tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81564399600551511632024-02-19T09:31:55.422-06:00Sherah G Photography Blogphoto journalSherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.comBlogger382125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-71891255072936727682013-07-14T09:24:00.000-05:002013-08-25T09:25:37.767-05:00New website!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Check out our new website/blog!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sherahgphotography.com/">www.sherahgphotography.com</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0uDpHQz6a2N0HxcjSRexwow5kcJbgwDAuQdZZnrzd-Z_hUV4m8x-OeaWRxouUj5OHiLq3mYoVCAbTPBS5oCNrs_c-DAHAknPd-L1rCP3KUoe8MDBU03Sa72xg4wbC05tcwfHTwwi23GO/s1600/IMG_2908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0uDpHQz6a2N0HxcjSRexwow5kcJbgwDAuQdZZnrzd-Z_hUV4m8x-OeaWRxouUj5OHiLq3mYoVCAbTPBS5oCNrs_c-DAHAknPd-L1rCP3KUoe8MDBU03Sa72xg4wbC05tcwfHTwwi23GO/s640/IMG_2908.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-24533409623345804452012-10-05T16:16:00.000-05:002012-10-05T16:16:18.326-05:00introducing... joshua george :0)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1489.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1490.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1483.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here's our little Joshua George :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
He was born on Thursday, September 13th, and weighed in at 8lbs, 9oz.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
He's a happy, healthy little guy, who liked to sleep for the first two weeks of his life,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
but has now decided</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
that sleeping is for the birds.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We are so incredibly blessed, and thank God every day for this little gift.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1388.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1393.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Big Brother C-man is doing about as good as this next picture indicates:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1400.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our first mornings together were spent like this:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Charlie watching movies. Daddy and Joshie on the couch, snoring.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1410.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1481.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The days have been a little blurry.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I try and take a picture every day...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A few days ago, this was the best that I (and the boys) could do.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
:)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1526.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So here we are, a family of four!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Pensive, helpful thoughts to come later.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Right now, I've got a two-year-old waking up in a tizzy...)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1522.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-67364072390060216082012-08-26T23:24:00.003-05:002012-08-26T23:24:58.125-05:00business, basements, and babiesIt's been a busy summer. More than once, I've sat down to throw together some sort of "here's my life update" blog, but was interrupted, or uninspired. Today, one week from my due date, I'm determined to catch my blog up on what these last few months have looked like for us... if only to be able to look back in ten years and say, "Oh, right. That's what we did with all that time when we had <i>only one child</i>."<br />
<br />
<b>Business</b><br />
Marty and I traveled to Estes Park, Colorado to shoot <a href="http://sherahgphotography.blogspot.com/2012/06/rebecca-married.html">Rebecca and Nate's wedding</a> in mid-June. It was the first time we were away together, alone, for five days straight... since our honeymoon, I think. I was actually pretty sick for most of the trip -- I just cleaned out my photography bag, and came up with lots of cough drop wrappers and empty sinus pill packets. Gross. Still, we had a wonderful, incredible trip. We kept saying to ourselves, "<i>Why do we live in Illinois?!" </i>Colorado has got to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1895.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1900.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1902.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I was six months pregnant, and couldn't do too much of the "outdoorsy" stuff you're supposed to do in the mountains (you know -- hiking, horseback riding, rafting, camping). So instead, we took lots of pictures, and I drank a lot of (really good) coffee. Also, we <i>didn't</i> wake up at 6 a.m. with a 2-year-old for five days straight. That was really, really awesome.** </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">**Not that I mind the 6 a.m. thing, Charlie. But breaks are nice :)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/20120613-AR6A2116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/20120613-AR6A2116.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/20120613-AR6A2065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/20120613-AR6A2065.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/20120613-AR6A2061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/20120613-AR6A2061.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This was funny. We rented the cheapest car possible, and ended up with a Kia Soul.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Marty wanted to do the Party Rock hamster dance every time we got into it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We had California license plates, and the most hilarious rental car plate number ever...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/20120613-AR6A2127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/20120613-AR6A2127.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Basement</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The last time I was pregnant, we (and a lot of wonderful, cheerful, incredible helpers) <a href="http://sherahgphotography.blogspot.com/2009/07/adventures-in-home-ownership.html">renovated a house</a>. This time, we took on a slightly smaller project: our basement. We finished off a section of it, so the boys could have a place to watch TV and throw balls without worrying about breaking anything ;)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0827.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0826.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Marty did the majority of the work, night after night... after night, after night, after night.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've mentioned this before: I'm so thankful I married an optimist.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0916.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(The kitchen floor, while we were drywalling.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0917.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_2020.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_2052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_2052.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0922.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I don't have any good "after" shots yet, because we've still got a few things to finish up.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
But here are two pictures we took, the night I finished carpeting the floor.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_2044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_2044.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_2048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="473" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_2048.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Not sure why an upcoming baby spurs on lots of over-the-top projects for a lot of people,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
but this one definitely almost killed us.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My almost-finished to-do list is now crumpled up and sitting at the bottom of a drawer.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm so thankful that (1) we've got a useable space in the basement,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(2) we were able to take this on in the first place</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(whenever I got discouraged, I kept telling myself, <i>we have a house. we have a HOUSE. we are so blessed.</i>)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
and (3) we're basically done with it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
If you have any boys, send them over to watch TV and throw balls around :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Babies</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Charlie has the funniest personality.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
He's a tough cookie, and he's really hard to handle sometimes. But he's also a sweet, sweet, <i>sweet</i> little boy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The other day, he looked up at me and said, "Mommy, you're so beautiful," totally out of the blue.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
He had no idea what he was saying, but he knew it would make me happy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It did :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0724.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0890.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
He's really into watching this dance recital DVD we got from my sister Alicen (who happens to be an incredible dancer). He dances around the living room and mimics the moves of the people on stage.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is his "finger point" (notice, the dancers on the screen are all pointing to the sky, too).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
He takes his dancing very seriously :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0849.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ah. This is the one time this summer that we went out to eat, just our little family.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It ended in a meltdown, but we had happy moments, too ;)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_2007.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Charlie loves the semi-truck-sized shopping carts at Target.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We last about 20 minutes longer in the store when I push him around in one of these babies.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's a little humiliating... but my shopping gets done. <i>Check.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_1963.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_2054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_2054.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_2034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_2034.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Charlie's been really into helping Daddy fix things.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One morning, I gave him his toolbox and said, "Fix something. I need to put on my makeup."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This was my first rookie mom mistake.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My second mistake was when I heard banging coming from the other room... and chose to ignore it for a few more seconds, in-between mascara swipes.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I walked into the other room a minute later to find this on the (freshly painted) wall:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_2026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_2026.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm thinking of leaving the gouge-marks there permanently, a friendly memorial to my silly mistake.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Giving a 2-year-old boy a toolbox and telling him to "Go, fix something"?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ridiculous, I tell you. RIDICULOUS.</div>
