Day in the Life | May 2014

Last Thursday, I documented our day, taking photos with my Nikon cameras and my iPhone as well as jotting down a few notes.

Here's a look at our day:

Welcome Home Daddy | When Noah and I got up about 7:00 am, I texted Brian at the fire station and asked if he would be willing to take a picture of Noah and me in the window when he arrived home. This is what Brian saw when he stepped out of his truck.  (Thanks for snapping this shot, babe!) 


Attire | Lately, Noah is quite opposed to wearing clothing. He loves just roaming the house in a diaper and sometimes, shoes.  On this day, he pulled his black boots out of the closet and put them on all. by. himself. And he didn't seem to be the least bit bothered that they were on the wrong feet. (Nikon D90)

Chatting | Catching up with daddy who worked a 72-hour shift. (Nikon D90)

Dog & Squirrel | Later on, our dog, Rudy, spotted a squirrel on the deck and locked eyes with it.  But Rudy didn't make a peep--no barking, no whining, no lunging at the door. Our dogs have very different personalities.  Rudy is quiet and timid. Lucy, on the other hand, would have been losing her mind! (Nikon D90)

Play | After breakfast, Noah played with his trains. (iPhone)

 

Running Errands | Brian, Noah and I picked up my Nikon D700 at Action Camera (they were great about shipping my camera to Nikon to have it repaired) and stopped off to pick up dog food at PetSmart. 

My favorite part? Getting a few minutes to myself to peruse the aisles at Jo-Ann's while Noah and Brian shopped at Costco. I snapped this quick selfie because I'm in love with this chevron print sleeveless top from Kohl's.

Reading | After Noah's nap, we read several books. I snapped this photo of the two of us using the free GorillaCam app with a self-timer. (iPhone)

 
Rain | After dinner, we received a spring shower. (Nikon D700)
 
 Bath | Here's Noah singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star in the bath tub. (Nikon D700)

 
Bedtime | After Noah's bath, Brian and Noah read one of his favorite books, What Do People Do All Day? by Richard Scarry. (Nikon D700)

One More Thing | Because Noah is talking so much these days, I wanted to document some of the more common words/phrases/sentences. Here's what Noah, at 28 months, is saying:

"Noey, do it!"
"Mommy, carry you!" (when he wants me to carry him)
"Where is my tractor?"
"My Rudy."
"I need milk." (he says this so matter of factly that I can't help but grin)
"Try it?" (when he wants to eat something I'm eating, which happens A LOT now)
"Go for a ride in truck." (daddy's truck)
"Cleaze." (Please)
"Play again, play again." (singing along to Luke Bryan's new song, Play It Again)
"I eat it." (again, when he wants to eat something I'm eating)
"Just kidding!" (This was the first time I'd heard him say this. Smile.)
"That's funny!"
"I need mail." (after watching Brian and me open our mail)

About a year ago, I documented a day in our lives. Looking back, it was interesting to see how some things have changed and others have remained the same.

Thanks to Ali Edwards for inspiring me once again to document a day in our lives.

Christmas Letter | 2013

 Photo Credit: Mindy Newton Photography

Hi!

It’s Noah here, with an update on our family.

2013 has been a really fun year—for Dada, Mama, and especially me.

 Photo Credit: Mindy Newton Photography

The three of us went camping twice in our trailer—once near Foresthill where Dada spotted a bear in a tree—and the other time, in the Bodega Sand Dunes, where I played in the warm sand and the ocean. 

We also visited Lake Tahoe twice, once in the winter and once in the summer. In February, we snowshoed with our neighbors; their son’s name is Aaron and he’s about my age.  He calls me “Nona” and I love going for hikes with him. In August, we spent the day at Meeks Bay, but the water was so c-c-c-c-old that I didn’t want to go in. Dada buried the lower half of my body in the sand, and then drove a tractor around my feet.  I thought that was so funny!    

We also hit the zoo (where I loved watching the little monkeys), and the county fair (where I got to sit on a tractor), and a miniature indoor city called BusyKidz (where I vacuumed, weighed fruit, and talked on the telephone). 

