You would think...

You would think that my house would be more clean than it is.

GBK is a little OCD at times.

I caught her yesterday cleaning the clean toilet. With the toilet brush. With water flying everywhere.

An hour later I sat down on the toilet only to have a huge wet ring on my butt from where she failed to complete the job.

G R O S S

HARey

GBK got a fish for her birthday. It is a male beta. He has a beautiful fish tank. I hope it isn't too girly for him.
We were supposed to get her a dog for her birthday but she ended up with this fish. We named him Harey. I named him after the Curious George author- H.A. Rey

She loves to watch him swim. I just hope that she doesn't tip his bowl over or try to scoop him out.

She was very confused this other day when I cooked salmon. I told her it was fish. She screwed her face up and looked at me like I was crazy.

Happy Birthday!

GBK turned two yesterday.

We had a crazy day filled with activity.

She had her photo session and then RD and I took her to the Curious George movie. She loved every minute of it!

Photos to come.

Last Year/This Year III- Valentine's Day

This was last year just before our Mommy n Me Valentine Party. She had a little bit of hair... starting to walk better... babbling and saying a few words. We also had a little birthday celebration for her at the same time.

Yes, she has no socks. She pulls them off as quick as she can. She did this yesterday and it was 30 degrees outside. She is a little country gal like her mama.

photography

I am in a photography class under the direction of a retired professor/photojournalist.

I have been interested in photography for a long, long time. I was a photographer in high school for yearbook and loved hauling my big camera bag around with me, waiting for any possible shot. Sometimes I would take up to 4 rolls of film a day!

Over Christmas break, while out of town, our vehicle was burgularized. A lot of things were taken but my beloved 35mm camera with complete lens set was taken. So once I got my insurance reimbursement money, I ordered a new camera.

I got a Nikon N80 and love it. I have only taken about 4 rolls so far so I am still really trying to figure it out. Last night my mentor gave my photos a critique and showed me what was good, what was bad and what was horrible. HAHA

I have to make sure not to take it all personally. He encourages me so I am ready to get out and take some more photos!

self portrait

I don't get my picture taken often. Mostly because I am usually the one with the camera.

When I was a little bitty thing, about knee-high to a duck, I decided that I hated to have my picture taken. I really really hated it. I would run when I saw a camera. There are many-a-picture that was supposed to be a family photo and I have my head buried in my Dad's shoulder or behind my Mom's leg. I was just so embarrassed.

I will tell you what made me change my mind.

The Texas Dept. of Transportation.

I went in when I was about 18 or so to get my license and they took my picture. It turned out better than any picture of me I had ever seen. I am not kidding you. I wish I still had it. After that I had no problem with it.

Now that we have a child, I feel like the camera is a part of me- not even glued or stitched to my hand- it is really just a part of me. A growth or disease that I contracted somewhere. Hopefully the only growth or disease that I will contract in this lifetime.

RD asked me today- how many pictures do you think that you have taken of Madison? I thought about it. Possibly thousands? I dunno. Six Thousand? If I have only taken 10 pictures of her a day since birth that would be roughly 7300. I bet I have taken more.

But back to the story- he asked me this question as if it was a bad thing... like I was an addict. Like it was worse than smoking or drinking.

So I asked him- how many times do you think you have farted since she was born?
he said- A BUNCH!
I said- more times than I have taken pictures of her?
he said- Oh YEAH!

I said- how may times do you fart a day?
He said- Probably five.

I laughed out loud.

Then I asked- why in the world do you save all of those farts for me then? I mean, you can spread em around and fart when I am not around! Don't feel like you have to save them for me! My picture takin' problem is no worse than your fartin' problem and it doesn't stink near as bad.

I hate fart stories and can't believe I just wrote about one.

******
So the picture I posted was taken by me- it is my reflection in the car window. The growth on my head is GBK hanging on tight as she can. It was taken with my new Nikon N80 that I am in love with. It is my replacement camera for the Canon that was stolen out of our car over Christmas. This picture was on my first roll of film with this camera.

little hands

We rode the train yesterday at the zoo. I just realized that in 2 weeks she will be two years old. Where did the time go? She is no longer a baby. Doesn't she have the sweetest little hand?

This is the same hand that grabs my lips to give me kisses...

grabs her marker to color on the stairs...

finds a barrette to put in her pretty hair, only to pull it right back out...

likes to bang on my keyboard, disrupting my 'work'...

knows how to turn the TV off and on...

tells her baby shhhh-shhhhh...

pets my hair when I am feeling blue...

cooks up a yummy dish in her 'kitchen'...

writes "o" and "m" all over her Valentine Cards...

tries to tickle me all over, making me laugh and scream and jump around.

Gosh I am in love with her.