Acclimating

I have the hardest time out of the four of us acclimating.  Seriously!  Soren, however - the easiest.  Which you would think would be the opposite.  But this little guy acclimates anywhere.​

My last trip to St. Louis - Soren woke up in three different locations three​ different mornings and never skipped a beat.  This move is no different.  He must get it from his Pappa.  Rick LOVES the new place.  He won't stop talking about how peaceful and wonderful our new home is.  I love it.

But August and I?  We take a little more time.​  This move is a bit different though.  We have had quite the heavy month of February and I thought we needed this move like a I needed a hole in my head (awful reference, I know - but I couldn't think of another...), but it's been great.  No really!  We needed this - Rick and I.  A project we could absolutely rock together.  Remember what it really means to be a team - a family.

It's been a whirlwind and I think all of us are ready for the dust to settle (well, not literally).  But it's been therapeutic and a blast seeing our family settle into a new home.​

Light Scoop

My new toy!  I love it - it's a light scoop.  Basically a mirror to deflect the pop-up flash so the light, well - actually serves a function.  I snagged the light scoop from one of my new favorite photo sites - photojojo.  I highly recommend it.​

Here is an example of what the light scoop can do:

You can really see the difference between the three.  It's great in artificial lighting too, keeps things from turning yellow - which saves time on the back end in post.  It's not super bulky as you can see in the pic, nothing like the big accessory flashes.  Here is a shot I took in terrible indoor lighting of Soren.  It's during bath time which next to meals is his favorite daily activity.  But our lighting in the bathroom, especially at night is awful.  I thought this actually came through as a stunning improvement!​

​The light scoop comes in at a cheap 30 bucks.  I snagged this new strap as well.  Much easier camera access and control with a toddler to chase!

09/52

'A portrait a week of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013'

I couldn't pick just one this week - both expressions are so quintessentially Soren (scarfing his spinach smoothie!).  These are some of our last shots from the old place.  We are still settling in - the reason I am late with his portrait.  But here is bubs - best toddler moving buddy a gal could ask for!​

We're Moving!!

We found a sweet carriage house in a great neighborhood and so... we are MOVING!!  We are super excited if you couldn't tell.  I have already started the 'moving book' (my own, seemingly ridiculous book of pics and ideas for the new place) and started cleaning our new home.  It has 2 bathrooms and 2, legitimate bedrooms​!  

The big day is next Tuesday, so this week has been all about packing and we are just a couple rooms and few snid-bits away from being ready for the movers.  Yes! Movers!!  We are doing this right​ this time.  After, well - let's just say a copious amount of moves - I have racked up enough U-haul/van/hauling my crap on a dolly down the street - experience to last me a lifetime.  This time - movers.  They will tear down our furniture, carry ALL the boxes and place them in the correct places in our new ​home.

Next - boxes.  And this time - no scouring all over creation for them.  I snagged some cheap - CHEAP moving boxes online and we are just a little more than half way through them.  It worked out perfect!  And who better to help me fill them than my trusty sidekick - Soren! ​

I can't wait to start setting up our new place!​

08/52

'A portrait a week of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013'

This week's choice was SO hard!  So many cute moments and pics.  I choose this one because he really looks like a little boy in it... and he is - not a toddler and definitely not a babe.  He opened the fridge and pulled out the orange juice himself, poured a cup of it and asked for help to get the lid on.  So, SO big!