My FIRST Photo Shoot!!!

Well I did my first photo shoot yesterday :) She basically got 2 in one ... both family outdoor ones, and studio ones of her 4 month old son Noah. It was my first shoot and I really wanted to make sure I got enough GREAT pictures - kwim? So it ended up taking 2+ hours with a couple of breaks for hungry babies and because I had a battery malfunction. And I took over 500 total pictures. Only 400 of them (or so) are good enough to save ... (I have a setting on my camera that takes 3 pictures - one is reg color, one a bit darker, and one a bit lighter. A lot of the pictures that were "a bit darker" ... I ended up throwing out.



So.... some things I learned doing my *first* shoot...

• Get a babysitter (oye!! the baby was crabby!!)


• Always have an extra set of batteries on me (reg ones) in addition to my 2 sets of recharables!!


• Don't use that 3 pic setting...

Here are a couple of pictures from that shoot - to see all the ones I've shared, go to my portfolio site!!

http://moonnstarmemories.blogspot.com/ <~ Click here to see the rest

Saturday Sass...

I took a pregnancy test this morning - it was negitive... I swear there is a faint line there but I couldn't get it to pick up on camera... must be wishful thinking...

Nathan is horribly fussy today.... at least toinght... he's pretty much inconsolable... (hopefully I spelled that right, but I'm too tried to A: think and B: check) ...

So today is day 2 of Kitten Watch...

At least that's what I'm calling it, because... well ... at least it has gotten the kids heads out of their video games.

See.... Noah gets up in the morning ... comes upstairs, I'm sitting in the chair feeding Nathan... and he says .... "Can I go in your room and see the kittens?"

Um... NO... Daddy Dennis is still sleeping!

::sigh::

Did I mention the story ... how... We got a new TV.... offered the boys the big TV from the living room for their bedroom BECAUSE the one that was in there is older and starting to die.... so they are going to need a new TV soon (and actually, Calahan broke it - but Dennis managed to fix it)....

For a WEEK... I had hounded him to clean so that they could have the bigger TV - otherwise they were going to get the one from my room.... and we'd put the bigger one in there.

Nope.... they picked up, but didn't clean...

But... I mention getting kittens, and the room is pretty dang clean an HOUR later....

An hour...

So they finally come out to play ... and take a nap around Noah... and he couldn't have been happier. It's been awhile since he's been around little kittens though so he has to get use to handling them (or NOT handling them again)...

So there is Tempy checking out Nathan.... it cries, it smells a little funny... nah, no interest...

But Brennan is playing with a shoe... that might be fun!!

Brennan promptly told her no, arched her back, and chased her off... obviously Dennis' shoes are hers, and hers alone!!

So Tempy retreated to the corner by the door with her measly plastic bag... and watched her sister...

This is only a snippet of the crazy stuff she saw.... ROFLMBO

Poor Tempy....

And a one eye'd Nathan too!!!

So anyway... LOL

We had Lemon Pepper Chicken tonight for dinner, yum yum... and corn, and potatoes... I have caught up on my blogs... and I've got a lot of the stuff packed up for tomorrow.

We decided we are all going - that way her older son has someone to play with (Cal) when we are taking pictures of her youngest (who is 4 months)...

I have a ton of ideas I'm going to be doing tomorrow, so we shall see how they all turn out.

Yes yes ... it was SUPPOSE to be today, but it rained this morning, and that park is horrid muddy WITHOUT help because it is FULL of ponds. LOL...

So I'm hoping the rain predicted for tonight doesn't happen.... and the park has some time to dry out...

Sucks though...

Hummm... what else... I think that's about it... for tonight... wish me luck for tomorrow!!! I'm so nervous, but yet I'm overly excited.

Here Kitty...

Temperance
& Brennan

our new family members...

Sweet Baby, Award & Excitement...

He is such a sweet baby....

What more could a Mommy want?
My Melzie Welzie Puddin Pie gave me the following award.... Awwwwwwwwwwwwww

She is such a sweetie... there is a group of us that had babies in (or should I say, were due in, since several didn't come in March) ... March 2002. Noah was due March 17th. Anyway... Melzie is sooooooo sweet - I love her to death :)

I did "change" the award - to post in my side (for some reason I couldn't get the above image to work) ... and now I think I'm going to create me own line of "awards" :) Heehee...

So I'm about to go in my room and try to finish cleaning it - cuz if we are going to get a kitten tonight (or kitties) then I would like our room clean so that we can keep them with us for right now. Until they get use to their new home and such. We go see them tonight - and I'm BEYOND excited!! Wish me luck on cleaning! LOL... (bad enough I had to clean the bathroom after those guys were here this morning - waking me up at 6:30... I'm still going "what the hell" about that!!)

