Katy's Monthly Picture Project: The Big Reveal!

I am so excited about this blog post because I have been working on it for twelve months.  I was pretty good about not sharing sneak peaks, which makes it all the more exciting.

When Katy was just a few days old, I bought some stickers for taking monthly pictures.  You know the stickers - the ones that you adhere to the front of the baby's shirt or bodysuit and proclaim baby's age in months.  In the process of finding stickers, I also found collages by parents who took a monthly picture of their baby in the same outfit during their baby's first year.  Thus began my monthly picture project, and here's the final result:

I love how Katy's monthly picture project turned out!  My main regret is not starting with a day one picture Katy had already grown considerably after just one month.

Below are the pictures individually, which are also fun to look at.

Agh, the picture in the rocker at eleven months is my favorite.  So darn cute!

After looking at all these pictures, can you tell Katy learned to smile at three months?  Seriously, So. Darn. Cute.

See my related post Tips for Taking Monthly Pictures During Your Baby's First Year for more details on this project.

Tips for Taking Monthly Pictures During Your Baby's First Year

I recently completed a 12-month photo project of my first baby.  Here is the final result of that project:

I love how the collages turned out, but I also learned a few things along the way that would have improved my images.  I've compiled what I learned into a few tips that may help other parents as they embark on a similar project:

1.  Pick an outfit that is easy to find in sizes 0 - 12 months.   Also, pick accessories wisely. It's tempting to start with an adorable bow or headband, but remember that older babies who know how to control their arms love to take these things off as soon as you put them on.

2.  Pick one pose.  It takes a bit of patience to get the camera angle, lighting, and props set up just right and then take a picture with baby looking at the camera before baby begins disassembling things or squirms into an awkward position, especially as baby gets older and can crawl, pull up, and even walk.  Why do this to yourself with multiple poses?  Picking one pose will allow you to focus all your energy on getting that one picture just right.  I believe I would have better quality pictures if I had picked just one pose (I did five different pictures for some insane reason!).

3.  Pick a picture set up that is relatively easy to replicate.  The picture of Katy lying down was so easy to replicate because all I had to do was move her changing pad to the dining table and lay the same blanket over it.  The picture in the rocker, on the other hand, required positioning the rocker at just the right angle, making sure curtains were drawn just right, and clearing out nearby clutter I did not want in the picture.

4.  Pick a picture set up that is safe.  What is safe at one month, when baby is immobile, is not necessarily safe at one year, when baby can roll over, crawl, pull up, and walk.  I regretted using my dining table instead of the floor for the picture of Katy lying down.  Once Katy was confident with her mobility skills, it was a little scary to leave her lying on a narrow table while I stood over her to take pictures.  The same goes for the pictures in the rocker  A chair low to the floor or a chair that does not rock is preferable when baby is older and able to lunge forward unexpectedly or pull up into a standing position with ease.

5.  A prop adds perspective.  In my pictures, the changing pad and the rocker remain constant in size, allowing the viewer to measure Katy's monthly growth by comparing her size each month to the rocker and the changing pad.  The size of the prop, however, is something important to consider.  Another picture I took each month was Katy lying down in the seat cushion of her rocker.  It was my favorite pose at the start of the project but didn't work in the end because Katy outgrew the seat.  I also took a monthly picture with a pink teddy bear.  The smaller size of the teddy bear gave great perspective but by six months, Katy constantly played with it.  I ended up with pictures of Katy on top of, behind, eating, holding, or falling on the teddy bear.  It sounds cute, but it actually made taking a decent picture difficult.

6.  Pick a camera angle that is relatively easy to replicate.  Again, the angle in the pictures of Katy lying down was fairly easy replicate because I just stood over her and centered her in the picture.  Variations in angle were fairly minor.  The angle in the picture with the rocker, on the other hand, was much harder to replicate, and it shows.

7.  Consider when during each month you will take your picture.  Taking the picture at the beginning of each month allows to you take the last picture on or around the first birthday, which means you can share the final collage in celebration of baby's birthday.  I was so excited to display Katy's monthly pictures on our TV during Katy's first birthday party.  Taking the picture at the end of the month, however, means that the final picture will be taken almost a month after the first birthday.    
8.  Stickers are optional.  You don't need the monthly anniversary stickers because you can add the month as text during editing or as captions when you share your pictures, or not at all.  When combined in a collage with a simple title, it's pretty clear that picture number six was taken at six months of age.  If you like the stickers and want to use them, they are sometimes a distraction when baby is older.  By six months, Katy  pulled at the sticker, stared down at the sticker, and moved so much that she often covered the sticker in her pictures.

