Week 10

Owen had his first swim lesson ever last night. It was just so cute and precious...and of course there I was with my camera around my neck and flip video in my hand. I'm such a dork. ;) He was pretty excited about it and did really well for him. He's always been rather skiddish around water. It took years before I was able to get him to actually lay down in the bathtub to wash his hair that way. This week we have to work on blowing bubbles and getting water in his face in the tub. He wouldn't let go of the instructors finger. :)






Lesson number two is tomorrow night and then his first soccer practice is Friday night. It may be a double post week for me as I document all these firsts. :)

Week 9

Owen and I had our first trip of the year to the zoo last week. It was a nice day out so I picked him up from school and we headed downtown, against his wishes. :) Luckily, I know him and of course he had fun once we got there. Its about time to renew our membership. I was up in the air about if we should or not, but after our trip last week I decided we definitely should. Zoo trips are getting so much easier with him and we both always have fun. We both needed the fresh air and fun we had. Hopefully daddy can go with us next time and I can spend more time in the free fly bird exhibit. O just wasn't having it. Here's a few I was able to capture in our short stay in there.


After the birds, we went to the carousel. I'm so glad there are still nice people in the world. I only had $1 cash on me, and tokens are $2 each. I simply told the attendants that I only had $1 and they let us both ride! I was thrilled because I was going to be heartbroken for O if we couldn't ride. We'd been talking about it for a while. He looks a little scared here.

And one of my favorites from the day. I was able to capture the two of us on the carousel in a mirror reflection. This is typically how you will find us - him exploring the world, and me with a camera in front of my face documenting it. :)

After the merry-go-round we headed to the play area. After I went down the huge slide with him once, he did it all by himself a few more times. He's getting so big & it makes me proud. There's also a padded jump around area there. Its the last place we hit up before the zoo closed for the day.


The trip was short and sweet and I can't wait to go back. I also signed Owen up for swimming lessons and soccer last week. Let the activities begin! :)

Week 8

You may recall me mentioning a few weeks back that I wanted to paint some rooms in the house. I made like Nike and just did it a few weeks ago! Amazingly, Owen behaved really well and let me work on it most of the afternoon. I/we painted our dining room and the office and I'm so happy with the outcome! Since the paint job I've been wanting to take some photos of O with the new wall in the background. Yesterday I flung open the blinds and got to it. Initally--these are not what I had in mind. Its funny though because the outcome is always as it should be. I love them and plan to use them in his alphabet book for the letter C. He wouldn't put his camera down. So as I was taking pictures of him, he was doing the same of me. This weeks are my little budding photog in training....some of him, and then one from his little camera to show you what he was taking pics of.






I downloaded all the pictures off his camera yesterday and it is quite comical seeing his view of the world. There's lots of heads chopped off and nose picking caught on camera...of the entire extended family. Pretty funny. ;)

Week 7

My mom and granny came down for a visit the weekend before/of week 7. Its always so nice to visit with them. I hate living nearly 3 hours away. On Saturday I had a photo shoot of my friends kiddos. Here are some of my personal favorite from that session...which I need to finish up editing! The twins are 1. Time sure flies. It seems like yesterday they were born.




And some more personal shots from week 7. For Valentine's Day, hubby came home with roses for me.


The weather has been spectacular the past week. Oh spring, please come and stay! Its been so nice getting outside and letting O romp. We both need it!



And lastly, a sweet little birds nest we found in one of our bushes out back. Its amazing how they make these tiny/delicate things. In case you didn't know...I love to photograph birds. Our bird feeder has been getting a lot of action! Its getting to be good bird picture weather. Man I feel old saying that. ;)

Week 6

I got a new lens, the Canon 85mm 1.8, in week 6 and was trying it out heavily!
This photo is one that I entered into a clickinmoms photo challenge themed "red"...I got one of the runner-ups, which thrilled me!


I also was playing around with the new lens for this super silly collage of my sweet boy. He was hamming it up with his 3D movie glasses on. I love these of him. He makes the funniest faces.


Chris also took Owen to his first live basketball game in week 6...Vanderbilt vs. Alabama. Owen came home saying, "The Vanderbilts winning makes me sad." He was for "The Reds." Here are some shots of the two of them before their big night out...which I could really get used to. I went with a girlfriend and got a mani and pedi that night, picked up takeout, and watched my shows without interruption. It was devine.


I can see some season tickets to something in their future. ;)

Week 5

Oh dear. I'm so behind. I'm doing worse with my Project 52 than I did with my Project 365!

Much has happened since my last post. In week 5 my hubby's sweet grandfather passed away. Edwin lived to the age of 95, was married to his sweet bride for 70.5 years, and was a wonderful man. During week 5 we traveled east to go be with family and attend the funeral. It was a wonderful tribute to a great man. He will be missed.

Please excuse my crappy photo from week 5. Looking back I didn't take many pics that week. This photo is the only kind of football I like...its a brownie bite football shaped dessert that we had at our house for Super Bowl. I'm so glad to see football gone for a while...it is my least favorite sport!

Week 4

Pops came for a visit last week and Owen was so excited to see him. He actually fell asleep in his lap on Friday afternoon. It was so precious that you know I had to grab my camera. :)

What a week we had last week. We ended up in the ER at Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital last Sunday night. Owen's fever spiked to an all-time high of 104.7! That was enough to scare the crap out of his dad and I so we took him in. As it turns out he was fighting a virus and an ear infection. A few days, many does of motrin, and an antibiotic later he was back to his romping, stomping self. Thank goodness! Aside from that, Week 4 was pretty low key. He missed one day of school - why do I pay for this again? - and we got a little more snow last week. It melted off to a gorgeous weekend. The little heat wave makes me sooo long for Spring. I booked our vacation last week as well. Hubs and I, along with some friends, are going to Destin for an adult only vacation at the end of April. We are both really excited. We haven't had a beach trip with just the two of us since little man came along, so we are definitely due. Owen is still doing great with his potty training. There's still the occasional accident, but I think we are there. Other than that, I don't have much news. I'm wanting to - if I can muster up the will power - paint a few rooms in our house this week. I just really don't feel like doing it, but its not going to magically just be done. ha! I'll let you know next week if I decided to or not. Have a great week everyone!