Hemmmmhaaaww

I have been having trouble with Blogger since last night... I was playing around with a couple of "fun" sites and ever since I signed up under this one (it dawns on me today) ... my blogger has been on freeze mode!! No kidding - everytime I sign in - FROZEN... Humph... so I went in, signed out of it... and poof - I can sign in and VIEW my blog again - but can't get in to adjust or add anything....

SO THEN ... I go back... and I just delete my "account" with them... and ...

.............. M A G I C ..............

It all works......



And on another note........ I HATE MY STUPID CHART THIS CYCLE!!!!!!


Here is the link if anyone knows anything about it and wants to take a look...
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/5e6e0

Here is my thing..... I don't *normally* O until CD 19 ... BUT... pre-Nathan my cycle had gotten rather short - 25 days - so I know I was O'in earlier then CD 19 then... Now... the only time I had any fertile CM was CD 14... and I DO NOT believe I O'd on CD 20... I had no fertile CM and everything else..... so if I did O this cycle... I totally believe it was cd 14. But because of my temps going DOWN - after going up - it looks like I didn't. I donno... that and I got - OPKs ... so whatever...

It doesn't matter if I get pregnant anyway... we'll be happy either way right now.

Our Dinner...

Nathan during dinner... anyway... My girlfriend Dianna ... lol... called the shots and asked the questions last night (giggle) and posed us all to answer the question...

What is Dinner Time Like At Your House!?!?!

So I'm answering her.... tonight we had roast and the fixin's.... Usually Dennis gets home from work and makes dinner ... (honestly, he's the better cook... and it's something he loves doing!) ... so last night before we went to bed he "prepared" the roast so all I had to do was pop it in the oven this afternoon - so I did... so when he got home tonight... we had a nice dinner waiting in the oven... Calahan helped me set the table tonight (usually Noah's job but he was being a pickle tonight!) ...

So much so, that he had to RIP his meat apart instead of getting it cut... can we say CAVEMAN? LOLOLOL

Calahan is often looking at Dennis like... "are you kidding? .... whatever!" LOLOLOL Well tonight it was because the ketchup bottle burped all over Dennis...

It's hard to see... but it even got in his hair! LOLOL

In The Paper..... again...

Daddy and Nathan are reading the paper..... why you might ask????

Jen (from my local playgroup) asked if she could "cover" the boys Half Birthday on July 8th. She, back in 2004, did an article on Noah and his disorder ... and also touched on my fertility issues. Anyway .. so she came and did the interview... and interviewed my good friend Kristen (also Nathan's Godmother) ... anyway - that's a pic of the article and below are pics of each boy that day! LOL

Today's Photo Session

Even though - physically I'm exuasted ... I pushed myself to go. I really hate these stupid flare ups of mine. Every joint hurts, every muscle hurts, my head hurts, I can't seem to wake up, my back is hurting bad... I had a very hard time straightening my back, and walking right now. UGH!!

But it hasn't stopped me since I was 16, and it's not going to stop me now... it might slow me down... some ....

Anyway - I managed to push past it and get to the park on time :)

Here are a couple of the pictures... for the rest, check out http://moonnstarmemories.blogspot.com/

Look the NICU Buddies are screwing around!! NO KIDDING... (Devin :left: was 1lb 7oz born at 23 weeks ... born a month before Noah and due the month after Noah. Noah :right: was 1lb 12.2oz and born at 33 weeks) This is entitled: "Auntie Sarah stuck my hand in my pocket..... I don't know why"


Tianna's Mom says these look like those orphan cat & dog pictures... LOLOLOLOL.. with the big eyes

Here are a few of the serious shots - but not the ones that made my top 25... you'll have to click on the link for those! LOL...

Okay Okay.... time to blog...

I was playing the "clink on your friends friend, and their friend and their friend ... and got to you" game...

I like playing that game... and I sometimes find people that I really enjoy reading!!

Halloween is coming up... Time for fall to start showing ... and the cold to start creeping in, for haunted houses and dressing up and candy.... for ghosts and witches and vampires and cute little kids dressing up as their favorite "characters" ... I LOOOVE Halloween!! I love it... I was for a long time my absolute FAVORITE holiday... but now Christmas has crept up there and they are pretty much tied for my favorite. For a long time Halloween was really shrinking down on my holiday favs, my ex husband wanted no part of it, I spent the night rushing and getting the kids ready and doing it all on my own - trying to make it fun. Now that I've moved past all that... and my wonderful current hubby LOVES Halloween as much as I do... it's crept back up to #1 but isn't replacing Christmas. They just have to share the heart felt gushing I feel. (big grin)

Last year, btw... my husband shaved his head bald and dressed up as "Uncle Fester" from the Addams family.... It was awesome!!

