prettiest blocks ever made.

by haba.

the room looks so much bigger without the rugs! (in the wash)

some more pics i have taken throughout the week. i'm a little behind in my photo sharing so please forgive the photo assault.


with his new walker. which he LOVES


bedtime for a sleepy boy.






laughing.


i love my 85mm lens. i really really really do!

fix-it friday edit.

this is my edit for the fix-it friday i heart faces blog. (i did not take the picture)

BEFORE:

AFTER(S):

i cropped the image. as for editing. i honestly don't remember what i did but my main focus was to try to down tone the blow out leaves first. then i lightened the image and did a quick saturation boost to the leaves. i also messed with curves a bit.

Be sure to head over to I heart faces to see other amazing, creative edits!

a walk through the rain.

so, this is how it went down around 4pm this afternoon.

david: "hey, i have a great idea. let's go take a walk around the neighborhood"
me: looks out the window "uh, it looks like rain"
david: "yeah, we have some time before it gets here"
me: looks again "i don't think so"
david: "sure we will. just one block.. we will be back before it even sprinkles"
me: "okay but i'm putting the rain cover on the stroller"
david: "i don't think you need to"
me: side eye

we get outside

david: "i think i might mow the lawn when i get back"
me: "it's going to rain"
david: "i'll have time"
me: "okay.. whatever"

1minute 45seconds later. it starts to POUR!!!!!!!!!! we are half away around the block!! lol

and yesterday i discovered a new park with a beautiful garden next to it. we didn't have time to fully walk around and enjoy since it was getting dark and the mosquitoes were really bad. i got a few shots of ashton in the leaves though. i want to go back and get more with my 85mm lens. there were also a ton of other photographers with kids out there and ashton was easily distracted. i will try early during the work week and see if we get lucky :o).

the felt food has to go somewhere.

we are getting ashton a play kitchen for christmas or his birthday (january8th OMG!). i know i know. he's still a little baby and has no darn clue what a play kitchen is, but a lot of people who have 18months old have said their little boys LOVE their play kitchens.

after a month of browsing and reading all the reviews from over 10 kitchen play sets, i have finally narrowed down on two . now my problem is i can't figure out which one i really want to get him. what do you think?

i really like this one. i love the style, the color, the details (really really love the details). it's too cute for it's own good! it's also the right size. (the kitchen will go in our kitchen).

by the way, they are the same price. this one has more features. the microwave, the extra room storage below etc. it's cute but IMO not as cute as the one above. it's also a little larger than i would like but would still fit the spot in the kitchen.

the more i look at them the more i want the first one but only because i really love the details.

fix-it friday edit.

this is my edit for the fix-it friday i heart faces blog. (i did not take the picture)

BEFORE:

AFTER(S):

i cropped the image. and brightened in lightroom with the brightness slider, used the vibrance slider to boost colors, and lowered the contrast just a TINY bit. i added a light vignette. and brightened his face with the brightness brush in lightroom. i warmed it up just a little with the temp slider. i tried to down tone the blown highlights but they were not salvageable.

i converted to b&w with sesame ellis' easy B&W action.

Be sure to head over to I heart faces to see other amazing, creative edits!

breakfast anyone?

it's completed!! sort of.

i finished the pattern set but i have another pancake collection i am working on (if only i could figure out how to make the fruit and whip cream gah). i have two other patterns, donuts and vegetables. i'm itching to make the donuts but i think i will tinker with the vegetable pattern next.

i really love the strawberries. SO CUTE!
by the way. interested in making your own felt food this pattern is from buggabugs off etsy.com

i know i say this often but ashton is amazing! everyday he notices an object in a new light. i enjoy watching him explore.

i love how when i build stacks of blocks he squeals with excitement as he scoots his way to knock them down.

i am so very very very blessed.

"hello?, it's for you"

i bet many of you owned the fisher price chatter phone back in the day. i know i did. it was one of my favorite toys. found this one on ebay. it's an original 1966 version that came new with the original box (price tag says 2.80).

i know they make a replica of the toy found at walmart and target, but they are not exactly the same. this one has a wooden base with a lithograph (no paint) and is made 100% in the USA (both cords are longer as well). i honestly can NOT believe i even found a brand new original for a decent price. to say the least ashton has noticed it and has wanted to mess with it every day.

today i pretended to be talking on it and handed him the phone as i always do, and for the first time ever he knew what to do with it. he put it up to his ear! SO CUTE! i could melt all over again.

he's still trying to figure out how to turn the dial. he knows what it can do it's just too hard for his tiny fingers and busy brain to figure out.

the eyes and nose are his favorite feature. it's so funny how babies explore their world.

i have a deep hidden childhood love for this toy. i hope ashton loves it as much as i did back in the day. this little phone has a permanent home. i am NEVER giving this toy away. ever.

say it with me.. "awwwwwwwww poor baby". i tell you what. he has hit his head at least five times a day for a week now. he has begun to lift off with his feet (almost like he is in a downward dog position). push himself into a sitting position and is still trying to learn that when he looks up (he has had a fascination with ceilings lately) his heavy little head tips his entire body all the way back and *WHACK* ::cue the sad picture above::. this was taken about ten minutes after the floor greeting. it takes forever for him to recover unless there is a cat nearby.

and because i am using my blog as a reminder for his baby book. he started clicking his tongue yesterday.

oh and get ready for my next set of felt food. i have completed the breakfast set (pattern) i want to try to make some strawberry slices, blueberries, and banana slices for the pancakes (don't have a pattern for. sooo. yeah i'm hoping it turns out okay). i am addicted to making felt food. i love it!

ashton's wheels.

fix-it friday edit.

this is my edit for the fix-it friday i heart faces blog. (i did not take the picture)

BEFORE:



AFTER:



what i did:
i used lightroom2. these are the settings i changed to the original image
temp +17
brightness +89
contrast +7
vibrance +40
shadows -40
then i exported to PS3 where i sharpened using sesame ellis' "film sharp" action at 44%. masked out her skin, background, and some parts of her hair. that's it. it was a super quick edit.

Be sure to head over to I heart faces to see other amazing, creative edits!

just the beginning.

for christmas we are getting ashton a play kitchen. after browsing play food (wooden or fabric) i realized it's kinda expensive, so i looked into making my own.

felt fruit:

the apple and orange have slices inside them.

no felt fruit here. just a cute picture i took. he lovessss that rabbit! you pull his string and he plays a sweet song.

teething?

maybe. he has been drooling a lot lately.