True to My Word

So, I've been so true to my word, it hurts. No posts in nearly 2 weeks. I didn't mean to drop off the face of the earth totally . . . but holiday shoots have me slammed, and there just has not been time. I finally caught up totally before Thanksgiving . . . then the bad weather on Sunday totally threw me off and I had to reschedule 2 shoots for THIS weekend . . . on top of the shoots I already had scheduled! Life is crazy, but good. No complaints . . . just a little extra work.





We did have a great Thanksgiving in the booming metropolis of Newnan, GA. My family was glad to have us most of last week . . . well, glad to have MEG . . . Jim and I were just tag-alongs with her. We enjoyed a lot of food and rest. Would you beleive that I didn't take a single picture on Thanksgiving? Call it burn out or lack of motivation . . . no biggie. We have enough pictures of every other day to make up for it.





Speaking of pictures (quite a lot in this post, I realize -- can you tell what I've been engrossed with for the past several weeks??) . . . . here are some outtakes from our Meg holiday shoot. She's a bit hard to pin down for pictures these days, but we managed to get a few good ones. She looks like such a little GIRL in her holiday dress and white tights! She had a lot of fun running around the yard, all dressed up in short sleeves and 50 degree weather. We are the worst parents, I know.





More to come . . . I've actually written some blogs that I haven't posted yet. Weird, I realize -- I was once an over-achiever at this blog thing, now I'm a total slacker. I'll try to post some of those in the days/weeks to come.

After mid-December -- when all the pictures are done and everyone's holiday cards are in the mail -- I'll be back to blog life. I really do miss it! Until, take care :)

The 100th Post

This is my 100th post, since starting the blog back in January. Not too shabby . . . about 1/3 of the year captured in blogville.

But, alas, at this 100th post, I have to admit that I'm feeling bit overwhelmed, and blogging may have to become a less frequent event . . . at least for a short while.

Since Labor Day, I've tried to blog every single day -- and I've been successful at it, for the most part. I've ENJOYED it . . . it is fun for me to have something to look forward to . . . a journal entry of sorts. Blogging has become a habit for me.

But with the holiday season appraoching and such a busy time for HD Portraits, something has to give. I woke up at 3am last night and could not get back to sleep because of the many, many thoughts of things to do racing through my head. I have several shoots to finish, plus two or three each weekend from now until Dec 9th. All of those will need editing . . . plus holiday card orders . . . my own, personal things like house maintence, shopping, baby care, mommy care, etc . . . it's just a lot to think about. So, when I sat down to write this blog and noticed that it was my 100th, I thought it was a great time to say that I'll be needing a break . . . that blogs 101, 102, 103, and so on will come -- just with a little less frequency than the past 30 or so.

Keep checking in on us -- I don't want to lose viewers! I just want to be able to manage my own life and keep myself sane at the same time. No more waking up at 3am because I'm so worried about all I have to do. I'm sure you understand.

Have a GREAT weekend and I will see you soon :)

We are still Alive

Well, we made it through yesterday. My dad came up and took care of Meg for me -- who, really, was back to her old self by mid-day. They played and played . . . while I slept and slept. I don't know WHAT hit us, but it hit us hard and took us down big time.

Now that we are feeling better (not quite 100%, but almost), I have to catch up on HD Portraits stuff . . . I'm 2 days behind! You know what they say . . . "The best laid plans . . . " I had a special blog planned for yesterday and everything! It was the one-year anniversary of Meg's surgery . . . I'll write about it later today or tomorrow.

Anyway, just letting everyone know that we are OK today and hope to be all better officially by tomorrow. Thanks again for all the notes to wish us well -- they certainly help!

The Stomach UGH

A stomach bug is wreaking havoc in Dahlbyland.

It started yesterday afternoon . . . Meg and I had a great morning playing with some friends, and on the car ride home, Meg puked all over the place. We were still quite a ways from home . . . so we pulled over, cleaned her up the best we could, then kept on our trek home. I, stupidly, thought it was just carsickness . . . she's had it before, and as unpleasant as it is, it's usually just a one-time thing, and she's all better later.

30 minutes into our drive, she threw up again. I had to pull over at another gas station to clean her up . . . but I was out of supplies and had to make do with what I had. Meg made it the rest of the way home in a puke-covered diaper and a just-as-pukey car seat.

We got home, I put her down to rest, and she did it again.

At that point, I called Jim and urged him to come home and help me. Little did I know how much help I'd really need.