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_2053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_2053.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
So now, we're waiting for Baby Brother to make an appearance. Charlie was a week overdue... so I keep telling myself that it could, quite possibly, be another three weeks. In the meantime, I'll be taking a deep breath, thankful that this busy summer is coming to a quick close.<br />
<br />
Life's about to switch gears. I'll keep you posted ;)Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-45267249125320014992012-07-06T23:16:00.001-05:002012-07-06T23:16:40.591-05:00mike + leslie :: engaged<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hi everyone. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Want to see a cute couple?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Meet Michael and Leslie.<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-115.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Mike likes hockey, Leslie likes basketball. Les is a huge, ginormous Beatles fan, and Mike has this incredibly contagious laugh. Mike comes from a big Italian family that has a giant seafood dinner every Christmas Eve (my mouth waters every time Leslie tells me about it). Leslie comes from a big Slovak family that eats <i>oplatki</i> at Christmastime and carefully keeps some very beautiful family traditions. They got engaged last year at Niagara Falls -- <i>at night... while the falls were lit up... with a guitarist playing their song... really!</i> -- and they're planning a wedding next summer that'll blow your socks off. I'm really excited for them, and watching them together makes me smile a whole lot.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So here's a quick story for you: Back in the middle of June, Chicago temps were happily camped out in the mid-90's, and things were pretty bearable. I remember feeling a little hot, and texting Leslie: <i>Still on for tonight?</i> She, being the sweet, considerate person she is, said something along the lines of, <i>As long as you are!</i> ...probably referring to my [very] pregnant self. So we went ahead with it... and wowee, I'm really glad we didn't put the session off longer. (For all you out-of-towners, Chicagoland is currently baking in a 100+ degree oven. Someone turn the heat down, or throw some waterballoons at me, please.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
:)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-108.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-117.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
p.s.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Leslie is beautiful.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The end.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-114.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-125.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-119.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-130.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-137.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-138.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-144.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-141.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-150.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-146.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/MichaelLeslieBlog-155.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
...and check out Mike and Leslie's slideshow below! (or <a href="http://sherahg.myshowit.com/mikeleslieengagement">***Click here to be redirected***</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object data="http:// sherahg.myshowit.com/mikeleslieengagement/showit.swf" height="400" id="showit_swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"><param name="movie" value="http:// sherahg.myshowit.com/mikeleslieengagement/showit.swf" /><param name="flashvars" value="showit_embed=http:// sherahg.myshowit.com/mikeleslieengagement/|600|400|1|1|0" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="salign" value="LT" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="loop" value="false" /><param name="quality" value="best" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /></object></div>Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-29316121280951512582012-06-23T11:15:00.004-05:002012-07-06T23:51:59.580-05:00Rebecca&Nate :: married!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-115.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
When Rebecca e-mailed me last summer to tell me that they were relocating their wedding from Minnesota to Colorado, she told me it was because they completely fell in love with a venue they looked at -- the incredible <a href="http://www.dellaterramountainchateau.com/">Della Terra Mountain Chateau</a> in Estes Park, Colorado. It meant (lots) more work for her. More details to iron out. More things to plan for. But <i>oh wow</i>, and <i>oh yes</i>, it was definitely worth it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
On June 12th, Rebecca and Nate (<a href="http://sherahgphotography.blogspot.com/2011/10/becca-and-nate-engaged.html">remember them</a>?) held their dream wedding, right outside Rocky Mountain National Park. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
The weather was perfect. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
The location = perfect.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
And, much more importantly...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
The bride and groom?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
Absolutely perfect for each other, and perfectly in love.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
Here's what Nate <a href="http://natjacobson.wordpress.com/2012/06/17/ive-been-wed/">wrote on his blog</a> to Rebecca, a few days after they were married:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">...that day was the first of every single day for the rest of my life that I will place you as a higher priority. You are of the utmost importance. Everything I do, I do it for you. (Cue that crappy song in your head) I will make it my duty each and every day to help you recognize that there is no person more important to me than you. I freaking love you.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
...and there. I smile every single time I read it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
:)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BN1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BN1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-105.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-106.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Don't most little girls dream about wearing their mom's wedding dress on their own wedding day?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Well, Rebecca <i>did</i>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Stunning.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-107.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-108.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Their first look:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-109.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-110.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-111.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-112.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Rebecca has such a special relationship with her dad. It was so sweet to see how much he loved his daughter, and how warmly he welcomed Nate into their family.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-113.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And about that whole "perfect location" thing...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-114.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-116.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-122.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-123.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-124.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/20120612_AR6A0623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/20120612_AR6A0623.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-125.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-127.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/20120612_AR6A0575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/20120612_AR6A0575.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/20120612_AR6A0719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/20120612_AR6A0719.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-128.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-137.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-139.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-140.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Mr. and Mrs!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-141.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-142.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A few reception details...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-146.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-129.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-130.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-131.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Mason jars, candles, hydrangeas, handwritten place cards...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-132.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Alright. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Every single girl deserves a husband who looks this happy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
p.s.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Rebecca, he really loves you :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-147.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-148.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-149.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-150.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-152.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/RebeccaNateBlog-151.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here's a slideshow of their wedding day! Enjoy!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sherahg.myshowit.com/rebeccanatewedding">(or *click here* to be redirected)</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object data="http://sherahg.myshowit.com/rebeccanatewedding/showit.swf" height="400" id="showit_swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"><param name="movie" value="http://sherahg.myshowit.com/rebeccanatewedding/showit.swf" />
<param name="flashvars" value="showit_embed=http://sherahg.myshowit.com/rebeccanatewedding/|600|400|1|1|0" />
<param name="wmode" value="transparent" />
<param name="salign" value="LT" />
<param name="menu" value="false" />
<param name="loop" value="false" />
<param name="quality" value="best" />
<param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" />
</object></div>Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-38872828715994744422012-06-08T16:46:00.001-05:002012-06-08T16:46:10.246-05:00vacation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0484.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
