Oh My Goodness

I am tired.  Like headache, could fall asleep right when my head hit the pillow tired.  I think I have a problem with taking too much on.  Eh?  The real problem is that I like to make things for people for Christmas.  Now on its own, that's not a problem.  But, when it comes to having a baby running around and not being great at sewing, or really having the necessary space, it becomes a problem.

Let's see...so far I've made five scarfs (one still needs to be made and three of them need to be stitched by hand to close the gaps), three crowns, three ribbon wands, two pencil roll-ups, one train roll-up, one onesie, a few fabric letters, four small hand warmers, and two fabric memory games.  I still need to make a rice-filled heating pad, two recipe card boxes, more fabric letters, a car roll-up, and something for Miles.

Oy vey.

It makes me laugh, though.  I was so super stoked to get all of my pictures edited so I could work on Christmas projects and now I'm so super stoked to be done with all of them.  I'm just worn out.  These projects have messed up our schedule around here.  Anna doesn't go to sleep until midnight (which is fairly normal since I stay home with her so there's no real reason to wake up early if it's just a normal day), and she sleeps for 12 hours normally.  So, she wakes up between 12 and 12:30 generally.  The other day she didn't fall asleep until 1ish so she woke up around 1:15.  Goodness.  I've been going to sleep between 3 and 4 lately and I'm not a fan of that.  I really haven't even been very tired when laying down which leads to its own issues.  Usually I don't have trouble falling asleep, but since I've been doing so much right up until bed time I have trouble winding down.  Also, when I'm laying there with my eyes closed I'll start to think about where my eyes are pointed.  Then, when I do that they start to feel like they're looking in the corner of my eye, then I get uncomfortable and have to open my eyes and try again.  It's obnoxious and downright strange.

I don't think I'll have that problem tonight, though. 

Anna got to sleep around 11:30, and I would have followed shortly after.  But, Miles is running a paper route for our landlord this week so he's napping until 2 so I'm staying up so I can wake him up.  He doesn't want to take the chance of not waking up, and frankly I don't blame him.  With as tired as I am I probably wouldn't hear my alarm if it went off.

Oh!  Starting Monday (I think) I'm going to start doing the 30-Day Shred!  It's a workout video by Jillian Michaels that's supposed to be super spectacular.  In general I lack motivation, determination, and discipline so I think having an already set timeline will be helpful.  Also, I think the workouts are all only 20 minutes, so it shouldn't be too bad.  I'm stoked about it.  So, maybe one day I can post some before and after pictures...maybe.

Also, I'm sick...ish.  I woke up this morning feeling stuffy in my sinuses.  It got a bit better as the day went on, but sadly, it's back.  I've also been sneezing a bit and have a headache (though that's probably more just because I'm tired).  Anna's been stuffy lately so maybe I got it from her.  Oh well, I just hope we both feel better soon.  This is no fun.

Before and After

Yesterday I took some photos of Miles' parents' neighbors for them to send out with their Christmas cards.  I had to bring along my makeshift backdrops and stands and use my flash and diffuser.  First off, let me expand on how I am not at all satisfied with my diffuser.  There are times when I have pretty good luck with it and other times, like yesterday, that I absolutely hate it.  I think for it to work properly there needs to be white walls and ceiling.  Jack and Patsy have wooden walls and ceiling, so it made it a bit difficult.  But, I've been working on editing three of the shots (they're going to use only one pose for all of the prints) so I can show them on Sunday when we go to Bible study. 

Anyway, long story short:  I wanted to show a before and after.

For all intents and purposes this is the straight out of the camera shot.  I shot in RAW, so this was lightened and the white balance was fixed a bit.

That's finished!  The sad thing about this picture is that Jack's face is a bit out of focus...oops!  It's not terrible, but it could definitely be better.  In my defense, I'm used to shooting outside, so when I have to shoot inside I get all kinds of flustered.

In other news, I'm making peanut butter rice crispy treats tonight.  I think they'll be tasty, so I'm excited about that.  Amber is coming over in a bit and I'll be making dinner at some point.  I don't know what I'm going to make, but hopefully it'll be something good.

Listen to Me Whine

I never know how to start blogs.  So, let's get passed the awkward start and get into it!

Anna still isn't walking regularly.  I don't think she's ever going to walk.  She absolutely loves to walk around the house while holding our hands, but it HAS to be both hands.  If you let go of one of her hands she sits down and cries.  And, when you're done walking around with her she cries.  I think I've got a bit of a whiner on my hands.  She'll do a bit of walking from chair to toy and things on her own, but it's usually not more than two or three steps, and she'll hardly ever walk when pressured.  She's going to be 10 and still only walking while Miles or I hold her hands.