About 4:30 yesterday, the bug hit me. I was sick every 30 minutes (or less!) for 6 hours. UGH. Meanwhile, Meg was continuing to get sick, and Jim was home taking care of both of us.

It was a miserable night. What's more miserable is that this is the THIRD stomach bug to hit us this year. Is this what it means to have kids?! Prior to my bout with this same thing in February (my last battle with this bug), I hadn't had a stomach virus in probably 10 years. UGH again.

My dad should be here within the hour to help me out today. I'm feeling better -- at least keeping down liquids -- but I do feel a bit like I've been hit with a train after all that happened last night. If this goes as it did in February, I should be feeling better the day-after-tomorrow.

UGH one more time.

Thank GOD for Jim -- he was a lifesaver last night. He did EVERYTHING and kept asking what else he could do. I kept apologizing, he kept telling me not to . . . we were both a mess. He was as fantastic as I've ever seen him. He had to go out of town today for business . . . and since I know we've made it through the worst of it, I encouraged him to go. I bet he's as tired and as wrecked as I am today. What a man.

More as soon as I'm feeling a bit better. Thanks for any well-wishes . . . we'll be OK, I'm sure.

Those are the Fun Shoots

Sometimes, when I go on a photo shoot, the moms and dads are really into it. They help me make the baby laugh, they act silly, and they are game for anything I throw at them. THOSE are fun shoots. But sometimes, the families just aren’t up for the shenanigans and antics it takes to make their kid laugh. They expect me to do more than I think I am physically able to do . . . simultaneously make JR laugh, tickle him and be goofy, AND snag the perfect portrait. THOSE are the hard shoots.

This past Saturday (pre-Blackout and our trip to Newnan), I had one of the FUN shoots. I always leave those with a smile on my face and the thought in my mind, “This is the greatest gig ever.”

The shoot was for a friend that I worked with in my (short lived) life as a teacher. She’s fantastic – fun, fully of energy – someone you really enjoy being around. She’s also who I have to give the credit to for pushing me to start HD Portraits. After taking pictures of her with her cute little 7 week old son, she encouraged me to start a website and get business cards so that she could recommend me to her friends. She’s a great friend.

Need-less-to-say, when she wanted to do a Holiday Shoot with me, I was thrilled. She’s and her husband are both beautiful people, and her baby boy is just precious. I knew a chance to work with them would be fun . . . I knew the pictures would be great, and I knew that I’d be able to give her great photos she could keep forever. (And, selfishly, I love to have beautiful people in my portfolio!!)

I just didn’t know it would be so fun to work with them!

From the second I arrived, both my friend and her husband were smiley, happy – excited to do the shoot. My friend was bustling around the house, getting baby ready, while dad was making himself some breakfast and joking around with me. I felt comfortable and relaxed . . . which was a relief because I’d been nervous about the shoot. (I seem to always get extra nervous when I’m working with friends.) They put me at ease right away, and I was looking forward to getting down to business.

I have to speak about the husband/dad a bit because . . . well, as husbands/dads go in my business, he’s A #1. I’ve worked with dads that are NOT into the whole picture thing, which certainly makes my job harder. I’ve worked with dads that are cooperative, but I can tell they just don’t care at all. And, there are lots of times when dad might pop in his head, help us move furniture, but that’s it. To work with this particular dad last weekend was super fun because HE was super fun. He was so willing to work with me and his wife a baby . . . as if he, too, will appreciate the pictures we take. He sang to the baby . . . . he sang funny little Spanish songs he seemed to be making up as he went along. He smiled for ALL the pictures. He sat with his son happily for some daddy-baby shots. He moved and posed any which way I suggested without so much as a scoff. He was great. He made me laugh many times! I wish all the dads that I worked with were like him.

The whole family was great. Now I can’t wait to edit their pictures because I’m so excited to show them what we captured in our fun time together. That seems to happen . . . when the shoot goes well and I have a great time, I’m anxious to get the pictures edited. When it goes the other way, I tend to procrastinate and avoid editing (like that does me any good).

I’ve given it some thought (can you tell?) . . . and I think what it narrows down to is respect. Respect for me, my time, and my talent as a photographer. I don’t think I always get it – and I’m not SO demanding of it, but a little goes a long way to encouraging me to do the best work I can do. When the parents are fun and really working with me on the shoot, I feel that there is a certain level of respect they are offering me. Like, “We are so glad you are here to work with us, we want to make it as enjoyable for everyone as we can.” When they just expect me to come in and be a miracle worker, I feel a bit like I’m being taken advantage of. As if I’m just a work-horse there to do their pictures and get out.

