Chicken Little stopped by to visit

Cedric and I ran errands one day two weeks ago and came home to find Dean standing in the driveway with a grin on his face.  When I got out of the car, I immediately asked what he was up to…I’m always suspicious when he’s smiling…it usually means he’s up to something.  He informed me that it’s destiny that we have chickens because a chicken walked up to him in the alley and let him pick it up.  Dean wasn’t sure where it came from, and of course he had to make sure I saw the chicken, so he put it in a little cage for safe keeping.  I don’t mind chickens, I just don’t need to own any.  We had to keep Bristol away from it because he went into bird dog mode every time he saw it or heard it.  Cedric wasn’t too sure what to think.

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But he eventually warmed up to the idea that the chicken could be touched…

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And even hugged…

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Which the chicken disapproved of!

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And here are a few of my favorite photos of Cedric that day…

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And again, the crib is really confining!

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When he’s up, however, he goes to great lengths to seek out the dog even when he’s hiding under the table.

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The May Wrap-up

Well, another month has gone by and I haven’t posted to my blog.  I have no excuses and need to make time for this on a more regular basis.  Honestly, I’ve been stressed out lately.  We are buying a house and the lender is being a royal pain in my hind quarters.  I think I’m a pretty laid back person (many people would agree with me…some others – who will remain anonymous- would disagree!), but when people whose jobs affect my life don’t seem to be doing their job…it gets my goat.  The loan processor that I spoke to earlier this week who got my goat…well, she got hung up on (I warned her I was going to hang up…does that count?).  That same loan processor sent me an email this morning (yes, it’s Saturday and she supposedly doesn’t work on Saturdays…maybe she worked anyway…maybe she scheduled to have the email sent in her absence so she wouldn’t have to deal with me in person…I would like to give her the benefit of the doubt here…but it’s hard…really hard)…and that email she sent me was almost the last straw to my loan sanity.  Basically, they are requesting stuff from us that they’ve known for a month we would need to get to them…but they are JUST NOW telling us.  Okay, enough of that.  I have had a beer before bed the past two nights because of this stress.  I haven’t drank in almost two years so one beer is all I need.  I discovered today, after a very stressful morning, that getting out of the house and taking some fun pictures helped to restore my sanity.  So tonight, as I sip my St. Pauli Girl, I’m going to chill out and share some shots from May.

 

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He’s cute and cuddly, but he’s protective of his toys and he doesn’t share well with others.  In fact, the only person who can touch his toys without him going into keep-away mode is Cedric…this is a good thing.

 

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The lilacs were blooming.  This one was intentionally focused on the lilac rather than Cedric’s face for a focusing assignment for my photography class, which is over with tomorrow.

 

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In some of these pictures, my white balance setting is really off…so if the color/balance looks funny…it is.  Just because I’m taking a photography class, doesn’t mean I’m good at it…yet!

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Some days, the crib is a bit too confining.

(Bristol is laying at my feet and he just farted…bleh..bleh…cough…cough)

 

And someone turned 9 months old so we did a photo shoot.

That’s his “I’m too sexy for this shirt and bow tie” pose!

 

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He’s been feeding himself dry little cracker bits (sweet potato or peach bites…compliments of Gerber…the only non-homemade food so far) since 8 months old and he’s doing quite well with his fine motor skills.

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Open wide!

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He loves the dancing, singing, Valentine monkey and has figured out how to turn him on/off by pressing his foot or picking him up by the hands.

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He loves looking at/reading books…and I love those pudgy little hands.

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I needed a subject for a photography assignment while we were at the cabin…and dad was the only one awake besides Bristol.  We tried some shots with both he and Bristol but they got too wound up.  He resorted to leaning on Aunt Geraldine’s rocking chair…sort of a goof off pose…but sort of cute also!

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And it snowed…and snowed…and snowed while we were up there.  And then it melted…and melted.  We tried to have some fun in the snow.

