When I was pondering over what I could post for this week's installment of pretty, happy, funny, real, I worried because it turns out there is only one thing I have taken pictures of this week. I'll leave it to you to guess (how could you possibly) what that might have been. After despairing for a few moments, a light went on (I decided to cheat). WHAT could be more real than a mom who incessantly takes pictures of her child? Nothing, I tell you. So here we are.
Here you have the "evocative black and white quasi-profile shot."
I like to call this one "Mommy please put down the camera and play with me."
This one is my favorite:
There are more (oh, there are more. We're just scratching the surface here, people) but they're all from the same baby photoshoot, so I will spare you!
But oh! I just remembered I took some pictures at our church fair last week. And, is it just me, or does this:
I'm adding an eighth because Becky made me cry today too.
--END UPDATE--
Listen, it doesn't take a whole lot to make me cry. I can think of three things just today that did it (Note: this has not always been the case. Getting married nudged me in that direction and having a baby pushed me over the edge. I now cry with almost no prompting). Most of these are sweet, happy things. I actually think things that are sweet and happy make me cry more than sad things, which probably says something about me but I'm not sure I want to figure out what.
Simcha's post on Robins. I understood it so well, and I've only had one, and that one only for six months!
~3~
There is an older woman whose home is adjacent to the parking lot I use at work. The area is a beautiful "old town" with 100 year old homes and huge trees and antique stores. This woman's home was once beautiful too, but has fallen into disrepair. She has many, many (many many) cats running around her property and a good deal of broken down stuff in her front yard (imagine a scene from "Hoarders." It's like that.). The house gives off a smell that makes me think it isn't ever cleaned. Maybe not in a decade or two. She is cheerful and always says hello when she's outside, but isn't outside often. The last couple of days I have noticed a dumpster out in front and today as I was walking to lunch I saw that all of her things were being piled up on the sidewalk and a man (who looked like a city worker, not a relative) was busily sweeping and throwing things away. She was sitting on her rocker, looking scared and sad. It was so heartbreaking. I hope very much that she is getting some help, as I think she needs it, but it was so hard to see.
~4~
This song:
I am so late to the Mumford and Sons party. I love this album, though. Total roll-down-all-the-windows-and-sing-loudly music.
~5~
PW's post about her boys at Universal Orlando. Okay, this is an older story, but I cried lots when I read it the first time (and I just read it again and I misted up so it counts for this week!).
~6~
My hubby and I watched Pride and Prejudice last Friday (he lost a bet) and I cried. Can't tell you how many times I've read that book and watched that movie and I still cried. The end gets me every time (and several parts in the middle, but that's neither here nor there). I'd link to it, but I can't find it, so just go and watch the last five minutes of the 2005 version. I know that version gets a lot of hate because of no Colin Firth and all, but I still love it and the (admittedly somewhat cheesy) ending.
~7~
This picture:
I mean, what is she, three?? Five and a half? Voting?? Going to college??? (at least I'm not dramatic about it, am I right?)
That was fun! Cathartic, anyway. Go see Jen over at Conversion Diary for other 7 Quick Takes that hopefully won't be about crying.
This is going to be a "funny, real" installment. My little Jelly Bean recently had her first "real" playdate (all the others being more excuses to hang out with my girlfriends than opportunities for J to play with other babies, her being unable to hold up her torso and all). The girls sat facing each other and stealing one another's toys and squeaking at each other, which was adorable, and generally having a good old time.
What we did not take into account, however, was the fact that my hubs has recently taught J a game called "Baby Attack" in which he sits the baby on his chest and lets her fall forward and gnaw on his chin, nose, cheekbone, and whatever else she can get her chubby little hands on. It's hilarious but she is STRONG and will happily chew on your face with full force.
Now, you, being a rational human, have already figured out what was bound to happen here but it took us a little longer. First, J grabbed little L's pacifier leash and chewed on it for a while. After she had lulled us into complacence, she did some sort of baby kung fu move and toppled L in one fell swoop, diving in and grabbing her head in a truly masterful round of Baby Attack.
We have taught her well.
I'm sure they'll come back again one day. Once the gum-marks have faded from her forehead, that is.
I love Pinterest. It is the most addicting site ever. I love pinning every pretty thing I see and keeping reminders of cool DIY projects or decorating ideas. It is seriously the best. However. Last week (during the great blogging hiatus of 2011) I pinned this super pretty pair of incredibly inexpensive earrings as a reminder to myself to go back and buy them the next day. Here they are:
So cute right? And only $12! But! After I pinned those earrings I went to bed, blissfully ignorant of what would await me in the morning. My pin went viral (Pinterest-style) and got repinned a ton. When I went back the next day to buy the earrings they were... wait for it... SOLD OUT! So learn from me, dear friends: if you want to pin something, buy it before you pin it.
PS- If you want a Pinterest invite, let me know. It is still invite-only, but it is easy to invite people. You'll like it. Fair warning, though: super addicting.
Hello my sweet blog! I have missed you! Turns out new jobs take attention away from little, lovable blogs. I hope to post a real post tonight. Until then, you've earned a baby picture: