Most of the gardens I have taken pictures in up until now are other people’s property. So the three photos above are special because these are actually my babies. They live on my balcony now, and are soon to be joined by Morning Glories and Moonflowers if all goes well. They are going to try to grow from seed and I’ll be waiting anxiously for the soil to birth little green things. I have challenged them to a birth race. We’ll see who wins. Ready. Set. GO.
Posted in Daily Picture
Tagged balcony flowers, catnip, clematis, Daily Picture, flower pots, gardening, lavender, moonflowers, morning glories, photography
These are Worry Dolls. Have you heard of them? Here, let me google that for you.
My friend, Casey, brought these back for me after a trip. I used to have a tiny bag of them when I was little, only they were the really mini-version.
The concept is this: assign a specific worry that you have to a doll, and tuck her in under your pillow at night, so that she has deal with that worry and you can sleep peacefully. What a great concept. They are the poor man’s Ambien. A great idea for kids, although I think pregnant ladies in the third trimester could really benefit from these as well.
How many times have you been lying in bed, just wishing you could halt your thoughts, anxieties, or to-do lists so you could just fall asleep? Why is it so hard to keep the mind from racing? I’m sure there is some kind of meditation for this problem that I don’t know how to do at the moment.
My biggest worry right now is something that is completely out of my control. A pointless anxiety. I would gladly give it to a little doll to worry about, because she will have as much luck as anyone in changing the course of events that would relieve this anxiety. I hope she doesn’t have a tiny panic attack. But then again, she is made for this kind of thing. I’m sure she’ll be able to handle it. Best of luck with my worry, little one. I am done with it.
I guess that I am doing pretty well if I am only tucking in this one doll. When there is a whole pile of them under there, then it may more of a concern.
Posted in Daily Picture, Uncategorized
Tagged anxiety, Daily Picture, photography, pregnancy, sleep, worry dolls
This is the first weekend in months that I haven’t felt like I need to be doing anything. And funny enough, that meant being more productive. Not productive on the nesting front, but in the photo and blog portion of my life that has been grossly neglected. I may even design a new header tonight (update: done and done). Shocking!
Let’s talk about a little concept called Time to Myself. I have two months left of that. Time to stare at the wall or the sun on the curtains. Time to space out on the balcony. Hours to nap on the couch until my hips become sore and I move to the bed. Afternoons to just think about what kind of plants might possibly live on my balcony. I want a bunch of lavender, rosemary, and moon flowers so that it smells amazing out there.
I can go on extended shopping trips alone. There is no one to look after, to feed, to change, to entertain. I can hop in the car without looking like I’m headed on a three-day infant camping trip. No bags beyond my trusty Michael Kors, that will soon be traded for a JJ Cole.
I can keep the house clean without much effort. Do only a couple of loads of laundry a week, and take out the trash without worrying about carrying a baby on the other hip. I can read a book without interruption, take a bath for so loooooonnnng that I nearly fall asleep, and eat ice cream before bed without guilt about cheating on the post-baby diet.
If I could sleep in, oh I certainly would. But 5:30 is the new wake up time apparently. I can get ready for work at my own pace, waddle to the train without guilt about leaving anyone behind, and then talk to grown ups for the whole day. I wear mascara everyday, and would never leave the house in pajama pants. I can eat lunch downtown with friends, and wander the stores without worrying about a stroller getting through the racks or finding for a bathroom that has a changing station.
But here is the thing. Even though I will lose many of the personal luxuries listed above in just two short months, I can’t stop wanting that moment to come. I want everything that comes with being a parent. I want the good, the bad, and the ugly. I want a growing family. I want to worry about holding hands when crossing the street, bedtime stories, and skinned knees. I want the late nights, and early mornings, the sick days with sprite on the couch, and pumpkin carving. I want Legos. I want Cheerios stuck to my shirt and gum in my hair. I want to teach and I want to learn. I want to take my baby to new places, see the world for the first time through new eyes, wonder what it is like to pet a kitty for the first time. I want to watch Justin teach Baby B to swim. I want to watch Finding Nemo for the 6 bajiillionth time. People, I want spit up on my new blouse and an exploded diaper in my Moby wrap.
