easily distracted

one of my favorite senior sessions yet

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:38:00 +0000

This girl was barefoot the entire time we traipsed around her farm. She rode a bike, climbed a tree...

and yet could look gorgeous in a prom dress.

lullaby

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:00:00 +0000

Josh and I had the last half of our breastfeeding class last night. The instructor was saying how there have been so many babies born in the hospital recently. She was saying that as she walked in she had heard the lullaby play over the loudspeaker. (The hospital plays a short lullaby every time a baby is born.) Halfway through class the lullaby played and then again at the end of class! I couldn't help but tear up a little bit thinking about how soon that was going to be playing for Josh and I. Only seven more weeks...

a couple of CJ

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:12:00 +0000

Pam and Chris took a little road trip on Saturday to see us and they let me take some pictures of their adorable little guy. I'm not even kidding you when I say I smiled the entire time I worked on his pictures last night. About every other picture I would have to yell for Josh to come and look.

CJ did so well spending the afternoon at my house. He ate a couple times, napped, played, giggled... Oh, the giggling...that could melt anyone's heart! I already can't wait to see them again and do some more pictures of the little guy.

have a NICE day

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:45:00 +0000

Yesterday I came across this blog Operation NICE and had to read through the whole thing. It's always a little disheartening when people are surprised to see the door held for them. I remember a few months ago Josh and I had a cart full of groceries at Meijer. A guy and his son came in line behind us with about six cases of pop. I told the guy to just check out before us. He stared at me in disbelief and I think even said, "Are you sure?".

I try to do something nice everyday but it's easy to get caught up in my own world. Sometimes I don't even see what's going on around me. Or sometimes I see things I could do but chicken out. I still kick myself for the time I didn't help the single dad bag his own groceries.

Check out the blog and maybe we'll all remember to be a little nicer this weekend. I love the idea of leaving little postcards saying nice things around town. Maybe I'll try that out...

click, click, click

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:52:00 +0000

After my weekend off, I decided I should update my Knight Light "To Do" list on our chalkboard door. The list of four quickly grew to nine projects in the works. And then I had a nervous breakdown... Actually I think I'm handling it pretty well and working any free time I have.

The biggest project is the wedding we shot a few weeks ago. I finished up all basic processing last night. That's about 1000 pictures, people. I'm really hoping to get that completely wrapped up tonight which would be a huge relief. I'm really trying to stay chilled about everything and not stress out.

So for now, every evening has me in front of my computer just clicking away.

the pentax spotmatic

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:44:00 +0000

To end my birthday weekend, Josh and I decided to go to a huge flea market on Sunday morning. We skipped church and headed out there after getting some coffee. We aren't really serious shoppers when it comes to antiques. I just like to look at the stuff. So we meandered through the huge outdoors section and finally started on the inside. We weren't even halfway through the first row and I hear Josh say, "Oh no". I turn to look at the booth he had spotted. Two tables FULL of old cameras. (We kind of have a thing for old cameras.) We headed over there and slowly picked through the cameras.

The guy selling this stuff started chatting camera stuff with us. After hearing that we knew what we were talking about he said, "You know... I have this old Pentax camera. It's not out but if you guys would be interested in it, I would sell you all the gear too". He dug out a rubbermaid container from under the table and opened it up. Again my husband said, "Oh no".

The camera itself was in great condition but so was most of the gear that included four lenses (one of which was a fisheye), filters, cable releases, two flashes... We decided we should keep walking so we could think about it some more. The funny thing is that recently I've been wanting to try my hand at film but only on an older camera. We called Jess and had her check Ebay for us to make sure we weren't getting hosed.

Finally after making a pro/con list, we headed back to the booth and bought the whole box. There were two old Kodaks in with and the guy said he would throw those in (they were selling for $20-30 a piece). I wrote out the $150 check and Josh picked up the container. We headed back out to our car with Josh practically giggling the whole way out from excitement.

We are trying to burn through the first roll of film so we can get it developed this weekend. It's a whole new world. I'm just hoping we're actually getting something decent! Hopefully I will be posting some pictures soon taken with our new-old Pentax camera.

one step closer

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:44:00 +0000

Last night Josh and I took our first baby-related class through the hospital. We go again next Monday night to finish up Breastfeeding Basics. After this class we're taking Child Birthing and then my due date is just right around the corner! When we arrived I had to find the bathroom first thing. As we wandered around the lobby, another pregnant lady turned the corner. She took one look at me, smiled and said, "The bathrooms are that way". Josh couldn't help but laugh.

