Quick Programming Note

Alas, Valerie has swept Paige away to the land of cheese.  As a result, it is unlikely that any new photos will be able to be posted to the blog until next Wednesday or so.  Sorry everyone.  Blame Valerie and her crazy desire to see her family and my unfortunate lack of vacation time (and i will probably be working this weekend...)

Day 75 - Direct Light Sources

"That's Kinda Bright. You Should Fix That."

So, it has been a little while since I posted an early morning shot. I thought the lighting in this one was pretty cool. Had to take the lamp shade off the light in the living room (moved it to our bedroom to dampen that light for reading at night) and haven't been able to replace it yet. Usually diffuse lighting is the way to go, but this harsh direct light was interesting to see the way it cast such strong shadows. Fun stuff.

Day 74 - Bubbles and Pooh

"[insert the onomatopoeia that would be used to describe the sound a baby makes when making bubbles]"

In the photograph above, not only do you get to see Paige modeling her stylish Winnie the Pooh hat, but also practicing her recently acquired skill of blowing lots of spit bubbles! Talent, shear talent.

Day 73 - Tropical Vacation Ever Day

"Dangling Things Rule."

From the "real" rain orest to the rain forest in Paige's Bedrrom, in only 24 hours. The magic of playschool!

Day 72 - Tropical Vacation, Sort Of...

"I don't understand, why is it warm?"

Valerie, Paige and I decided to go on a tropical vacation. The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in Como Park has a tropical rain forest room. Highly recommended for cold Winter days like today. One word of caution. Let your camera equipment acclimate before you think you will be taking any photos. Make sure that it goes from the car to the inside as quickly as possible, and avoid going into the tropical portion until it is warm. Otherwise you will end up with very wet and foggy gear. Which is why this photograph looks so hazy. I think it works in this one, but it took a LONG time to get it operational.

Day 71 - Food.

"Delicious."

F-O-O-D, Food Food, F-O-O-D, Food Food. G-O-O-D Good Good, G-O-O-D, Good Good.

Day 70 - Little Secrets

"But I Don't Even LIKE Bones, Kaija."

Kaija has finally taken an interest in Paige. Especially when she is screaming and crying. I think it makes Kaija sad.

Day 69 - My Little Assistant

"Here You Go Daddy."

I figure, hey, if she is gonna grab stuff, might as well make herself useful. Seriously, lens caps have this way of finding their way into the last place you possibly could think you put it. I think there might be lens cap gnomes that grab them when you aren't looking. Paige, can you say "NIKON?"

Day 68 - Two Month Check Up.

"You Know, That's Kinda Cold."

Paige had her two month check-up. She is is tip top shape. She now weighs 11 lbs. and is 22 inches long. In case you are keeping score, that means she has grown 2 inches, and has put on 4 lbs. She is around the 50th percentile in those for whatever it is worth.

She also had her first round of immunizations. Pretty nerve-wracking, and a hard decision to make, but it is in everyone's best interest really. We did turn down the Hepatitis B immunization. I hope she doesn't start shooting up heroin, or she may be in trouble.

Day 67 - Track and Focus

"What You Say?"

I wonder what she is thinking. I wonder this a lot.

I think the black works better with the photographs. Yes?

Day 66 - Love.

"I Love You."

It is so hard to imagine what it feels like before you have a child. You think you have an idea (well at least I thought that I did). I WAY underestimated it. The two most important people in my life, in one photograph, it is something I can always cherish.

On a separate note, after being a little more than two months into this 365 project, I have to admit, at times I feel like I am just faking it, like the photos are cheesy and lame, and I am not really giving everything that I need to treat the subject like it deserves. Then again, with the dedication that it really does take (like when it is 12:45 am on a Tuesday morning...) and you look at a photograph like this, taken just because the light coming in the window was so great, and you forget all about any qualms you may have. I already know that my photography and post-processing techniques have improved as a result.

I just hope when the year is finished that the project will be something that I am proud of, and something that Valerie and Paige will cherish. I could not ask for more than that.

Day 65 - Down By The Bay, Where the Watermelon Grows

"I Get It! That Is What These Finger Things Are For."

Paige made her first purposeful grab at something today. This Fish on her mat that is shaped like a flat boat. It plays music (sailor type songs, and of course the namesake for this blog as well), has this rotating fish thing that lights up a little, and has these two stuffed fish on the side. She loves it.

Day 64 - Blocked Tear Duct.

"Hmm. My Eye is Watery. Bummer"

Paige has been fighting an on again off again eye infection / blocked tear duct. She's had it since she was born. I guess it is pretty common. I hope it goes away soon (You sort of have to wait it out). It looks worse than it is in this picture though because we had just put some ointment on it, so it is quite shiny.

Day 63 - Bumbo

"So THIS is Sitting Up. Interesting."

With the help of her Bumbo, Paige is getting some practice at sitting up. Nice change of scenery from the staring up at the ceiling all the time I imagine. Kind of looks like a dismantled piece of an amusement park ride.

Day 62 - Making Faces

"I Look Just Like You!"

Paige is starting to try and mimic facial expressions. Pretty Cool.

Day 61 - Here We Go!

"I Think I'll Make Some More Space. With My Head."

