Two Peas in a Pod

Charlie had to get his monthly labs drawn today, to check his calcium levels and such. He is getting to the age where it is truly heartbreaking to see him in pain. You know that pouty face that is so cute when he's just pouting a little. Well imagine that times one hundred. It didn't help that the women at the lab didn't seem to have daily experience with extracting the blood of a little baby. They kept saying that babies have such little veins, and I know they do, but at Children's Mercy we never had this problem, and they drew labs daily. They stuck him once and he screamed as soon as they put the tourniquet on his arm and he didn't stop until we got home and he fell asleep. At the first stick nothing was coming out, they probably didn't have it in the vein. So they had to start all over again on the other side, this time in the back of the wrist. They got it in a vein but the blood was coming out so slowly it took quite awhile to get enough in the vial. Meanwhile he had been really crying and just staring at me like mama do something. The whole thing took twenty minutes or so of just trying to get enough blood. Then he wouldn't be comforted by me holding him or with his pacifier, not until we got home and he was exhausted from crying so hard and so long. When he woke up he was fine, maybe he had forgot at least until next month.
But before our appointment I snapped a few photos of the two of my kiddos together. Then we went and played at the park with Papa until it was time to get lab work. And the whole time Charlie was inside the hospital crying, Marley was in the car crying with Papa because she wanted to come in with us. She cried herself to sleep too. I see some resemblances, think they might be related?

A Goof Looking for Her Ball

Okay, maybe we are just a tad bit stir crazy pent up indoors. BTW this shirt we bought for Charlie on the clearance rack at The Gap. It is a size 18 months, he will grow into it. Marley has been begging me to wear it and I kept telling her it was too small for her and that it was Charlie's. Well she proved me wrong, it fits her just perfectly and now she refuses to take it off. So if the rest of the photos I take of Marley in the future, she has this shirt on, don't be surprised. I can just see it now, she never takes it off and her senior pictures will be in this shirt with her midrif showing. Let's hope not.

The Tire Swing

When I was a child my father made a tire swing for me. He hung it from the highest tree, up on their land in Perry. I loved that tire swing. I have vivid memories of swinging out back for hours. Well, 25 years later, my father has made a tire swing for my daughter. A house has been built where my tire swing once hung, so hers was hung a little farther back.
This was her first time on the tire swing, and boy was she excited!

I asked my dad to snap a shot of Charlie and me too. Charlie was hanging out with me in my Maya Wrap, it always puts him to sleep.

I snapped a photo of one of the wild country cats that has been hanging out lately. He was posing purrrfectly out by the barn.

Also a big thank you to all who voted for me in February's GreebleMonkey Photo Contest. I was very excited to see that I took first place with my photo of Charlie, http://www.greeblemonkey.com/

I also placed third in this week's I ♥ Faces weekly contest in the adult category, themed Wonder.

http://www.iheartfaces.com/

Charlie Brown

This post is a little picture heavy, but I couldn't help myself. Charlie is just getting so big and healthy looking. His personality shines through more and more each day.

And have you ever seen a more perfect pout?

I've been working on this baby mobile for Charlie. I made it using scrapbook papers that I had been collecting, that I never put to use. He is so fascinated with anything up on the ceiling so I thought he might enjoy my creation. Now I just need to get it hung. I will take better photos when I get it in place.

And I took these photos over the long weekend we had. I thought this photo really represents life as we know it these days. Steve with the two kiddos, Charlie sticking his tongue out, Marley ready to squirm away but also wanting in on the action. And the one below it is priceless. Look at the way Charlie looks at his daddy. I wonder if he's thinking, "hey guy, you look just like me."

I am a Finalist in th February Greeblepix Contest

I am so excited, this was my first month to enter and this photo (and baby boy) mean so much to me. I was honored to be chosen as a finalist in the love themed contest.I would appreciate your votes, but I realize there are a lot of really beautiful photos that I have as competition.Here is a link, http://www.greeblemonkey.com/2009/02/february-greeblepix-finalists.html And here is our story, This is Charlie. He is 7 weeks old and has already been through so much in his short amount of time here on Earth. He was born with a heart defect that showed up two days after I gave birth to him. He was life-flighted to Children's Mercy Hospital where he underwent open heart surgery on New Year's Eve and was diagnosed with DiGeorge Syndrome. He has fought back from the depths of darkness, and is now thriving here at home. He's a strong little guy, with a scar down his chest to prove it. The love we have for him and the love he shows us everyday is infinite.I entered this photo in the GreebleMonkey's February Photo Contest, themed "Love",www.greeblemonkey.com/

If I were to win, the prize is a $250 gift certificate to Pro Rental where I could rent out a few lenses that I have been considering investing in, as I delve into the wedding photography business with one of my dear photographer friends. Being able to have a chance to try out a lens or two first would be a real help, and this would enable me to do so.