The class itself was really informational. The first handout they passed out about the benefits of breast milk over formula was enough to convince me (not that I needed convincing). We also watched a video that made the process seem a bit easier than everything I had read. It's so much better to watch examples than just read about them.

During the first 45 minutes of class, Baby was kicking and moving like CRAZY. I was twitching and jumping the whole time. Josh said afterward that he thinks the baby is clairvoyant like my mom and could sense all the other babies in the room. Like, "Woohoo! Let's go play guys!". Or he thought the kid is going to take after me and be really excited about eating.

friday at the zoo

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:13:00 +0000

Josh and I went to Brookfield Zoo on Friday and had such a good time. Poor Josh had never been to any zoo before! I just can't imagine not going as a kid. My parents used to take my brother and I. I have so many fond memories from the zoo, especially of my parents talking for the animals.

We especially loved the rhino and hippo. The cool thing about Brookfield is that you feel like you're pretty close to the animals. The monkey house is one of the best parts too. You walk at tree level so we were right across from most of the monkeys and gorillas.

We spent the day there and walked pretty much the entire zoo. I did surprisingly well walking that much although I started to tank out at the end. It was a lot of fun to come out cameras a-blazin'. Trying to get interesting zoo pictures was fun in itself. (We weren't even the biggest camera nerds there.) We definitely want to go back when it's a little cooler. (We didn't get to see any of the bears which was a bummer.) I woke up Saturday morning and thought "I want to go back to the zoo!".

see ya later

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:01:00 +0000

Josh and I are headed up to Chicago today. We decided to take Friday off and go to Brookfield Zoo! Can you believe that Josh has NEVER been to a zoo? I'm so excited! We're going to stay up there tonight and then hit Ikea on the way home.

It didn't really matter where we were staying or what we were doing...two whole days of whatever. No way Josh can get called into work and no pictures for me to work on. We're off and I can't wait for some uninterrupted time with my husband. Should be a perfect birthday weekend!

guest bedroom, open for visitors

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:58:00 +0000

One of the first things Josh and I decided when we moved into our house was to not make our extra bedroom storage but an actual usable room. Eventually that room would be for a child so we decided it would be a guest room now. Once Sondra and I picked a weekend for her visit, I knew I had a good deadline for redecorating the room. If I waited too much longer I wouldn't have finished it!

We got my old twin bed from my parents, repainted one of our old kitchen chairs and a side table of my mom's. I ordered a huge print of the lilac picture I love and framed that. I really wanted a desk in the room so we bought a simple shelf and Josh hung that. The night before Sondra was set to arrive Josh was installing the new ceiling fan. The curtains that I finally decided on arrived just a few days before! Although we rushed around we got it pretty much done. The decorations are a little sparse but that will slowly be remedied. I'm sure by the time Sondra comes for another visit, the room will be a little less empty.

Once we were all finished Josh and I both agreed that the room was very cozy and relaxing, exactly as a guest bedroom should be.

Internet, meet my kid...

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:57:00 +0000

On Friday, Josh and I went to my doctor's office for our 30 week ultrasound. Baby weighed in at 3 pounds 13 ounces. Sounds huge to me but the tech said I was pretty much right on target. I think we were measuring about five days ahead. When the technician first put the wand on my belly she went right to the head and we could see it's mouth moving. I couldn't help but gasp because it was so clear and easy to see. We got to see the little feet moving (which I feel ALL the time). Also it looks like our little one is pretty limber because we watched it move it's foot towards it's mouth. The technician says it looks like Baby has hair and is very cute. I, of course, believe her.

We have decided on names and told quite a few people. So Internet, I'd like you to meet either Jasper Joshua Knight or Piper Elaine Knight.

baby's first motorcycle ride

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:06:00 +0000

Over the weekend my father-in-law got a motorcycle. He's wanted one forever and was finally able to get one. Sunday evening Josh and I stopped by to check it out. I had never even sat on a motorcycle so I asked if I could. Scott, my father-in-law, asked if I wanted to go for a ride. Josh agreed for me. I stuttered around and asked if they had a helmet for me. Of course they did. I said that I was wearing flip flops but they agreed it was okay. Scott got on the bike and they explained how to climb on. My mother-in-law reminded Scott that I was pregnant about four times before we headed down the driveway. Baby and I had our first motorcycle ride at the same time.

We headed down the block with my hands clinched on the handrail as tightly as I could. He drove down about five miles to a nearby town (sticking to the speed limit!). As we slowed down to turn around in the town Scott leaned back and asked if I was doing okay. I didn't tell him that I had just prayed the whole way there and how stupid I felt for taking my first ever motorcycle ride at 7 1/2 months pregnant. "Great!", I said.

