Fall Shoot

Thomas and I had such a wonderful Saturday. We drove through Big Cottonwood Canyon and circled around down to the Sundance Resort. I was able to capture some awesome pics. Granted there were alot of deleted images as well :-) So now we have to decide on an image and I'll do a touch of PS2..

I don't think I gave my flickr account out here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenniferbelle/

I don't post ALL my photos, just little peeks :-)

And I'm excited I've mastered my tripod and remote control.. now if I only had a huge mirror near the camera...

Photocards

For a long time I have not held photocards in high regard. They seemed too "easy" and went against why I started my business. I love texture.. It's interesting though, now that I'm taking pictures all the time and trying new PS2 techniques almost every night, I have more appreciation for the the creation of photocards.

Utahans LOVE photocards. This is partly why BP hasn't been too embraced yet.. we're too pricey for this state. So.. I will be releasing a line of Photocards (save-the-dates, wedding invites, and baby announcements) at this Jan. Expo. We'll see... It's not any extra investment on my end, and I'm having a ball playing with PS2 and my new computer easel..



I've attached a "postage stamp" of Shilo.. The technique here was for me to learn how to do a scalloped border.. It's not perfect, but it was my first!

And if I can get "THE" picture of Thomas & I on our fall drive to Sundance this afternoon. Then you will receive a Thanksgiving photocard designed by moi...
because this year we are so truly thankful!

For the Love of Photoshop

This is my first "storyboard". It probably wasn't the best idea to make my mat white since the text field for Blogger is white.. but you get the idea.

Again no awards will be won :-)

But the fact that I "get" things now about PS2..

priceless

In my 5th month

This is me from this morning. And yes that is snow!

We had a mini snow storm.. it's all melted now.

So I'm starting my 2nd week of my 5th month!

I can't believe I only have 7 weeks

left of my 2nd trimester!

Things are going so quick.

Isabelle has been plenty active and popped out alot this week.

My belly button is super expanded! I've never so much of it before :-)

I have tons to get done today, but I will post more soon.

We are slightly changing the nursery..

I will post fabric swatches & inspiration pieces soon.

Red, white, and blue are still the main parts though...

THE BIG NEWS!!

come on ya'll.. isn't momma always right??

IT'S A GIRL!

O Happy Day!

Dewey is back home with us. He got into something (not sure if it was before or during his stay here). He is still have some lasting effects, but it looks as though he's gonna pull through. I'll spare you the gorey details :-)

And in just 2 days we get the news on the baby!!! I can hardly contain myself :-) My mom & dad flew down this evening and are just as eager.

Thomas says my belly looks like a basketball, but I think watermelon.. we soon shall see!

Tried and True

I know this technique is SO overdone, but I have never mastered it on Photoshop. So please accept my apologies :-)

This is a pic of part of our Halloween display in the front yard. I went a tad overboard this year..

We haven't even bought the pumpkins that we are to carve.. these seen here are to remain untouched for display. I'm a nut..

Knock Knock

A few days ago I thought I feel the baby's first movement, but I wasn't too sure. According to my doc, this is very typical at my stage and reassured me that I would feel the baby very soon.

Well.. Aparently baby was as excited as I was that Thomas was returning home on Saturday from his elk trip (no elk..boohiss)

In the middle of a fundraising gig for Junior League, I feel a tap,tap,tap.. tap,tap,tap.. This went on for what seemed like a long time. Folks, baby has made his/her debut!!

It's been quiet today, but I didn't feel much till around 5pm yesterday.. so maybe baby is a late riser!!

On sad news, my adorable butter of joy foster cat Dewey is going down hill. I'm taking him in tonight & tomorrow to the vet. Please keep positive thoughts his way. He is pure love and deserves a long happy life!!!

1 More Photo

So this is my adorable niece! I took this photo with my old point & shoot, but I think it's fun. I did some editing with Photoshop for fun!

18 Week Visit

Baby & I went in for our monthly appointment. Everything is great! Doctor confirmed that everything is perfect. And the baby has moved further up into my tummy :) Such a wonderful sound to hear the heartbeat!!

And a week from today we will find out the sex!! I can't wait!!!!

On the photo side I've started doing photo challenges to increase my knowledge. Below is a pic of Shilo out side on Automatic and on Manual (and I didn't cheat!) I think I did pretty good :)

And here is one for humor.. It's one of the only things that really grew in my garden..