I really don't like when people say "So-and-so and I's blank."  That's just not correct.  Neither is labeling a picture of yourself with someone else "So-and-so and I."  It's me, not I!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I'm not stoked, but I would be if I could actually comprehend that it was tomorrow.  Does that make sense?  November has gone by ridiculously fast and I can't believe it's almost over.  I'm making mashed potatoes for my aunt's house tomorrow.  Then, Saturday we're going to my grandma Pike's house and I'll be making a caramel macchiato cheesecake.  Fancy, fancy.

I'm so incredibly tired of taking pictures.  I think I've just gotten burned out on it.  Actually, it's not taking pictures, it's editing them.  It takes so very long and I rarely have time to work on them.  Sure, I'm home 99.9% of the time and about 75% of that time I'm at the computer.  But, about 100% of the time I have a baby on my lap who doesn't like to let me get things done.  Sadly, whenever I have time to myself I do things like update my blog cough cough, or search diligently for nothing on pinterest.  I CAN'T HELP IT!  I have about four people I need to get back to with picture information.  This weather makes it difficult to plan anything, though.  I don't have anywhere inside to take pictures, so bad weather kind of means I'm out of commission.  The other thing is that I really just want a break.  I want to WANT to take pictures again.  I like to look forward to editing pictures...that's one of the things I like about the winter.  Also, I have quite a few things I want to sew and make for gifts.  Poor me, poor me!

Oh, oh!  So recently Anna has been pretty difficult to get to sleep.  Then, once she would fall asleep she'd wake up between two and four hours later, and either stay up for a bit of go back to sleep fairly easily.  Then, she'd wake up again about two or three hours later and I'd change her diaper and pull her into bed with us.  She falls asleep so incredibly easily when she's in bed with us.  (Sidenote:  Anna sleeping in bed with us always terrified me, as Miles is a pretty deep sleeper and he doesn't turn over, he rolls over and elbows are a-flyin'.  But, now that she's able to move herself around and smack Miles in the face, I feel better about it.)  Last night she fell asleep while eating (which she used to do every night, but had since stopped) and actually stayed asleep after I put her in bed (again, which she used to do but doesn't really do anymore).  I think she woke up once last night to get her pacifier back, but that was it.  She went to sleep just after 1am and is still sleeping...in her bed, mind you, at 11:23.  Amazing!  I wish she'd do that every night!  Here's to hoping this is her new schedule!  (Don't worry, I don't actually expect that to happen every night...but a girl can dream!)

Okay, enough.  I've got to work on pictures!

I fear that this is super boring.

I need to get in shape.  About two weeks I decided that I should start exercising and started doing a little workout I found on Pinterest.  I thought about posting about when I started, thinking that if I did I'd feel a bit of pressure to keep it going.  I think the idea would still work, but alas, I didn't post about it.  Really I should take before photos and update about it.  Maybe that'd make me stick with it?  I don't know, but I hope something will.  I lack motivation something awful.

Anyway, I've been thinking about Christmas presents lately...kind of.  I think I know what I want to do for Anna, but I'm not completely sure yet.  Generally I make presents the girls I see at my grandma Pistole's house along with my sister-in-law and mother-in-law.  The last couple of years that I've done it the presents haven't really been all that useful.  First I made small notebooks and magnets, then it was hot chocolate on a stick.  I fear that the hot chocolate was a fail because all of the ones I had weren't very good and wouldn't melt correctly...but they sure were cute!  I have an idea of what I'm going to do this year.  It's a bit different and not everyone would be getting it.  That sounds rude, but I have something else in mind for Miles' momma (I'm thinking maybe a new paper carrying bag or something with pictures of all of her grandchildren) and something else for my grandma.  I'm not going to say what it is, because 2/3 of the readers that I at least think I have would be getting one.  The problem is that I'm not sure if I'll be able to execute it correctly, so I'm attempting to make one for myself first then deciding from there.  Hopefully I can make it work because I'd like one.

That whole paragraph is just stupid since it's so vague. 

Well, I should be working on pictures right now.  It's hard to get them done, you know?  On a regular day I have the photo folder and Photoshop open and I get about two pictures done in an hour.  It's sad that that's not even a joke.  It seriously takes me that long.  Anna generally hates to be put down, so I hold her on my lap for most of the time.  She usually takes a pretty good afternoon nap, but that's when I get my shower and wash a couple dishes and maybe move around laundry.  So, by the time I'm ready to get to work she wakes up.  Also, the times Miles plays with Anna are usually when I can get a few done without being too interrupted...and wouldn't you know it, Miles hasn't been feeling great the last couple of days so that time has been erased.  I guess it doesn't help that I'm currently working on three different sessions.  I try to do a few from each session every day, but it's difficult. 

Today Miles went in at 6am and is working until 7ish.  I'm planning on vacuuming today.  Sadly, vacuuming is an event around here.  Seriously, it's a big deal.  Our carpet is somewhere between red and maroon so EVERYTHING shows and Anna is at the wonderful stage of eating everything she finds on the floor.  The problem is that she is afraid of the vacuum.  So, I have to hold her while vacuuming...20 pounds gets heavy after a while.  I'm excited about it, though.  I like to have clean floors.