Overall the ride wasn't bad or even really scary for that matter (once I got used to it). I just felt so...exposed. I kept thinking about what terrible road rash I would get if we crashed. I thought about how fast the other drivers near us were going. Josh excitedly asked after my short ride if I loved it. (Poor guy would do anything to have his own motorcycle.) I said, "Uh, it was pretty good". Later in the evening Josh admitted that he was a little bummed I didn't really like it. He said, "I always thought my wife would like riding motorcycles with me". Doesn't look like that is the case for me...

I didn't want to say that I can't even imagine him having one now.

face to face

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:22:00 +0000

I'm not sure that I can correctly convey how great my weekend was. I had been planning this weekend for months and finally it was here. Sondra, one of my first Internet friends, drove from Ohio to spend the weekend with us. Sondra and I have been talking about meeting for years since we first "met" online. You know, because Ohio and Illinois are so close... Finally in April we settled on a weekend during the summer and just marked it on our calendars.

All week I had been anticipating Sondra's arrival. I would say, "I get to see Sondra in X number of days!". The weird thing is that I never thought of the weekend as meeting Sondra for the first time. I only thought that my friend was coming to see me. I just didn't happen to know what that friend's voice sounds like!

Within 20 minutes of Sondra arriving I knew that it was as exactly as I hoped. She's just as sweet as I always thought she was. We spent the weekend talking about anything and everything, just like how you would be with an old friend. It was just so nice to be able to talk face to face. Jess arrived Saturday morning and the fun doubled! We went antiquing and shopping. We did a lot of laughing and even more talking.

After we ate supper and dessert made by my husband (he made a peach pie from scratch!), we hung out on the back patio. Three hours later we were finally able to enjoy a little laptop time. My town had a random power outage that kept us in the dark until 10:30 playing with flashlights, talking about things we could be doing. Finally once the power was restored we geeked out and couldn't have been happier.

Last night I got ready for bed and thought over the weekend. I realized that I was already missing my friends and they had only just left. I feel really lucky to have connected with people through the Internet and made such great friends. Now if only I can get them to move closer...

common conversation

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:43:00 +0000

This drives me absolutely crazy.

Lady: "You know, giving birth wasn't actually that bad. The drugs really helped."
Me: "Well actually, I want to have a natural birth."
Lady: "Oh sure, that's what you say now. You'll change your mind."

AHHH! Why can I not just know that's what I want to do??? If my little tiny momma pushed an 8 pound 5 ounce baby (my brother) out without screaming or drugs... I know I can do it too. (Of course, I hope Baby is a little smaller than that.)

paper or technology?

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:23:00 +0000

I've been using a PDA for a good four years now. I love it, can't live without it... I put all of my appointments, birthdays, contacts, everything in there. However, with all of the Knight Light scheduling I've been doing it was easier to print out a monthly calendar to see when I was busy. For a month I printed off calendars and then filled in my schedule (also putting it into my PDA).

I was recently at Border's and looking through their selection of Moleskines. I found a weekly calendar that started in July and went through the end of 2009. After staring at it for 30 minutes Josh convinced me to just go for it.

So now I'm using both my PDA and the planner. I'm not sure that I can wean myself off my PDA although I love the planner. I really like my PDA because that's where I keep my little budget spreadsheet, contacts are so easy to update, I can check my email... I'm wondering can I make the switch back to paper?

thirty weeks misc

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:20:00 +0000

- I love cucumbers! A little mayo, some red onion mixed in...so yummy. I can't get enough.
- I no longer crave hot dogs. Also, slightly rare meat (that Josh likes) makes me nauseous.
- My upper belly has been hurting. I can only imagine that the little one is stretching it's legs out.
- I keep getting even more excited when I remember I'll get to do newborn pictures after Baby is born!
- According to one of the pregnancy websites, Kid weighs almost three pounds and is 15 inches long. Where is it hiding!?
- Our crib has STILL not arrived from Target. My parents ordered it on June 26th. We got the mattress for it weeks ago so at least Baby won't have to sleep on the floor.
- Working at slowing down a bit...mainly out of necessity. One lady said that I definitely should be because I've got to take care of that little one. Another commented that "sitting on your duff during pregnancy only makes it go slower". Not sure how being less busy equals sitting on your duff. I watched a little TV last night for the first time in weeks.
- Four and a half more weeks until the last wedding of the year. It'll be smooth sailing after that!
- Wondering how you go about "interviewing" a pediatrician...
- I had a dream last night that we had a boy.
- I'm pretty sure Baby kicked Bebo the other day. Bebo was snuggled up against my belly when Baby started kicking. Bebo whipped his head around at me like what in the world are you doing? I told him that he should probably get used to it.
- More and more it is all becoming more real. Josh and I say at least once a week, "We're having a baby!" in that shocked-I-can't-believe-it-way. Thinking about being a mom to a little one is so emotionally overwhelming (and I don't think it's just the pregnancy hormones)...I simply cannot wait.

i really like black and whites

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:36:00 +0000

what, it's monday?

