life, milestone, and other junk.

It's been a while since I really blogged about my life. Even now I don't have much to say, but wow have we been busy and exhausted... almost all the time. Our only day off in the past week was Saturday because of weekend staff participating in KU's graduation (and the fact that many subs were unavailable also because of graduation).

Luke and I have decided to change up our work schedule... we work together and it's a little bit flexible during the day, so now Luke has decided to take on the brunt of the work instead of us working equal amounts. We're in our second week of doing this and it already is working so much better. This way I'm available during the day to do the paperwork that needs to get done, as well as taking care of Adelle in her own home and having some time to pursue some of my own personal interests (I don't know if I mentioned that I'm working on a graphic design website). I already can feel this change helping our marriage so much and I'm so glad that Luke is willing to take on the extra responsibility. If you've never tried it, it is really challenging working with your spouse, especially this kind of job where it so easily spills into our personal relationship. This new schedule has really helped a lot though. We're not around each other ALL day long, so then we can appreciate the evenings/weekends more.

In other news, ADELLE IS 6 MONTHS OLD TODAY!!!! That is such a milestone that I can't believe she's there already! My sister Lori took some pics of her yesterday and I can't wait to see the best shots! maybe i'll post a pic of her before bed from ON her birthday. I'm going to write her a letter tonight and also write down the things she can do/almost can do right at this moment.

That's all for now!

Lori George Photography

As I've mentioned a few times before on here, my sister Lori has started a photography business. This weekend she officially launched her website/blog and she's included a drawing for a free session! If you live near Lawrence, check it out and leave a comment (by Monday, May 17th!). You could win a free session plus a $25 ordering credit! Also, even if you don't win, she is offering 50% off session fees if you book a session before May 31st (which makes the individual person session only $12.50!).

I'm taking a small part in her business in designing custom announcements/invites/etc. for her clients. Depending on how many opportunities I get through this, I plan to also start my own website where others can order from me as well... maybe other photographers offering to their clients as well as people who just want to order. Anyway, check it out!

my first order...

I have been working a bit with my sister Lori on her budding photography business and have had fun looking at pictures and helping her make editing decisions, etc. Along with that, I have also been working on various announcements/invitations, etc that she can offer to her clients for babies, holidays, etc. Well I got my first order! I took off last names and changed the birthdate to protect a little privacy at least, but here it is! I created that butterfly pattern myself and used a color scheme the mom wanted. It was a lot of fun making this! And of course the photo was taken by Lori! Click on her name to check out her website if you want some great child/family photos taken! And her rates are pretty low so far since she's just starting out.

yay!

adelle is cutting her first teeth! it's the 2 front bottom teeth. no wonder she's been sticking her tongue out so much the past couple of days. i would too if some foreign sensation started breaking through my gums...

yay! they grow up TOO fast.

...

i'm inspired by Susan Boyle.



This is the kick in the pants a lot of people need...

the butterfly.

I learned something new today and I wanted to share. I was thinking a lot about Easter and why we really celebrate it versus how we celebrate, so I wanted to find some of the symbolism behind things that often represent Easter. Some things are pretty obvious. Eggs, chicks, bunnies, flowers... all represent new life, just as Spring itself does -- the new life that is promised to all of us when our bodies and spirits are reunited in perfect form because of that Spring morning when Christ rose from the tomb after being crucified and then lying in a tomb for 3 days.

In my search for meaning behind all of the Easter bunny and egg decorating hype, I found a great explanation as to why we sometimes see the butterfly in the mix with everything else that may represent Spring and Easter. First we have the caterpillar who walks along the Earth, representing Christ's life on Earth. Then there is the cocoon stage, representing Christ's crucifixion and burial -- when he was lain in a tomb. Then comes the butterfly emerging from the cocoon transformed into a magnificent creature, just as Christ was raised from the dead--resurrected with a glorified body. I really enjoyed learning about this and hope it will give me an extra reminder of the blessing and promise that we will be resurrected into perfect bodies because Christ first was resurrected to set the way.

Happy Easter everyone!

month 5 so far... so fun!

i have a cute baby and she takes baths. and does other cute stuff too.

Last Thursday was our first attempt to give Adelle rice cereal. She may have gotten some swallowed, but if that's the case, it was definitely on accident. She must not be quite ready because she kept pushing it out with her tongue. We'll try again within the next week and see how she does. She has definitely been interested in food that we eat and seems to want more than just the formula, so we're just waiting for everything to fall in line.



On Sunday we gave Adelle in her little bath and decided to actually take pictures this time. Luke likes to just pour the water down her face "to help her get used to it," thus the following picture.



Adelle doesn't like to smile at the camera, but she'll smile at her mama... :) Last night I was sitting next to her and playing with her upside down... I thought this was a pretty cute one.



Enjoy!

fonts/headers.

a big thank you goes out to chelsea for reminding me of this awesome font website. Thanks to it, I have a new blog header. I would add pictures like I used to all the time, but I don't have any of me, Luke and Adelle all together (I know, what!?!?) so until then I don't want to add pictures. Anyway, I also approve of that website.

On a somewhat related note, I decided to email the creator of the 365 cards blog and asked if she would like a new header for the site, so here's what I came up with. She wanted me to use the same colors/font that was already there, so I did have those guidelines. Enjoy.

Be Thou My Vision

This is one of my favorite songs... a very old Irish hymn, from around the 700s. It really is beautiful and if you haven't heard it before, I suggest finding a recording on youtube or something. It's been in my head all evening.

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping Thy presence my light
Be thou my wisdom and Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, I , Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one
Riches I heed not nor man's emptly praise
Thou mine inheritance now and always
Thou and thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven my treasure Thou are
High King of heaven my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun
Heart of my own heart whatever befall
Still be my vision O Ruler of all