9.  Some variation is good.  Variations in poses show off baby's development and personality and make the pictures fun to look at in combination.  The same goes for slight variations in lighting and camera angle.

10.  Be persistent and patient.  Take a break and return to picture taking later during the day if baby just isn't cooperating.  When baby is in a good mood, stick with taking pictures until you get one you really like.  You'll be glad you put in the extra minutes in the end.

11.  Editing is your friend.  My editing was limited to cropping and playing with lighting and contrast a bit, but even this limited editing made a big difference in uniformity. If you are good with editing software, your pictures will look even more uniform.

These tips require a little forethought and may even require a practice shoot of different set-ups without baby.  You'll be glad you did the prep work, however, because it will make the project easier to complete and the end result better.  I can't wait for baby number two so that I can implement these tips and see how much the project improves!

God's Little Reminders

This week Chris and I took on a new monthly expense for something very responsible and unexciting.   I went to bed a bit apprehensive about how our recent career changes would accommodate for this new expense.  The next morning, the hot water heater busted.  "Ugh," I thought, "yet another expense." Chris went right to work removing the busted hot water heater and in the process discovered there were a few months left on the warranty.  All we needed for a replacement hot water heater was the receipt of purchase...the receipt from a purchase made by the former home owners in what we suspected was September 2011.  Ugh again.  All I can say is, "Praise God," because in a drawer full of manuals, notes, spare parts, and receipts the former home owners left behind, we found the receipt.  By the end of the day, we had a new hot water heater and hot water in abundance.

This week I went to bed apprehensive about a new expense and the next day, God used a busted hot water heater and a 4.5-year-old receipt to remind me that He will provide for our needs.  Thank you Jesus for these perfectly timed little reminders.

Katy's Walking!

Katy's first steps were accidental.  It took her a while to realize she could walk but once she did, things progressed quickly.  At first, she used furniture and other objets to stand and balance.  When she fell, she continued to her target by crawling.  In no time, however, Katy realized she could stand up and take off on her own.  That's when she stopped crawling.

Katy's gait is comical: she teeters and wobbles, she has a wide stance, and she stumbles a lot.  She has a hard time multi-tasking or transitioning between uneven surfaces.  She frequently forgets to watch her step for large or small objects in her path.  None of this stops Katy from walking all over the place every chance she gets.

Before Katy started walking, she was still very much a baby to me.  She looked big to me because I compared her to her former tiny baby self.  Walking Katy is a toddler to me.  Now I compare her to other toddlers and she looks small again to me.  I like that.

Katy LOVES playing outside.

Looking small in the bathtub. 

Katy and Doug are both fascinated by the sprinkler wells.

Valley Gems

Sometimes the Valley is really, very beautiful.

Beautiful places are perfect for beautiful people... 

...Unless we're looking directly into the setting sun.  In that case, neither the people nor the place look very beautiful. 

Katy's First Birthday: Pancakes and Primary Colors

In honor of Katy's first birthday, Chris and I threw her a pancake party. I know Katy was too young to understand what was going on or make any memories, but she really did enjoy herself at the party.  She is always happy when there is lots of activity to observe, explore, and join.  

My favorite part of the party was singing happy birthday to Katy.  I put Katy in her table chair with her cake just out of reach, which made her a bit antsy.  When everyone began singing, however, her fidgeting halted instantly.  She simply watched in wonder as 20 people stood around her smiling and singing. When everyone clapped and cheered at the end of the song, Katy gave a huge smile, let out happy baby squeals, and clapped right along.  Katy's response made everyone smile and cheer even more.  Pure joy is infectious.

Chris and I tried to keep Katy's party simple and handcrafted.  There was no theme, just lots of pancakes and primary colors.  

The party room ready for guests!

Tia Vivian made a beautiful, yummy cake.

I doodled on the table runner.

I drew the sign. Chris built the stand.

I sewed card stock circles to make the garland.

I made Katy a birthday outfit.

Doing what she does best in a very puffy tutu.

With her Gigi.

