We are hoping to get her to take a set every few months for the first year. We are going to be getting prints of a few of our favorites from this shoot. I can’t wait to see them! (and frame and scrapbook them. I have been working on Damian’s “First Year” scrapbook lately.)
This one of us is one of my favorite of the three of us (we are getting a couple extra prints of it for family too.)
These are a few of the others from that day:
Damian’s eyes are blue-green like Michael’s though they have some hints of hazel like mine, they are still changing so I am not sure which way they will settle. I think his hair will be dark and wavy like his daddy’s. Damian has a Darwin’s tubercle on both ears, which comes from me. Nice to know him and I are more like monkeys then the rest of you!
From left to right: Kim, Greg, Ariella, Lydia and Ginanne holding her daughter Emily. (Michael, Jordan and I are off frame.)
On Sunday and Monday, Michael and I were up at my in-laws home in Elk, WA. Ginanne, Jordan and their daughter Emily, also came up, though they camped out down in the apple orchard. After they had set up their camp, we all decided to go down to the orchard and have a campfire. We roasted weenies and made smores (mmm smores!)
It was really windy on our hike but also really refreshing.
After we got back from our hike and swapped photos (some of the photos in my gallery were taken by Kim, they are the ones with date stamps) we had burgers and potato salad and watched Pirates 3 (I honestly don’t get what all the hype is regarding those movies, maybe they just aren’t my thing though.) We normally visit the grave of a soldier at the Elk cemetery on Memorial Day, but Michael and I were so tired by that point that we just came home. (I have a lot more photos from the weekend, especially our hike, here.)
I had my ultrasound today, the baby is head down now and all is well. I am also now at the point I can go into labor without him being considered premature. Only 20 days till my due date!
The Lupercalia is an ancient, possibly pre-Roman pastoral festival, observed from February 13 to February 15 to avert evil spirits and purify the city, and increase good health and fertility. Perhaps this is where some aspects of Valentines came from, though the history of big holidays is certainly a muddled one. Either way I hope everyone has a wonderful day, I think my Aunt Ruth described Valentines Day best:
Valentine’s Day is not about chocolates and jewelry and special dinners and cards, but a day to think about true love and commitment no matter what our circumstances are.
Other then blogging, Michael and I have been pretty busy lately. Every Wednesday we have our Bradley classes and we are also working on reorganizing our apartment. Mostly I am focusing on tidying up and this weekend we are going to work on moving some furniture around (before anyone says it, yes I will be careful.) I am really grateful for how well Michael and I work together as a team, I know a lot of relationships do not have that good of communication.
Cleaning and rearranging aside, I have spent quite a bit of time in meditation and prayer recently. I know a lot of Pagans who do not pray, or rather, do not use the word “pray”. Perhaps it is too strong of a word implying that we are merely pawns, rather then players in our own fate. for me prayer is a way of connecting with an external divine source (rather then the internal one I access though meditation) to become empowered.
But yes, I have been praying for two people, and my cat too (who is starting to do better, thank you for all the advice!) I am praying for my friend’s daughters has developed PTSD and she is having an incredibly hard time cooping with the events that caused it. She is now back home but it will be a long road to balance for her. I am also praying for my Uncle Stephen who has been diagnosed with something called Horton’s Disease, which sounds infinitely more painful then my simple migraines. Part of me sees events in life such as these as a test of faith, however that does not make it any easier to see those you love in pain.
I should probably get back to cleaning now. I need to reorganized the storage space under the stairs. Who knows that lurks under there…
A question for cat connoisseurs…
Windigo is obsessive about cleaning not just his own fur, but also Aos’s. He will clean himself and Aos to the point of throwing up some pretty scary solid hairballs. Some of you might remember last year he got a bowel obstruction (which was passed after a couple days at the vet) it turned out to be a hair blockage of his own making.
Now the weather is warming again and he is starting the obsessive licking cycle again, the hairballs are also just beginning to start again. I brush him, but honestly no hair comes off with the cat brush. Is he pulling his fur out? He doesn’t seem to be going bald anywhere, maybe his tongue is more efficient then my brush. I use a natural hairball formula which seems to work okay when he gets it once or twice a day.
