I was wrong.

Tulip trees are SUPPOSED to grow to 80 feet. Pshh.. whatever.

I still use Firefox, gasp!

And I have this row of certain bookmarks that sit in my toolbar for me to open as I see fit...

This is one of the bookmarks, to post a blog. Fascinating!

Words can get boring..

But, my favorite books don't have pictures. Words allow for the imagination to work a little harder, to make up your own story, to paint your own picture.... So, to blog without photos is unthinkable! Why would anyone read (and clearly, I don't think anyone is...) But... if you follow me on IG or Facebook you can see what my life is like by what I post. Not all, just some. So, why can't our imaginations work just a little harder today?

We have this decorative tulip tree in our front yard... it's only supposed to grow about 15 feet tall... that's the generic tulip tree height. You grow them, and then trim them... on and on it goes. However, the one next to our house is probably 80 feet tall. Exaggeration? No! I don't really know how tall 80 feet IS but I think that's how tall my tree probably is! Some days I think it will come crashing down on our house during a wind storm but it's resilient and strong.

Maybe that's why so many people have a hard time with imagination... because we live in a world where we are always trimmed back, always groomed to appear a certain way, but when we are allowed to grow out of bounds and defy standards, defy gravity.. people can be astounded by our resilience & strength.

Daydreams...

It seems like I can never get away from daydreaming about my own life. YES, there are bad bad days... and days that I just want to throw in the towel. It's not always easy. I have heard that when you have bad you can enjoy good even more.

For instance, after scrolling through Instagram for an undisclosed amount of time... and watching people I have been following (some since 2009) and seeing their kids go from babies, to toddlers, to kids... It strikes me over and again that this is what will happen with my kiddo. Other people who have watched her since day 1 will see this too... what a weird thing to watch. And tear-inducing... too fast. All too fast.

From the moment she was 1 month old I said... too fast. Now she's nearing 19 months old... HOW? How? I don't know.

I lay her down to sleep at night RELIEVED to finally be free of her never ending curiosity, her need to run, jump, scream, flail, and get-into-every-last-drawer-and-empty-them-all. But, when the sun rises the next day my heart feels heavy and my eyes feel on the verge of tears as I look at videos and photos of my child and miss her... even though she is just 2 rooms away. Some days she'll sleep SO long that I am nervous... will I walk in and find her escaped through the windows? Did she somehow get into the living room and is channel surfing? WHY IS SHE STILL SLEEPING?

So, I go wake her up and I never, ever want to forget what it's like to see that mop of unruly, tangled hair.. to see her give me the biggest baby teeth grin, to hear her say mama and blabber on in her jibberish language... Because tomorrow she may actually say something more, and one day she won't need me to come in and get her out of bed... because one day she'll be too big to carry to breakfast... and that day is upon me faster than I know.

Oh dear child of mine, your mama loves you with the tears of pain, heartache, joy, and love. You are the cup to my tea and the pump to my heart. Stay little just a little longer....

Months have passed.....

A few months have passed since I've dusted off the ol' keyboard and decided to write.

I suppose my own fears hold me back. Fears of over-posting my child, fears of being too boring, fears of having nothing to say. A friend lovingly reminded me of the memories I will, undoubtedly, reminisce on by looking back over the words and photos I post here... I've decided to try (yet again) at making this a real habit.

So, let's try this again.

Later today I will sit down and come up with an effective blog schedule so I can remember to post, even if my posts are light or slightly boring.... I just want to remember this sweet life.

Here's to new beginnings.

In the 2 months since I blogged last (not that posting a photo of your kid is REALLY blogging) I have run my first 5K and now am in the works to train for a 10K. I have cut out all sugar, and I'm on the road to eating more wholesome and "life-fueling" food. My child is an ever-changing delight... going from happy-go-lucky *barely* a toddler to full force screaming fits on the floor. It's non-stop, people.

7/52

A photo of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014.

Linking up with Jodi

Lo: Those canine teeth are coming in, and this is about the happiest you get.

Otherwise, it's constant chewing, gnawing, and crying.

6/52

A photo of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014.

Linking up with Jodi

Lo: You look at me with your doll eyes, and I melt.

2014 - 52 Project

I was happy enough to complete the 52 Project for 2013. I made a beautiful photo book and it's something that I will forever remember. How exciting for me to see Lotus grow, progress, and change. Truly amazing to capture these moments I will never, ever get back. I think some wait too long and have a regretful feeling for losing out. I don't ever plan on losing out on these moments.

Last year I was happy enough to lug out my big DSLR camera and shoot my baby. This year will be slightly different as I will go between my iPhone and DSLR. I am not going to pin down rules because I have been able to capture some extremely sentimental moments with my phone. The iPhone camera is out of this world, so I just can't buckle down and pretend one is better than the other, for me.

I have updated this blog with the past 5 weeks, and intend on continuing on. It's fun for me and gives me an excuse to keep taking her photo in fun and creative ways.

Do you do the 52 project? Leave me a link the comments, I'd love to follow along on your journey.

5/52

A photo of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014.

Linking up with Jodi

Lo: Slopped out on the couch watching Wayne's World. A family favorite.

Climbing and climbing.

We have come to a new chapter in our life where a toddler is emerging in ways that I have dreaded since the announcement of my pregnancy. Toddlerhood. The part where she explores, experiments, destroys, and is determined to become her own person. I like her baby ways, her 3 word vocabulary, her small & expressive feet... it's all just disappearing too fast.

She is extremely tall for her age. Her pediatrician said she's in the 99th percentile and so climbing on the couch was going to happen sooner than later. However, she doesn't communicate in a way that an older kid does.... so instead of saying NO... she just bites pillows and slams her head into walls. It's mind boggling, but I guess it's just developmental. She'll get it, eventually. Right now is a trying time for us all.

But, her little face is just too cute. I wish I could freeze time, like this, forever.

Not quite cutting it.

Oh yes, why, you did find another blog... one that is just the same as all of the other blogs online. I show pictures of my kid, talk about my life, post blow-by-blow photos of vacations and trips, sometimes I'll share recipes and DIY blogs, and overall... I am just part of a trend that I can't quit.

What's interesting to me is that blogging is more than just posting something out into the blogosphere... Out into the world where a handful might read and relate. It's a requirement for me.

After my daughter turned 1 year old, I stopped posting. I did her monthly photos for a year and then I stopped. I have a feeling if I stop forever, I'll regret it everyday. I LOVED looking back through all of my old posts and finding thoughts, feelings, and most of all ... photos. They take me back instantly.

Yes, blogging may be a hassle. Yes, it may be a chore. It's also an eventual outcome to be able to see what happened in my life and watch it keep going. As I continually flip-flop all over the place with my inability to maintain a proper blog, my wishwashy tendencies to continue on with the same name... sometimes change is inevitable.

What isn't inevitable is the eventual, but we can't get there without the present. Presentual.
Welcome, I plan on making this journey more exciting (well at least more well tended to) than previous versions of myself.

4/52

A photo of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014.

Linking up with Jodi

Lo: I told you to smile, so you did.

3/52

A photo of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014.

Linking up with Jodi

Lo: You are so talkative these days. I really love your little toddler voice.

2/52

A photo of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014.

Linking up with Jodi

Lo: My blue jean mail delivery gal. Screaming, always.

1/52

A photo of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014.

Linking up with Jodi

Lo: It's hard to keep from smiling at your pretty face.