About a month ago, I flew on an airplane to Texas. Auntie Katie (TT) and Uncle Preston got married, and Auntie TT looked so beautiful in her wedding dress. I wore a tuxedo, and everyone kept saying how cute I looked.  (Being cute is a good thing, right?) At the reception, there was a guy playing a guitar (gee-tar), and I sat down right in front of him and watched him play. Uncle Preston’s sister, Noelle, also played a guitar and sang really pretty.  

 Photo Credit: Mindy Newton Photography

Mama, Dada, and I have a lot of fun at home, too. Mama stays home with me, and in the mornings, we go to the library to play with puzzles or to gymnastics where I slide down into the foam pit (wee!) or to the park where I play in the sandbox and go down the slides (more weeing!).

Mama sings to me, and I sing along sometimes, too.  One of my favorite songs right now is "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."  You know that part where Santa says, “Ho! Ho! Ho!”?  I pretend to be Santa and sing those words.  

 Photo Credit: Mindy Newton Photography

Daddy works at the fire station and I miss him when he’s gone.  I say, “Dada?” and Mama tells me he is at the station. Then, I say, “Woo, woo?” and Mama responds, “Yes, Dada drives the fire engine.” When we visit Dada at the station, he hoists me up into the driver's seat and I hold on to the steering wheel.  It's the best!  I don't want to leave.  Ever.  When Mama says it’s time to go, I cry and cry. 

But then, when I hear Dada’s truck come up the driveway, I run to the window and Mama lifts me up onto the windowsill. Dada steps out of his truck and I wave and say “Hi! Hi! Hi!” with the biggest grin on my face.

Dada makes me the best shakes--always with frozen blueberries (my favorite)—and the best pancakes with oatmeal and bananas.  Dada also pushes me around on my outside trike, taking me for walks in the neighborhood. Going for rides in Dada’s truck is fun, too.      

My doggies, Lucy (Luce) and Rudy (D), are the best!  Lucy just turned 10 and Rudy is 8 now.  Mama and Dada give Luce two shots a day because she has diabetes (tees).  I sit on the rug nearby and watch.  Mama always says, “Good girl!” to Lucy when she’s done, and I say, “Good girl!” too.        

I also say "Oh, no!" a lot.  Like when I drop my fork off the dining room table.  Or when I put my foot in the dogs’ water bowl.  Or when I accidentally throw an iPhone into the bath tub.    

My other favorite words are: cool and okay and please (pwease) and thank you (ank-you) and football (b-ball) and helicopter (copter).  And, of course, guitar (gee-tar or tar).  I'm obsessed with guitars. In fact, I’m really hoping Santa will bring me one for Christmas! 

In addition to being a guitar nut, I have a thing for vehicles…you know, trains (choo-choo) and trucks and tractors.  Pretty much anything that goes.  Oh, and my trike.  I ride it as fast as I can around the house: Through the kitchen and around into the living room, then whizzing past the sofas in the family room and zooming into the dining room.  Dada calls them hot laps.  Don’t worry, though, I wear a big football hat (a gold Notre Dame helmet) when I ride to protect my brain (ain).   

Mama, Dada and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love,

Noah

(Age: Almost 2)

Oh, Deer!

Photo Source

Having lived in the country for three years now, I've grown accustomed to seeing deer pass through our yard.  I love watching these gentle creatures eat and drink and rest.  For some reason, this spring and summer, there have been more deer in our area than in past years.

Most of the time, I see one or two does at a time.  They drink from the creek in the meadow.  They munch on grass on the hillside.  Several of them like to lay in the shade below our house.

Seeing a buck is rare, but recently, one buck has started coming around.  I wondered why, until we discovered that Mr. Buck loves eating bird seed from the feeder outside our front door.  Naturally, our dog, Lucy, is not happy about this; she lunges at the window and barks up a storm when he visits. 

But I love it.  Seeing does and bucks is such a treat. 

And last week, I was treated to a surprise. 

While Noah was napping one afternoon, I took the dogs out to go to the bathroom.  Usually, if I'm going out for the evening (say to the fire station or a friends' house), I'll run the dogs out to their yard and lock the gate.  But it was so darn hot that I just took them out to the front yard for a few minutes with the intent of walking them back into the house.

As I was stood in the driveway watching the dogs, I saw some movement in the dog yard. 

What's in there?  I thought.

I looked closer.

Is it a fox?  A skunk?  A dog?  

