Sleep...mmmm.

So tired today. Tim and I always talk about how we wish we weren't so busy all the time, and yet.... we're the ones making all the plans. Well... maybe 50/50 - we also have a busy extended family that live nearby and include us in their busy plans. I remember taking naps in class during my senior year of high school. In full view of the teacher. How was this allowed!? I'd like to think I had the decency to do so when we were doing individual work or reading.... but I distinctly remember falling asleep during lectures. One time there was even drool running down my desk. I also slept through a lot of my college morning classes - as in, I didn't even bother leaving the comfort of my bed. Somehow I always finished with good grades.... it must have been due to being so well-rested.

Speaking of being tired, I'm beginning to realize I might have bitten off more than I can chew with this photography project. Taking a "good" picture every day is no easy feat, especially since I'm often limited to domestic objects. It's also extremely time consuming. It can take about half an hour to an hour just to find something worth photographing and another hour or two for selecting and editing the photo of choice. When I put my photography goggles on, in search of the perfect picture, I tend to view everything else as a distraction or obstacle between me and said picture, if I even take the time to acknowledge its presence to begin with. Needless to say, Tim and Jack had about 30 minutes of my attention from the time I got home till the time we went to bed. Not good.

So we'll see how far I go with it - I'd like to make it right to the end. But in order to do so I think that's going to involve branching out into new territories - husband and babe in tow so as not to feel completely disconnected by the end of the day.

No. 5 - Q-Tips

Shi.

It all began with a purple coat that I found on sale at the shoe store "Shi" for $20. The retail clerk was really friendly and helpful and all, "You look great in that coat."

I was about 5 months pregnant at the time so she was asking about that and her and Tim were comparing tattoos and yadda yadda somewhere between the purple coat and Tim buying my Sperry Top Siders a few months later she's now our best friend whenever we go in there. We'll even stop in there just to see if she's working so we can say hi.

Last time we were there we promised to bring Jack so she could see him and tonight that's just what we did. As soon as we walked in she recognized us and told another customer "Here are some of my regulars!" and then she got all excited when she saw we had Jack.

I enjoy our exchanges with our Friendly Shoe Salesperson - I'm thinking we should probably find out her name... although I think it might be Rachel. I've even been tempted to cross that "customer/sales clerk" line and say "Let's be friends outside of the store too!" cuz she's all hip and fun and young but that could be creepy and well, let's not ruin the good thing we've got going here with a total stranger.

Tonight's picture had me sweating (literally) as I scrambled to get it snapped before midnight (I did).

No. 4 - Spices

Not Pregnant.

It is HOT in Cleveland these days. Isn't that a new sitcom with Betty White? I can't wait for autumn - the crisp air, the beautiful colors.... and a break from the heat. Not to mention its perfect running weather. I've been meaning to try out my bargain bin workout DVD "Denise Austin's Bounce Back After Baby" - so far I've only managed to get on the elliptical, but hey its a start.

I've been semi-convinced since Friday that I'm pregnant again. Two home pregnancy and one $10 blood test later I'm "Not Pregnant." Thank goodness for that. I can only imagine (or actually no, I can't) what it would be like to have two kids under the age of 1. Not to mention having to face the reactions when we tell people that two months after giving birth to our first child we have another one on the way.

For now, the biggest shock of the whole ordeal is Tim's sudden eagerness to have another baby as soon as possible. What happened to, "We are definitely-no-questions-asked-for-sure-100% only having one child?" Apparently that went out the window with the excitement of another possible addition to the family. I think my body needs a break from the strain of pregnancy. But maybe one day we'll be ready again.... maybe.

No. 3 - Domo

Glitch.

So Project 365 (formerly known as Picture a Day) came to a screeching halt for 24 hours when I realized that the camera I was using was to set to store pictures in a small, web attachment size. This was no good. Should I ever (and I'm sure I will) want to make prints of even one of the 365 I take, they'll be too small to be any good. SO I was pretty deflated and almost threw the project out the window. But then Tim reminded me to be thankful that I found out now - after only two pictures had been taken - rather than fifty pictures from now. And luckily Tomatoes can be easily recreated once the sun hits my window ledge just right.

I went to an allergist the other day in search of answers for my crazy itchy skin and found out that I'm allergic to every grass known to man and especially a grass called.... Timothy. No joke. Apparently I also had a reaction to peanuts and halibut. I'm fine without the fish but can I really give up peanut butter on toast?

And it's that time of year again - Fantasy Football Leagues are a-flourishing. I couldn't give a hoot about any of it, but somehow I got put in the league even after graciously declining the invitation. So I'm making my picks with the help of Tim in between typing. I don't know a thing about football and if I think its far more fun to choose players based on their name or their picture - but there's a small part of me that doesn't want to go totally down in flames, so I tend to go with skill over flair. And that's all the football talk you'll hear from me for a while.

It's turning into a beautiful Sunday evening and I'm beginning to wonder if I took Picture No. 2 too soon:

No. 2 - Sunday Afternoon

No. 1 : Tomatoes

Day 1 of Picture a Day begins with promising results.....

No. 1 - Tomatoes

The Inevitable.

I was just picturing Jack about two years from now... toddling into my bedroom early in the morning before I've quite woken up, bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready for the day, and as he stands there.. eye-level with my pillow, gazing into my face with a concerned look on his face he'll suddenly realize what I've pondered from day one and say, "Who put you in charge? You definitely don't seem qualified to be a mother."

Itchy!

2 dermatologists + >$100 spent on creams and prescriptions = no answers, still itchy

Going to see an allergist tomorrow - hopefully this rash business will get sorted out. In the meantime, it's a constant reminder to be thankful that it's nothing serious and that God is blessing me in so many ways these days.

Today (or tomorrow) I am going to begin a "Picture a Day" project. 1 picture, 365 days. We'll see if I can keep it up.

I have a perty office now.. sharing with my bud Rebekah. We bought a diffuser that ended up making the space smell like orange gum.. or orange-scented household cleaner, depending on how it hits you. We're thinking we'll buy a fish, though experience tells me this will be a lot of work without much pay off.

On the last few discs of Mad Men Season 1 - liking it, except for all the adultery. What's with all these shows making marital infidelity the focus and fascination point? It's sad :(