Week 3

Its been over a week since my last post so I'm having a hard time remembering everything! It has been a whirlwind weekend around our house. Owen has been really sick this weekend. After a trip to the doctor today and a negative strep test, he's been diagnosed with a virus. I hate when my son is sick. I hate even more when he spikes a 104.2 fever! He gave us a scare last night when it got so high, but today his temp has been lower and tonight he seems to be feeling much better! We're plugging on with the Motrin and Tylenol and hoping this passes quickly!

We've had another health scare in the family the past few days as well. On Friday my husbands grandfather was taken to the hospital. He is around 95 years old and has pneumonia. However, he's stable and is really improving. That's an awesome thing. Please remember him in your thoughts and prayers if you could.

I tried to get some Valentine's pics of Owen this week. It wasn't a very successful shoot, but thought I would share one that has *potential* for a valentine. I may try more this week as I'm not just thrilled with them.


Owen finally got to go back to school last week after being out for a week due to snow. On Thursday late afternoon we got more snow, about 2 inches. I don't middle think TN has gotten this much snow in a long while. I think there is a chance we may get more this week as well! I sure hope its not enough to cancel school.

Here's a share of some more photos that I've taken since my last post. I actually took this one while we were stuck home in the snow. . . whenever I want O to stay confined and play in one place for more than like a milisecond...I can always count on the tub. ;)


And a beautiful sunset...I shot this one after a week of gray skies. It was beautiful.


And my blankie loving boy. Ever since we said goodbye to the paci a year ago, this is what he chews on going to sleep. Its precious.



Potty training is going fantastic, btw! We...or he...is really on a roll!
I hope you all have a great week!

Week 2

We woke to a winter wonderland here in middle Tennessee this morning. Owens friend Drewbie came over for the day and stayed with us...needless to say I'm worn out! Thank goodness my hubby decided to stay home today as well. The boys finally crashed, both sitting up, on the couch mid afternoon. I followed not long after. This morning we took them out to play in the snow and burn off some energy. This weeks pic is of a neighbors tree covered with snow.
I'm going to have to throw in a few more of the snow buddies playing today.



D had a few face plants!



It was nice to be able to get outside and shoot for a change! Here's another favorite from the day.

Its so funny how Owen thinks that when snow is coming, Christmas is coming. :) Now that Christmas has passed and we've had a good snow under out belt, I'm about ready for spring and warmer weather. I've had my fill of cold now...especially when school gets canceled!

Its been a pretty low key week since my last post. Owen has been doing great with his potty training the past week. Last Thursday we had a breakthrough and he has been doing great ever since. He's had a few accidents, as to be expected, but overall I'm so proud of him! Who knew poop in a toilet could be so exciting. So much so that it was cause to celebrate with a new soccer ball and night out to Chick fil-A!

I teamed up with another photographer last Sunday for the first out of three rounds of photos for a Church directory. It was a great learning experience. I've got a few things I need to change for next week, but in general I think it went pretty well!

In other exciting news I used my Christmas money (plus some) to buy some new sheets, a coverlet, new curtains, some blinds and some towels for our bathroom. You know you're getting old when you use your Christmas money to buy those sort of things...and get excited about it! My friend helped me rearrange our bedroom for the first time in years. With that said, I'm going to take my tired bones up to my new sheets for the night. Have a great week!

xoxo-
Melissa

Week 1

Hello 2011! After doing a project 365 last year, it feels really strange not to be shooting & blogging almost every day. Its as if I'm doing something wrong, although it is sort of a welcomed break.

We are finally back to the grind and getting into the swing of things after a long Christmas break. Hubby went back to work yesterday, Owen went back to school today for the first time in about 3 weeks, and momma had some much needed alone time. Whew boy I was ready for a break! It always fly by so quickly. By the time I cleaned up around here and worked on a photo order it was time to shower and go pick up wild man. We then went to Kroger where he somehow managed to pee out of his pull-up onto the 12-pack of Diet Dr. Pepper he was sitting on. Always a holiday, lemme tell ya! One of my resolutions is to get this boy potty trained....clearly its going well.

This weeks picture is of Owen, of course. Man I really wish I had a macro lens...perhaps a rental is in my future. I wish I could get all over those lashes of his, instead I was backing up until I could grab focus. Its funny how this wasn't initially the photo I was going for. I was sticking hats on his head trying to get a shot of him with the door light as he sat on his trike, then I wanted to get a curl from his head, but I ended up with this after remembering some recent shots I've seen that I really liked. I especially love this in black and white. Maybe I'll add an extra challenge to this project and attempt all black and white images. Maybe not. I'll decide next week. :) Have a great week everyone!

What's it about?

Hey there blog followers! So what's this project all about? Its easy. A photo a week for an entire year. Last year I undertook the larger goal of Project 365. You can find that blog here. I'm very proud of myself for completing it. Although I did miss several days throughout the year, I still consider it a completed goal. I can't wait to make it into a book that I'm sure to cherish everyday.

I hope you enjoy Project 52 and will follow me throughout the year. Most of my pics will be family oriented, and probably the object of my affection, sweet Owen. Stay tuned...week 1 will be coming soon.

Good luck to all my fellow Project 365/52/12's. Happy New Year!
xoxo,
Melissa