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And then we got ready to watch some Nascar action.  Grandpa warmed Cedric up from those shots outside with Aunt Tami.  Grandma was feeling a bit under the weather.

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And that’s all for May.  I didn’t do so well taking pictures while vacationing in Montana.  I need to get better at that as well.

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Still documenting life…

Well, it’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything here.  We made a trip to MT for Easter and at the same time I started taking a 10 week photography class online, and over the past two weeks I’ve been going to physical therapy for my hip.  I started working out more after getting home from our Easter trip and I started having lots of pain in my left hip.  The diagnosis: pelvic obliquity likely caused by some hip and lower back sprains over the years and definitely made worse by childbirth.  Since my first PT appointment 11 days ago (when they got everything realigned properly) my alignment has stayed in the proper place…so we’re doing good!  Now we’re working on releasing some tight spots and nerves, and strengthening some muscles.  My PT said the problem isn’t likely to occur again, but if it does it won’t be nearly as severe.

 

So, here are some photos from April:

 

Our trip to MT started with me, Cedric, and Bristol riding home with mom and dad after their visit.  Then Tami came during her spring break…so we had to do a little photo shoot.  See that little tooth in there, that broke through on March 21st…his second one just broke through on April 25th.

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Yes, his hair looks a bit strawberry blondish in the right light.  Here’s Grandma and Grandpa Fisher making him laugh.

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Cedric is showing Aunt Tami that he is SOOO Big!

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And, yes, me and my boy.

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A carousel ride with Aunt Tami.  It was really tough getting photos because it was moving pretty fast.  I love this one because they are grinning at each other.

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Then we spent Easter weekend with Dean’s family after Dean drove up and we died some Easter eggs.  Great fun!

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Like father……like son.

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And now, I’ve been having to take pictures for my photography class.

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And Bristol says, “Oh bother.”

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“Did someone say TREAT?”

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Well, that about wraps it up for April.  Until next time….

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Make some noise!

Look what my parents bought Cedric for Easter…yep…bongo drums!  They asked what to get him and so I suggested the bongos, and Cedric really likes them.  He either plays them, tries to suck on them, or turns them over and tries to figure out how they’re put together.

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Grandma showing him how it’s done.

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Bristol had to see what all the raucous was about.

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Cedric and I have little screaming contests just for fun.  I know, I know…someday I won’t find his screaming very funny but we make a game of it for now…and it makes him giggle and giggle.

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He’s a very curious fellow and is determined to figure out how things work…hmmm…sounds a bit like his dad the engineer!

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Well, someday I’ll be a better photographer…but at least his nose is in focus!  My good buddy is getting pretty gray.

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That’s all for tonight, folks.

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More fun in March

Here are some shots from this past week.

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Sporting a mini Grandpa Fisher hat!

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Grandpa Fisher borrowed a few items for a nap.
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Aunt Carol and Uncle Charlie came for a visit.
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Cedric really liked Aunt Carol’s earings!
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A double wammie.
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Woot Woot!

It has arrived…the new lens for my camera!  It’s a better lens for taking portraits and is a little more functional as far as options go.
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I made Dean pose on his way out the door to work the other day.  I’ve been using full manual mode…and you can tell that I still need to learn how to use it!  They’re a bit washed out…I think I’m forgetting to adjust the ISO setting down when I have the aperature wide.  But I LOVE Cedric’s face in this one!

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And…the best dog ever…General Bristol Bay!
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Look who came to visit!
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“If I could just get my hands on that toy…”

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Tada! I knitted a blanket

About 4 years ago I decided to learn how to knit.  So a friend in Belgrade (MT) taught me how (this was back in the day when I still lived there).  Then life got a little busy with seminary and my little knitting project was stashed in a bag and packed in a box and forgotten about for a while.  Then when I knew we were having a baby I thought I would get it done before the baby was born…but nope that didn’t happen.  So while I was home in MT this past Christmas and New Year I made it a goal to finish the blanket since my family would be able to play with Cedric while I knitted.  I made a lot of headway while I was home, but didn’t quite get it finished.  So when I returned to my southern home, I knitted while he napped…and I was getting soooo close to finishing….then I RAN OUT OF YARN.  Ooops.  I didn’t plan that very well.

