Just some snippets.

Now that we're done with the move to the new place, I finally feel like I can breathe. Let me tell ya: moving with a newborn is about 10 times more difficult than moving normally. And no matter which way you paint it, moving sucks, so it sucking multiplied by 10 is pretty darn sucktacular. At least we had helpers, including ever-generous parents and friends.

In the shuffle, I lost track of my Nikon so I made do with my crappy little point and shoot, which frustrated me to no end (so. many. blurry. photos! UGH!!!). Now that I unearthed the DSLR, I've been snapping photos like a mad woman trying to make up for lost time.

So, without further ado, here's a quick snapshot into our life nowadays:

Sokka loves the abundance of windows at the new house, and is having a blast chasing the critters that torment him from the outside.

My son has what I affectionally call "Crazy Eyes".

Pumpkin likes to think that she's Owen's babysitter.

Brian's a pretty awesome dad. Even if he occasionally sleeps on the job. :)

If you look closely, you can see Owen spitting up. Oh babies.

A smile! Granted it was because of gas (and a few seconds after I took this photo he started screaming) but still...I'll take what I can get. :)

...And Baby Makes Three. Five if you count the cats.

Wow, it's been awhile since I've written a post! Life has just been so nutty lately that it hasn't been high on my list of priorities, which instead have consisted mainly of preparing for Baby K's arrival, working on the move to our new place in the 'burbs (which we're finally done with, thank goodness!), and dealing with a diagnosis of gestational hypertension, which caused me to go on modified bed rest for the final days of my pregnancy.

Originally Baby K was due to come on May 13 - however, with the hypertension coupled with a false labor I had a couple of weeks prior, my doctor had a feeling that he'd come early. Turns out she was right!

On April 27, after 21 hours of labor and four hours of pushing (which my OB said was a "superhuman" effort) our son Owen Stewart came into the world.

7 lbs., 11 oz., 20.5 inches long. 100% adorable (not that I'm biased or anything).

:)

More updates to come, so stay tuned!

Cha-cha-changes....

A couple of weeks ago, we bade Ohio a tearful farewell. Although I admittedly was not fond of living in the middle of nowhere, the hospitality we experienced from the locals was unparalleled, and I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to work and play with such gracious and welcoming people.

We are back in the city yet again, except this time it's Sweet Home Chicago. We now live in a four-flat building in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on the north side, which is coincidentally the very same area my dad grew up in. Makes it feel like I'm returning to my roots.

And let me just tell ya...it's fantastic to be living in the midst of civilization again. When we were moving in, I could feel the energy - literally! I felt the pavement below my achy feet hum with life (although that very well could have been the planes, trains and automobiles that were passing through, but I digress). I can now walk, bike, or take public transportation to anywhere in the city. It's an incredible freedom that I've been missing for the past two years, and I'm enjoying every minute of it.

So now that we're (mostly) settled in, and I realized just how much I've neglected this little bloggity blog. I haven't had much time to practice with my camera lately, but that's going to change very quickly, mostly because of a few things:

1. I'll be doing a shoot at a bakery in Green Bay. Super excited to be combining two of my passions: photography and baked goods. :)

2. In October, I'll be shooting a wedding, so I will have to practice (and line up what equipment I'll be requiring).

3. ....I just miss shooting with my camera, and as I walk around Chitown I find all kinds of interesting stuff to photograph!

More updates are coming soon, so stay tuned!