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:06:00 +0000

Oh goodness...my weekend! It was packed full with the fifth wedding of the year for Knight Light, an annoying videographer, scorching heat, managing to have normal non-swollen feet all weekend, LOTS of work done on the guest bedroom (it's so cute I can't stand it!), and a truly, truly epic Senior session yesterday.

Pictures for all of these things to come. Right now I've got to get started on my week! But I did have to share a couple pictures from a family session a couple weeks ago. Loved taking pictures of these little guys. Have a great week!

Things I'm thinking about this morning

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:14:00 +0000

-Wedding #5 of the year, tomorrow!

-Josh's hand on my belly last night.
I whispered, "Are you asleep?" He said, "No".
I whispered again, "Can you feel the baby?"
He replied, "Uh, yeah. And I'm wondering how you go to sleep with that going on!"

-Still craving a cappuccino from Amoco (yes, I realize this is ridiculous). Josh went to get me one last night and they were out. What kind of Amoco runs out of cappuccino mix?

-I have so much cleaning to do before my house guests arrive next weekend!

-I have random purple petunias sprouting in my flowerbed out front.

-I ran out of room on my 500 gig external hard drive. I ordered a terabyte. For you non-geeky folks, that's pretty big.

-I can't believe it's August already!

a couple more

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:25:00 +0000

I finished up two Senior sessions at the end of last week. It's been fun to do so many Senior pictures. Before each one I worry for just a second that they'll look similar to another session... Each one turns out so differently!

It helps when the locations are new but even if I did them all at the same place, they would look completely different. You just never know what you're going to get!

random pregnant thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:46:00 +0000

Yesterday Josh and I had our yearly checkups at the eye doctor. The nurse took me back and was going through my health history. She said, "Are you taking any medication now?". I said that I wasn't. She looked at me like I was obviously forgetting something and said, "What about your birth control?". Now I know I'm not huge but I do think I'm finally looking pregnant. I patted my belly and said, "Uh no. I'm 7 months pregnant". "Oh!"

My doctor's office called me to let me know that I do not have gestational diabetes. Honestly I didn't really think I did (not that you can tell). I was sure though that I would fail the one hour test and have to go back in for the three hour test. I just didn't know how I would go three hours without eating. Luckily I passed!

Josh often pats my belly but yesterday he started scratching it. I told him that it feels really good! (Kind of like getting your back scratched.) He practically shouted, "Really!? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Later in the evening he tried bribing me to do something for him by saying he would scratch my belly.

It was mentioned by my husband that since getting pregnant I'm a little harder to read than usual. He said that he just didn't know what I was thinking most times. I told him it was actually really simple. I usually am thinking about one of three things: 1)what should I be working on 2)when can I sleep again, or 3) when can I eat again.

ice cream and open air driving

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:26:00 +0000

Josh's parents are camping this week so Josh has free reign over his dad's 1968 Corvette. (Or as Josh refers to it "his inheritance".) Last night after work Josh went over and swapped his car for the Vette. He suggested we take a cruise in it and get some ice cream. The boy sure knows how to make me happy!

better LUCK this time

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:46:00 +0000

My extremely talented brother, Tony, put out his very first cd. I finally got my hands on a copy over the weekend and was so excited for him. I'm so proud of him for deciding to do this on his own and making it happen. The cd sounds awesome and I'm quite proud of the design and pictures. Knight Light is even credited on the cd. Now when he makes it big I can say I designed his first cd.

You can check out Tony here: www.myspace.com/betterluckthistime. Also I have a few cds to sell so if you'd like one let me know. Ten bucks and I'll throw in free shipping!

i'm such a nerd but found this so funny

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1823766

taking off work to work

noreply@blogger.com (kimberly) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:55:00 +0000

Today and tomorrow I am only working half days so I can go home and work on Knight Light. It's pretty strange to need to take off work to work. I do so much better when I can process pictures during the day. I have a difficult time concentrating in the evenings.

Hopefully I'll be back on Monday with lots of finished session pictures to share!