Since No One's Looking

Today (and yesterday) I reentered my chosen profession and went on a photo shoot. I was able to dazzle with my new camera, charm with my mush-brained wit, and somehow muster my way to a successful shoot. I'm proud of the images and I can't wait to turn them in, after much editing and deleting. Easton did fine, though he resisted the bottle. We haven't been consistent, and what can I say, the little man loves his boob.

Lovely, don't ya think? The main part of the shoot was an environmental portrait of a well-known local florist. He's was bright, well-traveled, and very engaging. I enjoyed shooting him and in the end, he gave me a hug. So I think he liked me too! This shoot really revived my desire to be in the photographic field. Doing what? I don't know, but I was thinking about doing a website that simply states: has camera, will shoot.

Upon using my camera today, I threw in a CF card that I guess hadn't been used in over a year. It was during a "finger" painting craze and, well, nuff said...

She's still in diapers, so it had to have been before June.  So freakin cute.

On another insane binge, I bought a new stroller for the family. I don't know if you remember my big stroller fiasco of 2008, but I'm not even going to link it because I stated I was finished dealing with strollers. And here I stand, hypocritical and all, having made a major purchase on a freaking awesome stroller. In fact, I'm not even going to mention the name of it because it was, though a great deal, f**ing expensive. Ohhh taxes, why must I throw you out the window?

I'm looking at it like we will be using it for at least 4 more years, therefore it'll pay for itself in mileage. And they resell for close to original price. But why do I feel the need to justify it to YOU??!!

Sorry for the lack of posts, I have really been busy this week. I'm either dealing with a fussy baby, or working. But I'm back, ready to have some new drama to blog about!! I've missed you.

Crying It Out

Well, its not exactly like that. I mean, he is only 10 weeks old. But Easton is currently up in the bassinet, losing his voice from the shear amount of crying he has done today. I don't know what else to do, nothing is making it better (even drugging him up with Tylenol). So, for the second, yes, second time today, he is left alone to scream. Even that isn't helping. He has barely napped today, he has been super crabby ALL DAY. I thought that possibly, for the love of anything holy, after drugs, a bath, nursing, slinging, walking, swaddling, shushing, rocking, maybe crying alone would work.  But alas, he is still going, after an agonizing 10 minutes. I'll give him a few more minutes, even though its killing me. But you know what is killing me more? His constant, relentless, never-ending, blood curdling, stab-yourself-in-the-eye screaming.

Are we almost to 3 months?

What happens if this doesn't subside at 3 months?

I'll tell you what happens: heavy duty headphones, and Valium, and lots and lots of alcohol.

Testing the New Digs

I'm finally taking some time this morning to test my new Canon 5D. Oh my, I love it. I guess these 2 cuties are worth the pains of yesterday! Man, I love them both more than anything, but some days are harder than others.

F* you Friday!

Thank God he is cute, cuz today was a total day from hell. Don't wanna go into it, but it involved lots of screaming and crying. From both Easton and me. I'm glad its over and I've consumed almost an entire bottle of wine. That makes mommy happy.

Captured!

The elusive smile, here it is, making its adorable appearance on camera for the first time.

Post-Traumatic Colic Syndrome

I finally finished Sylvia's winter hat (note that it is almost spring, but better late than never). I still haven't perfected the conversion to double pointed needles, so I'm still knitting these in the round and seaming the top, but this technique gives the hat ears and I think they are adorable. So until I have time to perfect d.p. needles, this is how they go.

I think (knocking on wood) Easton has reached his conclusion of his colickiness. We've had 4 pleasant evenings in a row and life is getting better around here. The screaming was really putting a damper on my sanity, and we've managed to have 2 incredibly pleasant days in a row. Am I about to jinx things? Probably, but at least we had Tuesday and Wednesday, right?

