Sleep.... I will miss you!

For an 8 1/2 month pregnant lady, I sleep like a champ! I just completed a 9 1/2 hour night of uninterrupted sleep, and it was GLORIOUS! I did have to turn over a few times, which can be a task (I know, poor, poor me). As long as the temperature is right (very cold) every night is pretty much the same story, my head hits the pillow and I'm OUT for the next 8+ hours. I keep waiting for the night when this little guy starts dancing on my bladder, but so far it hasn't happened and I couldn't be happier about it. My only concern is when he's born. Boy am I in for a rude awakening when I have to actually get up in the night!!!! Or maybe he'll be one of those perfect little babies who sleeps through the night from the beginning... it's possible, right?.....right!!??

Stress case down the home stretch

I have 3 weeks left till my due date and I'm a total stress case. I have SO much still to do to get ready for this child but have absolutely no energy to do it. Okay, so I don't have SO much to do. In normal Annie fashion I could probably finish it in 2 days but at the pace I'm keeping these days, it'll take me 2 months. Last night I would get bursts of energy, get some things picked up and then have Brackston Hicks contractions and have to sit down, then I'd try it again. They were happening so often that I got myself stressed out that I was going into labor which put me over the top. And why is it that at those moments it feels like it's Dan's fault that I'm stressed out? I think I remember his shoes flying at the wall in his direction and him sleeping in another room last night (doesn't that paint a pretty picture). Poor guy, he might deserve an apology this morning.

Seattle by train

This year Dan and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary (July 3rd) and Independence Day in Seattle. I just love how those two holidays will always coincide. We have yet to spend an anniversary at home.

Not only did we go to Seattle but we got there by TRAIN. I know, pretty cool! Except that it was neither faster nor cheaper, but still a whole lot more fun then driving.

Dan and I have a tradition of reviewing the previous year on our anniversary. So we did this during the train ride. We go month by month and talk about highlights, low lights, significant events, and the overall feeling of the last year. This year we wrote them down as we talked, I liked that addition.

Once we got there we met up with some of Dan's family, went out to eat, and enjoyed the pier. Dan and his pops(Dan's parents - gotta love Alan and Judy)

We got settled in our hotel room then Dan and I went shopping. I had mapped out the Gap and Old Navy maternity stores before we left. Dan was a great sport about it. He only fell asleep once in the dressing room but the rest of the time he was an active participant, opinions and all. What a great anniversary gift!

After shopping we met up with the family at Safeco Field for a Mariners baseball game. You could not ask for a more perfect night. Great food, good company, and a decent game (although the Mariners lost). The game actually went by a little too quick. We could have used a few more innings...THAT'S how fun it was, I know!

We got there after the hat buying experience, but don't they look cute (the little pink one is for Andrew's little cousin due 2 weeks after him). I promise, Dan did have a good time.

On the morning of the 4th Dan's family took off for home and Dan and I spent the rest of the day roaming around Seattle. We ate breakfast at a great little cafe then walked down to Pike's Market for the rest of the day. Now that's an entertaining place, especially on the 4th of July. Seattle is a funky place to begin with but I think ALL of the crazies come out for the holidays. We had a great time walking, eating, and people watching.

Dan and his delicious Korean dish. I remember vacations by pictures, he remembers them by food. This was a meal to remember.I loved all the fresh flowers.The street performers were something special, especially this fiddler. Gotta love a good fiddlin'.

I picked out this handmade silver necklace and earring set at the market. Thanks babe, Happy Anniversary!

After a pleasant day in Seattle we then boarded our train home to Portland. We were even able to make it back in time for a little BBQ and neighborhood fireworks show. This is how exciting it was....

I know, you wish you could have been there. After a 1/2 hour of this we headed inside and watched way too many episodes of "What not to wear", making us stay up WAY too late. That show just sucks you right in. Dan even has a hard time passing it up.

Happy 4th of July to you and happy 4 year anniversary to us!

Stretched by Light

I have been through the range of emotions this week concerning photography. It seems whenever I get overwhelmed with the amount of information there is on the subject, I tend to disown photography altogether. I decide that I don't like it and I'll never be any good at it. I convince myself that I don't have a creative bone in my body and that I should just leave this trade to the professionals. Thank goodness for this class because it forces me out of this rut.

I have an assignment this week that is kicking my butt. It's tough and it's making me stretch. After a day of stinkin' thinkin' I finally printed out the lesson and assignment and got to work. I spent a good part of the afternoon out in the heat metering light and experiencing a good amount of trial and error. However, after examining and tweaking the images I came up with, I have to admit, I'm feeling pretty happy about the final product. Thus making me excited about this hobby once again. Now if I could only get good enough to where I felt comfortable, and thus enjoyed, taking pictures of people.... hmmm, that'll be the day.
(more pics on my photoblog)