Click Chicks Weekend

On Saturday my wonderful hubby took the boy while I went over to the coast with some of my photographer lady friends. Seriously the coolest group of girls ever!! We talked photo at the beach house then walked over to the beach for a little photo session. We didn't shoot for long but I got some great tips to take home and play with. We took turns being the model. What a SASSY group of girls!!!

Dianne's McGiver move... yeah, she's THAT good!

A little fun with post processing...

I get to 2nd shoot a wedding in August with Sara Gray (3rd from the right). THANKS SARA! CAN'T WAIT!

Change of plans...again

Over the last year our "plans" have changed just about every couple of months. Things have been a little up in the air to say the least. It doesn't help (or does, depending on how you look at it) that Dan and I are quick decision makers. When we feel good about something, we don't mull over it for too long. This last week was no exception. On Friday night we got talking about our next move and realized that we needed to go with our original plan and move to Sherwood. On Tuesday we went rental shopping. On Wednesday we applied and our application was accepted. On May 15th we'll be moving into an apartment in Sherwood...decision made.

Tulip Festival

On Saturday we took our little family to the annual Tulip Festival in Woodburn. Unfortunately we weren't the only one's who thought that was a good idea. It took us 3 1/2 hours to drive 40 miles to this great event. Totally worth it! Andrew loved ...... eating everything. We could NOT keep him from grabbing everything within his reach and putting it in his mouth. We call him our little ninja cuz he's so fast! We were fishing thing out of his mouth all day! And after skipping a nap, he was pretty ready to go home.
HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE!!!

Social Contract

This last week there have been two separate situations that have caused me to sit back and analyze myself a little more. Now, I'm fully aware that I can be pretty blunt, sometimes a little too honest (some things just shouldn't be said), unintentionally insensitive, and quite competitive but I don't think I realized to what extent.

The first situation was a conversation I had with a good friend of mine. We got talking about first impressions and she filled me in on her first reaction to me. A couple of years ago when we first moved here we spent New Years Eve playing games with this couple. We were playing death Jenga (a little spin on regular Jenga to make it more interesting). Of course, I got all into it because it's a game and I'm a little competitive, okay, a lot competitive. I guess in my mind,that's what makes games fun. Well, my friend couldn't feel more opposite. She told me that after we went home she and her husband had a conversation about me. Apparently she took my playful competitiveness as if I was trying to be rude or mean. Her husband told her "I think what you see is what you get with Annie". That's really what it comes down to for me. I don't have ulterior motives, I am just a little rough around the edges. I'm glad he said what he said because thankfully she gave me another chance and now we are great friends.

That conversation got me thinking which led to an in depth conversation later that night with Dan. Dan is wonderful, he definitely counters my abrasiveness. He is a wonderful communicator and always finds a way to soften what I say. He was able to give me some good honest feedback and I realized that I really needed to focus on being more sensitive. I think often I get in my head what I want and then go full speed ahead towards it without taking into consideration the feelings or opinions of others. That's not okay and I need to work on it.

A few days later I was watching an episode of "House" called "Social Contract". If you haven't seen it you should go to hulu.com and watch it. Basically this guy has a neurological disorder and can't filter what he says so he ends up being brutally honest with everyone, not abiding by societies "social contract". The main character, Gregory House, has the same tendency and really has only one friend who is okay that they don't have any kind of contract. I'm definitely not THAT extreme but it did help me realize why I've always had a hard time clicking with other girls and why it takes a special person to be my friend.

So, for all those I've unintentionally offended, I apologize. I'm not a mean spirited person, I just don't have enough of a filter, but I'm working on it! A big THANK YOU to the friends I do have, you are pretty special people.

SALE PENDING!

That's right, there IS someone out there who can buy a house and they chose OURS!!! We are thrilled and feel great about the price. We will be renting a newly finished duplex around the corner for a while until we can figure out our next move.

I'm a little sad to leave this great home but this is such a huge blessing for us right now. YAY!

7 MONTHS

We're still here and this little boy is still growing! We've notice he has tapered off in the weight department but we've seen such a change in his "look" and development. He's definitely more active and interested in the world around him. His latest tricks.... full turn-abouts on the belly, scooting backwards, big reaches for toys with a little help from the back foot, he can go from sitting to a full side reach back to sitting again, etc. etc. He's getting to be so fun and interactive.

The one "trick" we (I should say "I" since I'm the one who listens to it all day) just LOVE is the high pitch scream he does every few seconds. It's not a cry, more like he discovered his voice and how high and loud he can get it and he REALLY likes the way it sounds. I literally have to put ear plugs in my ears because it physically hurts, it's that high and loud... and constant. He also likes to do a low growl, I like that one a whole lot more. Makes me smile every time. Besides the vocal play we are enjoying this little guy SO much. It blows me away that we get to keep him! He really is such a great baby. Very easy going, not much ruffles his feathers. Andrew and I were "on the road" to AZ, Utah, and Idaho for 3 of the 4 weeks in March and he was a champ. There were a few sleep issues but even with not much sleep he continues to have such a sweet disposition.

Most of the time...

Oh man, this one melts my heart.