet Not-So-Baby Boy

Time is whizzing by. This winter, my little baby will be two years old. It doesn't seem at all possible. I suppose that's how every parent feels, though.

I recently decided I should try to take some better quality pictures of him. And I've been fiddling around with the Photosmart Premier program that's on our computer trying to improve upon the point-and-shoot photos I've taken.

I'm new to this, so gentle critiquing would be appreciated.



I tried to get a soft, glowing look out of this photo. I'm not sure it's as clear as it could be, but then again, it wasn't the clearest picture to begin with. And the bottom portion of his face is still kind of shadowed.




I'm pretty pleased with this one, as well. I enhanced the coloring just a bit, trying to make his skin tone contrast more against the tub. (I suppose it might be helpful to post the before and the after photos...I'll remember that for next time.) This color enhancement also succeeded in giving more contrast between his skin and eye color. Not too shabby for a first timer!




I thought this last one was going to be pretty good. But next to the tub shot, it's pretty sallow (is that the right word?). I was trying SO HARD for a good close-up, I just had to post one. Even though the improvement process kind of failed, I like this photo so much, I may just take another crack at it.

Suggestions would probably be appreciated. (My improvement process is limited to the program I mentioned earlier, though.)