Sylvia has recently adopted a friendly habit of licking or kissing everything. Its quite disgusting, if you ask her o.c.d. mother, but I guess we have to choose our battles when it comes to almost 3 year olds. Sometimes she asks first, and when she offered up a lick to her brother,  had to tell her yes. I did have the camera handy and all. Plus, when she decides to go through that 'i hate my brother' phase, I have some proof that he was once loved by her.
Easton had his playmate, Oliver, over the other day. The 2 are only 6 weeks apart, but O was a week late and E was 2 weeks early. Though it may not be medically proven, I  believe this has made a startling difference on the 2 boys. O is calm, holding his head strong, responsive, and seemingly advanced. E is still wobbly headed, fussier, and flailing his limbs like no one's business. I guess I'm truly a mom when I'm comparing newborns. So competitive, this one.
Anyway, all is well for now. I can't wait for warm weather, as is the complaint of every midwesterner at this point. I'm just glad that my baby has stopped throwing crying fits every evening and is becoming a happy little charmer.

Valentine's Day

What did we do on this romantic hallmark holiday? Well, we went bowling and to Sweet Tomatoes, of course. My brother and his family came down and the kids are really into it. And do you really believe that I would take my colicky baby to a romantic restaurant? I'll tell you what, it probably would prove to be a successful birth control for many a  couple. I can picture it now: candles lit, red wine poured, chocolaty dessert served, screaming newborn at the table over. Yea, men would surely be getting NONE with Screamin Easton next door. He actually did really, really good today. He saved his screaming for home, when the entire family came over to play. Overnights are getting much better, though the evening scream sessions are still around. Can't wait for this phase to be over.

On a totally different note, Dave and I got our taxes done on Friday. Luckily Easton was born just in time to be claimed this tax season, for 2 kids gets more money than 1. And just like the responsible parents, we went out and spent a big chunk of it. Finally, and stressfully, I bought a new camera. I'm in LOVE with it, but it put a whole in my gut for the entire afternoon just thinking about the purchase. I know, you have to spend money to make money, but it still sucks to spend money.  I have a shoot for the magazine coming up and I am going to be their featured contributing photographer for this issue.  It really means good publicity for my career, and this is the career I got a degree in. But wow, its truly official now. I AM A PHOTOGRAPHER. Now I need to get some work!! Eeek!

Anyway, still trying to balance our new life as a family of 4 and sometimes I feel as though I'm failing miserable at it. But everyone is still growing, everyone is relatively clean, and the house is somehow still standing. I guess its all simply going...

Now, I'll leave you with some random photos. Because postings are few and far between these days. And I can't do a damn thing about that. Happy Love Day!

8 weeks out

Finally had my post-Easton ob/gyn appointment today. I had to bring Easton, which posed some obvious problems. Of course, he didn't want to wake up this morning, which meant I had to wake him up. Do you remember what they say about 'never wake a sleeping baby?' Well, its true. He was happy as a clam, but wide awake when it was time for me to be examined. And he was hungry. And he wouldn't let me set him down. So my exam took place with Easton on my boob. Lovely.  Anyway, by the time I finished the appointment, it was time to pick up Sylvia from preschool. By then, Easton had JUST fallen asleep. Upon entering her class, he woke up super pissed and needing a diaper. Of course, the preschool is equipped for this situation, but for a super-screaming diaper changing 8 week old? For some reason, I got all sweaty and embarrassed by the shear volume of his screaming and all 10 preschoolers staring at us in silence. Even Sylvia looked humiliated! Oh well, all those kids were babies once, and most of them still need their diapers changed, so I don't really feel bad.

Then, of course, he slept all damn day. My mom, Syl, Easton and I went to the Botanical Gardens and he did great. Until we got home, where he screamed again for an hour straight. And I am not exaggerating. He screamed bloody murder for an hour straight. He was so pissed, nothing was making him stop, until he completely tired himself out. I don't know if its my eating habits, reflux, gas, pissiness from being born, or what. But wow, he is sooooooooo different than Sylvia was. I'm still putting all my life in the 3 month rule (where everything gets better around 3 months). If so, we have 1 month left of hell. Realistically, I know it won't magically get better. And already he is sleeping better and night and showing more happy awake moments. But why, oh dear God why, must he scream like that?

I would pay $1000 for an answer. Well, you know, $1000 in hugs and kisses.

Love Letter Number 2

Lucky for you, little man, you are superly duperly cute. For the evening screams that you participate in every other night or so really don't make me love you. But when you're so tuckered from screaming for 3 straight hours, and you finally settle down to happily nurse and sleep, I remember how much I do love you (but damn those screams are tough). 

