super {cute} baby

I can so identify!

I saw this floating around Facebook the other day, and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry! 

Mom friends, do you agree? 

If You Love IG, You MUST Watch!

My friend, George (gnicholson3 on IG), is one of the authors of IG Style Guide.  This morning he posted a hilarious video from YouTube.  Having been an IG fan for over a year now, I can relate to so many of those situations.  Even if you don't have Instagram, I think you may still find it worth a couple minutes to watch. 

Enjoy!

and now I'm off to catch up on my feed. ;)

What's A Wannabe Photographer To Do?

I mentioned a few posts back about my growing love of photography.  It's funny, all the time I would have spent reading books for book club (or time that should be spent scrubbing toilets, washing dishes, folding laundry) has been taken over by devouring my camera manual or searching out photography information online. 

As my comfort behind the lens increases, I really have seen an improvement in my images.  And if I can brag a little, I got another Class Standout Award from my online photography group hosted by Little Fashion Diary for this picture of a nail!  Yay!

Anyway, I am considering taking up this hobby of mine as a way to earn money.  I love taking pictures of nature and still life, and I feel those are my strong subjects.  Obviously I love taking pictures of my boys, too.  Although, I can only shoot pictures of my boys a handful of times before they begin to scowl and run away.  So, I am always up for some willing subjects. 

My camera goes with me to all school events, and I try to take shots of the kids using all my limited growing know-how.  Recently, I've been lucky enough to have a friend let me take pictures of her daughter's birthday party.  One of my dear friends even allowed me to take some practice shots of her sweet two week old little boy. 

Imagine my excitement when another friend offered up her soon to be born twin girls for a photo shoot!!! I've been doing research every chance I get about positioning, props, and other little tricks of the trade for newborn shoots.  My husband has been so encouraging and even built me one of those DIY photography backdrop stands out of PVC pipe you see all over Pinterest. 

Really wanting to test out all my new equipment, props, and of course to practice my shooting and editing, I did what any wannabe photog would do.  I enlisted the help of my sons' Cabbage Patch Kids.

Meet Salvatore and Dominic.  :) 

They were so happy to participate in my photo shoot, and couldn't have been better subjects.  Well, they could have posed better on their tummies and had arms that would fold across their bodies. 

It was pretty funny to see me trying to force those little stuffed dolls into positions they were not going to get into.  I know there are things I need to improve on, but I have to start somewhere, right? :)

Send in the Stylists, STAT!

Please, someone quickly sign me up for a makeover show!  I don't care which one either.  Because if I truly look like this picture, I must need some SERIOUS help.

Yesterday morning, my sweet little baby offensive little heathen was sitting on my lap while I checked my favorite websites for everything I missed while I was sleeping.  While I was on Facebook, my former cherub pointed at that picture above and proudly said, "Mama!" 

WHAT!?!?!?!

Clearly, I needed to reassess his proclamation.  It had to be a misunderstanding.  He is, after all, only 18 months old and was speaking with a pacifier in his mouth.  So, I pointed and asked him, "Who is that?", to which he replied, "Mama". Oh, please, no.

Is that what I've become?  A gauntly, man-faced mother with unkempt hair?

Ok, maybe some days. Although, hopefully not the man-faced part.

Motherhood is tiring and keeps you busy, so I can partly understand my little one recognizing the hollow cheeks and dark circles frequently present on my face on that man above.  Alright, yes, my hair is curly and can get a little unruly especially if I can't make it into the shower until after the children go to bed at night. 

But really, THIS?!?

I'm going to put on make-up now. And everyday for the rest of my life.

:)

(and no offense to the man pictured, whoever he may be.  i'm sure he's a millionaire model.)

Glad I'm no longer a "new mom"

I've been a mother now for six years, one month, three weeks and two days.  I am far from a seasoned mother, but thankfully far past the "new mother" phase. 

Someone shared this video on Facebook the other day, and I could not stop laughing.  It was so easy to identify with so many of the situations in this clip.  I'm sure at one point we have all been there!

(Apologizing in advance for the s-bomb in the title.  The video is clean.)

If you're wiping away tears of laughter, you are remembering some of the "good ole days" early in motherhood.  If you're wiping away tears of sadness, then this is your world right now.  Cheer up!  It does get better! :)