Day Thirty-Four

The little things...

Today in my anatomy of movement class we did postural assessments.  I will have to do ten postural assessments as a project for this class.  Any takers???  You know you want to.

Today it was my turn to have one done on me and some of the observations I was aware of but others I was not.  During a session last week when my classmate was palpated my spinal column it was discovered that I have two vertebrates that are misaligned (a chiropractic visit would be awesome).  During the postural analysis they found that my upper body is slightly twisted to the left and higher on the right side.  My lower body was aligned correctly so it seems that I could really use an alignment (and no, not the kind for my car).

In case you're wondering, yes I am still in the massage program and no, I didn't switch to a chiropractic program.  You see massage therapist's will use postural analysis' to find out what their clients body is doing.  It tells them what muscles are lengthened and which are shortened.  It really helps you determine the areas of your clients body that need work.    

It's funny that we would do the postural analysis the very day after I just posted about my posture.  I now have a few more clues as to what my body needs to get back to where it should be.  To re-find it's center because right now that center is thrown forward and to the left.  Sometimes I find that in order to understand the big picture you have to look at the smaller objects within it.  So with that I bring you pictures of a very small object that is currently sitting on the mantel.  It really belongs on top of a bird house but it got knocked off.  This little guy is approximately two inches long and maybe an inch high.  Isn't he beautiful!

I took two sets of pictures today of two different subjects.  My initial intent was to post them both in the same post but I feel they each deserve there own.  I will return shortly with a second post.  A BONUS!!!

Day Thirty-Three

Little Toys...

There is something magical about toys that intrigues me and begs to be photographed.  It might be the bright colors, the odd shapes and characters, or maybe they invoke that lost imaginary world that we all grow out of.  That world that we all use to run to and hide in, where magic was real, and the possibilities were endless.  Toys represent childhood and the ability to be carefree.  A time before you were told to stand a certain way, dress a certain way, walk a certain way, sit a certain way, and told which mold was yours to conform to. 

Something I am learning through my massage class is that I am my body's worst enemy.  I breath wrong, I stand wrong, I tighten muscles that should be loose and loosen muscles that should be tight.  Where and when did I start breathing in my shoulders and not my belly.  Is it because at a certain age we are told as girls to not poke out our stomachs because it's unattractive.  Why is it that I sprained my ankle back when I was fifteen but yet I still walk like I have a cast on.  Not when I walk fast but when I walk slowly I don't move my ankle because somewhere it became ingrained that I should walk that way.  I have horrible posture and slouch more often than not.  I NEVER use to slouch.  I watch Ava walk and think to myself when and where did it all start to be one large bad habit. Feel your own body and your aches and think about why exactly they ache.  What is it that you are doing that is causing you pain because guess what, shocker, it's you doing it.  Why do you do it?  When did it start?  How can you correct it?  The funny thing about it all is that now you are aware that you do it and will notice when you are doing it.  The great thing about that is that it will then start to annoy you and we all know that the only bad habits we ever change are the ones that annoy us. 

Now to go back to before you learned bad habits and just were.

Day Thirty-Two

Afternoon recharge...

Last night was a long restless night for our little family.  Ava went to bed an hour early and this Momma should have known better and not let her go to bed prior to 9pm (kicking self now).  So at about midnight Ava woke up and did not go back to sleep until after 3:30am.  That is the last time I remember seeing before I finally was about to drift off. 

Ava has been cutting molars which she does handle surprisingly well.  She will run a fever when the process starts and then after that will have periodic crankiness and lack of an appetite.  The biggest sign that Ava is teething is her rebellion against sleeping.  I guess all in all I do consider myself lucky to have such a trooper because those teeth look like they hurt something fierce. 

Ava has never ever been a sleeper and is a night owl like her parents.  In fact she was up for two straight hours after her birth just looking at everything.  Should have known then that our little miss would be a night owl.  People told me she just had her days and nights confused and if that is true then she still does.  I love that she is like us in that respect because since neither of us are morning people I don't know what we would do with a child that was. 