If you haven’t felt anything like this, then congratulations on missing the crazy boat. Please sleep in and have an extra long brunch and then wander your neighborhood. Seriously. Because that is sweet stuff. And because once you find yourself with the baby fever, you will be craving onesies and organizing your changing station on a Friday night before you know it.
You will have to excuse me now, but a certain someone is kicking my ribs because I can only assume he wants ice cream. And I love fat baby thighs, so he is getting what he wants.
Here is some lazy afternoon DPH from the Boley house. Complete with a 20 second video of some sun flickering on a wall. I won’t mention how long I actually stared at that by myself.
Posted in baby, Daily Picture, happiness, pregnant, Uncategorized
Tagged becoming a parent, Daily Picture, family, photography, pregnancy
You know what’s fun? Procrastinating when you should be packing! So I thought I would post some photos that need to live somewhere other than my memory card.
One of the pleasures of being pregnant is experiencing mood swings. This is not typical to my personality, so I am living through vastly different emotions from one day to the next for the first time.
Here is a list of things that are lovely right now, and general contribute to a great mood. There is also a list of things that I find hateful most days. And they should be avoided at all costs.
Posted in Daily Picture, photography, pregnancy
Tagged annoyed, blue sky, Daily Picture, flowers, happy, mood swings, photography, pregnancy, spring
If you see a pregnant lady laying in the dirt on the side of the road, don’t worry too much. If she has a camera and bright green shoes on, she is most likely just fine down there.
I have started to see all kinds of awesome things creeping out of the dirt and dead leaves along my route home. The only problem is that they are so tiny and close to the ground. I am able to squat to get the shots, but I can’t get up super easy. At least the view is nice from down there.
All. Pregnant. Photographers. Should. Have. Life. Alert.
Oooh. Look at the sky from down here! It is light outside at 7 pm! Amazing.
Posted in Daily Picture
Tagged blue sky, commute, Daily Picture, flowers, photography, signs of spring
As I type this, I am finding it hard to breath. The body I am living in is starting to feel foreign to me. I know it is technically the same one I have had for years, but it seriously feels like I am wearing a costume. A heavy one. It is increasingly difficult to get a deep breath due to less space for lungs, extra blood pulsing through my body, and carrying more weight. Specifically on the chest. Ahem.
When I tell Justin about my woes, he reminds me that I’m a “good baby grower.” Thanks, that’s sweet, but that doesn’t really help me breathe. I guess there is nothing much we can do. So I sit here listening to my own heartbeat pound in my ears, feeling my blood pulse through every part of my body like there is a race on. And if I am wearing a necklace, it will bounce with each ridiculously exaggerated heartbeat. I guess this is normal?
Otherwise, I’m feeling pretty well, considering there is another human growing in my abdomen.
Life is continuing at break-neck speed and I am keeping up for now. This week’s big event was finding our new apartment. We had been searching for a while, and just found something that is going to work out nearly perfectly for us. I was so excited yesterday that I got a stomach ache. We are also moving a month and a half early. Which is probably a good thing since I am only going to continue to suffocate under my own weight as the months go by. Time to start packing and saying goodbye to lovely Andersonville. But we are excited to get to know our new hood, Rogers Park. And it is the perfect season to explore.
Yes, spring is officially here. Although Chicago welcomed it with a snowstorm.
RUDE.
But the week before the snow was pretty great. The day before the snow was nice enough to open windows and walk to the park without a coat on. Luckily I had the day off to soak in some vitamin D before putting on the puffy coat once again. March is such a weird month here.
The rink is melting!
Schween rests by an open porch window
Then hunts her shadow with intensity. This points to the sad fact that she hasn't seen much sun for months.
Oh, and these are taco pot pies. Nothing to do with spring really. Just a weird dinner we had on Thursday. I know it sounds white trash, but they were actually pretty awesome.
