Sisters

Just because, I'm starting to think I don't take enough of them together in normal life anymore.

p.s. Ignore Mila's boogers.... the ones I just made you go take a second look at. Boogers are hard to photoshop out. I'd rather have boogers than abnormally large black holes for nostrils..

I guess.

A Wedding

More over here.

What a day--- With each wedding I've done, I have more awe and respect for the photographers that do dozens a year. This was one of the easiest couples and families to work with, but just the hours in a row, the need to be "on" socially and (do I dare say) professionally, the HEAT and therefore SWEAT spilling in the way of my vision, maybe the babe in my belly, wearing anything but running shoes when I'm on my feet that long, and all the while trying to pull from my creative corners with that many people watching and waiting! It's hard work.

I always wonder if I'm not supposed to share this stuff…. but that's why my photo blog is so short and sweet (and boring). THIS blog, however, is for gut spilling.

That sounded lots yuckier worded that way. Sorry.

Heading back out!

So we've been back in town since Friday night… and as excited as I was to be home to a routine for a little while… the 110 degrees have gotten old really quick.

Luckily, we're heading back to the beach on Thursday with the Homecs! They have a family beach house in San Juan…

and we have them. Hooray. :)

They say it's cold out there, and I couldn't be more excited at the prospect of covering this awkward 17 week phase with a hoodie. ahhhh…….

Here's a shot of me and Brooke last year:

… oh… I mean it's us in a dream I had last year while we were sleeping at the beach house.

A girl can dream.

(both images from this lovely blog---- she always has the most lovely images!)

It's official!

(It looks like her panties are in some sort of bundle… they're just a little big, seeing as she's in Sophia's half the time. Point of picture: not the bundle--- just the panties)

She's still in pull-ups at night and naps--- but otherwise, 100%--- no accidents--- fully committed--- so much that she'd wake me up in the middle of the night to pee at my mom's house--- potty-trained.

I felt like I was going about it all wrong. I certainly wasn't following any books or anything like a good mommy. And -- I'm into the books. My personality is like 98% figure-it-out-as-you-go-and-everything-will-turn-out-just-fine. Except with babies. I really liked the sleep books--- some rules--- some schedule etc… I think someone has done a bunch of research so that perhaps my life as a mommy won't be QUITE as pull-my-hair-out-by-the-roots-and-eat-a-carton-of-icecream every day stressful. So I'd assume that there's something to all of those potty-train-in-three-days theories. But I never took the time to read one.

So for a couple of weeks I encouraged the potty and kept her naked in the mornings. We started with a morning or two in front of the TV on the little potty eating Popsicles. But besides that. I was inconsistent and hit or miss. Sometimes avoiding it all day. I was supposed to have her potty-trained for cousin's camp. It wasn't looking great.

But then we went to my mom's for the 4th and she didn't want to disappoint Nana… she only had a couple of outdoor accidents. Oh yeah, by then, I had started randomly sending her off into the world in panties…. come what may. I'm crazy like that.

I'm forgetting why I thought this story blog-worthy. I guess because I'm just so THRILLED that somehow, all of a sudden it STUCK. And I really didn't think it would unless I went about it more dramatically… "ABORT ABORT---- wait thirty days--- and then start fresh, armored with a freshly learned theory" --- this is what I imagined.

And then she just decided it was cool to NOT poop in her panties or pee on the ground and she's through with that. Done. Moved on. Big girl-- so big that she through the hugest fit the other night about a pull-up, so we gave up and put her down in panties meaning to put one on after she fell asleep. Of course we forgot--- had to clean a bed--- and she STILL refused--- after much coaxing and rock-a-bye-babying, I got it on her WITH her princess panties over it of course. This girl is giving me a run for my money lately.

Here's a video I took at the BEGINNING of my sort-of-potty-training process. Just so you can see how important she thought it, to go pooh pooh "on the potty"… Probably a bit too long--- but she was just so cute--- and so Mila--- if you skip the middle, watch the last few seconds when she changes her tune all of a sudden. She's a high and low one, this girl.