With her cousin Elijah.

Cousins hamming it up, each in their own way.

Tia Vivian, the baker.

Katy and her buddy Leonardo.

Pancakes, fruit, and juice. 

Katy approved of the blueberry pancakes.

Yum, yum!

Just one candle to light.

Helping mom and dad open gifts.

Her first baby: she LOVES cuddling with it!

Katy with her friends: they're all male.  Dad's already worried.

Chris and I saved a small cake and our gifts for her actual birthday, which fell later during the week.  No longer stuffed full of pancakes, Katy had a blast eating her cake.

She likes to eat books; She must have known this was a book. 

Mini cake for a mini girl.

Cake is yummy!

Q&A with Myself: Domestic Update

I've been a stay-at-home-mom for four months now, and I LOVE IT!!!  Here are my answers to your burning questions about the life of a stay-at-home-mom.

Q: Do you sleep in everyday?

A: No, although I frequently sleep later than I did when I was working.  Katy wakes up between 7 and 8 a.m., which means I do too.  At least once a week, I wake up much, much earlier because I can accomplish so much before Katy wakes up.

Q: Do you take lots of naps?

A: I don't think I do, but others might disagree.  Katy takes two naps a day and I currently nurse or rock her to sleep.  I usually take a 15 minute cat-nap while I'm putting her to sleep.  She won't need me to nurse and/or rock her forever, so I'm enjoying this time as much as I can.

Q: Do you watch lots of TV?

A: No.  Daytime TV is rotten, and I have better things to do than watch TV.  Katy and I play outside, read tons of books, play silly games, walk to the grocery store, and visit the library at least once a week.  I almost always have a crafty project in the works.  I've discovered that cooking can be a lot of fun when you have the time and energy to enjoy it.  My meals now include homemade breads, broths, and sauces. In between all of this fun, I try to squeeze in a bit of cleaning.  That doesn't leave much time for TV, although I frequently have Netflix playing in the background when I'm working during Katy's nap time.

Q: Are you overworked and under-appreciated?

A: No.  Sometimes I get frustrated on the weekends because it feels like I never get a break from catering to others or because Chris is ready to relax while I'm ready to go, go, go.  Overall, however, my life as a stay-at-home-mom is much less stressful than my former life as a working mom, and Chris never ceases to thank me for my contributions to the household.  Maybe my opinion will change with time, or with the addition of more children, but for now I do not feel overworked or under-appreciated.

Q: What is your favorite part of being a stay-at-home-mom?

A: My connection to Katy.  Taking care of Chris.  Having flexibility.

Q: What is your least favorite part of being a stay-at-home-mom?

A: Mopping.  Cleaning bathrooms.  Dry hands. Overcoming a sense of uselessness when visiting family because others are caring for Katy and I do not have a house to tend to.

Q: Do you miss your job?

A: No. Not at all. Not one bit.  Maybe I will miss my job at some point in the future, but right now I am exactly where I want to be.  I do, however, miss my paycheck.  That part of my job was pretty nice.

Mimi

Chris and I traveled to Fort Worth for Thanksgiving this past year.  My family had a huge Thanksgiving dinner at the student center at Southwestern Adventist University.  Katy and I chose to sit at the grandma table with Grandma Sullivan, Mimi, and Hazel.  Katy loved Thanksgiving dinner and ate, ate, ate everything I gave her.  Mimi told me we would not have to worry about Katy not eating.  I visited Mimi the following Monday.  We spent the morning watching Katy's baby antics.

Chris and I did not make it to Fort Worth in time to see Mimi again before she passed away.  In a way, that makes me sad.  At the same time, however, I am glad that my last memories of Mimi are memories of her conscious and enjoying her family.  My last goodbye was a happy one.

It is always sad to lose someone special, but it is especially hard now that I have a child.  I remember an incident several years ago when my mom started to cry while talking about her dad, someone who died when I was very young.  My mom said that she was sad because her children never knew her dad.  I now understand the sadness my mom was trying to express.  Katy will have no memories of Mimi, a person I so dearly wanted Katy to know.  I will tell Katy about her great grandma, but the stories will always remain impersonal and unemotional to her.  This is what I grieve the most.

Below is Mimi's life story, which I wrote for her memorial service.  Treasure your time with your loved ones, because time is a gift from God.