Posted in Daily Picture, photography, pregnancy
Tagged cat, crocus, Daily Picture, heartbeat, ice rink, new apt, open window, photography, pregnancy, spring, sprouts, sun, taco pot pie
I almost peed my pants on the way to work because I saw these at the end of my block. SPRING?!?
On the way to the train yesterday, Justin and I had an argument about Spring. It is my favorite season, and because of my heightened awareness during that time of year, I am going to say I am more of an expert on Spring than he is. See, I am even capitalizing “Spring” because it is that important.
So, the argument was over the definition of Spring and when it starts. Justin was saying we are experiencing spring right now, just because it has gotten into the 40′s for a few days. I am not so easily fooled. This is March. In Chicago. She is a cruel mistress. I am happy about the warmer temps, but this doesn’t mean I am putting away the puffy coat and pulling out the green shoes just yet. When it is true Spring, you can smell it, feel it, hear it, and see it. I have about eleventy-million photos from Spring of last year, and what we are experiencing this week is just not it.
However, I’m willing to admit we are on the cusp of something. That is obvious. The snow is melting more each day, and everyone is restless. Things will begin to explode within a few short weeks, including the icy hearts of millions of Chicagoans. We will have made it though, and the city will have its annual spring freak out. It’s my absolute favorite time of year. I love having a May birthday, because it seems like a good time to reset the year. January is no time to celebrate New Years, and I propose we move it to Memorial Day weekend. Who is with me?
Last Friday, it was sunny out. Not warm, but definitely sunny and above 32 degrees. So I went to the park at lunch to inspect the scene. People were out and about, and many were ice skating. Sorry if you are into ice skating, but it is time we pack that crap up now. I want to see the rink melt and the patio set up.
The garden isn’t showing any life yet, but I still enjoyed the feeling of being almost there. It is amazing what a little sun can do. Anticipation is in the air.
We have melting! We have sun!
People will clamour for these precious tables in a few weeks. And look! Bean reflection in the melt.
I fell in love with these plants. I didn't expect to find anything so pretty in the park, since I assumed everything was dead.
My favorite nubbin was even shining bright.
Posted in Chicago, Daily Picture
Tagged almost spring, Chicago, Daily Picture, garden, Millennium Park, photography, snow melt, the bean
I recently grew out of my beloved winter puffy coat. Others in the house are lucky enough live in a permanent puffy coat.
Yesterday, Porpus bravely tried out her fabulously padded outerwear. She generally prefers a warm patch of sun, but her curiosity about the white fluffy stuff on the porch was too strong to resist.
She steps out without hesitation.
A fine layer of blubber provides protection.
Short legs, big dreams.
Cat hand stands are not for the weak.
I have so much I want to write about that I am going to have to just start posting more. I can’t beat myself up every time I don’t have photos to go with the post.
I hope you don’t beat me up either. Think of the unborn baby.
But look here! I do actually have some photos today.
We had a slumber party on Sunday. Minus the slumber. The girls hung out during the day, watched bad movies/TV, ate cake, ate cake, ate cake, painted nails, read magazines. Really girly slumber-party-ish activities were had by all. We celebrated Amber’s birthday and we all watched her blow out the candles in our pajamas. This is the only time you will ever see her in a Piston’s sweatshirt. Guaranteed.
I don’t have many pictures of the lovely attendees, because it is a pajama party. And honestly, the cakes are way prettier than our sweatpants and headbands. At least in my case. My latest fashion, while walking around the house, is a pair of faded yoga pants covered in cat hair with the elastic cut out of the front of them to accomodate my belly. I am looking SO good in those. Nope.
Speaking of growing bellies, I have wanted to start a maternity photo series, but I haven’t figured out how to do it yet. The pie in the sky photos would be something as great as the two series here and here from Pacing the Panic room. Nothing else I have found is very inspiring or original. My goal is to have something whipped up in the next couple weeks before I start to get really huge. Wish me luck!
Posted in Daily Picture, pregnancy
Tagged birthday, cake, Daily Picture, friends, maternity series, pregnancy, sleepover