Some of what we looked at last week

While the kids were at Nana and Papa's cousin's camp (it is what it sounds like… a week long camp at Nana and Papa's house with no parents (big kids first half, little kids second half) must be potty trained and "water-safe"… after the challenges of Mila, I think next year's rules will be more like-- 6 and older. They might want a few years off of her.)

Anyway--- while the girls were there… we were here… in down town San Diego, staying at the Westin, walking everywhere, eating bagel sandwiches for breakfast, sleeping in 'till 9:30, taking naps, ordering movies, eating amazing sea bass, GOING to movies, eating ghiradelli sundaes…. eating… mostly eating….

With my favorite eating-buddy…. and everything-buddy.

And no we didn't plan it. Looked down at ourselves on the elevator, both in yellow. Whoops.

And then I lost my cardigan that night while walking with it draped over my purse. That's what we get.

Slugs and Snails

I want this vignette in my baby's room. Maybe I'll just print it out and frame it since I'll never find a piece of furniture like that…. without taking out some equity in our ho----- … oh wait… what's that?…

I've been thinking a lot about this boy thing.

Do I have to learn to cut hair? Do I have to pay someone to cut his hair? Don't you have to give boys haircuts??? how often? How do you know what…. shape?

Do I have to save extra time before church to put on real socks and shoes instead of "sunday flip-flops"? … real shoes stress me out.

Do I have to tuck in his shirt? Put on a tie? Real or fake? I think church with a boy is stressing me out. Maybe I'll make that Ross' territory.

And should I even mention all of the different bits and pieces? I'm a bit nervous for all of that. I feel like I'll need to learn diapers all over again. And the--- ahem--- … surgery… early on…. I'm already anxious. I've heard stories.

But guess what? I was laying in bed a couple of nights ago and I felt---- the most distinct little kick. I know I've been feeling little bits of movement over the last 2 weeks or so, the kind you wouldn't recognize during your first pregnancy, and the kind the doctor disregards as…. (gas)… but you know better.

But THIS time… well this time, I felt that little kick… and quickly put my hand in place, and I felt that little kick again--- even on the OUTSIDE.

It's official-

And there are few things I love more in life than feeling my babies move. Those little flutters that make it all real--- like he's reminding you that he's in there getting to know you're voice and your heart beat and your vibe. It almost makes up for all of that garbage that comes with pregnancy. (and by garbage, I mean back-fat.)

I went to sleep with my hand on my belly and a smile on my face…. and I really did dream of my baby boy all night long.

I'm in love. Socks, shoes, bad hair cuts and all.

But do I have to give in to star wars?

A run on the zip line--- when the brakes still needed a little help...

Sometimes I wonder why I'm posting something--- like who on earth I think will care to watch.

And then I remember that we will, later, when it's lost. Because I lose things. And this here blog is one place I can't lose. I've recovered many a recipe from it. If anyone else enjoys Ross riding the zip line and my annoying drum of a laugh in the background-- well then, here you have it. At your lucky little fingertips.

OH yeah…. and I forgot to come back to this particular subject...

Dear Mila,

You said you wanted a baby sister… Sophia said she wanted a baby brother… she already has a baby sister, you know?

She says we already have too many girls and only one boy in our house. She's got a point.

I told you both we didn't have a say. As it turns out, it's not really up to us.

I felt a lot of pressure that I should want a boy. But you guys filled my heart up so full I couldn't imagine wanting or needing anything different! I've gotten very comfortable with pig tails and leggings and princess figurines.

So Heavenly Father decided to set me straight and show me the hole we've had, that we didn't know we had. The one that should be filled with cars and trains and dirt and little checkerboard vans….

I won't lie--- I'm NERVOUS!!!!! But thrilled…. I think we'll like him. And I'm pretty sure he'll be WELL taken care of, what with three mommies and all. You guys are READY.

