A cold trip to the park...

We went to the park earlier and since the sun refused to show it's face it was a bit on the cold side.  I pulled up my weather app and it said 48 degrees.  I would describe it as cloudy, brisk, and breezy.  Not quite park weather but we layered up and braved the cold in hopes to soak up a bit of vitamin D through the clouds.  I did have to eventually pry Ava away and she shed a few tears which quickly disappeared when I told her we were going home for lunch.  She quickly started telling me her "order".

I had a bittersweet realization on Sunday at the grocery store.  The magazines are at the end of the baby aisle and Aaron always stops to look at them.  As I pushed Ava down the aisle and looked around I realized we no longer need ANYTHING down that aisle.  We never really needed much down it since Ava was 100% breastfed and I made her baby food so we only ever really picked up soap, lotion, diapers, and wipes.  (Makes me wonder how much I saved by not buying formula and food??)  Ava has to now use a special soap and lotion for her sensitive eczema prone skin and it's in the first aid area.  Also, she is as of the last month 100% potty trained and no longer wears pull ups at all.  She did for a time still wear them to bed and on longer car trips.  I am so proud of her potty training success but it also has forced me to realize that my baby is becoming a little girl.  She is growing up and becoming more and more independent each day.

Where oh where has my little baby gone....

Just some of the many photos that make me cry every time I see them.  Having a toddler is so fun but man o man are babies scrumptious.  Every chubby, wrinkled inch of them.

Weekend Fun...

Saturday we took Ava to the park...

Sunday we went to Ann Marie Gardens and then to brunch.  When we came home Aaron washed the car and Ava and I went out in our rainboots to splash in the water.

"Come on guys"...seriously I think she said that more times than I can count.

Practicing her skills

 

 Playing in the water later that day.

On a roll....

I joined a new flickr group which I'm pretty excited about.  The group picks a different crayola color every week from the 64 box of crayons.  The idea is to try to find something that color and photograph it.  The color this week is cornflower.  Ava got to help with this one.  First we got out the box and she gave me all of the blue crayons and I found the cornflower one.  After that we colored a swatch of paper to carry with us as we sought out something in that color.  She even carried her camera with us so she could take pictures too.  I recently gave her an old camera to have because she likes to play with mine.

Here is my submission for cornflower...

                                                                                

                                                                                  ...a flower arrangement my Mom and I put together.

Ava's Poppie came by today and brought her some robin's eggs so I figured while I had my camera out I would photograph them too.  Ava liked having them on a little serving dish.  

Inspiration

Winter months=boredom and lack of enthusiasm

I don't know if it's the lack of sunshine and subsequent vitamin D deficiency or the all around lack of color.  Maybe it's the cold temperatures and the shorter days.  I really can't put my finger on the exact cause but it seems the photographer in me hibernates along with the bears.  I recently brought my camera back out after only using it once this whole year.  I have used my iphone for those "you gotta catch this" moments...sad I know but hey, it works.

A few of my friends and I are going to start our own little self paced class together to try to get ourselves to use our cameras a bit more.  We also our going to do a project 52.  Some have been doing it from the beginning and some have just started.  I just started and I may not participate in each weeks  theme but I am  hoping it will help inspire me and get me out of my box a bit.  This weeks theme was fear and the alternate theme was feet.  These are my shots for each....nothing overly spectacular but I at least got the cobwebs off my camera.

I also captured this adorable moment with my modern child using my iphone and sitting with Monk her favorite companion.

I had some more to post but I will have to cut it short.;  My poor dramatic child is having a moment and wants attention.  I think it is time for us to retire for the night :)