At the end of May, we took a vacation to Florida, and the first day I decided to pull out my camera, it broke after a few shots. So, we shipped it off to Canon for repairs, and I used <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Powershot-A2200-Digital-Red/dp/B004HW73QQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1339191442&sr=8-3">my point-and-shoot</a> for the rest of the trip... and, can you believe it? For an $80 camera, it took some pretty pretty pictures! (I should also mention: our customer service experience with Canon was fantastic. Their reps were extremely helpful, their diagnosis was fast, and we requested expedited service and got my camera back in just about a week, no extra charge. I'm now a big, ginormous Canon fan.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0451.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0463-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0463-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0454.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0455.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0459.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0464.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0547.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-23169077049695758022012-05-19T13:42:00.002-05:002012-05-19T13:43:17.229-05:00Brian + Laura :: Lincoln Square, Chicago<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-102.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I met Laura when I was six or seven, I think. She was a curly-haired girl from down the block who appeared at our driveway gate and asked if I wanted to be friends. I said, "Sure." We played velcro paddle ball in the backyard, figured out each other's names, and then she went home. <i>Voila.</i> Instant friendship. For the years that we lived close to each other, we went to each other's birthday parties, made mud pies behind our garages together, and played Wheel of Fortune on the computer that she had... in her BEDROOM. (This was epic, my friends -- computers were rare back in the early 90's, and to be a pre-teen with a computer in your room was, well, absolutely legendary.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When my family moved out of the neighborhood, Laura and I slowly lost touch. But then, the wonder that is Facebook reunited us via the internet, and I learned that she eventually went to Marquette University in Wisconsin... met a guy... got married... and moved back to Chicago! Laura's husband, Brian, is working toward his PhD. In Physics. (<i>Yes. And Wow.</i>) Laura works in public relations, and she's also starting her own photography business... so when she contacted me asking for some pictures of her and Brian in their cutsey neighborhood, plus a few shots of her and her camera... well, golly be, I got excited.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Laura and Brian live in Lincoln Square, a quiet, beautiful neighborhood on the north side of Chicago with lots of German heritage. Laura has strong family ties to the neighborhood, so it was fun to walk around and get introduced to their favorite places: boutiques, drugstores, delis, restaurants, and bookstores (where, right next to the books, they serve coffee, cupcakes, and <i>wine</i>. How is that not a combo we ever see in the suburbs?!). I -- fancy little suburbanite that I am -- had fun masquerading as a city girl for a morning, and what a treat it was to spend time with my long-lost friend and her sweet husband. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
P.S. Brian loves Laura a lot (just look at the way he looks at her), and as always, when I see one of my friends married to a really great guy... well, that just makes me happy :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-101.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Collage5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Collage5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Collage7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Collage7.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Collage6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Collage6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-119.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLaura1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLaura1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-116.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-105.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-122.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-109.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-103.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Collage3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Collage3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here's Laura and her Nikon :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Check out her photography blog <a href="http://laurakasterphotography.blogspot.com/">here</a>!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Lauracollage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Lauracollage1.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-128.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Now, remember what I said about how these two met in Wisconsin?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Football fans know what that means -- these two are Packer fans. Die hards.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Intense enough to fearlessly wear Packers jerseys in the middle of downtown Chicago.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(On our way to the park, a guy in a Bears jersey yelled, "GO BEARS" from his truck window.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's not even football season. Sheesh.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Collage4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Collage4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So, Laura?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here's to reunited childhood neighbors... </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
even if they can't agree on the world's greatest football team.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
;-)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/BrianLauraBlog-135.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Check Brian and Laura's slideshow... (or <a href="http://sherahg.myshowit.com/brianlaura2012">click here to be redirected</a>!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object data="http://sherahg.myshowit.com/brianlaura2012/showit.swf" height="400" id="showit_swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"><param name="movie" value="http://sherahg.myshowit.com/brianlaura2012/showit.swf" />
<param name="flashvars" value="showit_embed=http://sherahg.myshowit.com/brianlaura2012/|600|400|1|1|0" />
<param name="wmode" value="transparent" />
<param name="salign" value="LT" />
<param name="menu" value="false" />
<param name="loop" value="false" />
<param name="quality" value="best" />
<param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" />
</object></div>Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-74667210236693950102012-05-02T20:59:00.002-05:002012-05-02T20:59:51.801-05:00proposal :: 5 years later<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0411.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Five years ago, on April 28th, Marty proposed.<br />
<br />
It was the first gorgeous Saturday of April, so everyone (yes, <i>everyone</i> -- this is important for later) was outside enjoying the weather. My husband-to-be proposed in the middle of a busy park near the office I worked at; he picked it because the lilacs were blooming like crazy (and he knew I liked to walk there on my lunch breaks).<br />
<br />
Now, please note one important thing about me: I'm not, in any way, an exhibitionist. At all. Give me the choice between "center of attention" and "fly on the wall," and I'll pick, um, "fly on the <i>other</i> side of the wall... just to be safe." Ironically (and isn't this the case with most people?), I married my opposite. I should have known that this man would propose somewhere out in the wide-open world, rather than cloistered up in a living room, just the two of us. <i>Oy.</i><br />
<br />
He sent me on a little treasure hunt that morning, complete with clues that cued me to drive all over the Chicago suburbs, visiting places that had been significant to our relationship. I guess it took me a little too long, because I later learned that by the time I got to the final destination, he had been waiting there for over an hour. Picnic blanket laid out. Rose petals strewn down the sidewalk. Et cetera. Et cetera.<br />
<br />
Here's the path I walked up, when I first saw him:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0405.jpg" width="480" /></a> </div>
He was waiting at the top of the steps, giant grin on his face, and I truly wanted to run the other way. Not because I didn't want to marry the guy. (I really, really did.) But remember that whole thing about it being a gorgeous, beautiful day? The park was literally packed. Picnickers, people out for a stroll, college students studying for finals, teeny boppers: you name it, they were there. Throw in rose petals and a handsome, nervous-looking young man conspicuously shifting his weight from foot to foot and peering off into the distance... and, well, let's just say <i>we had an audience</i>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I reached the top of the stairs, shaking, thinking <i>dear Lord, he isn't going to propose HERE?</i> And I actually think he might have... but then he saw the panic in my eyes. So Marty took my hand and pulled me father down the path, to here:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0406-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0406-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Right in front of that tree, there was a picnic blanket on the ground. He brought me over to the blanket, and dropped to his knee.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
(I kid you not, the teeny boppers started screaming at the top of their lungs.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
He asked. I said yes. I begged him to get up, because, <i>oh gosh, someone might notice you just PROPOSED</i>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And the rest, as they say, is history.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But here's why this guy is the best thing ever: he knows what's good for me. Marty knows that I'm sentimental, and gooshy-mushy. He told me the real reason he proposed there, close to home, was so that every year on April 28th, we can go to that exact spot, and remember, and smooch, and laugh about how ridiculously self-conscious I can be -- and how ridiculously <i>un-</i>self-conscious he is.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This year, it was cold and rainy. (And, <i>holy cow</i>, we had our two kids with us.) So, funny thing -- the park was deserted. I propped my point-and-shoot up on top of my Starbucks cup, set the self-timer, and -- just like the last four years -- we took corny pictures at the very spot where our real story began. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Quite honestly, I was <i>at least</i> a little less self-conscious than I was five years ago.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