Is that weird that I look at it that way?

I guess you could also look at it like this: if they make the job easy and fun, then it’s great. I HATE it when it is like pulling teeth to get the kid to pay attention and smile and when mom/dad don’t seem to have any tricks to help me out. It’s not supposed to be that hard for me . . .and I know it shouldn’t be that hard because of great shoots like this weekend.

This one is for you, Erica. Thanks for making my job so fun and rewarding. I hope you enjoy your pictures!

Blackout

You knew I had to write about it.

Georgia: 45 Auburn: 20

It’s great to be a Georgia Bulldawg.

We went to my parent’s house in Newnan Saturday to watch the game. Earlier in the week, my dad and I had settled on the fact that we’d stay at our separate homes and watch the game apart. As much as we love to enjoy Georgia football with one another, it wasn’t working out for us. The superstition was that Georgia seems to always LOSE when we watch the big games together.

Case in Point – Tennessee earlier this year. We watched that one as a pair, and Georgia lost big time. Florida, we chose to watch separately – calling each other all the time, of course – and Georgia WON.

Of course, my dad blames it on Jim. He thinks Jim is the unlucky charm, not me. Lucky for Jim, his unlucky streak was broken Saturday. We decided to go down and watch the game with my dad at the last minute, and it didn’t hurt Georgia ONE bit. We still won.

I think we decided to go to Newnan – well, I should say I decided WE should go – because there was so much hype this week about the game. All of the talk of “Blackout” and team spirit really got me riled up. I wanted to watch the game with a Georgia fan that was as INTO the game as I was. So, after my fun photo shoot on Saturday morning, we packed up and were “on our way to see the Dawgs play” – in Newnan.

It really was a fun day. We all wore black for the “Blackout”, and we all cheered on the Dawgs (even Jim!). We ate, enjoyed the game, and had a great time together. I’m truly glad we went. It was much for fun to share that with my dad then to just watch it at home. (I love ya, Jim – you know what I mean)

Once a Dawg, always a Dawg. How SWEET it is.

Now if Kentucky could just help us out next week and knock off Tennessee, we’d be all set.

A Brief Rant

Today’s topic is really a bit of a rambling complaint – a rant, if you will.

This morning, I dropped Meg off at school and bee-lined it for my favorite local eye-brow waxing establishment. Ingrid’s Skin Care was kind enough to book me for a 9:30am wax on very short notice . . . I called just yesterday. I was delighted to be able to take care of something that USED to be so essential . . . something that is now a luxury, being that I have to schedule it around Meg’s needs.

When I pulled up to Ingrid’s store front ten minutes before my appointment time, I was a little surprised to find that the “Closed” sign was in the window . . . despite the fact that in big white letters, their hours are 9am-6pm on Friday. I was immediately a bit annoyed . . . if nobody was there, then that meant I was going to have to wait . . . wait for them to get there, wait for the wax to heat up . . . and any amount of waiting was ANNOYING me because I only have 3 hours a week when I can do things like this (Meg’s preschool Fridays).

By 9:30am, nobody had pulled in. And it’s not like Ingrid was already IN there – I called to check that. Nobody was there, and it was my appointment time.

I was pissed.

I called Ingrid’s number and left a message.

“Hi, this is Heather Dahlby . . . um, I have a 9:30 appointment, and it’s 9:30 right now and nobody is here. I can be reached at (my cell number). I would have appreciated a phone call if your store was going to be closed today.”

And I drove away.

As I was leaving the parking lot, I saw what I thought was Ingrid in her car, pulling up in front of her store. At that point, I had a choice – turn around, follow Ingrid into the store, and proceed to wait while she got settled in for the day, turned on the wax, and then took my appointment. Or, I could just leave.

I didn’t turn around.

I was fuming. She had wasted almost an hour of my time, when you think about it. I dropped Meg off, turned around and drove about 10 minutes to Ingrid’s store, waited about 15 minutes, and was at least 10-15 minutes away from any other errand I needed to run. Again, I was pissed.

I bet you are wondering if Ingrid returned my call. She did, at about five minutes ‘till 10am. 25 minutes AFTER my appointment, and about 20 minutes after I’d left the message on her machine.

Her message said something about how she’d seen me in the parking lot, driving away, at 9:33am. She said that they had changed their store hours recently, but she was coming in for my 9:30am appointment. She was sorry for the inconvenice. I should call her back to reschedule.