My favorite picture of Mimi and I.

Mimi's Life Story

Helen Maxine Jenkins was born on November 18, 1930, in Desoto Parish, Louisiana, to W.C. and Hallie Whitten.  She was the oldest of seven children.  She attended Jefferson Adventist Academy.  At the age of 16, she left home and headed to New Mexico.  At the time, she lacked half a credit from receiving her diploma at Jefferson Academy.

Helen settled in Artesia, New Mexico, where she met her future husband, Dennis Jenkins, while waiting tables.  Dennis and Helen married on July 10, 1950.  They spent 34 happy years together before Dennis tragically died in an oil field accident on January 23, 1985.

Dennis and Helen raised four daughters in Artesia, Virginia "Jenny," Sarah Denise, Brenda Geraldine "Jerri," and Lynda Kaye.  While Dennis worked in the oilfields, Helen raised her daughters, babysat children in the community, and used her talented sewing skills to sew clothes for the public.  Helen also enjoyed sewing for her girls, who were dressed for special occasions in matching, homemade dresses.  

When Helen’s daughters grew older, Helen began working at the Sears counter in Artesia.  Helen spent many years standing behind that counter all day in her high heels. 

In 1977, Helen’s daughter Denise gave birth to her first grandbaby, Matthew Hickey, and Helen became Mimi.  Matt was the first of Helen’s 11 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren, whom she loved unconditionally. 

In 1993, Helen moved to Crowley, Texas, to be closer to family.  While living in Crowley, Helen volunteered at Harvest House and Huguley Hospital, and was a founding member of the Crowley Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Helen was the foundation of family.  No matter where she lived, her house was filled with family and friends, for whom she always made hot coffee and the best banana bread and pound cake.  Helen’s grandchildren loved spending a couple of weeks during the summer at Helen’s home in Artesia, playing on the swing set in the front yard, jumping on the trampoline, catching horned toads, and running around with her dog Joe Spot.  Her home in Crowley was a family gathering spot, where her loved ones spent countless hours at the dining table doing puzzles and playing Skip-Bo, Scrabble, and Sequence.   In 2012, she had the unique honor of celebrating her 82 birthday with her 98 year-old mother.

The love of Jesus lived in Helen’s heart.  Helen always knew how to share Jesus’ love with others without condemning or judging. While living in Artesia, the nearest church was 35 miles away.  Despite the long drive, she and her girls never missed church and they were never late.   Helen's unwavering commitment to her faith eventually led her husband Dennis to Christ, who her family knows she is eager to embrace again in Heaven. Oh, what a joyous, long-awaited reunion that will be!

Helen’s family was never limited to those related to her by blood.  Her Christ-like love for others looked beyond outward appearances, past mistakes, bad habits, and cultural differences.  She cared for many when no else would or could.  She treated friends like family, and was the proud sister, mother, and Mimi to her adopted family members, Hazel, Teresa, and Lerin. 

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis, and her parents.  She is survived by her siblings (Betty, Lloyd, Wesley, L.J., Paul, and Kenneth), daughters and their spouses Jenny (Kevin), Denise, Jerri (Kim), and Lynda (Lonnie); eleven grandchildren (Matt, Sam, Katie, Kimberly, Sara, Casey, Denise, Travis, Kelly, Dennis, and Dylan), eight great granddaughters (Addison, Riley, Elayna, Ashlyn, Kaylie, Hallie, Katy, and Lakynn), and her first great grandson on the way. 

In 2011, Helen was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer.  For four years she fought for her life with love, dignity, and a smile on her face.  Helen passed away in the early morning hours of December 12, 2015.  Her passing was what we all hope for: peaceful, at home, surrounded by all of her children, with Jesus in heart, and after a long, fulfilling life of love.

365

Three hundred and sixty five days ago, I was pregnant.  I woke up at 4 a.m. to signs of pre-labor.  I could not go back to sleep.  I laid in the dark on the living room couch listening to the sounds of the waking birds.  I went to the doctor and then to work.  I told my boss I was not going to make it to my due date.  The false contractions were now starting in my back and traveling to my abdomen.  It would be several days until I realized that these were not false contractions.  I ate lunch by myself at a restaurant, ignoring the tightening in my abdomen and pondering the fact that no one could tell what I was hiding.  After lunch, I organized my desk and my case files.  I was nesting.  In the evening, I ran errands.  As I stood in line at a store, I wished for the line to move faster because I felt as though I could not stand much longer.  I convinced Chris to cancel our dinner plans.  I really wanted to put away the gifts from the baby shower the day before.  I was still nesting.  I called my mom and my doula.  No one concluded that I was in labor.  I took a bath.  I shaved my legs.  I could not sleep.   Chris went to the store for sleep aids.  At 11 p.m., I started timing contractions.  Less than five minutes apart and Chris was still at the store?!?!?!? Six hours later, I was a mom.