See? Told you he's good for me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0409.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-60343953647187184242012-04-09T16:58:00.003-05:002012-04-09T16:58:35.494-05:00baby Declan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-103.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My first job out of college was at a publishing company. I was barely twenty-one, and completely new to the corporate office setting (read = inexperienced/naive/terrified of making too many mistakes). Enter: Erika, executive assistant to the president of the company. A sweet southern girl, Erika was classy, stylish, smart, and very, very kind. She helped me out many times during my first weeks on the job, and I learned <i>much</i> from her calm demeanor under lots of stress. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In short, Erika is fantastic.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Fast-forward a few years, and here we are: Erika is asking me to take pictures of her brand-new baby boy. (!!!!!!!) What a joy/honor/blessing/etc.etc.etc. (Side note: Erika and her husband, Geoff, are the kind of people you always want to be friends with. No matter how long it's been since you've last seen them, they're warm and welcoming and make you feel right at home. Even when you're taking too long setting up a shot because you're fawning over fuzzy newborn skin, and let their diaper-less infant pee all over his new blankie... hypothetically speaking, mind you.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The new family of three: Geoff, Erika, and sweet little Declan.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-113.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-102.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-111.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-101.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-106.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-104.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-108.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-107.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-109.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-112.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-115.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-110.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/DeclanBlog-116.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-11303604191199387572012-03-29T07:00:00.000-05:002012-03-29T07:00:14.687-05:004 years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0101-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0101-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0102-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0102-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0103-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0103-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Four years feels like an eternity.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(If I told that to my mentor, she'd laugh. She's been married for over fifty.)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Four years ago, I...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
didn't know a thing about home reconstruction.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
didn't own a good camera.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
had a 9-5 desk job.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
was wondering who would win the November 2008 election</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(but didn't care because I was <i>going to Hawaii BABY!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
...and had no idea 2 babies were in my somewhat-immediate future).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
didn't know how to cook.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
didn't really take risks.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
owned a convertible.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
only did my own laundry.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
didn't know how to garden.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
didn't know how to share.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
didn't know how to love.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy fourth anniversary, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to Marty,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the man who turned my life upside-down</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in the very best way possible</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
:)</div>Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-77974676027748138432012-03-14T13:51:00.004-05:002012-03-14T13:51:58.225-05:00thankful: a short list<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0131-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0131-1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Biggest problem yesterday: </div>
<div>
Trying to figure out how to get Charlie through a doctor's visit, while singlehandedly holding him down so our doctor could check his ears for an infection.<br />
<div>
(Great news! No recurring ear infection.)<br />
<div>
(Bad news! A brand-new bronchial infection. More antibiotics, <i>please</i>.)</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Biggest problem today:</div>
</div>
<div>
Trying to convince Charlie that his short sleeves really don't need to reach all the way down to his wrists.</div>
</div>
<div>
(He kept crying and trying to pull his sleeves down, all the way until I put his jacket on.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I love how, sometimes, problems change for the better.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Also, when the weather is gorgeous, having a sick child isn't quite as bad. I just take him outside when he cries; the sunshine somehow makes it ok.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And so, I'm thankful for breezy, sunshiney-days.<br />
Short sleeves.<br />
And yes, antibiotics. Lots and lots of antibiotics.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0091.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0082.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0108.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0109.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"<b>Mom</b>. Stop taking my picture. I'm sick. Goodbye."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
{That's when he fell off the chair. Not kidding.}</div>
</div>Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-40155310070002123312012-03-09T14:18:00.002-06:002012-03-09T14:20:15.283-06:00a little update, iPhone style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I think this may have been the longest blogging hiatus I've ever taken -- nearly two months! I think that the longer I didn't blog, the easier it's been <i>not</i> to blog. I just kept putting it off, because so many other things have demanded my attention lately. Well, here I am, back again. I'm determined to pound out a post and just get going. My advance apologies for any rough prose that follows -- Charlie's coughing in his bed, midway through his nap, so I don't think I'll have time to go back and look for typos :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And so, without further ado... my life as of late, iPhone style!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
***</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Is there anything better than watermelon in the dead of winter?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Nope. (And Charlie agrees with me.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Even though I paid too much for it. It was totally worth it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPG0T5re80fSsin40ZxiM35j3O6IwTVXDMu8JQD2ku4zyKVs4r1TAgustK_77H_nx1LCuzWRLOcDgRLkOXn9ACKXQ9orBvrpeuTBI-OIIVLp1fNE6NGV4U-kac9srY5pKFXzg2gosMPT3/s1600/IMG_1527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPG0T5re80fSsin40ZxiM35j3O6IwTVXDMu8JQD2ku4zyKVs4r1TAgustK_77H_nx1LCuzWRLOcDgRLkOXn9ACKXQ9orBvrpeuTBI-OIIVLp1fNE6NGV4U-kac9srY5pKFXzg2gosMPT3/s640/IMG_1527.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguji7Sgox-BEL9x4c2yilEXto8IfDOKqyLW2QaXQfSGWYETH9LA59Z_RGFjnt1ByyPcqAFUbhQIxov1eosc-O0OrlCYyqC4Fl-I8IhyCVsuy2qCwDQ1pB-EG_bwIjq0bJxh6By3pk0K_h6/s1600/IMG_1541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguji7Sgox-BEL9x4c2yilEXto8IfDOKqyLW2QaXQfSGWYETH9LA59Z_RGFjnt1ByyPcqAFUbhQIxov1eosc-O0OrlCYyqC4Fl-I8IhyCVsuy2qCwDQ1pB-EG_bwIjq0bJxh6By3pk0K_h6/s640/IMG_1541.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
On Wednesday afternoons, you'll find us at my grandma's house,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
drinking tea with cousins and listening to ancient Irish poems read in my grandma's lilting accent.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
p.s. "lilting" sounds nice, doesn't it? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
:)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnBi0WRaj6hjTpUf0BqOJ3mmvkVmDfiagAhuy-hhPXyhdXR3MNF9XV5DnbBG8GIQdaCaPGotaP0B4zzNjuvh4bVoyhrquB00PS40ebeFsU6zp4Xz7jM6AChkGjH77QKejADSvWjG7UoVU/s1600/IMG_1542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnBi0WRaj6hjTpUf0BqOJ3mmvkVmDfiagAhuy-hhPXyhdXR3MNF9XV5DnbBG8GIQdaCaPGotaP0B4zzNjuvh4bVoyhrquB00PS40ebeFsU6zp4Xz7jM6AChkGjH77QKejADSvWjG7UoVU/s640/IMG_1542.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's 90% of the reason I didn't blog for the month of February:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlhYV9zvu_7H3sgFW_EwI38lMQU8bQ1pVPopxJJWV_PrmSJNxRoTK_hgi8e7N04vMVpJaDTS8-Xin20JK6EiKho_0dn7sUWCVf0nnO4AhNSXiWlZKPz21aw__8rcm4ACe4nT8vwsvIhHd/s1600/IMG_1543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlhYV9zvu_7H3sgFW_EwI38lMQU8bQ1pVPopxJJWV_PrmSJNxRoTK_hgi8e7N04vMVpJaDTS8-Xin20JK6EiKho_0dn7sUWCVf0nnO4AhNSXiWlZKPz21aw__8rcm4ACe4nT8vwsvIhHd/s640/IMG_1543.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Charlie and I like to pass our time at different local coffee shops,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sipping coffee (no, not the 2-year-old) and nibbling on scones.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our visits are usually short, and typically end in one of us throwing a tantrum.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(In order to protect the voiceless, I won't say who throws most of the tantrums.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9dF_KST0BhrF8eOS7Jb-kyrShMwGCajaqXhLGXIBH4H5Konis15ENqHfT5DN6sakvMymK5HeV85344r67NJNd3Xs303BWEQ-SXBklI6LTZGaJIBFPnhe8Lf5QD9MX_MkCETWTBKrtEmQ/s1600/IMG_1545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9dF_KST0BhrF8eOS7Jb-kyrShMwGCajaqXhLGXIBH4H5Konis15ENqHfT5DN6sakvMymK5HeV85344r67NJNd3Xs303BWEQ-SXBklI6LTZGaJIBFPnhe8Lf5QD9MX_MkCETWTBKrtEmQ/s640/IMG_1545.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We've been hanging at both my parent's and my in-law's houses a lot.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's Charlie with his beloved Uncle Dan.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(They're watching Elmo at this point, if I correctly recall...)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWy9TFBXYTkcJs0v_rf6ce0sVPPZ5RXMcMnLmXlt7pq2TBFB__yu_BnRpHZyiJlIRvDW_iP5GLJmC5CdZ6hPa7kOxD6PMAS7DyrmzVSibVwcru9JXldtl0bwEmp7G03_CP81C-Wvpu_BHT/s1600/IMG_1551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWy9TFBXYTkcJs0v_rf6ce0sVPPZ5RXMcMnLmXlt7pq2TBFB__yu_BnRpHZyiJlIRvDW_iP5GLJmC5CdZ6hPa7kOxD6PMAS7DyrmzVSibVwcru9JXldtl0bwEmp7G03_CP81C-Wvpu_BHT/s640/IMG_1551.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I also learned that I married a big, giant cheeseball,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
in the best, awesomest way possible :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(he did this one night on our bedroom floor, with Bananagram tiles)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCSnP6OIRFHivts_wjG4JkjTFsL8fqa0zx1b0HhAk858Wyzvz5-RGtfPkIJt5HHHpNyTtML3gUeHRa-TuaZIJkjl5A9wQ7agHJwmta8uGkLBlfAxB1X8vXzC74HiHOF3jW2A1iz6dW_K3/s1600/IMG_1553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCSnP6OIRFHivts_wjG4JkjTFsL8fqa0zx1b0HhAk858Wyzvz5-RGtfPkIJt5HHHpNyTtML3gUeHRa-TuaZIJkjl5A9wQ7agHJwmta8uGkLBlfAxB1X8vXzC74HiHOF3jW2A1iz6dW_K3/s640/IMG_1553.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I got a haircut!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Haircuts are awesome.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've decided, since I'm somewhat of a responsible adult now,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm going to get regular haircuts.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This makes me feel incredibly grown-up, in a very good (and silly) way.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrstukOAjCg26nTRmFTjODjK82KWusSaEURbTzAZLYVRf6_F_BYZj6J8K9FpMWSpfWKcCZO_0XrxKLqsFffIFy2Wv8Rt4fAJv7u0Qqa6SFMdVKjUXAmh4zx1JD49DhhEflk3VmzoUiIWl/s1600/IMG_1560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrstukOAjCg26nTRmFTjODjK82KWusSaEURbTzAZLYVRf6_F_BYZj6J8K9FpMWSpfWKcCZO_0XrxKLqsFffIFy2Wv8Rt4fAJv7u0Qqa6SFMdVKjUXAmh4zx1JD49DhhEflk3VmzoUiIWl/s640/IMG_1560.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Charlie turned TWO! WOW!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Can you believe it, I didn't even post about it?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We celebrated his birthday with</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
chocolate chip pancakes</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
an Elmo balloon</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a trip to the zoo</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a visit to great-grandma's</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and dinner at McDonald's with some of his most favorite people in the world.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