Then, I saw the spindly legs, the white spots, the big ears.   

Oh my gosh, it's a fawn!!

For several seconds, I got caught up in the excitement of seeing such a little deer close up. 

Then, my mama/animal lover instincts kicked in: Protect the baby.

I yelled to the dogs, "In the house.  Right now."

Amazingly, without hesitation, Lucy and Rudy turned and ran into the garage, never seeing the fawn.  (Clearly, God had a hand in that because usually they do not react to my commands so quickly.)

Now that the dogs were in the house, I could observe the fawn--from a distance, of course.

The little one ran straight into the wire fence, bounced off of it and then ran into it again.

After several failed attempts, she skittered along the perimeter of the fence, hoping to find a way out.

The fawn looked so frightened.

So little.

 So lost. 

The gate was open slightly--which is how she got in--but clearly, she was having trouble finding her way back to it.

I tried to decide what to do.  I didn't have much time as I was supposed to leave for dinner at the fire station in 20 minutes.  Noah was still asleep, but he'd be waking up from his nap anytime.

Let's open the gate all the way, I thought.

I walked toward the gate, looking around for any sign of the fawn's mom.  No sign of mom.  The fawn stopped running and looked straight at me, then turned around and ran away.  

I pulled open the gate and retreated to the garage.  There, I ruminated over what more I could do to help.  I remembered seeing a flyer for a fawn rescue in our area.  I googled Fawn Rescue + Placer County and the website for Kindred Spirits Fawn Rescue popped up.

I called the number and after a brief conversation, I was advised to: Open the gate.  Check.  Leave the fawn alone.  Check.  According to the woman at Kindred Spirits, the fawn would probably find her way out of the yard, and be reunited with her mom.  "If she's still in the dog yard at 8:00 p.m. (it was 4:30 then), call me back," said the woman.  Copy check.  

I hung up the phone and headed inside to get Noah up from his nap. 

By the time I came back out front 15 minutes later, the dog yard was empty.  There was no sign of the fawn.

Oh, good, I thought, relieved.  She found her way out.

But on the drive down to the fire station, I started wondering, "Did the fawn's mom find her?  Were they reunited?  Or is the fawn out wandering around looking for her?"

Fast forward to the next day: Noah and I were walking down the road to pick up our trash can.  As we turned from our street onto the main road, I glanced off to the left looking for oncoming cars.  There, I spotted a doe and her fawn crossing the road.  Presumably, the same fawn who found her way into our dog yard and then out of our dog yard.

I smiled.

"Look," I said to Noah, kneeling down next to his blue car and pointing toward the deer.  "Mama and baby are together again...just as it should be."

Then and Now

May 4, 2010
OBSERVATIONS: Our family of four out for a walk in our new neighborhood.  I find it funny that I'm wearing a long-sleeved shirt, vest, and jeans--while Brian is wearing a t-shirt and shorts.  (It's still that way--generally, I'm cold and he's hot.)  Photo taken with my Nikon D90.  

April 14, 2013
OBSERVATIONS: Nearly three years later.  Our family of five (Noah is 15 months old) out for a stroll before dinner.  Noah loves "driving" his blue car, honking the horn, and dropping the steering wheel out of the car.  This time, Brian, Noah and I were all on the same page, wearing short-sleeved shirts and blue jeans.  Photo taken with my Nikon D700.   

I'm looking forward to snapping more family photos--in this same place, at the same time of year--in the years to come. 

On the Banks of the River

This week, during spring break, I'm taking time to get caught up on some once-started, but never-completed blog posts.

Like this one, which contains photographs taken last summer on the banks of the Bear River.


When the temperature soars, we love to take the dogs down to the river, which is just five minutes from our house.


The funny thing is that Lucy, our purebred Lab, doesn't like water much.


She'll wade in if there's a tennis ball to catch, but swimming is another thing all together.


In fact, if the tennis ball drifts too far out into the river, she refuses to fetch it.

And she's a retriever!

By the way, in the picture above, Lucy slowly stepped toward the ball and grabbed it before it could sail further down the river.

Thank goodness, because I wasn't going in after it. :-)


Summer is just around the corner, and I can't wait to spend family time on the river banks, shooting additional silhouette pictures.

J