Our Foster Cat - Dewey

I took this pic about an hour ago for the animal shelter I volunteer for. He is our foster cat (the 4th cat in the house.. the 6th of animals!) If he wasn't afraid of dogs, I'd beg Thomas to let us keep him. He is beyond sweet and loving!!

Still working on automatic settings..Still learning. I did take the time to Photoshop his eye boogies out. Still learning CS2..

First Nikon Photo

Okay, so I'm not going to win any awards with the very first photo I took with my Nikon. But somehow I did capture the very essence of our dear Shilo. Our goofy all muzzle beast.

How awesome it is to be able to play with depth of field!!

Do I Offend Thee?

Back in the day I was no stranger to extremely short skirts and little left to the imagination tops. Um, but it's no longer "back in the day". Since we found out that we are pregnant, my look has grown more conserative. Still cute, but covered up.

It hasn't been intentional. There is just something about my blossoming belly and enlarged chest that has calmed me down. I haven't said too much cause it's not too mommy-like to mention, but my chest is alot bigger (people I'm on my way to my 2nd cup increase and just starting my 5th month) I'm not bragging and given my more conserative move.. it hasn't been easy.

SO! Imagine my surprise when today a patron basically called me a harlot!! I was wearing maternity cords and a matching SWEATER set that my dear mom bought me. This patron told me I was "hanging out" and she could see everything. While she insisted I help her, she obviously stared at the ceiling..too appalled to look me in the eye.

I don't get it. And given my hormones, it put me into a state of tears.. still tears me up right now. I wasn't hanging out and the idea that someone would think I would dress salicious as a mother-to-be was a swift kick to the tummy.

Oh well. I asked God for big tata's when I was younger. Never have I regretted a wish more!

My Nikon, My Love

I did it. I finally bought it! Basically, I needed a camera to take my own product photography (spent a fortune last year) and I want to take my own baby photos ( I imagine I would have otherwise spent a fortune)

So I spent a mini-fortune and have outfitted myself with a brand spakin' new Nikon D80 with 2 mini-fortune lenses and everything else I "needed". It took 3 hours to get everything.. I think it was a salesman technique to wear me down! But I had done research for weeks now and needed some instant gratification!

Had a little buyer's remorse last night. That was until my battery powered up.. and then it began. Since Thomas is out elk hunting for the week, the animals were my defenseless prey. I LOVE MY CAMERA!!! It is amazing! Until I have time for the classes my camera came with, I'm all about pre-set settings, but I'm looking forward to learning all about it.

And yes I will post more pics (even of my belly now that I have a remote control to work my camera!) I just had work last night & work all day today.. so once the software is setup, you will be overwhelmed!

Long live Nikon!

Saying Goodbye

This has been a sad weekend. I haven't said too much to anybody as I've been trying to keep this blog as positive as possible. Unfortunately my paternal grandfather died yesterday.

My heart goes out to my dad as I know this is a difficult time. And I'm sorry to know that my grandfather is gone, and all that should have been said and all the hurts that should have been mended will never be able to.

Soon after my grandfather divorced my paternal grandmother, he entered another marriage and had little to do with his 5 children and their families. I can probably count the number of times I've seen and conversed with him on one hand. He wasn't at my brother's nor my wedding.

I'm not angry. Just sad and disappointed. Just wished my father had the father he deserved. It's ironic that my grandfather passed just a few months shy of our baby's birth. Granted I don't know if they would have ever met, but it would have been nice.

People are who they are. Somehow in all that mess, my dad became one of the most amazing people I know & I know that he'll be the light of our baby's life. And for that I am appreciative of my grandfather.

Red, White and Blue!

I can not wait till October 19th! At this point, we can truly say we are not wishing for one sex over the other. Just so happy to have a healthy baby. I am just so excited to know if I'm carrying Isabelle Clara or Thomas Daniel Lee!!

If it is little Isabelle, then we will be decorating the nursery in vintage redwork. Redwork dates back from the late 1800's and was very popular at the turn of the century. It is embroidery that is done solely in red. My mom has been working on a beautiful redwork quilt just in case! And of course we'll add in some country denim.

If it is little Tommy rumbling in my tummy, then the nursery will be vintage again - only vintage cowboys & indians. Lots of toned down red, white, and blue. And of course a vintage Red Rider gun that will sit on a shelf till he's at least 5 :-)

So either way it's gonna be a lot of vintage red, white, blue!! Not exactly typical colors, but we aren't exactly typical parents ;-)

I can't wait to start decorating!!!!!