NO.

I am a BIG proponent of customer service, and in the women’s beauty care industry, I just CANNOT FIND IT. If you know of any places with excellent customer service, please PLEASE tell me. I can’t find anywhere.

I’d tried Ingrid out in the first place because the salon I had been going to always made me wait at least 15 minutes for my wax – 15 minutes AFTER my appointment time. After doing that about 3 times, I gave up. Now I can’t go to Ingrid any more because I certainly won’t give my business to someone who has such little respect for my time.

I’ve abandoned nail salons because they didn’t treat me respectfully. I used to frequent Bob Steele’s Salon in Vinings, but I stopped going there after my hairdresser made me wait for 30+ minutes while she colored another SYTLISTS hair (not a customer, an employee!).

Is it just bad luck for me? Are all the places like this? Are my expectations too high?

So, after the fiasco this morning, I am going to take my 16-month-old with me for an eyebrow wax at 4:15pm today at the salon that I don’t like going to because they make me wait at least 15 minutes for my appointment. Wish me luck.

UGH. It better be worth it.

Nothing to Do

We've done nothing today.

When I say nothing, I mean it.

Meg is all off her schedule with this napping thing . . . not really wanting a morning nap, but struggling to make it until after lunch to catch her snooze. She made it until 11:15 this morning, then she HAD to have one. So our schedule is all off today . . . but, as I mentioned, we have done nothing, so who really needs a schedule on a day like this?

It's been boring, I'll admit. I'm not feeling very good, so I couldn't motivate myself to do anything at all. I cleaned the house less than a week ago, so it's in good shape. I have errands I could run, but I couldn't get myself to do them today.

So, a do-nothing Thursday. I wish I had more to blog about today, but it's one of those boring stay-at-home-mom kinda days.

I hope tomorrow is more interesting.

Digital Frosting

I’ve been asked to contribute an editorial about my photography business to a new website for women and technology – http://www.digitalfrosting.com/ . The site is being launched at the end of the year, and my article and the topic of digital photography are set to be one of the first topics of interest on the site.

When I got the request from the founders of the site – who found me through http://www.flickr.com/ – I was so flattered. I still am. To think that someone out there is interested in reading about me, my tips, and my business is enough to make my head swell.

I guess I should go swelling myself up just yet . . . we’ll see how the article turns out on the site. Of course, I’ll put a link here on the Blog as soon as I know the site is launched and my article is up.

Until then – I thought I’d share just a bit of what I’m writing. I’m sharing my “general tips for digital photography” with you – happy photo-taking!

Their Question: What tips do you have for someone just getting started taking digital photos?

My number one tip is: Take a LOT of pictures. The only way to get better at digital photography is to take more pictures. Take advantage of your technology and shoot a LOT! Try different angles, different lighting, flash or no flash, and USE the different settings on your camera. Don’t be afraid to take a TON of pictures. With each click of the shutter, you get a little better and you’ll learn more. And don’t get frustrated if you aren’t great right away – you really, truly will get better with practice!

Another tip: Don’t get hung up on the megapixels. Granted, when selecting a camera you want to make certain you have decent megapixels . . . but anything over 6 is going to do the trick. Six plus megapixels will provide you with quality images that you can blow up to 11x14. For the average person, this is just want they need. There is much more to a camera that just megapixels – do don’t feel that you have to get 10 or more to guarantee quality. Those 8 meg cameras out there are great, too.

Download your pictures often – and make a point to print them! It may seem like “one more step” with digital photography, but really it’s not. You can upload your images to so many local printing facilities (Walgreens, CVS, WalMart, Target) . . . and the images are ready for pick-up when you arrive. Printing is easy – don’t be afraid and DON’T stop doing it with the switch to digital.

If you can, avoid using the “red eye reducer” on your camera. It’s a good feature, but it dramatically slows down your ability to shoot pictures quickly. Most editing software (even what came with your camera or what is already installed on your computer) has a pretty good method for getting it out in the post-processing process.

Their Question: What tips do you have for someone who wants to take professional-quality digital photos?

Invest in an SLR. SLR (or single-lens reflex) cameras are best for anything of professional quality. You don’t have to invest in the highest-end product to get good pictures, but you do have to buck up and get some type of SLR. The delay you experience with a point-and-shoot diappears, and you are left with really fantastic images. You have absolute creative control with an SLR – from aperture to shutter speed to ISO, you control it all. An SLR is a must for any type of professional quality digital picture.

Lighting is KEY. Use natural light – NO FLASH. Sometimes there are situations where flash is unavoidable – and in those cases, you have no choice. But, if you truly want to take a professional-style portrait of someone, you need nothing but natural light. If you don’t have enough light (ie, your flash keeps popping up), recompose or move your subject until you do.

Another lighting tip – light from the side. People are naturally lit from the side or from above . . . rarely are we lit from the front, which is what happens when you point a flash directly at your subject. Think about it and look around . . . most of what you see has light falling on it from the side or from above. To create professional-quality portraits, always find a place where your subject is lit in natural way . . . which is most often from the side. Place them next to a window or an open door, which will help you naturally light from the side.

Fill the Frame – the entire viewfinder – with your subject. If you can’t fill the frame from where you are, get closer to the subject until you can. Also – really LOOK at the entire frame before you shoot. Scan for distractions in the background – trash, corners of objects, anything that takes away from the subject.

When taking group pictures, get your subjects as close together as you can. Avoid any negative space between the people in the photo. The closer they are to one another, the better. For parents and kids, having the parents sit or crouch is a great way to achieve closeness. Also, if you can, like up the eyes of your subjects. . . for close ups of two or three family members, ask them to put their faces right next to each other, with their eyes lining up as best they can. This creates a great portrait that is pleasing to the eye.

Their Question: Do you have any general tips for capturing good digital photos of babies and children?

Always note the lighting situation and AVOID the flash if at all possible. Try to capture the kids in natural lighting situations, like outdoors or near a bright window.

Get down on their level. Pictures taken while you are crouching or lying on the ground are awesome. Even at a soccer game, bend down to the level of the kids to get the best shot.

Click away – take a lot of pictures. If your camera has a “rapid fire” type of mode (found usually on SLRs) – use it. You’ll take several pictures in a row that way, and you are likely to get at least one you love.

Use your “action” mode or the TV on your camera . . . babies and kids are always on the move, and these settings are key to helping you stop the action.

Natural looks with babies are really beautiful. Don’t worry too much if they won’t smile all the time . . . their simple natural expressions are priceless as well.

Natural smiles are hard with older kids, so don’t be afraid to be silly with them. Ask them to tell you a joke – or tell them a joke. Tell them NOT to smile. Let them make a goofy face, then capture that post-goofy-face smile.

Take your time. Rushed pictures of babies and kids are no fun at all. I still say
shoot away quickly – but don’t keep on until the kid has totally lost interest and is
fighting the photo shoot. If the little one is worn out from picture-taking, give them a break or switch your focus to let them do their own thing while you shoot away.

This Might Take Your Breath Away

It did for me. The first time I drove over Lake Allatoona since our local watering bans began, I nearly wrecked the car. The scene is more like a desert than a lake. It really made me realize what a water crisis Georgia is in.



I couldn’t even believe it. Lake Allatoona provides the water for OUR HOME. It is the major source of water for all of Cobb County. And there just isn’t much water there.

I think seeing this has made me much more aware of what is going on. I find myself conserving as much as I can. I turn the tap off quickly when washing my hands, dishes, food, etc. I try to cut down on my laundry and do larger loads to help conserve. I pay attention to the news and listen for ways to conserve.

I can’t say honestly that I’ve changed my showering habits . . . but I did feel guilty for taking 2 showers on Saturday.

Water is so basic – such a fundamental part of our lives. Our water crisis is real, and the Army Corps of Engineers say that we could “run out” of water in 70 days. I say “run out” because we won’t really be without water . . . but Georgia will have to look for new sources and other geographic regions to help, and that will most certainly get expensive.

I just had to share these photos today in an effort to show you how real the drought is. The scene shocked me – and maybe it shocks you, too.

Heather's Book Club

I know. It doesn’t have the same ring to it as Oprah’s does, but I’m stuck with the name my parents gave me, so it will have to do.

Selection of Interest: “What Mother’s Do, Especially When it Looks Like Nothing” by Naomi Stadlen.

http://www.amazon.com/What-Mothers-Especially-Looks-Nothing/dp/1585425915/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-8463112-0536004?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194295144&sr=8-1

This book, written by a psychologist, has helped me to validate all of the feelings I have encountered since I became a mother last summer. It’s not much more than a series of interviews with mothers, mixed with some psychological interpretations of what the mom’s say. It’s profound. It’s comforting. It’s really an enjoyable read for any mom.

