This one's about me

I think all of my blog posts in the last 4 1/2 months have been about Ava, because having a baby has taken over my life (in a good way)!

That being said, I've found I need something that's still me, so photography has become important to me in a new way. I have a couple of things I'm doing soon that I'm REALLY excited about!! But I won't say anything yet. I'm shooting my first wedding of the year in two weeks - fingers crossed for decent weather! Cardston always seems windier and colder than anywhere else even in the summer, so I'll be layering up I'm sure.

I was inspired by Gail Werner awhile ago to do a monthly self-portrait project. The 365 Projects were just too much for me, because I felt constricted and like it was another thing I HAD to do, and I wanted a photography project to be fun. I'm kind of putting my own twist on it, as in I'm just doing whatever I feel like with it as long as I'm in the picture. This is my March self-portrait(s):

I sent a photo to a friend awhile ago (I used it in the leisure guide) and when she asked me for it she said she's hardly ever in pictures because she's always taking them. Aren't most moms like that? Mine was.

Sometimes I really hate asking people to take my camera and take a picture of me, but I'm getting over it. Either I don't look that good or people are intimidated by my camera (not so much anymore since more and more people have DSLRs). Or, I'm afraid people will think I'm vain.

For this project, I'm taking my own picture, even though it's probably a little weird to some people (really, who sets up their tripod and timer and takes pictures of themselves, right?!). After going through all of the pictures of the first two years of my marriage and finding about 10 of me, I felt strongly enough about it that, like I said, I'm getting over it. :)

Ava - 4 months

4 months already! Her hair is pretty much gone except for the fringe on the back, and she now has blonde fuzz coming in. She likes to chew on everything, and will lunge towards my face with her wide open mouth just to try to chew on me. She likes to roll over onto her right side but has only rolled all the way over twice. She loves to pull on my hair and my earrings and I'm starting to understand moms cutting their hair off! I am constantly pulling my hairs out of her little fist. Post-natal shed in full swing! Yuck.

1 month                                                    4 months

Waking up!

She wakes up a little early for me, like 5 or 6, so I feed her and then she has a little nap with me until about 8. But she has forgotten how to sleep through the night in the last week and usually wakes up two other times, too. It's hard to go back to waking up during the night. Hopefully this doesn't last long. She doesn't even go to bed until 10:30 or 11:00. It's been slowly getting earlier though. It used to be 12:00 or 12:30.

Clark's mom's birthday is at the end of February, and Ava wanted to wish her a happy one!

I finally started using Instagram:

She is always holding her hands together and playing with them, but she actually got them perfectly interlaced. 

 She's discovered her toes!

 
She is so much better at tummy time now - no more instant protests. :)

She's getting more chub and now has dimples on the backs of her legs! Haha

 This was her 4-month shoot:

Grandpa and Ava

The first time she rolled over - I was at the computer and turned to look back at her and she was like this. I can't remember why she was naked because she never hangs out in just her diaper like this.

And the monthly collage...

Bowling & Cheesecake

My sister and I and Amy took our kids bowling one day during the week off of school. My nephew LOVED it!

 Amy's little girl was so sweet to him. Love her. I took pictures of Amy's kids, too (lots), but I didn't ask her if I could put them on here.

Gav was guarding the balls to make sure they stayed put.

Ava had a nap and was happy right until the end. I've been trying to get in pictures once in awhile, but this was all we got. :)

After bowling we went and visited my grandma in the hospital. She had a really bad cold she couldn't kick so she was in there for a little bit. We had a nice visit and she loved seeing Ava. My grandma is one amazing woman!

 Me and my baby girl. :) Whenever the phone comes out she stops and stares at it, so it's hard to get smiles.

Ava loves her daddy!

I tried a new recipe and Clark and I both loved these mini chocolate chip cheesecakes. I decided to take a picture of something that wasn't Ava, so here are unnecessary pictures of my creations. :) I originally made them for Valentine's Day with cute little toppers and pink icing but I didn't get them delivered right away so I didn't give them to anyone. Yes, lame. I know.

February Randomness

February went by really quickly. I thought I had slowed down with the picture taking, but apparently that's not really possible...I have so many pictures of this little girl! Surprise. :)

Valentine's Day was great, we hung out at home and Clark got me roses and LOTS of chocolate. I love Ferrero Rocher's, especially in bulk! I did that 14 Days of Valentine's from Pinterest and even though it was totally cheesy I think Clark liked it.

I took Ava to the infant massage class at the Parent Link Centre and she liked it when I did it at home but the class was right during her morning nap and she would end up crying by the end so I didn't even go to the last two. I figured the other moms were probably tired of my crying baby! But it was fun to get out of the house and see some grownups. :)

I went to a girl's night that was really fun and I had no idea, before having Ava, how necessary those would be once I had kids! It's so good to get out of the house with a bunch of girls. So far Ava goes everywhere with me, but people always want to hold her so I still get a break.


This is Ava all ready for church! I loved her little silver shoes, but she lost one of them at Montana's the second time she wore them.

Patiently waiting in her swing for mom to get ready for church one morning...

My little brother's birthday party - Ava was SO tired.

I'm in a picture! That's my little brother and our nephew Gav. Gav LOVED the balloons at the party. 

I love that she has little wrinkly rolls around her knees. She only ever puts her legs straight when she wakes up and is stretching, and I never have the camera then, so this was my attempt to pull her leg straight. She's strong! Haha

Her soft little hair - it's falling out.

Asleep on mom - some of the best moments of the day. :)

Hangin' out in her Bumbo.

Getting ready to go somewhere, I can't remember where...

Thank goodness for swings!

I love when she wakes up happy

This is the weirdest picture, but I was changing her diaper and I went to grab a wipe and she just randomly rolled onto her side. It was the first time she'd ever done it so I grabbed my phone and took a picture really quick.

She rolled over on the couch. The couch is not a very flat surface so I didn't count it as an actual roll over, but her dad has kind of a boring job so I took the pic to send to him. :)

Fresh outta the bath! She really doesn't like them very much so I've been trying different things to try to fix that. It's been getting better.

 

I just love being this kid's mom. :)