Natalya's 1st Birthday

I can hardly believe that my baby girl is 1! This year has flown by, filled with joy beyond expectation or expression.  Natalya lights up the world in her path. I am so grateful to be her mommy.

My friend Meagan and I had her first birthday party on Saturday afternoon and it was a wonderful time. She was the belle of the ball and enjoyed every minute of it. I'll post more pictures from the party after my girlfriends email me what photos they took, seeing that my camera ran out of battery one third of the way through the party. For now.....

FIFTEEN FUN FACTS ABOUT NATALYA 

1. Natalya loves dog and cat food. 
2. Natalya adores babies - doll babies, actual babies, pictures of babies, the word "babies."
3. Natalya likes flipping the light switch to turn off the lights... 
4. And when she does, she claps for herself and says, "Yay!!!"
5. Natalya picks up everything so lovingly and puts it in her mouth with reverence.
6. Natalya loves watching her brother jump up and down...
7. Nothing makes her laugh harder.
8. Natalya has three teeth and two more just under the surface of her gums.
9. Natalya likes to comb her own hair.
10. Natalya has a sixth sense for knowing when the bathroom door is open...
11. And is dying for the chance to splash in the toilet.
12. Natalya gives the best open mouth kisses.
13. Natalya loves her Gramma Mo.
14. Natalya has an absolutely infectious laugh.
15. Natalya is loved, so completely and utterly, head-over-heels, loved by everyone who knows her.

Talya's 1st Ponytail

Check out Talya's first ponytail... TOO CUTE!!

Laughing Sissy

I have been creating and crafting my tushy off. In a good way, of course. See what I've been doing here. I hope you all enjoy this video. I was trying SOOOO hard not to laugh when I was recording, but I wasn't 100% successful. I couldn't help it. This little girl sure loves her brother. 

OK, I'm off to eat my Slow Cooker Chicken Paella. Mmmm... The gorgeous smell is wafting (yes, I did say wafting) down the stairs. It is a Weight Watchers recipe.

Oops - The video just finished processing and I realized that I needed to rotate it before uploading. Oh well, it didn't lose any hilarity. I have tears in my eyes right now from laughing so hard. Now you see what a charmed life I lead. I am so blessed!

BTW - I will post a link to the Paella recipe tomorrow. I want to get this post up before my mommy leaves work. Toodles...

Photographing Talya - Day 5

She loves being upside down and tickled simultaneously!

Photographing Talya - Day 4

Talya had so much fun during this naked photo shoot. I don't let her run around naked nearly enough! She sat for 15 minutes slapping her leg and enjoying the sound that it made. What a blast - now I'm having to think outside of my normal picture taking patterns. 

BTW- In the last picture you can see how long her hair is getting. I am obsessed with her thick, long, beautiful hair. :)

Love this View

This is what I saw looking out my living room window this morning. There is nothing better than fall leaves, bright yellow, set against the grumbling, gray Portland sky. Just ignore the basketball hoop and street light, please. It was a fleeting moment and I wanted to capture it while I could. ;-)

Photographing Talya - Day 3

So I missed a day... nobody's perfect. That's what I'm telling myself. I didn't stop taking pictures though. Here's what I came up with over the last two days.

I've been playing with ISO speed and like that these pictures blurred a little. It suits the mood of the photos nicely. Plus, it's one of two settings that I can manually change on my point and click, the other being OEV and I don't know what OEV is or does and haven't taken the time to look it up on the web. Instead I'm comparing Digital SLR's... 

This picture was captured while I was recording video on my camera and although it's dark, I like that the composition is different from what I normally do. 

Matthew took this picture of us. Considering he's four years old, I think he took a great picture. Also, I don't have many pictures of Talya and me because I'm usually the one behind the camera. 

Check Out my Other Blog

A few weeks ago, I told you about a book that I am reading, "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. This book walks the reader through a specific process to enhance and "unblock" their creativity. I've been working with elements of the book for over two months now. A few weeks back, I started a Meetup at my home to work through the twelve-week process in a group. I was soooo nervous to get this going myself but am so glad that I did. I have meet great people and artists as a result and am so thankful to have support while engaging in this journey. 

So... as a way to document the process and have a way to communicate with the group in between meetups, I started a blog, Living the Artist's Way. I've been a bit reluctant to post the link. Thus far, working through the process has been tumultuous. I've experienced some low, lows and some high, highs. Documenting these emotions feels risky to me and that fear grows when I think of you, my friends and family, reading them. I fear that you'll think I'm crazy or manic depressive or something else completely horrible. I feel like I shouldn't share these feelings and emotions with the people I love because I don't anyone to worry. Somehow, it seems more permanent, when the journey is actually ever-changing. 

This morning, however, it occurred to me that I could be missing out on support and encouragement by not sharing these experiences with you all. And nothing feels better or is more reassuring that wishes for happiness and success from the people I love. 

I hope you'll check out the blog and comment to your hearts content. I am lucky to have you all in my life and I believe that with your support and understanding, this process will help me become a better, happier, and more fulfilled person. Thanks guys- I love you all.

Photographing Talya - Day 2

I didn't do much picture taking today. At any rate, this is Talya playing peek-a-boo with the living room curtains. It is one of her favorite things to do. I love how the profile captures her chubby little cheeks. My, they are soft! I had to use the flash because of poor light. We are currently looking for an arc lamp. I'm totally in love with them. But I digress. I don't like using flash. It seems to distort the essence of the subject being photographed. Can you tell I've been reading my photography book! ;-) More tomorrow...

Photographing Talya - Day 1

Morning

OK- that's better. GOOD morning!

Get me out of this highchair... I'm done eating.

More pictures, Mom!?!

I must admit... I do looking dashing in this wig!

My first day of Assignment: Photographing Talya was a joy. Yet I often felt that my photography abilities failed to do my beautiful Talya justice. To remedy this I went to the public library and checked out a book, "The Idiot's Guide to Digital Photography." Fitting, I thought. I will be so pleased if my pictures improve throughout the course of this assignment.

Talya was here...

...and she's discovered toilet paper!