The book begins by discussing how nothing can prepare you for the birth of your child. The writers of books dedicate oodles and oodles of text to pregnancy and delivery, but little is written about what to do with your kid when you bring him/her home. Aside from the few famous "baby whisperer" or "happy sleep habits" books, there is little a mother can turn to for comfort when it comes to caring for a young baby.

I completely and 100% agree that absolutely nothing can prepare you for having a child. People told me when I was pregnant that my life would change, and my response was a firm, confident, “Oh, I KNOW.” Ha. I had no idea. Nobody does – so says this book – so I don’t feel alone. Nothing in the world can prepare you for what will happen AFTER the baby is born. And you have NO idea what you are in for. Even if authors did write about it, it wouldn't compare to the real thing.

By no means is that a negative – it is simply a fact. You just cannot understand what your life will be until the baby is born, and that’s all there is to it.

The book talks also about ‘being instantly interruptable.’ And we are – all moms are instantly interruptable. But the book talks about things that I never realized – how when the baby naps, you may bustle around the house . . . but you are constantly doing things that can be easily dropped the second you hear your baby cry. That, too, I found to ring very true in our house – yet I never even knew I was doing that. Another example: the book discusses how challenging grocery shopping is with a baby. You may not realize it, but your mind is completely split between shopping and meeting the needs of your child . . . a daunting task for anyone . . . yet mothers do this effortlessly. So true. That must be why grocery shopping has become so exhausting.

The topic of ‘getting nothing done all day’ is also featured in it’s very own chapter of "What Mothers Do." The author made me feel so much better about myself in this chapter. She mentions that, many days, the entire day will go by and mom won’t even have taken a shower. “What did I do all day” you think to yourself – “I just played with the baby – what has my life come to?!” It’s not that mom didn’t get a shower, it’s that she consciously chose to give up her shower for the care of her baby. THAT is important – but we often lose focus on it because there is no immediate tangible outcome of a day spent with the baby. We only look back and see how valuable this work is when the baby is grown and has become a productive member of society. Ah, yes. I am working to raise a PERSON -- not just a baby. It's hard to remember that some days.

The entire book was so real and so applicable to my life as a mom. I had to write about it – I recommend it to every mom out there. I wish someone had given me this book when Meg was about three months old. Before that, I don’t know that I would have understood it, but at that point, it would have helped me SO much.

It helps me now, too, as I look back on the past 16 months. It helps make me feel proud of myself as a mom. It also makes me feel like I deserve CREDIT for what I'm doing. Credit in the form of a kind gesture, a helping hand, a small recognition for all I do. I'm not just sitting around the house all day! What I'm doing is hard work.

Poor Jim -- since reading this book, I've certainly been asking for my fair share of credit.

If you are a mom that needs some comfort and validation for the fantastic job we do (like I did!!), this book is for you. If you know of a mom with a new baby, I think this book would make an EXCELLENT gift.

Until my next installment of the Book Club, Happy Reading!

Babyless

No, I’m not going to whine about pregnancy and infertility – don’t worry. This weekend, Meg went to visit her Grandaddy and Grandma (my parents), leaving us babyless.

Jim and I totally capitalized on the occasion. Jim was able to snag an early flight home Friday (until mid-day, I thought I was going to have a mommy-only kinda night, which would have been nice, too) . . . so he got home just in time to take me out for a Quesadilla dinner that I’d been craving all day. We went to a Mexican place we’d never visited – and it was a kickin’ joint, complete with Mariachi music and all. We then killed a little time before doing something so fabulous, so awesome, so we-haven’t-done-it-in-at-least-16-months . . . we went to a MOVIE.

Side Note: Movie Review
“Lars and the Real Girl”
What a fantastic movie it was. It’s an independent film starring Ryan Gosling (made famous as the love interest in ‘The Notebook’ and nominated for Best Actor last year for another movie). This movie was hilarious, heartwarming, sad, charming . . . ahh, I just loved it. I would recommend it to you, for sure . . . but I won’t ruin it by telling you the plot. You could watch a trailer here -- http://www.apple.com/trailers/mgm/larsandtherealgirl/ -- if you want to know more.

Anyway, back to babyless . . . the Friday night date was awesome. Saturday I jumped out of bed when the Orkin man came calling, then I dressed and headed into Atlanta to take a photography class. The class came free with my new camera – so I was fearful that it might be a bit too basic for me (not conceited, just able to admit that I know more than the average joe about photography). It wasn’t. It was awesome. Granted, the instructor talked over the heads of most of the people in attendance . . . going on about exposure, aperture, white balance, photoshop, etc. . . . but I loved it.