Paige is scooting around on her back now. When we woke up, she managed to push herself all the way up to the crib rails behind her head. I guess that is why they have the bars on the crib huh?

Day 60 - Tasty Fingers

"Mmmmmsphgppmmmhhsmsmfmmmpppshmmgm!"

Paige has officially decided our fingers and her hand are quite tasty treats. I don't see the appeal.

Day 59 - The End of the Season

"It's So Nice to Meet My Biggest Fan!"

Went to visit Great Aunt Melanie on Sunday. Last nice day before the crummy, snowy and cold weather hit. Excellent day for visiting. This also marked the official end to our holiday festivities. What a whirlwind!

Day 58 - Rain Delay Make-Up Game

"Mor Mor Teri, You're The Best."

We celebrated my side of the family's Christmas on Saturday. Initially it was to be on the weekend after Christmas, but we had a few sick people who had to pull out. A great time was had by all.

Day 57 - Baby Bjorn!

"See, Now This Is What I'm Talking About."

Paige loves her Baby Bjorn. She loves to be upright, loves to be able to see, and loves to be close. It works very well. Too bad it is too cold to be of use outside. Babies + -14 Fahrenheit = Not Good. Perhaps spring will be early this year (yeah right.) I believe this also marks the first time I've appeared in the 365. Hopefully it will be the last.

Day 56 - Exercise Time

"One, Two, One, Two, One, Two."

Paige has started to realize that she can kick things and have an affect on them. Now if we could just get her to realize that laying on her stomach is not going to cause the world to cease to exist.

Day 55 - Do You Have Any Ideas?

"Wah."

Yep, it was one of those days.

Day 54 - Go Rangers.

"Tell Me When It's Over Mommy, I Can't Look."

We went to the Forest Lake High School Girls Varsity Basketball Game against the Stillwater Ponys tonight. The girls dominated. It was quite a fun experience, and Paige seemed to enjoy the noise, the crowd and all of the attention. It is actually her second game, the previous one she slept through in its entirety.

Day 53 - Extreme Close Up - Woooaaaahh, Wooooaaaahhh

"I'm Kinda Tired, Time For Bed."

Well, this shot is officially the first shot with my new lens that I received for Christmas. The Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D AF, and although I've been told nobody wants to hear me blab about camera lenses, well... too bad. It is a fantastic lens, but it is going to be quite a challenge. It doesn't auto focus on my camera, since the Nikon D40 does not have a focus motor in it. It relies on silent wave motors in the new Nikon Lenses. Slowly but surely I am learning to manual focus. I mean, people managed to take pictures with manual focus for 100 years, i should be able to as well. Granted they had nice things like split prisms to assist in focusing, but meh. I seem to be doing ok.

Day 52 - Skol Vikings.

"I Get the Feeling that I Should Not Be Rooting For ANY Team."

We had friends over to watch the game today. I made chicken wings with Wing Basket Sauce. Paige actually seemed interested in the TV. I don't think she's ever focused on it before. Stupid Vikings with stupid Major Dad for a coach.

Day 51 - Motion, Lights and Sound

"Heheheh"

Paige laughed for the first time today. It was just a short giggle, but it was for sure a laugh. She was watching the Mobile, and let out a giggle. It was awesome. Unfortunately Valerie missed it, but I am sure there are more where that came from.

Day 50 - East Coast Visitors

"Uhmmm, I Think I May Have Just Pooped My Pants...Sorry About That."

We had a great evening visiting with friends, and Paige was able to meet Scott and Sarah, our good friends who were back from New Jersey. The hubbub of the holidays is over now though, and a routine is starting to redevelop.

Day 49 - Tummy Time Redux

"Maybe This Isn't So Bad."

She is making tummy time progress. She still seems to hate it, but she is improving.

Day 48 - Happy New Year!

"Happy New Year Everybody!"

Paige's first New Years Eve was spent at her Uncle Kelly and Aunt Nicole's house. Paige got to see her cousins again which was really nice. She seemed to be enjoying herself. She was a little fussy, but it was a very successful outing all around. Though a word of advice for anyone out there, any time you are traveling away from home, bring an extra outfit. Diapers are not exactly leak proof.

Day 47 - Mobile Me.

"Hi, Mr. Giraffe. Bye, Mr. Giraffe, Hi, Mr. Giraffe, Bye, Mr. Giraffe, Hi, Mr. Giraffe..."

Paige is definitely tracking objects and developing a fascination with the Mobile on her play pen and her crib. She could probably watch the little animals go round and round in a circle for an hour. Works for me.

Day 46 - Watch out or you'll bite that thing off.

"SPPPLLLLHHHHH!"

Little baby in a tiny fuzzy hooded sweatshirt with a cute bear and polka dots, and a tongue sticking out for good measure. I think the cute-o-meter might break.

Day 45 - Early Mornings are Great.

"Ahhh, I'm Full. I Think I'll Take A Nap."

Early Morning has become Paige and my time together lately. I'll get up with her, and she'll eat, then take a nap while we hang out a bit before I have to head to work. This photo was taken on Sunday morning, so I was able to spend more time with her. It is pretty great. Kind of amazing that she'll sleep for 5-6 hours, get up for 30 minutes to eat, and promptly go right back to sleep. Must be rough.