Has anyone else experience this problem with one of their cats? Could I be doing anything else? I really do not want this to turn into another $500 vet bill.
Someone I know at work sugguested that I get some cat grass from Petco, she said it would aid their digestion. Do you think it would help? Windigo and Aos are indoor cats, so they don’t any roughage from the great outdoors. (I am not against letting cats outdoors by the way, we just happen to live 20 feet from 29th Avenue which is a main road in Spokane.) Aos doesn’t get the hairballs Windigo does, however that is probably because he lets Windigo clean him instead of doing it himself…
(Michael and I at Twelfth Night yesterday.)
The greatest blessing is having someone to come home to who loves you for all that you are, especially on those days when nothing goes right.
~~~
My tea’s gone cold, I’m wondering why
I got out of bed at all
The morning rain clouds up my window
and I can’t see at all
And even if I could it’d all be grey,
but your picture on my wall
It reminds me that it’s not so bad,
it’s not so bad
I drank too much last night, got bills to pay,
my head just feels in pain
I missed the bus and there’ll be hell today,
I’m late for work again
And even if I’m there, they’ll all imply
that I might not last the day
And then you call me and it’s not so bad,
it’s not so bad and
I want to thank you
for giving me the best day of my life
Oh just to be with you
is having the best day of my life
Push the door, I’m home at last
and I’m soaking through and through
Then you hand me a towel
and all I see is you
And even if my house falls down,
I wouldn’t have a clue
Because you’re near me and
I want to thank you
for giving me the best day of my life
Oh just to be with you
is having the best day of my life
- Dido: Thank You
This is my sister-in-law with one of her cats, Calico, at Michael’s family Thanksgiving gathering yesterday.
I know I said I probably would pass on posting today but I have a surprising amount of energy.
On Saturday Michael and I had a house warming party. Some of our friends came over and we had a big potluck dinner (I successfully made pot roast!) and played Scattergories, watched Wickerman (the original one!) and talked (and talked and talked…) We got some awesome unexpected gifts.
Dottie and Buddy brought us a cool sculpture. I should take some pictures… They were afraid we were going to think it was weird and ugly. Yes it is weird but beautiful. And hey! Michael and I are weird too, so we adore it! It is made of terracotta and looks rather shamanic in style. It is five people standing in a circle representing friendship. There is a dish in the center of them which currently has a candle in. Of course, hehe.
Lily, Mikcos and Nathan brought us two really pretty candles (one orange and one green) and a beautiful orange and green afgan which Lily crocheted especially for us (in 3 weeks, wow! Power crocheting.) You might be thinking, why green and orange? Those are Michael and my favorite colors and she really covered the spectrum of shades! It’s so awesome. (You can actually see it in our webcam on the back of the futon.) I spent most of Sunday wrapped up in it on the couch (watching a Heroes marathon.)
Sal and Rusty brought us lots of picture frames, one of things we really needed. I am covering the wall up the stairs with photos of Michael and I with friends and family. Now just to print off some pictures… They also left a casserole dish full of homemade mac and cheese at our place, yummy! My precious.
All the gifts were beautiful, almost as beautiful as the great time that was spent with our friends. We stayed up late into the night. Nothing is better then being surrounded by people who love and accept you for who you are, and don’t want you to change one bit.
~~~
Hey and thanks to whoever requested a blessing for the baby and me for the Temple Cauldron Ritual this full moon (which is tomorrow!) My first obgyn appointment is today.
I haven’t seen him in a couple years but he was the dog I grew up with, my big gentle potato-head puppy. The picture at the start of this post was him in 1998, with a kitten we had just gotten, Nova. The other one is from 2006 (Nova got big!) they have always slept together.
Love you Kato.
My first niece, Emily Cheryl Michelle was born July 11th at 9:32am to Michael’s sister, Ginanne and her husband Jordan. She weighs 8lbs even, we have yet to see her but I am so happy for Ginanne and Jordan and their first beautiful child!
Look! Pictures! (taken by Kim.)
Omg, I’m an aunt!
