Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Tuesday Ten Spot...the Monthly Edition

What can I say...life has this tendency to take over and computer time is lost!

1. I finally uploaded pics that have been in the camera for a MONTH!

2. I have been sketching layouts for Brenna's Special Care Scrapbook. I have definitely come down to a more reasonable number of pages. I think I am on the right track. Marie has graciously offered to give me a scrapbooking tutorial which I am definitely going to take her up on! I can't wait to see where I can go with this. I really feel like this scrapbook is going to be much more meaningful than 400 pictures stuck in an album. I already am thinking up layouts for my second scrapbook and haven't even started the first one....look out....here I go with a new crafty hobby! (I'm so glad summer vacation starts in a mere 6 weeks!) Ooo, I already made some purchases (yea for Target Gift Cards!): A self-healing cutting mat and a retractable craft knife with extra blades. I know this is only the beginning, but I do have some other supplies that were already part of my crafty side. And I got my first copy of Simple Scrapbooks Magazine. I was pleasantly surprised to see pictures of layouts created by people I know, with pictures of people and kids that I know. How fun! Good for you Marie! I do believe I will be subscribing to this one. Simple, yet meaningful layouts that are perfect for important memories. It definitely helped to spark some creative thoughts in my brain.

3. Brenna is doing very well. We managed 6 weeks in a row at day care with NO sick days. Darn flu bug got her last week so we missed a couple of days but she is getting back to herself. She randomly sings parts of "The Alphabet Song" in her own little jumbled way but r..s.. and tuv...come out fairly understandable. I am so partial but SO proud! She is growing up too fast though!

4. I am still working on the photography...sometimes I even get some really good ones. Thanks to those of you offering advice. Who knew I would have to take 10,000 pictures to get 2 good ones? It's been fun so far.


5. Did I mention there are 25 school days left until summer break? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE TO TEACH, but with OAT testing the last two weeks in combination with some pretty good weather (this week Not included), I am feeling ready for a nice break.

6. The present daddy brought for the little girl during his last road trip to Indy...the BEST purchase by far, have paid for themselves already for outside play! Wash them in the sink with some hot soapy water...good as new...no worries about playing in the dirt and mud like canvas shoes. Plus, ask her to go get her shoes (from her bucket of shoes), she picks these every time! "Doorah's" she says.

7. I love piggy tails on little girl's head!


8. She keeps reminding us "I'm Brenna" over and over and over and over again...we know, sweet potato...we know.

9. She loves to play outside and have fun...


10. She has become an escape artist...in a very interesting way. (She was complaining and complaining last night before she went to sleep...went to check and this is what we found...that can't possibly be comfortable.

That was our month...how was yours?

Monday, April 7, 2008

Too much?

So in sketching out a rough plan for my first scrapbook, I have 40, yes four zero, possible pages. Too many? This is after narrowing down from 400 pictures of B in the NICU. All you scrapbookers...help, I think I may be getting in over my head. What to do....

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Bad, bad, very bad blogger!

I have not fallen off the face of the Earth but I have been a very bad blogger...while this is far from my longest stretch, I had been doing pretty well keeping up-to-date, and then, well, life has been rather busy. Not as busy as my friend Marie, who, by-the-way, just had a baby and is doing better keeping up with her blog than I am. That is just sad on my part! But congrats to the Taylor family and welcome little Charlie. We are very excited to meet you!


All-in-all things are good.


School is winding down. Monday will be the beginning of the last 9 weeks of trying to get as much done as we can before testing and before the end of the year.


Brenna has been healthy (knock on tons of wood) and hasn't missed any day care days since tube surgery!! This is week 5 I am happy to say. We had a follow-up, no fluid, no infection....great news even though one tube was blocked. We are hoping that a second round of drops has taken care of the problem. Back to see the Dr. in about 2 weeks to make sure it is clear.


Sean hasn't had any major travel days for the last three weeks which has been nice. This week begins a new round but it was nice that he could be home for a few weeks in a row. It is nice too that he isn't usually gone for more than a night or two. Managable, especially with the weather being a little nicer.


I got to sleep for an extra half hour this morning because my wonderful husband took our daughter to day care. 30 extra minutes of sleep are sooooo valuable! Thank you!!!


I have started walking daily and doing my best to eat more healthfully. It is time. I can't set any kind of good example for Brenna while continuing on the path that I was on. I am not healthy and I have chosen to do everything I can to make a major change as far as my health is concerned. So far I am doing pretty well. It's challenging to make myself go for a walk everyday but I have been making myself go, even when I really have no desire. While today's walk wasn't long at all since it was a little chilly and Brenna was cold...apparently it isn't fun to be bundled up in the stroller when you want to be free. Mittens aren't fun when you want to be free either. So cold hands won today. At least we were able to get some fresh air.


I love springtime in Ohio...oh wait...it was 32 this morning...stupid groundhog.


I have been thinking about the bazillions (sometimes I think this may be more than a fair estimate) of pictures we have taken of Brenna and what to do with them all. I was great when she first came home....I printed all 400 (and I'm not kidding) that were taken before she came home from the hospital. And then I printed a few more. And diligently placed them in acid-free photo albums that had room for a little blurb about each picture (I even actually wrote something). And now I am looking thru folder after folder of photos that I have uploaded and don't really know where to start. I think scrapbooking would be great but there are SO MANY pictures~just of Brenna. First I think to myself "I'll do one of her days in the NICU", then I change my mind and think "maybe her first year" in an album. The task seems so big and there are so many little and big milestones that I don't want to leave anything out. Every moment filled with worry and hope and joy...how do you capture all of that in one or two scrapbooks? I want to do something that is more meaningful than just print, stick, write. I want something that she will treasure and that we can look back at and remember.


My dilemmas are this: 1 ~ where do I start, and 2 ~ what are the essential tools that I need to get started. The scrapbooking aisles in the stores are a little overwhelming when you don't even know where to start. If you are into scrapbooking....where do you start? what are your "must-have" tools? what advice can you give a beginner?


Here are a few photos to update any need for a "little girl" fix!