How is it possible that I have a 2-year-old?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Amazing :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnynf7Y2hN9nG-OeC48chO_QUkC46n3jpvixRAbV3Lbq4U3uRPScZEKzOiW4SkTgQiWUJ8QjeZVmzlvy8giiTPJDb-KDg9uyrzz2WP-hDGN4iTKKor3ZR1zzfKTxYulzdyHAe8wJAdyvq/s1600/IMG_1593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnynf7Y2hN9nG-OeC48chO_QUkC46n3jpvixRAbV3Lbq4U3uRPScZEKzOiW4SkTgQiWUJ8QjeZVmzlvy8giiTPJDb-KDg9uyrzz2WP-hDGN4iTKKor3ZR1zzfKTxYulzdyHAe8wJAdyvq/s640/IMG_1593.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We've been Skyping a lot with Auntie Anna and Uncle Steve.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They live in Minnesota, and Charlie misses them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He also misses their pet turtle, Franklin.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(I think, maybe sometimes more than he misses Anna and Steve.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNMuJ_Nk3Tbwwcjw-jAYBAcd2FJXt7KwuqiZzk2WpyHyaI0bWaShCSFLQDrH1kDLpzdwB5H6QqbMwgaOls6Dtrb62G4udUzGjUxzFd-sLovQFmDmCxwxHVy5H4kjT-psLaePtuTtkjz9F/s1600/IMG_1597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNMuJ_Nk3Tbwwcjw-jAYBAcd2FJXt7KwuqiZzk2WpyHyaI0bWaShCSFLQDrH1kDLpzdwB5H6QqbMwgaOls6Dtrb62G4udUzGjUxzFd-sLovQFmDmCxwxHVy5H4kjT-psLaePtuTtkjz9F/s640/IMG_1597.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
One day, Charlie discovered a dry-erase marker in the drawer next to his high chair.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When I wasn't looking, he drew all over his tray.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We thought it was great, and I took a picture :D</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnKFGY4KSRRggata_7J9wObMvPL_f916GAMzam5FyW7IDTCBy_PeVNosJaOz53WukTS7v-zIG8JUbGf0h5vegh9rk1UGhTZdby-YGzgMdc1t4Y6MWJlEH-W3w3QAFBaegngkQ3T_izfrS/s1600/IMG_1605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnKFGY4KSRRggata_7J9wObMvPL_f916GAMzam5FyW7IDTCBy_PeVNosJaOz53WukTS7v-zIG8JUbGf0h5vegh9rk1UGhTZdby-YGzgMdc1t4Y6MWJlEH-W3w3QAFBaegngkQ3T_izfrS/s640/IMG_1605.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Charlie's favorite, favorite birthday gift? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A giant bin of plastic food.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
He takes his favorite "foods" with him wherever he goes, tucked away in a plastic container.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The library.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Grandma's house.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On walks.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In the car.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Everywhere.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's a serious obsession :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZwLk-7juWdowOtEdBYTtYOwobmTFdSzkihz5q1gG_0ikM8wDT1KHrOpXtc0StXnbyGfsBxUq8Jd8ii56Rt7w-9ankTy3HeyJH96qOCCWZ-F-4_nHhfZq4L51wjvrlJEddmFi6STlfvGo/s1600/IMG_1606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZwLk-7juWdowOtEdBYTtYOwobmTFdSzkihz5q1gG_0ikM8wDT1KHrOpXtc0StXnbyGfsBxUq8Jd8ii56Rt7w-9ankTy3HeyJH96qOCCWZ-F-4_nHhfZq4L51wjvrlJEddmFi6STlfvGo/s640/IMG_1606.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Another reason for the lack of posting:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We got really, really sick.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We all had the flu for almost two weeks,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and Charlie ended up with an ear infection.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHxiP2-F90ZdeEP1uZAEhlpSDkg0JqST7izN5zlmXYLrlfBzFzkKfLLP2IeyOCADi-tt4GgW2mX6-AWX_XqXjdCCDzFU9nqeQ9KwKTtdKEy786btTyz3PM0QAxI2Hz53_LflSV348o5qC/s1600/IMG_1617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHxiP2-F90ZdeEP1uZAEhlpSDkg0JqST7izN5zlmXYLrlfBzFzkKfLLP2IeyOCADi-tt4GgW2mX6-AWX_XqXjdCCDzFU9nqeQ9KwKTtdKEy786btTyz3PM0QAxI2Hz53_LflSV348o5qC/s640/IMG_1617.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was the worst thing ever.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Charlie was up all night, and cried for most of the day.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I cried a lot, too. It was so sad.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGc-8TTvzGd3-YeFhAaWSDiarDtiOtE74Kf-Jhq3rvGvqZHfxxSRd_L1gmrL16OIvS9xeeFui4H4-QcpscRW7jlobbsMrI0O7S29iJpjtJIEntcZ7nQQqodi4RWyF-9pXTNeW6urHLEMG/s1600/IMG_1618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGc-8TTvzGd3-YeFhAaWSDiarDtiOtE74Kf-Jhq3rvGvqZHfxxSRd_L1gmrL16OIvS9xeeFui4H4-QcpscRW7jlobbsMrI0O7S29iJpjtJIEntcZ7nQQqodi4RWyF-9pXTNeW6urHLEMG/s640/IMG_1618.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZlXP9EhDcQyKF2mA6RH57vZrdFhjUNU8tkGDu1EmVZ3DaWK-qBNP6JtMce2lzNM-z8CBi4PLjrJNPOIp4fe0ONR9nGnEbD88SHM0rdqdT878vseBT5hobqgWj0zNF1XK3NuLTFH-tdoK/s1600/IMG_1622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZlXP9EhDcQyKF2mA6RH57vZrdFhjUNU8tkGDu1EmVZ3DaWK-qBNP6JtMce2lzNM-z8CBi4PLjrJNPOIp4fe0ONR9nGnEbD88SHM0rdqdT878vseBT5hobqgWj0zNF1XK3NuLTFH-tdoK/s640/IMG_1622.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One way we distracted him is by putting birthday candles into everything he ate.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He loves singing Happy Birthday and blowing out candles,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
especially when pancakes are involved :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKz8_DotsZQJ-Z738JGOgot3GPyjQYjAmmuw6iMoQBlxFOKcfpqaNvABLVeYP5UwrRYIh1-o1B3qg8w5r-Dw6CE8IKf2L0DD6mNbgz4myCekgjTZHZzz2xp7kfOUq0NvlJvs9UCabEomP-/s1600/IMG_1623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKz8_DotsZQJ-Z738JGOgot3GPyjQYjAmmuw6iMoQBlxFOKcfpqaNvABLVeYP5UwrRYIh1-o1B3qg8w5r-Dw6CE8IKf2L0DD6mNbgz4myCekgjTZHZzz2xp7kfOUq0NvlJvs9UCabEomP-/s640/IMG_1623.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's what our bathroom sink looked like for two weeks.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Medicine, everywhere.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoK2rqZo-TIJR-aRzfUVXE1tNOozIOuWp0IY8P_nPiMQ5Ou2-N-HIIlzgQ3mIZSxUmLzhdN-Td7yoFFlxbFqmJriHAibc9Xbgb25rlGmpBGipnge5ZlxLMokJyzVjQpeUZBUNXu_pb9pG/s1600/IMG_1625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoK2rqZo-TIJR-aRzfUVXE1tNOozIOuWp0IY8P_nPiMQ5Ou2-N-HIIlzgQ3mIZSxUmLzhdN-Td7yoFFlxbFqmJriHAibc9Xbgb25rlGmpBGipnge5ZlxLMokJyzVjQpeUZBUNXu_pb9pG/s640/IMG_1625.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(The sight of a runny nose, or the sound of coughing, or any other "sick" symptoms</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
now strike wretched fear into this momma's heart.)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizpWTRYR07756j0NXdUhy_e6DsdJPj6GW_xrMJ6DjU0JXCaQ74nQlX66mTeSfo2u1FB-bP7liSUvbo8sZ90xjyesN89CYY95FHp2ZNdXKZjpB2bN8sR2faA-ny9QXextBHGGsqXLs07Q0/s1600/IMG_1629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizpWTRYR07756j0NXdUhy_e6DsdJPj6GW_xrMJ6DjU0JXCaQ74nQlX66mTeSfo2u1FB-bP7liSUvbo8sZ90xjyesN89CYY95FHp2ZNdXKZjpB2bN8sR2faA-ny9QXextBHGGsqXLs07Q0/s640/IMG_1629.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
On to happier times:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we actually got snow!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This has been the weirdest Chicago winter ever.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfk6pI6EloJeKW11tZ5rZGcR0zcGZV4K3ugOAjOHKV1XvvELiK7sc8FBL31wOygN7Gh6Efr1vVMbOdnd0_PUpGE0cgdod2ysr6RRuVt6hhAbeaL_WYcizIC3uRieUCw9iAyWHgw7tr-fGz/s1600/IMG_1631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfk6pI6EloJeKW11tZ5rZGcR0zcGZV4K3ugOAjOHKV1XvvELiK7sc8FBL31wOygN7Gh6Efr1vVMbOdnd0_PUpGE0cgdod2ysr6RRuVt6hhAbeaL_WYcizIC3uRieUCw9iAyWHgw7tr-fGz/s640/IMG_1631.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We're also attempting this...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's not really going. He just likes to sit on his potty and look at books.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Still. It's something.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhyphenhyphenShaHZCPzPVSgo_fRlSfysrHgKttEuTvgwx7QNQpLSQ4TQbMBBy9rYASf6mCb7YPc5BPznlzwHq9gfGK5suYa1vdZX1MpOmYb_CBJVwJZtDMQeUVLnRo3AzdQ9gLrZXb33ZTFdBAVyS/s1600/IMG_1633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhyphenhyphenShaHZCPzPVSgo_fRlSfysrHgKttEuTvgwx7QNQpLSQ4TQbMBBy9rYASf6mCb7YPc5BPznlzwHq9gfGK5suYa1vdZX1MpOmYb_CBJVwJZtDMQeUVLnRo3AzdQ9gLrZXb33ZTFdBAVyS/s640/IMG_1633.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
And, we've got a new tradition.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On Fridays, Charlie and I go to Starbucks.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He gets chocolate milk. I get coffee.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We celebrate making it through another week.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I now love Fridays for a whole new reason :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BBVBhsbjEfNs_VYmKKDbwgoQ5CB4qWxmyuM6bC-iVb-a2Ro2s3oFfr2mftCYuPsa5Td4oEYSk0764ojLtmd-Lz5Xdmt-KfpSCGcAb-4SxRCUW2DWKXOQu4SZ7ecy7d203hQHzrWAOdo7/s1600/IMG_1640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BBVBhsbjEfNs_VYmKKDbwgoQ5CB4qWxmyuM6bC-iVb-a2Ro2s3oFfr2mftCYuPsa5Td4oEYSk0764ojLtmd-Lz5Xdmt-KfpSCGcAb-4SxRCUW2DWKXOQu4SZ7ecy7d203hQHzrWAOdo7/s640/IMG_1640.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tzaYg9LtG08wU-UZi0O8pPdyMmOKPnXPuFYI5lJ8-aELuo0vH2I1z2Nxmeyg2l44j3EWd37BkU3_uVJyKgfJOqy2533o0PH9Kici0D93I_28y_Vgg-RvJ-58XbhLBkKIxioYCmCTYiaw/s1600/IMG_1641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tzaYg9LtG08wU-UZi0O8pPdyMmOKPnXPuFYI5lJ8-aELuo0vH2I1z2Nxmeyg2l44j3EWd37BkU3_uVJyKgfJOqy2533o0PH9Kici0D93I_28y_Vgg-RvJ-58XbhLBkKIxioYCmCTYiaw/s640/IMG_1641.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And finally, what's a super-long, random, slightly annoying blog post without a little reward at the end?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's our big news, and yet another reason why blogging has been at a standstill:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_15Lo014_9Nvr5M4s7qRtHtYBAHMhyphenhyphenaPe8NkcSxc8CWGokejX7-JDQAIG7dGMoq0-c2imt513KYmyJWI1x2FCgZYC7ShWV6hdQFJGRVpn8op2qZcwihSAkZzBwExW3s1KjPiHM9WeAcHu/s1600/IMG_1613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_15Lo014_9Nvr5M4s7qRtHtYBAHMhyphenhyphenaPe8NkcSxc8CWGokejX7-JDQAIG7dGMoq0-c2imt513KYmyJWI1x2FCgZYC7ShWV6hdQFJGRVpn8op2qZcwihSAkZzBwExW3s1KjPiHM9WeAcHu/s640/IMG_1613.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
!!!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Oh yeah.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Baby #2, due September 2nd.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Watch out.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's starting all over again :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So, how's that for an update?!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
More blogs coming soon!</div>Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-22905704553709874332012-01-13T22:32:00.003-06:002012-01-17T12:00:12.092-06:00facebook + like = coffee!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8860.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hi all,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I just got around to creating a Facebook page for Sherah G Photography.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So here's the deal.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you "like" the Sherah G Photography page (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sherah-G-Photography/260656094002317?v=wall">click here!</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
between now and Tuesday, January 17th at midnight,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'll enter you into a drawing for a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
$20 gift card to Starbucks.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Woohoo!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(And, if you're not a coffee lover,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you can have one of their breakfast sandwiches.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Or, you can give the gift card back to me next Christmas.)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