You have finally started smiling and laughing, though brief and hard to capture on film or video (notice the top blurry attempt at a smile). They are the most heart-warming noises!  Dave and I are predicting you are going to be the illusive charmer, only showing those closest to you the power of your cuteness. 

You, like most babies your age, enjoy staring for long moments at the light pouring in through the window and ceiling fans. It gives my arms the needed break to potty, blog, and sometimes eat a meal. The benefit of having a high needs baby is the weight I've lost. Since I'm always either holding you, walking you, slinging you, nursing you, or holding you while you sleep, I don't always have time to eat. Plus with this insanely awesome weather, we've been taking lovely long walks together. Maybe summertime in a swimsuit won't be as traumatic as I had earlier predicted.

Enough about me and my being 10 lbs away from my pre-pregnancy weight, this letter is about you, little man. Thus far, my favorite part of you being here is simply you being here. I'm trying to absorb all the moments, though I can't wait for the crabby newborn phase to be over. You wiggle your toes in such a deliberate way, I could stare at them and gnaw on them all day long. You love when your sister gets close to your face, and you flip a lid when we kiss your cheek- adorable! You are proving to be so different than your sister, but I love that about you. You, like the Lane in you, are fiercely independent, not allowing any pre-disposed notion of you hold you back. I love that fire, and I know it'll keep burning as you age. 

I've also discovered a very sweet thing about you and your night schedule: you just want to be on/near me all night long. Its really key for you to sleep. Its truly lovely, though I'm not much of a night-snuggle-person. I'll let this slip with you, because I know it won't last long. You'll get all toddler on me and not want mamas kisses all over you. I'm smothering you now, while I have the chance.

My dear Easton, I could (and do) kiss your sweet head all day long, and into the wee hours of the morning. It's very difficult for me to deal with you when you are having your screaming moments, but at the end of the day, I feel completely satisfied in our choice to expand our family to include you. You are here for a reason, now possibly being to teach me patience and tolerance.  We love you completely and can't wait for tomorrow. 

It's Official, I'm Crazy

Once again, I am going to blame the lack of postings on my newborn son. I'm afraid his life will be full of blame and guilt and reasons mommy has to drink, but that's what therapy is for, right? Last week, I spent 7 straight days with a killer sore throat, body aches, and a nasty cough. Now that I'm all hopped up on antibiotics, the kids are both under the weather. Yes, my 7 week old has a cold (damn nasty coffee shop). I am totally on Hartford protest. In the midst of all the illnesses going around, we (Dave) are renovating our bathrooms. Is this not enough, Lord? Could I put more on my overflowing plate, Sweet Jesus? 

Oh yes, I've been a crafting fool. Now Cara, don't hate. You said I do too much, and it is mostly because I have an overactive mind and total ADD/ADHD/WWJJD. I can't stop, its hard to slow down, and quite frankly I enjoy the chaos. It keeps life on Utah street, well, interesting. So my new passion? Well, its still making fresh pasta, but I've also added card making to my list of things I'm obsessed with. I've been using paper and my sewing machine, a clever blend of 2 worlds. It started with me and Syl making Valentine's Day cards, but it has since evolved. I now have cards made for any random event (including if you were to need a card involving the ocean and a sailboat, don't ask). I'm officially addicted to making them. In fact today, when Syl took a miraculous 3 hour nap and Easton took a nap NOT in my arms, I was actually able to make lots of cards. And I love them. And you'll all be getting one for some event or another. Because I don't know what to do with them.

Maybe I should have a contest: what can we get JJ addicted to next? And I'll try doing whatever it is and if I become addicted, you win. Oh wait, I guess I should stipulate that it can't involve illicit activities (I am a mom, you know). So re-word: what fun/family friendly activity can we get JJ addicted to next? Because this is what makes me stay sane through the winter/ lack of sleep/ mania.

 

Look What We Made: take 2

Hurray! A successful batch of homemade, and very yummy, pasta. This time, we had the assistance of a kitchen aid pasta roller thingy, which proved to be the key to our success. Cuz let's face it, hand rolling is for old Italian women, not South City sleep deprived mommies like me.