newborn

Laney Marie, originally uploaded by MonicaSmoot.

My weekend didn't exactly go as planned. Instead of working on the drywall in the new room on Saturday, I coached my friend Lisa during her labor and delivery. I was there for 11 of her 18 hours of labor. She pushed for 2 hours and 45 minutes. It was exhausting! I really have a greater appreciation for what my husband did during the births of our children.

Weather update: We had a slight reprieve on the rain and Bob managed to mow the backyard yesterday. Woohoo! More rain is on the way, though. Boo! What is it with the rain and low temperatures? It's supposed to be summertime in Central Texas.

Doesn't Like to Pose

Doesn't Like to Pose, originally uploaded by MonicaSmoot.

I think she becomes self-conscious when she looks at the camera. Or when she knows the camera is looking at her. Here I asked her to look at the sky but she's still laughing about me asking her to scream like she sees an alien. I'm sure she thinks I'm weird.

Weather update: More rain in the forecast. I can't believe how much rain we've been getting. Everything is growing so much, including my backyard. The grass is now taller than the trampoline. I'm surprised we haven't had any snakes get in the house. I think we'll have to rent a bush mower to take care of it.

freckles

freckles, originally uploaded by MonicaSmoot.

B-movie actress

B-movie actress, originally uploaded by MonicaSmoot.

Weather update: It's pouring here and we're under a flash flood watch. That's not a big deal, though. We're always under a flash flood watch when it rains. But the parking lot of the daycare was flooded and both my sandal and my lovely boot for my fractured foot got completely soaked this morning. Luckily, I have a towel and a pair of walking shoes in my office.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Be afraid. Be very afraid., originally uploaded by MonicaSmoot.

Help!

Help!, originally uploaded by MonicaSmoot.

More sunlight and shadows. Between my fractured foot, and Bob being sick, our backyard has been neglected. Can you see the trampoline? There's one in there somewhere.

reflecting sunlight

reflecting sunlight, originally uploaded by MonicaSmoot.

Found this little guy on my front porch yesterday. At one point, he stood up and posed for me. But this photo has the sunlight reflecting on his hair, and since Jenna gave me the topic of shadows and/or sunlight, here ya go.

Weather update: I'm trying to remember the nice long spring we had. I don't want to forget about that now that it's officially summer here in central Texas. We're in the mid-90s now and no chance of rain in sight.

The Great Photo That Wasn't

The Great Photo That Wasn't, originally uploaded by MonicaSmoot.

I did get out yesterday afternoon and took pictures of the kids swimming. I used a UV filter and a polarizer on my 55-200mm lens. I hadn't used the polarizer before so I just played around with it. Some of the photos came out, some didn't. This one was my favorite. Too bad it was one that didn't come out.

Thanks to Jenna for the photo suggestion! I'll take some shadows/sunlight photos over the next couple of days and see what happens.

Where am I?

I really want to use this space to post my photos on a regular basis. But in order to do that, with photos I think are worthy, I have to actually take photos. And I haven't been doing that. I've been documenting things like our loft enclosure project, and my bathroom painting project. But I haven't been taking any photos of things for the sake of taking photos. Sure, I could post photos of my kids, but I already do that on Flickr. There's no point in just double posting the pictures I take. Maybe this weekend will have some photo ops.

Weather update: It's officially summer. Highs in the 90s, with slight chances of rain (which never seem to materialize). I plan to take the kids to the pool this weekend.