:)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And p.s. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you've already "liked" the page,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
thank you!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You're automatically entered!<br />
<br />
******<br />
UPDATE:<br />
<br />
Thanks so much everyone for liking the FB page (...and Starbucks, of course!).<br />
The winner of the gift card is...<br />
Bob Landon!</div>Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-6292556848833439692012-01-12T21:46:00.000-06:002012-01-12T21:48:51.120-06:00Charlie + sink<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8881.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I'm learning some of the reasons why people say being a mom is a lot of work.<br />
<br />
Yes, yes. I'm well aware of the sleepless nights, the diaper changes, the discipline games, the eat-this-piece-of-broccoli-so-help-me standoffs. But it's the intentionality that's starting to get me. Sometimes, Charlie and I sit there and stare at each other. And I think, <i>Wait. I'm the Mom. I'm supposed to come up with something educational/productive/entertaining for us both to do? At this very moment? </i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Shoot.</i><br />
<br />
Compounding the problem? The fact that, in my own house, I'm an anti-mess sort of person. Clean up after yourself -- or better yet, yeah... just don't do anything that requires cleaning up.<br />
<br />
(Note the point of conflict between my lofty ideals and a one-year-old.)<br />
<br />
So, I'm starting to learn how to get messy. Some parents can let their kids dump dirt on the floor and just clean it up later. Others do scrapbooking and cutting and gluing on the dining room table, with little scraps of pink construction-paper stars getting wedged between the floorboards or glued to the underside of the chairs. I applaud their bravery, and their creativity.<br />
<br />
Me? I decided to start with <i>water</i>.<br />
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8863.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a><br />
Doesn't this look idyllic? Charlie, happily playing away in the sink. Mommy, happily snapping pictures.<br />
<br />
Actually:<br />
<br />
Charlie had a cold. His nose was dripping all over the place.<br />
Being the responsible mother I am... I was propping him up with my foot (so that he wouldn't fall off the chair) and taking pictures at the same time.<br />
Then he started sucking on the hose nozzle thing. Do you have any idea how many germs are on a kitchen hose nozzle thing?<br />
And then (of course) water was everywhere.<br />
Down his pants.<br />
Inside the cabinet.<br />
On the floor.<br />
<br />
But, Charlie <i>was</i> happily playing away in the sink.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8869.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8870.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8872.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8875.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I was just, more or less, <i>stressfully</i> taking pictures,<br />
trying not to think about the water on the floor,<br />
and giving myself a little pep-talk:<br />
<i>There! Good effort, newbie-mom. Good effort</i>.Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-69369989391648275862012-01-09T15:21:00.000-06:002012-01-12T21:49:02.724-06:00tab fest<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8813.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Whenever Marty uses my computer, he's shocked at the number of tabs I have open in my internet browser. (Does anyone else out there do this? Maybe it's a girl thing? Or a SMART PERSON thing? Come on, give me some ammo to throw back at my chiding husband. He just thinks I'm nuts.)<br />
<br />
With the rise of Pinterest, it's been easier to quell my tab fetish by just pinning the links. Problem is... sometimes I just like the layout of a website. Or the general feel of it. Maybe there's something I don't really want to pin -- just something I'd like to remember for later. Regardless, my endless tabs live on.<br />
<br />
Here's a sampling of what's pulled up at the top of my browser today:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/">Ann Voskamp's blog</a> (and specifically, <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dayplanner.pdf">this daily to-do list</a>. Brilliant.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/102851-USA/Canon_2510A003_Wide_Angle_EF_28mm.html">B&H Photo... and this new lens (yay!)</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thewiegands.com/2012/01/peanut-butter-banana-and-nutella.html">Peanut-Butter Banana Nutella cupcakes</a> (can you say "WOW"?!) from Casey Wiegand's blog.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/274709/winter-sewing-projects/@center/326405/sewing-projects#/264870">Winter Sewing Projects</a> from Martha Stewart. (Don't hate. I love Ms. Martha Stewart. She's ingenious. I'd make every single one of these things... if my sewing machine wasn't buried under a pile of books, and if I didn't have a one-year-old, and if my house was clean. etc. etc. etc.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
Happy pinning/linking/tabbing/doing-something-otherwise-useful-with-your-life-ing!Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-57274708566227888792012-01-04T23:17:00.000-06:002012-01-12T21:49:14.294-06:00tonight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i>In the bleak midwinter,</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i>Frosty wind made moan,</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i>Earth stood hard as iron,</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i>Water like a stone.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i>Snow had fallen, snow on snow</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i>Snow on snow,</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i>In the bleak midwinter,</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i>long ago.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Lines from Christina Rossetti's well-known carol.)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0013-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0013-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I haven't taken down my Christmas decorations yet. A quick look at my invisible "full schedule vs. low energy ratio" chart tells me that I'm pretty sure we'll have our tree up until March. Or maybe April. <i>If I can get it down before Easter, we'll be doing good...</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hmm. Positives? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
*The ambient light is nice.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
*I can pretend I did it on purpose, because I really love Christmas. (Which I do.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
*Charlie's delight over "TISMAS LIGHTS" will be extended for a few more weeks. (Or months.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
*When it finally gets around to really snowing in Chicagoland (!!), I can turn my calendar back to December, look out the window, and pretend like we really did get a big snowstorm on Christmas Eve.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Speaking of winter...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0005.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There's this little closet nook in the back of our house where I do some of my editing. (We're currently in transition-mode between PC and Mac. The PC's been banished to the closet. 'Nough said.) It's chilly back there, but tonight, I had a good amount of work to do. So -- how cliche is this? -- I made some hot chocolate, lit a pretty candle, wrapped myself in a blanket, and got some serious work done back there. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A perfect, quiet, wintry work-night. Minus the token blanket of snow outside.</div>Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-8696310716367283922012-01-03T13:28:00.001-06:002012-01-03T13:28:22.741-06:00new year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9998.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9984.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9993.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9985.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9991.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Have you made lots of resolutions? Just a few? None at all?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
One thing I'm focusing on this year is doing more writing. I've always loved writing (it was part of my major in college), but it's gotten pushed to the side in the last few years. This year, I'm blocking out time for it every day, even if it's only a few minutes. Some of it will appear here... and some of it won't. In the past, I've blogged about what I think my readers (all <i>three of you</i> *HIGHFIVE!*) might want to read. <i>Too much about Charlie? CUT. Too much sappy stuff? CUT. Too much transparency? CUT.</i> But, I'm learning that the most powerful writers write what they want to read. They write for themselves. (I should add that Christian writers write for an even bigger purpose -- they write for Jesus.) </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There's always the "transparency vs. too-much-honesty" line, and I'm working on defining that in my mind, and on the page. I'd much rather <i>tell</i> someone verbally about my struggles, or my dreams, or the best book I've ever read -- or heck, what I ate for breakfast this morning -- rather than have them read about it on my blog. But the truth is this: </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
(1) I'm at home a lot, and often my personal contact with people is usually limited. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
(2) This blog has the potential to reach a world of readers whom I know nothing about (and may never know). </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
(3) Writing, and photography, are creative outlets for me, in the midst of the sometimes hum-drum routine of life. They help me see beauty in the everyday. They spark my interest in life. They push this melancholy girl out of her comfort zone. I need that. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
(4) Regardless of whether anyone reads this blog, or comments on my posts, or thinks that it's valuable (or, on the contrary, a waste of valuable time)... it doesn't matter.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I came across <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2075228/What-nanny-saw-Housekeepers-stunning-images-1950s-Chicago-working-class-America-new-light.html">this link</a> on SimpleMom.net, about a nanny in the 1950's who spent her life photographing images of Chicago with a Rolleflex camera. The negatives were discovered in a box after her death in 2009, revealing a lifetime of beautiful work. The pictures are incredible. And she never received any credit for them.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But, you see, that's not the reason why she took them in the first place.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Happy 2012! Here's to better writing, better photography, better <i>living</i>... tasting and enjoying the fullness of life, all to the glory of God.</div>Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-999521006090200532011-12-24T07:00:00.000-06:002011-12-24T07:00:10.129-06:00Christmas cheer!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
This is, quite literally, the only family picture we have where all three of us are smiling.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9603.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
That's what happens when two family members are melancholies,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
and the third is a cheery, eternal optimist </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
