Trip to VA!

Madyson and I have an upcoming trip to Virginia! I am very excited but also extremely nervous! This will be the first time I will be traveling with Madyson. All sorts of questions are starting to come up and we are still a couple of weeks out. Questions like, what all to bring? Should I take her through the airport in a stroller or just carry her and check everything? Where will we be sitting on the plane and next to who? How to adjust her schedule?

I could go on. But instead of fretting about it, I am looking at it as an adventure. Which I have no doubt it will be! So many things to look forward to. Madyson meeting her Great Grandmother for the first time and I think we're going to do tea! Hats and all! Standby for those photos! =) Oooh and she gets to meet one of her Uncles for the first time too! She'll get to visit with both sets of grandparents again, Auntie Punkin' Butt, she'll get to meet some new friends for her, but old friends to me aaaannnddd she gets to meet the (we'll call them the "Crab Clan") ... ALLL OF THEM! =D Bushels of crabs, hot dogs, hamburgers, BBQ chicken, tons of side dishes and desserts, other kids (particularly Hayley and Hudson), volleyball (maybe), basketball, swimming and just a good time hanging out with family! I am getting super excited just typing about it!



All that is missing from the above picture is some Old Bay seasoning, crab wackers (yes, that is the technical term), paper towels, a nice tall glass of sweet tea, and of course, ME! =)

Obsessed!

Loving my baby + loving my new camera = A LOT of photos of Madyson! And a couple of the outdoors. =)

Lessons learned

After looking at the photos I took from my little photo shoot with Madyson on the playground last weekend, I am noticing (and it was pointed out to me by a "professional") that I can/should use flash for taking outdoors photos as well as, indoor photos. Who knew, but after playing with the different settings, flash does add a little more intrigue and emphasis on the subject you are trying to capture. I am still working on the blurring the background and foreground, but now I am adding light awareness, flash or not and how does it effect the photo. I think after that I am going to try working with objects in motion, such as capturing photos of bicyclist or children running around and see if I can't get a good photo of the biker, but to also capture the effect of movement. Stay tuned as I will post more photos soon. I am so excited about this weekend as a friend is having me come over to take some photos of her and her son so she can send them to her husband who is deployed!

My mobile!

Madyson loves her wooden mobile!

More Madyson

Madyson's first trip to the playground and hanging out with Shaye. =)

Seagulls...

First task...

So, as I learn my new camera, I am giving myself little things to work on and once I can continually produce the result I am looking for, I will then move onto something new. My first thing I am working on is blurring the background, foreground or both the foreground and the background of a subject... here are a few pictures working on this:

New camera, new hobby!

Okay, so I want better photos of Madyson without having to pay a lot of money to someone else to do portraits, so I decided to get my own camera. After getting the go ahead from Kevin, I ordered it and then anxiously awaited its arrival... to a point where I was dreaming about taking pictures! hahaha Two days later it arrived and after charging the battery I took a few preliminary photos; see below! I cannot wait to figure all the little creative things I can do with my new little toy and I am excited by the possibilities!

Crab Dip - Yeah!

A great recipe I picked up from a friend while in NC. Always a crowd favorite!

What you'll need:

1 lb crab meat, real is better than imitation
**1 cup grated pepper jack
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup mayo
1/4 cup green onions
2 garlic cloves, pressed
**3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons lemon juice
**1 tablespoon Tabasco sauce
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

Combine all ingredients and bake for 40-45 minutes @ 325. Serve hot in a bread bowl. Great with broken bread, toasted bread chips or snack chips.

**I generally add a tad bit more pepper jack, Worcestershire, and Tabasco for a bit more kick.

Enjoy!

Impromptu Photo Shoots, Daycare and Video =)

Madyson tends to get fussy about 30-45 minutes before her bedtime routine (which consists of the 4 B's: Bath, Bottle, Book and Bed) to occupy her time tonight we decided to take a few photos... below are the fruits of our labor... Aaaaand she loved it! She even got in a few practice rolls onto her back, check out the video below! =)






Buddha Belly!

Chillin' at daycare...

Madyson and Cole discussing the days events.

Daddddyyyyyyyy! Why am I blurry?


Just Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

Fourth of July Picnic on base