A new lens and a date.

I consider myself a pretty lucky person. I am in good health, I have a great family, I am happy. Things usually go pretty well for me. On Tuesday my luck was shining bright. I won myself a new camera lens on eBay. There is a "certain someone" in our house that doesn't consider this winning when we have to pay for it but it's okay cause I don't let this "certain someone" rain on my parade. I happily pat myself on the back for beating out the other bidders, submit my payment and anxiously await the delivery of my prize from the mailman.

Luckily for me I have a live-in subject to photograph. So, I rounded her up and headed for the park. When we arrived there was a photographer waiting for a client. I must say that I immediately felt intimidated. Would she be watching me? Wondering why I have my lens pointed in that direction knowing that the lighting is going to be all wrong. Mocking the angle I'm shooting.

Then I told the thoughts in my head to pipe down. I'm no professional. I'm just at Mama at the park taking some pictures of my daughter. And that I did............





We made our way over to the bridge where Madison immediately discovered the water.









Yes, I am lucky that I have my little subject but my subject moves a lot and has a mind of her own. Our conversations when like this:

Madison, can you put your shoes on?

No.

Madison, can you sit down?

No.

Madison,can you look at mommy?

No.

Madison, can you say cheese?

No.

What could I do? She didn't scream nor holler with her replies, she just politely replied No. I then remembered my old trick....I sang.

A little "Itsy Bitsy Spider" always does the trick.



And if you're happy and you know it, cover your eyes.



Peek-A-Boo



My favorite from our little trip....



Moments after we got home my mother-in-law came in whisked my subject away. Why? Because it's date night....again. In the past few weeks Ryan and I have had a couple of date nights. After our first night out I realized how import this time for just the two of us is. I had forgotten how much I love dating my husband. We have great conversation, share laughs and moments with our Maddie O. and just be without having the responsibility of a little one. It's nice for a little break and much needed to keep our strong marriage in tact.

We headed to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Pole Day. This is where the drivers run laps to determine the placement order at the start line on the day of the Indianapolis 500. Don't be fooled by my knowledge of the Indy 500, I'm no race car buff, just a gal ready to have a good time.

Cheers!



We had a little rain delay. So, we had to wait for them to dry the track. Luckily we had plenty of beer.



Unfortunately my date wouldn't cooperate with me so I could get a picture of the two of us. I took four and this is the best....seriously. After I would take the picture, he would crack up. Boys.



For the record....these I don't get, nor understand.



Until next time.....



Love,
-K

A kickoff to summer!

You know sometimes things just don't go your way.  We all learn that at some point or another.  This one here, Miss Independent, she is learning that now. 



She gets easily frustrated and occasionally throws herself on the ground in her visual and audible display of frustration but many times she's cool as a cucumber and walks with a strut.



My mother-in-law had a little Welcome-Back-From-College-Let's-Get-This-Summer-Started-Party this weekend.  It was our first day to be at her house, with the pool open this year.  Although the weather wasn't exactly cooperating we still managed to bring the fun.







Miss Independent, frequently referred to as Madison, had a ball with a bucket of water to which she referred to as "tea".  Baby girl had a bucket of tea and was having her own little party.





Until she was comfortable enough to test out the waters. I sat back and watched Madison reach her little hand over the side of the pool, meanwhile the others were having mild heart attacks fearing that she was going to fall in. Yeah, she might have and could possibly have but she didn't and there were four adults right there to get her out. No need to instill fear when fear isn't needed right? I don't know, really. Maybe I'm too relaxed with her sometimes.



She perched her little bottom on the side of the pool and kicked away. 





Even though the clouds covered our sun, it didn't cover our love for games.





It appears that someone has been watching her mama.



Well, we were having fun until Ryan made us work.



Some of us worked, some of us took pictures of others working.  Hey, someone has to document these good times right?  Right.

Marathon Mama

This weekend has been full of great accomplishments. 

It all started with the event I had been nervously anticipating....The Indianapolis Mini Marathon.

The race began at 7:30 a.m. Here is my view once the race began.  Take notice that we can't even see the start line, just a sea of some 40,000 participants.



Some people train for this event for months, dedicating their time and their health.  I was not one of these people.  From the very beginning I stated that I was just going to go out there and wing it.  And that's exactly what I did.



I ran six of the 13.1 miles and let me tell you that .1 was the worst of them all.  But overall I felt good.  There were people cheering us on the entire way, bands, cheerleaders from local high schools and family members of participants.  It is a whole community event.  We had rain and then sunshine along with temperatures that kept us cool.



Most of all I am proud of myself.  I did it! I finished in 3 hours and 13 minutes.  Not a competitive time but I certainly wasn't there to compete.  I was there to finish and achieve this great accomplishment.



And I did it along with four of my friends.



Now the question is....would I do it again?  Hell yes I would!



And today we celebrated the biggest accomplishment....Motherhood. It is Mother's Day and a happy Mother's Day it has been. Thanks to this sweet little face....



She's funny, she's silly and she has helped shape me into a better person.



This is such a special and important day to thank our mamas. It's so nice to also feel the thanks from my little bundle of joy with the help of her daddy of course.



Our day was spent relaxing and celebrating with Ryan's Mama.





Ryan fixed a delicious lunch for us on the grill, meanwhile we played in Nana's yard.









Today I'm sore, achy and can barely move but this little girl helps me forget my physical pain and to live in the moment.



Until next time....

Motherhood

Since the moment I found out we were pregnant, I set out on this quest to become the perfect mother. Let me clarify that, the perfect mother to our daughter, not The perfect mother. Perfection is defined differently by all and what I see as perfect maybe completely different from what someone else sees.



My idea of perfection consists of loving our daughter, nurturing her, providing for her, teaching her, showing her, giving her opportunities, allowing her to fail, celebrating her, catching her when she falls, listening to her, guiding her and just being her mommy. I don't want to be her friend necessarily because she will have those. She will make them and they will come and go. I want to be her mommy. That constant person in her life that will always be.



I have had many sleepless nights where I lay awake wondering if I'm doing this mothering-thing right. I've poured over the Internet seeking advice from other moms. I've read many blogs from mamas hoping to seek inspiration and guidance. And I've felt stress because this idea of perfection, that I have created, is just too much for one to handle.



I've been reading this book:



I'm not too far into it but what I've picked up on is that you can't be a great mother until you are happy with yourself. So, instead of focusing on being the perfect mom I've switched my focus over to being the best me I can be. So, far it is working. I am happy. Truly happy with everything and everyone around me. I am blessed and Life is Good.



I feel content with my mothering ability.

And as any good mama would do....I allowed Maddie to drink her daddy's water while he mowed the yard.



Hey, she was learning to drink from a water bottle, that's all.  I wasn't trying to teach her to be ornery by drinking her daddy's water so then he wouldn't have any. 



Bye for now!