who thinks that even crabby-looking pictures have redeeming qualities. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9610.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
*Hint*</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Charlie and I are not eternal optimists.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9612.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Regardless,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
here's wishing you and yours a blessed and merry Christmas,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
from our melancholy-optimist bunch :)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
May you eat too many cookies,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sing lots of carols, funny and favorite,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
be both the giver and recipient of abundant generosity,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and remember <a href="http://www.esvbible.org/Luke%202%3A1-20/">the very reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place</a>.</div>Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-64984536709548455412011-12-15T14:06:00.002-06:002012-01-12T21:49:44.047-06:00Cathia and Bret :: Married!<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Pre-Ceremony-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Pre-Ceremony-300.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Remember <a href="http://sherahgphotography.blogspot.com/2011/11/introduction.html">this post from last month</a>, when I introduced you to Cathia?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Well, here's her beautiful wedding day, in pictures!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
{**** <a href="http://sherahg.myshowit.com/cathiabretmarried">click here</a> to see a slideshow of the wedding day! ****}</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-104.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-111.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-112.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-135.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-130.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-119.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Pre-Ceremony-231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Pre-Ceremony-231.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Pre-Ceremony-162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Pre-Ceremony-162.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-143.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-179.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-152.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-155.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-158.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-189.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-190.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-197.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-205.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-208.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-209.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Reception-283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Reception-283.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-198.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
I first met Bret in October of this year, when the three of us met to go over wedding details. We sat inside a 50's-style diner, and over burgers and fries, I told him -- twice -- that he was the luckiest guy in the world, because he was marrying Cathia. (He wholeheartedly agreed with me, by the way.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Cathia and Bret are both in the military. They're tough, and they're passionate. They really, <i>really</i> love each other. If you watched the slideshow at the top of this post, notice Bret's expressions whenever he looks at Cathia. It's like his eyes are saying, "This woman is my <i>treasure</i>."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What a privilege to spend their wedding day with them and their family. Marty and I loved every single minute of it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Reception-293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Reception-293.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And now... a few behind-the-scenes shots from the day. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Some of these are ridiculously embarrassing. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Just being real here, yo. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We like not taking ourselves too seriously.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-148.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Post-Ceremony-219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Post-Ceremony-219.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9450.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Blog-202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Can I also say that Marty is an absolute saint for being willing to shoot weddings with me? He knows that I boss him around, and stress out about stupid things, and pace like a madwoman... and he still plugs away, taking awesome pictures and setting up off-camera flashes and running to get bouquets and making faces at me from across the aisle. I love him.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Post-Ceremony-133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Post-Ceremony-133.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9472.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Pre-Ceremony-309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Pre-Ceremony-309.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9449.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9909.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Reception-123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/Reception-123.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_0346.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
...post-wedding Steak N Shake celebration.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/crazySherah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/crazySherah.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It was a very long, and very awesome day, indeed.</div>Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-25128609338231484592011-12-14T06:00:00.000-06:002011-12-14T06:00:01.181-06:00HO TISMAS TEE!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9560.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
After a long day,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
there's nothing better than driving home in a quiet car,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
and suddenly hearing a little voice squeal out,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
"TISMAS LIGHTS!"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
or</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
"TISMAS TEE! TISMAS TEE!"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
and then,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
"Sing. Mom! <i>Ho Tismas Tee, Ho Tismas Tee...</i>"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9558.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Babies are not all fun. I'll be the first person to tell you that.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
But this?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i>This</i> is <i>fun!</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9555.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9547.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9546.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-76121119558063969972011-12-12T06:00:00.000-06:002011-12-12T06:00:18.875-06:00hair cut.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is my sweet little boy, right after naptime:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9591.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(I cut his hair, all by myself, right after I took these pictures. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Can you believe how badly he needed a haircut?!</i>)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9589.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I probably <i>shouldn't</i> have attempted a solo-haircut, right after taking these pictures,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
given the dreadful foreboding of this dagger-like glance, directed straight at me:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9587.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And this was him saying, "No. No. NO."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As in, "Stop taking my picture."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9585.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So I stopped.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And then I cut his hair. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Afterwards, there were hair clippings, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
orange peels, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
melted MnM's, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Christmas mints, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and wet towels </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
all over the bathroom.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Memories were most definitely made.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Now, I'm off to google "Humane straight-jackets for children, for moms attempting DIY haircuts.")</div>Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-37604852452458768662011-12-09T12:43:00.001-06:002011-12-09T13:40:24.009-06:00bell ringin' and such<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9583.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Hellooo bloggy world!!!!<br />
<br />
I've been a bad blogger. Please forgive me. Also, please forgive anything obnoxious about this post (including too many exclamation points, or adding extra letters to the ends of words that really should have been left alone). I'm on my second cup of coffee, running on much-too-little sleep. Bear with me.<br />
<br />
Things have been crazy around here. I'm guessing it's the same at your house, right? In order to cope with the nutz-o-ness of the season, I'm trying to focus on what's really, truly important. Things like talking to God every day. Reading the Bible. Making time for people. Smiling at crabby employees. Eating leftover Christmas party cookies. Digging in my purse for loose change for the Salvation Army bell ringers, while Charlie wiggles in my arms.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9580.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
...Which reminds me of a story. <i>Once upon a time, I was a Salvation Army bell ringer.</i><br />
<br />
I'm not sure how it happened. My college roommate and I were members of Omicron Delta Kappa. (ODK is a national leadership honor society. Don't be too impressed. We jumped through lots of hoops, and got to wear a few extra cords around our necks on graduation day. Oh, and <i>we had to pay for the cords.</i> Bogus.)<br />
<br />
Anyways, part of our membership requirements were a few hours of community service, doing pretty much whatever we wanted to do. My roommate found out about the above-mentioned bell-ringing opportunity, and one Saturday, there we were, in Uptown (a hipster neighborhood in Minneapolis), ringing bells on a street corner and trying to figure out if we were supposed to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays." The token red bucket and bell didn't come with an instruction manual for proper bell-ringing, donation-collecting etiquette.<br />
<br />
Now, PEOPLE. Cut the bell-ringers some slack. I know lots of folks who get all worked up about this. "SHE SAID 'HAPPY HOLIDAYS' TO ME. CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT THIS GOD-FORSAKEN COUNTRY IS COMING TO?" And then they'll look over their shoulder and yell, "<i>MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU TOO, SWEETHEART!!!!"</i><br />
<br />