I came home from my appointment on Monday (only 15 weeks) and both of you were so irritated and disappointed because you'd misunderstood me and apparently thought the baby was coming out. Scary that adults might think the same thing by the looks of me. Good thing he'll be SO worth it.

Love,

Mom

Part 2 of the 4th of July weekend…

A day at Balboa Park… a little science museum and an Imax movie about the ocean…. so cool. But Sophia complained that it was a grown-up movie any time she got bored.

Some goggly swimming back at Nana's….

And the big day. Or rather, the Saturday before the big day when we really celebrated the big day. We headed out to Coronado early to enjoy the 4th of July parade. It was cold… which was a welcome change to what we're used to, so we bundled and snuggled and waved our little flags and drank hot chocolate and got yummy sandwiches and watched a wonderfully patriotic parade…

And then headed over to the "beach" (bay-side) to enjoy some icecream and the sun that decided to pop out.

Did I mention that I love this city.

The Beginning of last weekend…. bonfires and ziplines...

And THIS is the zip line. Like a real life zip line, strung up in their backyard… if I get around to it, I might have to post the video of Ross going down… just so you can get the full effect. This is Kirk, who put in a zip line and fire pit for his grandkids. He invented the extra mile.

No time to write… still hanging out with these two, their baby brother, and folks. About to eat cookies over scrabble starting at 11 pm.

Oh and I had a doctor's appointment today where he took a peek at the baby and said he MIGHT be able to tell me what it is… but he's not 100%…

Should I tell? Ross would say no--- I say yes.

Let me think about it.

Lens for Sale

For any of my camera friends out there:When I upgraded to my 5d and switched over to Canon, I debated and debated between two lenses, the 24-105 f/4 and the 24-70 f/2.8. I heard people rave about both. And eventually decided to go with the 24-105 because a: it was cheaper, b: it had a wider zoom range, all the way to 105, and I heard a lot of people say it was a really great all-purpose lens. Ok and mostly, Nicole Gerulat said it was like her favorite go-to lens…. and she's good. Real good.

And it was a great lens.

But I have found that even with all of those positives, I would rather have the lower f-stop of the 24-70, at 2.8 to help me out in low-light situations.

So I'm selling my Canon 24-105 f/4 for $750.

On Amazon, this lens goes for $1049 new, and there are used versions sold for as low as $848. I did drop my camera once like a year ago, and the rim of this lens got a TINY bit bent. It's something you'll see if you look close if you buy it, but I've been shooting with it ever since and there's certainly nothing wrong with it. I took it to a camera repair place where they told me it's purely superficial. The UV protector still fits on it and everything. Just a teenie dent.

It really is a great all-purpose lens. It's got Canon's awesome L-series glass, and it's clearly well-made. Ranging from 24-105, it technically does your wide angle and your telephoto shots with one lens.

Email me if you have any interest or questions etc… at lillie_biesinger at yahoo dot com. Thanks!

I left my heart…. in San Diego

This is where we've been. Every time I go home I feel more in love with this city. And I constantly feel guilty that I didn't appreciate it more growing up. I didn't know any better… I didn't know there were poor suckers living a couple hours east that had to open their car doors with a baby wipe to avoid the scalding handle.

Lacy's in town for the whole month, so I'll be spending as much time as possible back at home. But we're back home (ahem-- the desert one… it's confusing, how you forever have two homes) for just a night and then I'm off to Girl's Camp tomorrow with the girls from church! I'm feeling a little worn out at the moment. But I know I'll love it once I'm there. Wish me luck.

As usual, there's so much to document after a long San Diego weekend. We did Balboa Park, the 4th of July Parade on Coronado, a birthday party for my nephew Ivan, a bonfire, and of course, a day of pool and barbecue and…. ahem…. the new ZIP LINE in my parent's backyard.

They're preparing for cousin's camp 2010 next week. They don't mess around.

Hope you had a Happy 4th. I'm so grateful for this country.