Three hundred and sixty five days ago, I went into labor at work and didn't even realize it.

Ew, Yuck

A few months ago, a young man made cat calls at me while I walking only to cease such catcalls upon seeing that I was walking with a baby.  I think the young man's reaction to seeing Katy was appropriate.

More recently, I was walking in my neighborhood with Katy in her stroller when a man driving a truck traveling toward me hung his head out his window and made kissing faces at me, complete with kissing sounds.  He was obviously aware that I was with a baby.  He was either making kissing faces at me or at Katy.  Either way, his reaction to seeing a mom and baby was not appropriate.  Ew, yuck.   

Duplo Blocks

Shortly after Katy was born, some friends gave Katy a set of Duplo blocks.  Although Katy cannot put the bricks together, she spends a lot of time exploring the different shapes, sizes, and colors of the bricks.  Her exploration, which began as staring at the bricks before putting them in her mouth, progressed to include rubbing the bricks on the floor, banging the bricks together, pounding the bricks on other objects, and poking her pointer finger in the small holes on the underside of the bricks.

While Katy meticulously examines the bricks, I sit next to her and build.

I build symmetrical shapes.

I build structures that use all of the pieces.

I spell.

I build people and furniture.

I incorporate other toys.

I make sure Katy has fun while I am building.

Katy recently learned how to pull bricks apart, which has seriously hampered my ability to build anything.  Most of my "building" now consists of tall towers designed specifically for Katy to pull apart.  Someday, however, Katy will learn how to snap the bricks together and then I will begin teaching her how to build.

Clapping and Standing Was Never So Fun

Last week Katy clapped upon hearing applause in a soundtrack.  I thought it was coincidence, but then she did it again the next day.   Today at the Little Gym, Katy stood on her own for a few seconds before slowly lowering herself to the floor.  Then she did it again at home for her dad.  

It is a really cool experience to grow a baby inside of you, birth that tiny baby, and then serve as the baby's sole source of nutrition for several months.  It also a really cool experience to watch that tiny baby develop from a sleepy, helpless blob into an interactive, clapping and standing tiny person.  Oh, I love being a mom.

Convertible Mom

Last night, after Katy went to bed, I went to Target in my convertible.  I made my $1.50 purchase minutes before Target closed, and then I headed home.  The weather outside was nice.  Really nice.  It was so nice that instead of taking the direct route home, which is a mere 2.2. miles, I took the 30 minute "scenic route" that somehow took me to the expressway.  It was dark, and it was late.  The top was down, and the radio was up.  I did not feel like a mom, and I liked it.

Nine Months

Today Katy is nine months old.  At nine months, Katy is constantly looking to pull herself into a standing position, she loves for me to help her walk by holding her tiny hands, and she sometimes insists on feeding herself.  I can see the toddler inside her trying to emerge.

One evening this week, Katy was having a hard time falling asleep for the night.  I finally picked her up  and laid her on my chest to rock her.  Eventually, her wiggles gave way to my firm hold and she began making little sounds I hadn't heard in months, little sighs of defeat as she drifted to sleep.  It reminded me of the sleepy noises tiny, newborn Katy made and that Katy is still my little baby.

Katy June and her Dad.

Attorney at Law on Hold

The week before last I left this:

For this:

Self-imposed unemployment.  Stay at home mom.  Attorney at law on hold.  Whatever you call it, hopefully it means no more Saturday nights spent like this:

Work, work, and more work.

I'm pretty sure my new client doesn't understand the significance of the recent change.  Someday, however, Katy will be an adult with a career of her own and in all likelihood, a family of her own as well.  Maybe then Katy will understand what this change means for her, for me, and for our family.

Only a week in and I already love my new job.  Praise God for opening doors, providing options, and guiding life decisions.