A little fun with Lightroom

I've posted about my new favorite computer program: Adobe Lightroom. I LOVE this program. It can take a "meh" picture and turn it into a masterpiece. Now, if only I could afford a really nice camera.... So, I just thought I'd share some of the fun I've been having with Lightroom recently. Some amateur attempts at photo editing... enjoy!

My James Before:

And... After:

 

My Isabella Before:

And... After:

 

Can you believe Isabella is already a year old? That picture is from her first birthday party. She was a cutie!

The picture of James is from picking pumpkins this year - he's already three!

PHEW!

I'm so tired. Not that I'm tired for a bad reason. This weekend was a LOT of fun. But, I'm tired. Saturday I had my bachelorette party! It was a blast. Low key, which is what I wanted. We went to Ariake Steak House and then bowling at Brunswick Zone after which we went back to Casey's house (my future sister-in-law) and just hung out. I know it doesn't sound like much fun to some, but I loved it and I'm the bride, so there. ;o)


Saturday, Rob's dad threw him a surprise party. This was AWESOME! As much as his dad complains about Rob's friends coming over (being noisy and leaving a mess) he's gonna miss it when Rob moves out! So, Don decided to have a last hurrah and had a big poker tournament with all of Rob's buddies. Us girls hung out all night and ate pizza... :o)

Sunday, we took some groceries to the house and then a birthday party for Rob's little cousins, Max, Camille, and Alexandra. It was fun! James, Camille, and Sophia practiced walking down the aisle (hallway) for the wedding. They are going to be great!

On a side note, I went grocery shopping this week. I've definitely been worried about this. We're on a budget, obviously and I was really worried about how much money it was going to cost to get all of those basic things for the house - salt, pepper, vegetable oil, etc. But, I've been clipping coupons, and I went through the ads for the week. Overall, I think I did really well! And, I LOVE Super Walmart! As much as I really don't like shopping at Walmart, you can't deny it when their prices are lower than the grocery store's on sale with a coupon!


I'm going to end this post telling you that I'm getting married next week! AHHH!!! I'm super excited and super stressed. But, after the wedding I have a week off! For now I have to get through a week of a period-induced headache (yuck!!) that hopefully doesn't turn into a migraine, again. I don't need that teaching four year olds.


With that said, I can't say I'll be posting much in the next couple of weeks. I'll definitely make one last post before the wedding, but hopefully after all of this is over I can spend some more time on here!

Playing Catch-Up

I've decided that I'm a bona fide procrastinator. I didn't use to be a procrastinator. This is why I never blog and never go to the gym. I keep telling myself that I'll go later, or I why bother? Nobody really reads your blog anyway. Just don't eat as many calories. I blame my new procrastinating ways on Rob. Case in point.

Me: Rob, this weekend is Memorial Day Weekend, I'd like to get you moved out to the house for the most part since this will be one of our only free weekends to do it before the wedding.

Rob: Steph, the wedding is THREE WEEKS AWAY!

Me: But, I REALLY don't want to be moving our stuff the week after the wedding when we have off. I want to relax and enjoy being MARRIED.

Rob: We have plenty of time.

Me: Fine.

See, how can I not keep a little of this from rubbing off on me? I mean, Rob is the procrastinator of all procrastinators. Example number two:

Rob: What ring size are you again?

Me: Why? (Is he going to buy me two rings!? Oh wait. Oh, no. My thoughts come to a screeching halt as I realize...) You haven't bought my wedding band yet!?

Rob: No.

Me: Babe, the wedding is in THREE WEEKS!!!

Rob: So, all I have to do is go buy it.

Me: What if it has to be sized!

Rob: Oh.

Yup. We're gonna arrive at our wedding day and I'm not gonna have a wedding band. What am I gonna do, borrow someone's? I need to take a deep breath. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Okay. It'll all be okay.

Speaking of the wedding... I've done a few things in preparation... and I have pictures!!!

Mom and I spent an entire Sunday afternoon tying tags to bubbles with ribbons. It was fun, let me tell you. I'm happy with how they turned out though!


I bought my dress for the rehearsal dinner (again.)! I had bought one earlier and didn't really like it for the occasion anymore so I decided to keep my eyes open. Well, I found this adorable dress from B. Moss for $30! B.Moss is definitely one of my new favorite stores. They have some adorable clothes! (and good deals..)


I also put together my flower girl's gifts... some hair accessories and their Build A Bear giftcards!


Another exciting accomplishment, I dyed my crinoline for the wedding blue! I debated for a while on whether or not to do this, and then thought, what the heck? So we dyed it, and I took it to the bridal shop with Jocelyn to try on with my dress to make sure it worked! I love it.


James' gift came in the mail. I doubled it as his ring bearer gift and birthday gift since his birthday is July 4th. It's a bedroom set with trucks, trains, and tractors on it for the big boy bed he's getting after I move out! He'll love it!


I also had another shower, which I mentioned last time I actually posted. It was a lot of fun. I got some awesome stuff!

My cousin, who's doing my flowers sent a bouquet to see if I like the shape and size of it. It's not at all what my bouquet will look like, but it still looks fabulous after a 4 hour trip in a warm car without water. She also sent a boutonnière, which I'm sure looked a lot better when it was fresh.