(Again with the coffee/lack of sleep thing. Sorry.)<br />
<br />
But listen: do you have any idea how offended people get on both sides of the spectrum? We got death-looks from people, whether we said "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays." Really, truly, we did. There were also people who responded to our "Happy Holidays" with a knowing glance, a smile, and a quiet, "Merry Christmas." Those were the ones, I'm convinced, who worked in retail, and knew how it was to be forced to say something you didn't really want to say.<br />
<br />
I didn't mean to turn this post into an anti-Happy-Holidays tirade. Whoops. Back to my story without an ending:<br />
<br />
It was <i>cold</i>. We'd take turns standing inside the nearby convenience store and drinking really bad hot chocolate, while the other person stood outside, bumbling their words because their lips were blue and people were all sensitive about the Happy Holidays issue, and ringing that little bell faster and faster, because it was getting <i>colder</i> and <i>colder</i>. The few hours crawled by. If I ever ring that silly bell again in sub-zero temperatures, it'll be as a four-person quartet, singing Christmas carols. It's a win-win: you avoid the Happy Holidays issue, you get to sing about Jesus in public (because, really, that's who the very best Christmas songs are all about), and it gets your mind off of how slow the time is going, and how cold your toes are.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
Moral of the story? Next time you see a bell-ringer, give them a pair of those instant hand-warmer things, or buy them a cup of (good) coffee, please!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9574.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a>Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-83365707843389483042011-11-23T23:13:00.001-06:002011-11-23T23:41:28.912-06:00thankful<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Two years ago, on the eve of Thanksgiving, <a href="http://sherahgphotography.blogspot.com/2009/11/grateful.html">I wrote this little letter </a>to Charlie (who was yet to be born!).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last year, on the eve of Thanksgiving, <a href="http://sherahgphotography.blogspot.com/2010/11/grateful-remix.html">I wrote another letter</a> to 9-month-old Charlie.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now, here's another letter to our almost 2-year-old!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
***</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
dear Charlie-warlie,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You're delighted with blinking lights, evergreen trees, and all things Christmas. I took you to the mall today, and you smashed your face against the railing, staring with baby-wonder at the giant Christmas tree towering above you. Back at home, we put up our own Christmas tree, and you literally ran in circles, you were so excited. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You woke up from your nap with messy hair and pink cheeks. You wore bright blue socks with skid protectors on the bottoms, because your feet usually move too fast for your body. I talk a lot about how you're a persnickety baby, and how you're a fussy napper (which is true)... but not enough about how smart you are. How funny you are. How handsome you are. How badly you need a haircut, but how I don't want to cut your hair, because you'll look too old. (Oy vey, <i>tears</i>. Really? I need to get to bed...)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyways -- I speak for your daddy and I when I say that we are thankful, thankful, <i>thankful</i> for you. It's cliche, but if you ever read this, you won't care. Kids want to hear how much their parents love them, right?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Right.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, we love you. THIIIIIIIIIS MUCH. {{stretches arms out as wide as possible}}</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
(whenever I do that, you look at me sideways, giggle, and go back to playing with your trucks. all business.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Love,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
your momma.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
p.s. here are a few pictures of some other things I'm thankful for. (I'm grateful for big, obvious things too, of course... but I'm also thankful that I've got the ability to be thankful for funny socks, and coffee, and big plans for a mantle that really don't mean too much in the light of eternity... and yet, they're still gifts, given to be enjoyed. What a huge blessing... </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ok, sorry. On to the funny sock picture...)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8829.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8834.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8825.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8830.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8817.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-78730109449164458662011-11-21T10:16:00.001-06:002011-11-21T10:44:48.056-06:00monday morning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_9700.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Monday's not hitting me too hard this morning. We left Charlie with my in-laws over the weekend, and <i>I missed him</i>. I didn't expect it -- FREEDOM FROM BABYVILLE had been calling my name all last week (it was a rough one) -- but all day Saturday, I heard his little voice in my head whenever we saw a Christmas tree (his current obsession), or when I watched little kids dancing at the wedding reception ("Marty! That'll be him someday. Awwwww!").</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So today, when he woke up and climbed onto my lap with a book, I melted, and we snuggled. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Apparently, getaways are good for a mommy's soul.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A few other items of note:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I really need to get new mascara (anyone have any good recommendations?). My current brand runs into my eyes and BURNS, causing giant, painful teardrops at the most inopportune times... like, for example, during the bride and groom's first dance on Saturday night. Yep, it sure was a touching moment. But the DJ was giving me the weirdest looks, because I was wiping my eyes and sniffling and blubbering all over the place. (It HURT. Stupid mascara.) Marty was shooting from another angle on the other side of the dance floor -- he came up to me later and said, "Wow, hun. You ok?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Curse you, cheap tube of mascara.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's another good one: The night before the wedding, we ran over to the 24-hour WalMart at midnight because I needed a pair of pants for the next day. (I brought a skirt, but the forecast was chilly and windy. Not conducive to skirt-wearing.) Typically, I really, really dislike WalMart. (Trying to avoid the "hate" word here, but it's a close one.) Not for snobby reasons. (I've heard people say they won't shop there because of <i>white trash</i>, or because it <i>smells bad</i>. oh PLEASE.) Nope, it's not that. WalMart and I have a history of bad run-ins. I can never find what I want. I always run into crabby people there. The lines are long. Charlie threw his first shopping tantrum in a WalMart checkout line. etc. etc. (So really, WalMart, don't take it personally. It's not you. It's me.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyways, I found one (count it -- ONE) pair of pants that might work. There were two different sizes that could have fit me... and no one in the place who could open the stinkin' dressing room. (It's midnight, people. Come on, WalMart employees, get on it. Doesn't everyone go shopping pants-shopping at WalMart, at MIDNIGHT?)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, I bought the smaller size.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
(Wrong move, chica. Lay off the pop tarts.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I wore my skirt the next day.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And that, my friends, is the sum total of my slightly-awkward weekend wedding moments. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Wedding pictures, coming up soon!</div>Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156439960055151163.post-17753581049494283012011-11-17T11:11:00.001-06:002011-12-20T21:40:37.722-06:00on: how I don't have it all together.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/sherahgphotography/IMG_8271.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
See this bowl? I really love this bowl. It was a wedding gift from a sweet coworker. It's been on my table ever since we got married. I really love this bowl. (Did I mention I <i>really</i> love this bowl?)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I think God noticed my love affair with that silly bowl, and decided He needed to teach me a teensy lesson. But first, a quick side-story.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've been reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Loving-Little-Years-Motherhood-Trenches/dp/1591280818">Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches</a>. It's so, so good. Reading it makes me feel like I can do this whole momma thing. I got to this chapter where the author talks about stopping sibling fights (as if that's a problem for us right now... still, I liked what she had to say). Basically, instead of sending kids to their respective corners when they're fighting over a toy, or trying to get the "He Said, She Said" story out of each individual... what this mommy does (my paraphrase) is talk to them about the importance of people over things. She says that the emphasis should be placed on "maintaining fellowship" with each other -- and so, she asks her children, "Is that toy worth breaking fellowship with your brother/sister?" or "Isn't your sister/brother more valuable than that toy?" The point is, considering others is more important than getting your own way.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Alright. Back to the bowl.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Marty was fixing our dining room light the other night. He was fiddling with the cord, doing some rewiring. And then, CRASH! Down came the (heavy) chandelier. Right onto our dining room table. And, fatefully, sitting on top of our table was the aforementioned bowl... except now, it was shattered into a thousand tiny pieces.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My reaction was a bad one. I'll spare you the details.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But listen, here's the point: I was all proud of myself after reading that chapter in the book. "I'll just file that tidbit away for when my kids are fighting over a toy. <i>Come on, kids. This is an important life lesson. No breaky-breaky the fellowship between you two. Cut it out, grow up, etc. etc.</i> {all said in a wise, sage-like parental way}."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And here I was. Breaking fellowship with my husband, over a broken bowl.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm not sure how to wrap this story up... except to tell you that my love of pretty things is now </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
(1) out in the open,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
(2) one of my vices,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
(3) in the works of changing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Because people (particularly, husbands) are much more important than things.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Glad we got that all cleared up.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Also. If you happen to see a bowl like the one above... don't tell me about it. I'll be buying something unbreakable, or very ugly, instead :)</div>Sherahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15303725375994454475noreply@blogger.com5