Here is my photo, and my name on the ballot is Megan - Trees and Bees Photog.

On another note, today is Charlie's big vaccination day. Remember the first round of vaccinations where they stick them at least 4 times?! Yes, that is what we face this afternoon.

Happy Belated Valentine's Day

I know it's a few days late, but I wanted to wish you all a Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

Volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House

Tonight a group of fellow mamas, whom I call my friends, began our adventures in volunteering together and giving back to the community. This was our first time to cook at the Ronald McDonald House in town, for the families staying there with children who are sick and in the hospital.

We arrived early and baked cornbread and cinnamon rolls. Two of us had prepared chili earlier in the day so it had time to cook all of the flavors in. Some people donated some of the food, who couldn't actually stay and cook. You won't see them in the photos, but they contributed just the same, and we are thankful for that.

Although we didn't actually see anybody staying at the house eat our food, we are hopeful that some of it got eaten later after we left. Two of the staff at the Ronald McDonald House did get to eat our meal, as well as we did ourselves. We sampled some of the goods, realizing that they were going to have a whole lot of leftovers.

Here are a few shots from the evening. I will narrate.

This is everybody who stayed and cooked, minus myself. Two of which are pregnant and due just a week apart, the other was pregnant with me and had her baby two days after me. Must be something in the water.



This is the delicious cornbread, made with Jiffy cornbread mix and yellow cake.



This is what happens when you try and take a fellow photog's photo.




And another fellow photog. I'm telling you people, never photograph a photog, they just never cooperate!



Now if this doesn't make you hungry, nothing will.







Looks good enough to eat, just ask one of the pregnant mamas, she couldn't resist for very long.



And I didn't want her to have to go it alone.



The cinnamon rolls, minus the one we split.

Sweet Little Baby

I took photos for the parents of a sweet little baby born six weeks early. I went to the NICU and photographed her using the available light.


Sweet Baby Caitlyn

Random Act of Kindness

I did a random act of kindness tonight. I was dropping my husband off at his car. He had parked at Spangles after work, when a co-worker of his who lives in a neighboring town gave him a ride there to my parents' cabin where I was staying with my parents and the kids today. I didn't want to drive back with nobody to tend to Charlie if he started crying in the backseat. So Steve came to the cabin after working late and I was dropping him back off at his car where he had parked it at Spangles, so we wouldn't have to drive clear back to his work to get his car. Spangles was on the way. There was a homeless man sitting directly in front of our cars, leaning up against a tree. He didn't look drunk, just homeless. He had some of his possessions with him. I got out to switch places with Steve, so I could drive home, while Steve was getting in his car. The homeless man spoke to us, he just said hello and I said hello back. My husband pulled away and I had accidentally bumped the horn when I was turned around putting Charlie's pacifier in before I pulled away. I felt bad because it probably startled the guy. Anyway I turned to tell him sorry, with a little wave, like I didn't mean to do that. That's when I looked into his eyes, my headlights shining in his direction. He was pleasant looking, had a friendly look. I decided I would see how many $1 bills I had in my wallet and give them to him. He probably needed them more than I did. I have a roof over my head at least. Plus my husband said the man had been there when he had dropped off his car hours before, so I think he was probably staying there in the grassy area between Spangles and the K-Mart parking lot overnight. I only had $2, but I got out of the car and walked up to the man. Steve had already drove off, and I know that was risky, but it felt right. I said "Could you use this?" And he said, "I guess I probably could." He took the money and said "Thank you young lady, you have a wonderful year." I told him, "You too" and walked away. I wanted him to know there was kindness in unexpected places, to not lose hope. Who knows what he does with the money, but that's not really my concern. It's his life, he can do with it as he chooses. But for one brief moment, when he had little to call his own, he knew I cared.
My challenge to you is to do one random act of kindness this weekend. And if you do, let me know about it. I'd love to hear your story.

Laugh Out Loud

Have I ever mentioned LOL annoys me, but in this instance I think it's okay.

And look what I get to wake up next to. The sweetest little baby boy east of Montana.