Recommendations??

About a month or so ago I acquired Photoshop Elements. It was much anticipated, and I promptly installed the program on our computer, all set to create beautiful masterpieces and digital scrapbook pages.

Uh....not so much. While I haven't had tons of time to devote to it, what little time I have played around with it I've realized I have no idea what I'm doing.

So...all you photographers/photo editors out there (and HELLO...who ISN'T a photographer these days???), send me your suggestions! Books, websites, tips, whatever! I need help!

EDIT:

Thanks to everyone who sent me amazing links, screencasts, suggestions, etc. I've been tinkering around with Elements (I have 5.0) and have already made a couple practice pages. So fun! Like I need one more addiction....

My future offspring.

I died laughing at the end of this. Check it out:

Merry Christmas!!

This Christmas has been different in so many ways. For starters, it's our first Christmas away from any family since we've been married. Number one because I can't travel this close to my due date, and number two I have to work. I worked last night on Christmas Eve and I'm at work now. A total bummer, but so far no tears! I've talked myself into having a good attitude about it and just enjoying spending what time I could with Derrick, and making the most of my 8 hour shift with my coworkers--and we do have a good group on tonite so it makes it a little better.

It's also the first Christmas we've spent in Milwaukee. We had our own little Christmas morning and opened the few gifts we had under our tree. Derrick, I have to say, did awesome and got me great gifts. An electric broom, that sucks up as it sweeps (an answer to a prayer if you remember reading my post on floor care...or lack thereof...). I also got a bigger food processor, which I love, and which I intend to use making baby food. He also got me fun stocking stuffers, and wrapped each and every one, even the gum and the travel sized Febreze. He totally outdid me this year, and made me feel like a total gift slacker.

I haven't been hungry in like 3 days. Yesterday for Christmas Eve we made a big dinner and had our friends the O'Neills over (who are stuck here with a baby on the way too). I stuffed myself and then came into work only to snack on more goodies that were laying around. Then this morning we headed over to their place for a delicious brunch.

It's definitely been a different feeling Christmas season for us, but it's made us grateful for what we have, especially in these trying times. I've loved being able to spend lots of time with Derrick doing Christmas-y things, and I'm looking foward to the upcoming days that he has off where we can just hang out and spend more time together.

I hope everyone's having a great Christmas, and enjoying whatever it is you're doing. I've been blessed in more ways than I can count, and I'm so thankful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, at this time of year, and always.

Merry Christmas! I love you all!

What have I done???

I've created a monster. A Facebook monster. After months and months of convincing, Derrick finally let me create a profile for him. Don't get me wrong, I love finally be "married" to someone and now he can stalk his own friends. And now I get to hear how many friends he has on a daily basis. :)

Viva Facebook!

Numb

We woke up this morning to a temperature of -6. NEGATIVE FIVE. THAT'S NOT WITH THE WIND CHILL EITHER, FOLKS. Wind chill temp: -33.

We've since warmed up to zero, with a wind chill of -22.

Break out the swimsuits.

How's your December??

This is ours. 12" of snow last night. A FOOT! Ridiculous. Luckily I'm off today, or I would have had to leave 2 hours early just to get to work on time. Poor Derrick had to go in today. Sucker.

The weather is dominating the TV. Instead of getting to watch Martha Stewart, it's news. Blah.
It's a good day to be stuck inside, I guess. I'll be reorganizing my kitchen cabinets, cleaning out the pantry/laundry room, get some sewing in, and maybe a little baking. Good day, despite the snow. Which I loathe. I mean, does this look like fun? Digging out your car?? Not seeing the road? Malls closed??? NO! The answer is NO!






I'm not sure how many more of these winters I can handle....

Disappointed

Last night Derrick took me to see Twilight. Finally.

I didn't love it.

I would not see it again.

I don't think Edward is good looking. In fact, I thought Charlie was better looking than him. Am I weird or what?

I just kept imagining if I hadn't read the books. Honestly, I don't really know how anyone really liked it without having read them. It was really choppy, I thought. And really slow. And then BAM! The end!

I know it's always the case with books-into-movies, but the book was SO much better. So much was left out.

And it was so cheesy. Multiple times I laughed out loud at how cheesy a scene was.

I left the theater feeling unsatisfied.

I shouldn't be surprised. I didn't think I was going to like it, and I didn't. So why am I so bummed out? I guess because I haven't talked to anyone who didn't love it and gush over it. I feel like a freak for not liking it.

Oh well.

Finito!

Alas, it is finished! The crib bedding, that is. I finally cracked down and finished the ruffle today. The bedding isn't perfect, but I still love it. More than anything I found in a store...and definitely a lot cheaper!




I've still got some stuff to put on the wall...it still looks a little institutional without them. And the rest of the room is a nightmare....hence the only pictures you get are of this teeny little corner.

Slowly but surely, it's all coming together!

At my appointment today the doc told me I wasn't dilated at all, but I was 50% effaced...so at least that's something. And she estimated this kid was about 5.5 lbs. I'll take it!

T minus one month and counting....

Well, we're down to the wire. 31 days left. One month. 4 weeks. Yikes.