One of the gifts I got is a figurine we're going to use for our cake table! Along with this sign. It'll be great.


On a note totally not related to the wedding... WE HAVE GRASS!!! They put sod down at our house on Monday! It makes our yard look HUGE (which, it is at almost 15,000 sq. ft.). Although, now we have to figure out how to water it... since we're hardly ever there. I really don't want it to die.


On a note related to the house, we had our first security scare (and hopefully our last). I got a call from Brinks a couple of nights ago saying that our alarm had gone off in zone 4. I missed the call, so this was a message. I was thinking that zone 4 is the basement (which is guarded with a motion detector) and wasn't too terribly worried considering we live in the middle of a field and a mouse could have gotten in or something (which isn't good, but it's better than a burglar!). Turns out the alarm tripped was the glass break detector in the great room! It detects if glass is broken within a 30 ft radius. They called my house and asked if I wanted them to send the cops. Um, YES! Turns out it was nothing. A false alarm. But, regardless that was scary!

Babies!!!

I love babies! So, this post is devoted to all of the babies in my life, furry and not so furry :o)

The second (human) love of my life: James. I've decided this will be the hardest part of getting married. James lives with my family right now and the thought of moving out, not being able to give him a hug and a kiss every day and telling him goodnight is horrifying. I will get through this, but nonetheless, he's my the reason for my love of being an aunt.






Isabella is very quickly making her own little home in my heart right next to James. At five months old she weighs in at a whopping 18 pounds of pure adorable chunky beautifulness. How can you deny this face? How can you deny that pudge? Ahhh...


And as for furry babies? We have plenty of that kind of cuteness to go around too!



Ahhh... I love my babies.

And, just because I have so many cute pictures to share, here are a few more:

James is currently potty training so he must entertain himself while waiting... don't worry, it's clean.

This is James in his tux for the wedding! Is he not adorable? He runs around the house saying, "I handsome." I love it.

And, last but certainly not least, a little sneak peak at the post to come...

Chock Full of Cuteness

I have to say my house is chock full of cuteness. See for youself:

Every time I pull my camera out, James insists that I take his picture - this time he wanted me to take a picture of him taking a picture

"Again, Nene!"

Then Nene made James pose for a real picture - my sweetheart

Oliver avoiding the camera as usual

When I finally got him to look at me he sneezed...

And... finally!!! A good picture of my handsome boy!

Sadie using Dudley as a pillow

Oliver sleeping - as usual

Sadie and Dudley keeping each other warm

Dudley was beginning to take interest in the camera and trying to get out from under Sadie

Am I right? I am, I know. :o)

The Other Love of My Life

If you know me, you know I have two (well, three) true loves. Oliver doesn't count because he's not human - though I love him like he is. Anyway, Rob is, of course, my first true love. But I have another one. He's become so much a part of my life that I feel like I'm going to lose a little part of me after we get married and I move out. This little two year old trooper is a miracle in our lives and is truly the highlight of my day. His name is James and he's my nephew. James' story is a long and hard one to tell, but once I do you will understand just how much this little guy means to all of us.

James was born on July 4, 2005 (firecracker baby!) and weighed only 4 pounds.

James and Papa - His outfit in this picture is a newborn size. He was so tiny!

Before he even arrived we had all been told he had a congenital heart defect and, we laugh about it now, at one point they thought his organs were switched (i.e. his heart was on the right side instead of the left). Well, we prepared for some time for what we would all be facing in the coming months and years. We were told that he would need surgery to correct the two holes, small valve, and extra arteries running blood to his lungs. We were also told that this surgery would need to occur within days after his birth. Well, James set out to prove us wrong from the very beginning.

Come to find out, his organs weren't switched and he wouldn't end up having his first surgery until he was around 7 months old. We were also told that he would be a "blue" baby when he was born - having a blue tinge to him because of oxygen deprivation. Well, he was born 3 weeks early and came rolling down the hall in his incubator pink as can be and sucking on a pacifier. We followed him to Cardinal Glennon (aka miracle workers) and waited for him to get situated. He was so tiny!

Well, after almost a month in the NICU (which I say everyone should see at some point in their lives, it's a very humbling experience) he finally came home. Then the fun started. He had acid reflux (BAD) and therefore had a hard time gaining weight. So he was on special high-calorie formula which we had to add vegetable oil and a thickening agent to (yuck) as well as several different medications. This was life for the first 7 months.

Before his first surgery - we didn't realize how sick he looked :(

No scars yet!

His first surgery - our little trooper!

Then came the first surgery. That was hard! He did great though. And afterward, he was off and running, literally. He started crawling and eating and gaining weight. We were so happy!!! But, unfortunately he needed one more surgery. Once again, he came through that one with grace. We couldn't have been more proud of him!

Post-surgery - showing off his scar

Check out my new chub!

Surgery Number 2 (this one was a lot harder)

Post surgery 2 - James and NeNe

Always into mischief

James and Oliver

James and Aunt NeNe

It was like he was given a whole new life! He grew and grew and is now a healthy, happy, two year old boy doing everything two year old boys love to do. And I love him. Purely and simply. We have learned so much from him in his short life and he is so strong! He is currently in love with tractors and trucks and LOVES watching Cars and Curious George on TV. He and Oliver are two peas in a pod and I can't wait to take him swimming in the subdivision pool!