Now it's almost time to get Anna down for a nap and do some work.  Here's to hoping for a long nap!

Pictures from the Farm

This is my favorite picture.

An upstairs storage space was filled with only jars.

It's still pretty outside, though.

Update, I guess.

It's currently 12:30am and I feel like it's closer to 4am.  I am tired.  That needs to be read with conviction because that's definitely the way I'm saying it in my head.

Today was a pretty good day.  Miles worked this morning for a couple of hours to do a bit of training.  He got home around 11:30 then ate some food.  He helped watch Anna so I could get ready for the day.  Really all I needed to do at that point was brush and dry my hair and brush my teeth.  Anna and I went to my grandma's for lunch today.  My uncle Matt and cousin Kenzie were there also.  We ate then I dropped Anna off with my momma.  She watched her for a couple of hours so I could take pictures of Kenzie.  I'm pretty stoked to get them uploaded and edited.  I meant to upload them today but that didn't happen.  Anna was pretty cranky this evening so there wasn't much that could be done other than holding her and feeding her some noodles and bread sticks.

I feel like I actually have quite a bit that I could update on today but I just don't feel like telling all sorts of unimportant stories.  Maybe I could do a shortened version from her on out?

Last Saturday I went with my mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, uncle and aunt to my great grandparents' old farm northeast of Maryville.  They just sold it so we all went up to see it again and pick through the stuff that's still there.  The house is trashed...super trashed.  I took a bunch of pictures and they're already edited, so I do plan on posting some in the near future.

Thursday I took some engagement photos downtown.  I have those uploaded and started on, so that's good.  The sad news is that I lost a lens cap somewhere down there.  I think I can buy one on Amazon if I feel the need to, though, for just a couple of dollars.  So, it's no big loss.

Thursday evening Anna and I went to Texas Roadhouse with my family minus Miles (he was working) for Josh's birthday.  They sang to him and made him sit on a saddle and yell "Yee-Haw!" but didn't give him dessert.  Boo!

Tomorrow Miles is working from 6-6 so Anna and I will just be hanging around home.  Hopefully she'll take a long nap so I can get some pictures edited and little done around the house.  Laundry is always calling my name.  Then, in the evening is a get together for Josh's birthday at my parents' house.  It's German themed...and sausage themed.  I think I'll make stromboli if I find the time.  Not that stromboli is really German or features sausage, but I have the stuff for it and I know I won't be able to get to the store beforehand.  I assume Miles will stay home and sleep a bit.  He'll be a tired, tired person.

Okay, now I should sleep.  Enough of this, yeah?

Goodnight!

Anna's Birthday

That's not from her birthday, it's just cute.

I spent way too much time on her party.  Really, I spent too much time on everything.  Her invitations took forever to finish.  I guess cutting all the paper and sewing a pocket was a bit ambitious.  Then I covered letters and numbers with paper, made paper bunting and four paper chains.  Oy vey, it was too much!  I think it turned out cute in the end, but I don't think I'd do that much again. 

The sad part of it was that Anna was a Little Miss Crabby Crabster Cakes during her party.  She wouldn't go to sleep the night before and wouldn't take a nap before the party.  She wasn't happy during the present opening session and refused to destroy her cake which made me a little sad.

We had a fairly good turn out, though.  There were quite a few people that said they'd be coming that didn't and some that never responded either way so it didn't surprise me when they didn't show.

There's the table all put together.

Her cake topper!

And her name!

The Dollar Tree had ice cream shaped sidewalk chalk.  How perfect.

Colored cones!

For root beer floats!

Toppings!  There were also sprinkles and cookie dough.

Mandy!  So, so serious.

Anna with my grandma Pike.  Sweet!

Aimee!

Anna received her second glow worm.  The glow worm is one thing that will calm her down when she's upset so once she latched on she didn't want to let go!

Yep, that's how the cake destroying went.  I ended up with more frosting on me than Anna did.

We thought that maybe we'd have better luck with a cupcake.  But, Anna didn't agree and just hit it out of my hand.

So, there you have it.  Make sure your babies get adequate sleep (if possible) before all parties!  Everyone will be much happier, I promise.

In other news, our dryer broke last night.  Today I'm taking a couple loads of clothes to my parents' house to wash and dry.  I'm going to be having some lunch there then going to the store.  We have a pantry full of sides and very, very few main dishes.  Tonight Anna and I are going to Olive Garden with my family.  Miles can't make it because of work so I'm either going to take him and pick him up or I'm just going to get someone else to come get Anna and me.  I think it'll be a good time.

Other things on the agenda include cleaning up the rest of the stuff from Anna's party and working and Aimee and Josh's family pictures.  I haven't had much of a chance lately to finish them up but hopefully I'll get to do that soon.  I took them so long ago that I should have been finished by now.

Okay, off to take a shower while I can.  Gotta get the ball rolling or I'll be playing catch up all day.