Last Saturday we figured we should probably get our acts together and get the rest of the stuff we needed before this kid shows up. We started out with breakfast at the Original Pancake House, which is sooo delicious. I mean, where else can you get pancakes with BACON baked right in??? Oh man, so good. SO GOOD. Then we got right down to business and bought a crib mattress, baby monitor, diapers, wipes, pack-n-play/basinette and other random things. My super awesome purchase of the day was a baby swing I found on Craigslist. It's one of those that go back and forth and side to side, and they're $150 in the stores. That's a whole lotta money for a freaking swing. But not on Craigslist!! I snagged a practically new one for $40. Holla.

Yesterday at work I was contracting all day, and they were painful. So, I pretty much just sat around all day. But it kind of got me thinking that I should be a little more prepared. So today I washed the baby clothes, and finally packed a hospital bag. Wednesday I interviewed pediatricians and decided on one. I gotta tell you, this has all freaked me out a little bit. I mean, am I ready for this? For feedings every 2-3 hours? For no sleep? I feel like I'm so not ready in so many ways, but I'm so excited to meet this little person who beats my insides up every night. It's still all very surreal to me that we're actually going to have a baby. It's like I'm just going through the motions, getting everything ready. It so does not feel real to me. I don't really think it will hit me until we bring her home. And I can't send her back to the nursery. :)

Here's a pic for your viewing enjoyment. Me, at 35 weeks. I would post more pictures, but I never remember to take them until late at night, when I look and feel like poo, and I don't really like half the pictures that Derrick takes. I don't really like this one, but alas, I sacrifice for my dedicated readers.


I had a dream last night I was an ice skater. A really good ice skater. And I was ice skating with 'N Sync. It was so awesome. And so weird.

Snow, snow go away...and eff yourself.

I know, that was kind of harsh. But it's how I really feel. We're getting like 6" today. I hate it. I had to get up early for work to account for the extra travel time. I had to wear my snow boots and take my work shoes. I had to shovel my driveway. Actually, I didn't HAVE to, but I'm so OCD about shoveling it for some reason. I just hate it when I drive over the snow and it gets all packed down and then it's like ice and then I can't get into my garage because it's so slick.

It's so sad that I should even have the skill of winter driving added to my repertoire.

But is this stinky snow keeping us in tonite?? Nay! We're going (FINALLY) to see The Dark Knight tonite. Yes, for the first time. Yes, I know we are the only ones left who have not seen it yet.

Did I mention I hate snow?

Vacuum love

Wednesday night was a dream come true. Kohl's offered their associates a huge discount on Dyson vacuums. Combine that with additional associate discounts, a pick a day, and bounce back cash, they practically paid US to take a Dyson off their hands. Seriously, it was cheeeeap. Derrick needed a little convincing that we needed one, but all it took was telling him we'd soon have a little person on the floor that would put everything in her mouth. :) Sold. We put it together right away and then I vacuumed just our living room. I was shocked at what I saw in the canister. Tons of dust. Tons. It was gross. I should have used our old vacuum and then the Dyson to see just how crappy our old one is.

Love at first swipe.


Speaking of floor care, I hate mopping. It's a good thing I have a teeny kitchen. I'd much rather just get down on my hands and knees and scrub up a little spot than get out the mop and all that jazz. I've been using this floor cleaner since we've been married:

I mean, literally, THIS bottle. One bottle has lasted over 5 years. See? I told you. I NEVER mop. Don't judge. I know my mom is hiding in embarassment. I'm thinking I'm going to have to be a little better about mopping once this rugrat arrives. Well, I guess I have a little time before she starts crawling....

Catch up

What is wrong with me? I've been such a blog slacker.

Thanksgiving was great. We headed down to TX on Wednesday and were greeted with 75 degree weather. It. Was. Awesome. It stayed like that the whole time we were there, too. Of course, we flew back home on Sunday into a snowstorm with temps in the 20's. Lovely.

Dinner Thursday was, of course, delicious. Lots of family came and I ate and ate and ate. Then I was so uncomfortable from being so full. And fat. Darn those sweet potatoes. They do me in every time. I just can't stop myself from eating 6 servings of them.

Friday morning we woke up at 4 and headed out to shop. We hit up Walmart, Target, and Kohl's. I don't think I bought anything. In fact, I never do on Black Friday. But I still like to go and see the crowds and be part of the craziness. Mostly I go so we can go out to breakfast afterwards. After a long morning nap, we headed out in the afternoon to do some more shopping, and hit up Sonic! We only made it there twice, which is shameful for a 4 day trip. Next time I'll do better, I promise.

Saturday we headed up to Natural Bridge, where we took a tour of these crazy underground caves. It was HOT inside, and 99% humidity. It was a long walk down, which meant a long walk back UP. And it was STEEP. My poor pregnant body was struggling at the end. And my poor hair. Despite my huffing and puffing, they were still really cool.



On the way home we stopped at a park where we used to go when I was a little kid. We used to ride the train around the park, and we decided to ride it again. I'm pretty sure the same conductor was working that day as when I was a kid. It was fun, even though the seats were super hard and the wind was a little chilly.



Back at home, unbeknownst to me, my mom had planned a surprise baby shower for me, so my aunts and cousins all came over and we ate and played games and opened presents. It was lots of fun, and then we were onto the task of packing all the extra stuff we had accumulated over the past couple days. Good thing we brought an extra bag just in case!!

(My adorable cousin Jessica and a handful of clothespins from a game we played. She was a baby shower game superstar! That's her daughter in the background)

Who's due first? Me or my dad???

It was a great trip, with lots of good food, family, and weather. What more could you ask for??