Saturday afternoon we snoozed and went to a neighborhood craft fair. A really nice, cozy Saturday afternoon.

Saturday night we had originally planned to go on another date, but instead we decided to head into Midtown to go to dinner with another babyless couple we love. We went to a froo-froo Midtowny restaurant, but I don’t think any of us were too excited about the menu. Admittedly, I was a bit disappointed because I was looking forward to some crazy Asian fusion or some small piece of meat with potatoes in a funky sauce and green beans sprouting from my entrée. You know, a real in-town kind of meal. Instead, the tapas place we patronized was totally organic, nondairy, and had some totally weird stuff on the menu.

We stopped at Wendy’s on the way home.

Sunday morning I hopped out of bed again to go to a photo shoot with a little one that was nearly exactly the same age as our Meg. Doing that shoot with her made me miss Meg SO much. Actually, I missed her a ton ALL WEEKEND. I think this was harder that the Barbados trip . . . probably because in Barbados I was preoccupied and not just hanging around a babyless house. After the photo shoot, I was missing my girl so much and couldn’t wait to get her home. I picked her up from my parents mid-day, and we went to visit my dearest friend who also lives in Newnan. I did photo shoot for their family – mom, dad, 2 girls – and I had a great time with them. Meg did too – she had a blast with the girls – and sacked out on the whole ride back home.

Daddy made us dinner tonight, and now we are all tucked in and ready for bed. Well, I’m not totally tucked in yet, but I’m on my way. I’m so tired – and we didn’t even have baby this weekend! I think she slows us down some, which is needed . . . this weekend was certainly go-go-go.

So, now that we have baby back and our back to our usual family, I’m go-go-going to bed. Happy Week to All!

Good Enough?

I am constantly wondering if I’m a good mom.

I mean, I know that I’m a great caregiver. I take really, really good care of Meg. I don’t mean that in a conceited way, I mean it in a confident way. I know that she is well taken care of. All of her physical needs are met 100%.

She’s loved. Boy, is she loved. Between Jim and I alone, she is basking in affection and adoration. Throw in our parents and put our friends on top, and she’s a sundae of pure love.

What I wonder about is other stuff. To me, being a mom is way more that physically taking care of your baby. Love it certainly a part of it, but there is more to it than even just love and affection . . .

Like, do I play with her enough? She is so very content to do her own thing, these days. If I sit on the floor, sometimes she’ll bring me doll after doll after doll, and we truly interact. But, sometimes, she just wants to play with her toys her own way. Yesterday, I felt like she played by herself a lot. I cleaned the kitchen, did laundry, cleaned up her playroom . . . all while she played along side me. I wasn’t actually PLAYING with her, though. I maybe played with her for 45 minutes, all day. On those days, I feel like I didn’t do my mom job. How much should I do that each day to feel like it’s enough? Is it OK when she just wants to play without me – and should I consider myself lucky when she does?

Do I teach her enough? Is she learning what she needs to be learning? I want to sit with her all the time and tell her new things, teach her things she should know. But, her attention span is limited, so I never know if I’m taking advantage of those brief times in the best way possible. I hope I am – and sometimes I really do feel like I am. Then I’ll see what another kid her age can do, and it make me wonder if I am doing all I should.

Am I giving her enough of myself? I feel selfish when I do things for me. Days when we go go go and she’s in and out of the car a million times because I need to run a ton of errands . . . those are the days when I feel terrible for dragging her all over with me. I think she enjoys some of that – but I wonder if she’d rather be at home with her toys. I feel selfish on the days when I’m just not in the mood and I let her watch too much TV. She loves it – I know – but I also know that I should be playing with her more (it’s a vicious cycle, I tell you). And when we are eating or in the car, I often zone out and think about the million things running through my mind . . . all wrapped up in myself. In these instances, should I be talking to her more, telling her what's on my mind -- just so she can hear someone talking to her? Do I talk to her enough?

And what happens when we have more children in our home? Will I ever be able to do it ALL??

Being a mom is hard. Taking care of a baby isn’t tough – but being a mom is hard.

Happy Post Halloween

Whew. The last several days have been a whirlwind, to say the least.

Some kids get to have multiple birthday celebrations . . . you know, one with the family, one with the friends, etc. Then there are the many days of Christmas – which go the same way. At your own house, at your Uncle’s house, at your Grandmas . . . you know the drill.

