YMCA

Not the song-bring back bad memories-but the actual YMCA. Went for a visit today. I think we are going to join as a family. I could really use some exercise. I haven't worked out since before my sinus surgeries. My weight has gotten at least 10 lbs high then I'd like to admit. Nope not saying what it is. Maybe I'll tell you once I lost a few.

The best part is that they will watch T for 2.5 hours at a time. The thought of doing an aerobics class or hitting the treadmill uninterrupted sounds awesome. He was in the kids area for about an hour today. At first he didn't want me to leave so I stayed and played for about 10 minutes. Then I kissed him and said goodbye and he was good to go.

When I peeked on him and went back to pick him up he was playing very nicely but by himself. The room was pretty full at that point so I thought some social interaction would be good for him. He cried when we left the room so I took that as a good sign. Hopefully he'll continue to like going and playing with someone elses toys.

Video Lifebook

We watched most of Tesfa's video lifebook today. For the first time he seemed really curious about it. He asked to see one part of it over and over again-then said "scawy done". A few minutes later he asked to see it again. Hard to know if it was just him being tired or being overwhelmed by seeing his life. So much to process-for both of us.

Potty, Potty & Doctor

Yesterday we celebrated Gena with my side of the family-since we didn't see them on Dec 25. Tesfa kept telling me he "pooped" and said "diiiaper". I checked him-nothing. I told him he was probably gassy. So for 30 minutes on the way home he kept saying gassy.

This morning he has a diarrhea diaper--not shocking-another canine is coming and this is pretty typical. After a bath he sat on the potty for the first time. He pee'd just a little but I was pretty excited. A couple hours later I asked if he wanted to wear a big boy 'Mater pull-up (he is obsessed with Cars and loves Mater). He was excited and sat down again on the potty. This time I was quite alarmed. First I thought he was having diarrhea then realized it was blood. I cleaned him up-ran and googled-then ran to the dr.

Doctor didn't seem alarmed or see much wrong. She did laugh quite a bit when Tesfa told her he was "gassy". So hoping it was a fluke. I think we'll wait a day to try the potty again.

Work & Weddings & What Not

Since adopting Tesfa I have put my career on hold-actually for a year before adopting him because of the uncertainty of timing. Part of me regrets this, part of me thinks I needed a break.

Since 2000 I have photographed weddings, charity events, senior portraits, families and well a little bit of everything. Some of it has been really hard on me-mentally and emotionally. I get very invested in my clients and what I do. I have had a few set backs. There was the time it took us 36 hours to get to Cabo to photograph a wedding, a legal dispute with a client who wasn't truthful with her family, and even a call from Oprah (honest to goodness)==ok not Oprah-but one of her people.

So now I am jumping back into work. I don't plan to photograph 35+ weddings a year but would like to do 10-15. This is making me very happy. I am trying to look at any complants my clients have had and find a way to fix them. Really the only complaint I have gotten (besides a bride doesn't like her make up....uh really? ) is that weddings albums take so long. I regularly hear "I've been waiting a year for my album". It's hard to find a really nice way to say, your wedding was a year ago but you just ordered your album 2 months ago. With so many services that offer simple albums in a week or two brides (and their families) have a hard time believing it takes time to design, retouch, print and produce their books. So I'll make sure to stress that fact, evenmore.

Now to find time to balance taking care of doodle, answering calls from clients and editing weddings till 3a.m.

Happy New Year

What a difference a year makes. I like to believe there is just a little bit a baby left in him but I'm not so sure.