I looked at Michael’s and Joann’s but it turns out that the yarn was discontinued (note to self: they discontinue yarns so don’t procrastinate next time!).  So I got online and looked for it, but same story there.  Nada.  I then went to ebay and found that someone had made a little hat and booties with that very same yarn so, of course, I bought it, and then I emailed the seller and asked if she had any leftover yarn and offered to buy it from her.  Yes, she did and it only cost me $3.50.  So I finished the blanket and then I needed a model…tada! I just happen to have one on hand.  Although this isn’t for Cedric, he looks darn cute modeling it!

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The booties were kind of loose.

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And then they were off.

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And somehow they ended up over there.

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And down there.

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But, oh look, the toes are now exposed and ready to be sucked on!

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Oh, hi mom!

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Sharing some February photos

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Oooo….look….a new camera (i.e. toy) to get his hands on!

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His pediatrician said to start brushing his gums (and teeth when they come in) every night before bed to get him used to the routine.  Here he is trying out his new toothbrush.

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All ready for some Nascar action!

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Here’s me just trying out different features of the camera…and in the process I capture some pretty neat photos.  I love this one.

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I don’t have very many photos of Cedric and I together in everyday moments, so here I am trying out the timer.  It took about 20 tries to get one shot with both of us looking at the lens!  Good thing for the little red blinking light that caught his attention!

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He has this thing with holding random objects in his mouth.

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Modeling his stylish, Montana hoop fest vest.

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This is his play spot on the living room floor.  I love his expression in this one.

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Another random object hanging from his mouth.

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Happy Valentine’s Day from Grandma and Grandpa Fisher.
We love you!

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An experience I had this past weekend…

Well, I attended the Shooting the West photography symposium this past Friday and Saturday and I want to share a little episode from Friday morning.  I go strolling in with Cedric (in his stroller) and one of the registration ladies stepped in front of me and asked, “Don’t you have anyone who could watch him while you are here?”  I said that no, I didn’t.  She just kept glancing from Cedric to me, and I finally said that if he got fussy during any of the presentations I would, of course, step out of the room so he doesn’t disrupt anyone.  She just stood there and wouldn’t let me in.  Then she started saying that their ‘clientele’ is mostly of the older generations and ‘it’ (yes, she kept referring to Cedric as ‘it’) might disturb them, and she pointed out that obviously it isn’t a place for kids or babies because ‘it’ was the only one there, etc., etc.  I kept reassuring her that I understood where she was coming from, but if it was that much of a concern then it should be stated clearly on their website and registration.  She said they don’t want to say that kids aren’t allowed but…but what?  If they aren’t, then they aren’t and just make that clear.  I kept trying to assure her that I would do my best to not have Cedric interrupt any of the presentations but she just couldn’t believe that someone would bring their baby to such an event.

Okay, yes, it was a professional meeting of sorts (although I’ve been to much more high class professional meetings in my day…and the occasional kid/baby was present).  I told her that if she wanted to refund my registration we would go home, but there was no way she was going to do that, so we stayed.  And Cedric did just fine.  I honestly had no idea what to expect attending the event and I knew from the get go that I wasn’t going to be able to take in 100% of the presentations with Cedric in tow, but I wanted to attend whatever was possible to learn a few tips about photography…and I did.

Another reason I refused to leave is because how can we expect kids to act appropriately around adults if they are continually banned from their presence.  I take Cedric to church every Sunday because I want him to learn now how to act in church.  I can’t ban him from church now, afraid that he’ll disrupt someone, and then start bringing him when he’s 3 or 4 and expect him to know how to act.  Same concept with having him in a room full of adults.  And besides, everyone was soooooo delighted to see a baby, they just oodled over him!

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