In fact little miss is currently dancing around in front of a mirror saying happy (haa-pee) and giggling.  This age really is just so much fun.  Ava is very independent and really doesn't like to be bothered.  If she wants you to play with her she will bring you a toy but mostly she likes to be left to herself.  When she is tired she will bring you a book and when she is ready to cuddle she will lay her head on your lap.  However, when she is "doing her thing" it is fun for us to just sit and watch her.  Every so often she will look to see if we are watching and laugh or smile. 

Now let me get back to last night and our total lack of sleep.  Ava was up, dressed, and in the car by a little after eight and NOT happy about it.  She got over that quickly when she saw Nan at the door ready to take her.  She LOVES being at Nana and Poppies and will literally jump out of my arms to go to Nan and then turn and tell me bye.  It's nice to know she doesn't cry or get upset when I leave and she runs to greet me when I return.

Today when she came to greet me and I could tell she was also feeling the lack of sleep.  When we got home she took her nap and I did homework.  It would have been nice to catch up on some sleep with her but it was quiet and I had some chapters to read.  When her Daddy got home I went up to brew up a pot of coffee for our afternoon recharge.  Normally I only drink coffee in the morning but today was a two cups of coffee kind of day.

 

 

Ava got an apple...

 Let's hoope for a few more hours of sleep tonight.

Day Thirty-One

Operation Ikea...

The streets were clear enough today to get to Ikea.  I have been wanting to get Ava's toys organized for some time now.  It had gotten to where I would organize and she would destroy daily.  Thanks to Ikea things should stay a little cleaner.  Today's post will be image heavy and not exactly photography standard photos.  Today the pictures will focus on a different success and that is toy organization. 

 

  

  

 

 

 

Today also marks another accomplishment.  I have officially completed a full month of the project 365.  Come on February!!!!

Day Thirty

Snowy Saturday...

So much for going to Ikea today.  The few inches turned out to be more than just a few so we are snowed in. Today hasn't been very productive but I did venture out long enough to get some photos to share.  Here is what it looks like outside today. 

 

  

and some black and whites...

 

 

So for now we will continue to camp out inside and watch pandorum.  Tomorrow maybe Ikea...we shall see. 

Day Twenty-Nine

Little Hands...

It has been nice to have a drama free day (knock on wood) and just enjoy spending time with Ava.  It has gotten very cold out and we are supposed to have nasty weather coming our way.  I was supposed to be making meatloaf with mashed potatoes tonight but we are out of potatoes and I am NOT venturing out with all the nutcases that are out in a panic buying water and milk.  So I will probably have to improvise with some rice or maybe mac and cheese instead. 

I am not sure what this weather will mean for our weekend plans so I may see if Aaron feels like going out to blockbuster just in case.  Of course if we don't make it we can just watch re-runs of the office.  That show never gets old. 

Now to get to the pictures of the day.  Ava was looking out the window and trying to climb up on the window sill.  Luckily it isn't quite deep enough of a sill for her to really get up on to.  I grabbed my camera though and decided to get some pictures.  She kept resting her hands on the sill so I put my camera down on it for a few close ups of those miniature fingers.  I am pretty happy with how they came out.  In fact Ava likes to hit the shutter button and hit the shutter button on the first one for me.  Sometimes I will get all of my settings and focus set and let her snap the picture.  It's fun to include her in on it and she seems to already love the camera.

Day Twenty-Eight

Simplicity...

Today has been a LONG day.  I am so glad that I have tomorrow to catch up on my reading for school and to play with Ava.  The cold front is officially here and it's cold and windy out so no outside playtime tomorrow.  It might be a good day to make a fort :)

This weekend I need to break out the massage table and practice my body mechanics.  Who knew four weeks off would affect my body mechanics like it did....ughh!!!  So looks like Aaron will be getting a massage this weekend whether he wants one or not.

So tonight I was looking around for a bit of inspiration because I procrastinated again (shocker).  Ava and I were playing on the kitchen floor when I saw these rocks in the bottom of a candle holder.  I spread them out on the counter and snapped a few quick shots.  I love when it's that simple.  Today I needed simple.