I never knew there could be the 7 days of Halloween.

It started last Thursday with a very fun playdate, hosted by one of my “moms group” friends. The group started out as part of the Breastfeeding Moms support group sponsored by Northside Hospital, and we spun off into our own play group. As the babies have grown, we see each other less and less . . . so we all got together for a Halloween Playdate. The kids were out in full trick-or-treat gear . . . but it was really just for us moms. They played together and had their lunch, all in full costume, and totally oblivious to their funny get-ups.

Friday was Day 2. Meg joined her preschool classmates for a visit to the pumpkin patch and a Halloween Party. Of course, Mommy was there, camera in hand. Meg had a great time at the patch . . . and she really enjoyed the party. I have to say – the party was really just all the kids putting on costumes and having their morning snack together. Nonetheless, it was adorable and so much fun to be a part of. I can totally see myself as “classroom mom” one day (soon). I love to be a part of her school activities.

Day 3: Saturday, Neighborhood Halloween party. As was previously blogged, Jim put up with me dressing Meg as Matthew Stafford for this event. The kitty costume is FABULOUS, I know . . . but this party was on the day of the big Georgia-Florida game, so some red and black was certainly in order. Meg was one of the youngest at this party (if you don’t count the other little baby brothers and sisters that came in strollers or baby bjorns). Somehow, I don’t think she even knows when she’s surrounded by big kids . . . she just jumps right in and has herself a grand old time. Mommy and Daddy have a grand time watching her, too.

Day 4 was Sunday, and a trip to Buford to attend Kathleen Harvell’s 2nd Birthday party. Lucky little Kathleen was born on Oct 29, so she can always have a fantastic costume party for her birthday! This party was a real trip . . . there were 10+ kids, all running around in the Harvell’s backyard, playing and playing and playing. It was so much fun. Meg must have climbed the slide ladder on the playscape at least 50 times, and she slid down by herself each and every time. She had a total blast, and Jim and I did, too. Again, it was a group of kids all dressed up in their gear and playing as if they were in their regular clothes. What a riot. Fun Fun Day Four.

We were able to take Monday and Tuesday off, so I guess you can call those Days 5 and 6, even though we had a bit of a break. The break was a blessing . . . Meg’s kitty costume needed a break. She, unfortunately, had quite a blow-out in it at the end of the Sunday birthday party, so mommy had to do some serious scrubbing to get it back in trick-or-treating shape.

Finally, Day 7 – the real thing. Halloween! What a fun experience for everyone. I was so excited all day, I couldn’t wait. My parents called at lunch time and decided they wanted to drive up (an hour from Newnan) to participate, too. What a lucky little Meg – mommy, daddy, granddaddy, and grandma all here to watch her trick-or-treat.

We went to a neighborhood party around 5 and met a ton of new people. The kids all had a great time playing on yet another playscape . . . swinging and sliding in their full costume attire. Meg, once again, took her turn on the slide as much as she could. After some mingling, mixing, pizza, and beer/wine . . . we were off to trick-or-treat.

Meg wasn’t really sure what to make of it all. She happily carried her pumpkin bag up to each door and held it out for candy. Really – if you can picture it – she had it draped over her arm, and she’d just hold her arm straight out and let the bag hang. If the family was kind enough to let Meg choose which candy she’d like from their stash, lollipops were the selection of the night. She’d take one, two, three . . . as many as she could until I stopped her. She’d place them all in her bag, then take each out and try to eat it. Paper and all. She didn’t get the idea of collecting candy in the bag . . . she believed it to be for immediate consumption. So, as a result, I kept taking her candy and stuffing it in the pockets of my fleece . . . which were full by the end of our night.

We probably visited 10 houses, total – including our fantastic neighbors across the street who had made Meg her very own special treat bag. I love this neighborhood – every is so friendly. (Side note – we even had a neighbor bring over a special pumpkin cake just for our family! Some people are just too much!)

As the sun really started to set and the big, scary kids came out, Meg, Jim, and I just hung out on the porch and greeted the trick-or-treaters. Meg enjoyed that as much as trick-or-treating herself. She laughed and ran around in the yard – and probably wondered what the heck we were doing letting her play outside in the dark. Finally, at about 8:30, the house was quiet. Meg was asleep and the visitors slowed . . . Jim and I were left to enjoy the memories of our night and look forward to another Halloween next year.

If Halloween is this great every year, it might become my favorite holiday :)