We were suppose to be getting married this October... ::sigh:: But since we did that (legal part) in December last year... we aren't going to have the big party in 2008.

Anyway... My Mom called me yesterday... she said "What do the boys want to be for Halloween?" ..... ahhhhhhhh I don't know! I had only been thinking about it for a half hour when I got the mail and got a catologe in the mail with cute little baby costumes in it!! So I asked Noah and he says "I donno" .... I expected Power Ranger - since I refused to let him be one last year, but told him he could be one this year (only in hopes he would get over his "Power Ranger Obsession" .... which he TOTALLY didn't) ... I ask Cal and he says "I donno, an Army guy?" Awwwwwwww ... He is so sweet.

See the thing of that is..... he was 5 years old when the towers came down and at the time I was not thinking what sort of impack it would have on my son... (I was pregnant with Noah at the time) ... all I could do was bawl... and watch... we lit candles ... it has had a strong impack into who he is. He wants to grow up and be one of those guys that protects those he loves, and everyone else. He is a sweet kid.

So ... as for Nathan... I am thinking this... I'm *hoping* he'll be around 10lbs by the time October rolls around... Hoping being the keyword there....

Later on Noah announced he wanted to be a Power Ranger... the RED one...

He has finally decided that his favorite color is not Green (to be like Cal) ... or Orange (which was short lived) but RED is his favorite color!!

I'm hoping I can talk him into being McQueen or... Mator... ::sigh::

Power Rangers.... glah!!

So in other news ... my house is a mess, I've been sick and un able to move most the day ... I have a photo shoot tomorrow, so I just have to buck it up and deal with it... and another on Saturday... I'm still trying to get some business stuff done... there is an article in the local free Family Times newspaper featuring my family and a friend - for the "Half Birthday" we threw for the boys. (And Nathan's Baptism) ...

And we stopped at the pet store ...to pick up crickets for the lizard I haven't personally seen in several days (not that I want to see it!) ... and I saw kitties and got this horrible urge ...

See... our last kitties, which were indoor/outdoor cats.... got ran over. :( With in a week of each other... and our last one... fell off our roof and broke his neck or something. And then the one that was left, ended up being given away because she started peeing and pooping all over - eewwwww - and I was pregnant - so that was a HUGE no go with me. It was horrible so we haven't had cats since...

And so I thought ... I'll keep an eye out on Freecycle... and just see what comes up, if nothing pops out at me... then I won't... and if something does....

WHO WAS I KIDDING!?!?!?!

The other day I saw two words... "Calico" and "Blue Eyes" and I was allllll melted!!

We're going to look at them on Thursday night - I can't wait!!

So I guess that's about it.... I will update after the shoot tomorrow... that and we have to go pick up Cal's 2nd pair of glasses.

Oh and Nathan's reflux meds were up'd cuz he's been having HORRIBLE Reflux symptoms again. Poor baby....

We watched THE POWER OF 10 ... tonight... with Drew Carey ..it was AWESOME!! I was so good at it - it was scary... and Dennis was so bad, it was funny.... just another point in the "I'm Always Right" fight...

Cuz.... Rule #1:.... the woman is always right. Rule #2: .... if the woman is not right, refer to Rule #1...

BAHAHAHAHAAAAA

Did I mention I finally finished my Harry Potter book??? I looooooved it... but wahh on there not being any more!!

And one last picture for all.... Nathan today - talking to his Nanny on the phone...

Beauty is.... & Update

I took this picture (above) last night...... I was working on my business webpage... and I was trying to do something cool for a layout.... (that is actually my Harry Potter book that I STILL haven't finished) ... hopefully I will... I took more pictures like the one above yesterday, and today I took some 15 week Pictures of Nathan... there are some examples below, BUT - there are a ton more in my Moon N Star Moment Photography link to the side (between the two flower pictures) I would love to get some opinions on them :)

I had to include the last picture (above) because he's so sweet. He MADE me buy that monkey! LOL... Dennis says "how can he MAKE you buy anything?" I said "Well, he was crying and crying through Walmart and I grabbed the monkey and put it infront of him and he stopped.... " ... he just looked at me like I grew two heads. Yes I know, I am setting Nathan up to be spoiled... but, come on.... he's so cute! LOL...

I have not been feeling well today - and it's 8pm and I'm sooooooooo tired right now. I put Nathan to bed, but he's still awake and he's fussing .. so I think I might go get him and take him into my room and lay down with him in there.

Anyway - nothing much new going on here at home... it's been a lazy weekend.. I've been busting my behind getting computer stuff done for the business... but... still have so much left to do. Tomorrow I have to clean my house though :( OYE!

Found out a friend of mine is splitting up from her hubby today :( I'm sad for her, but I think - deep down... this is going to be her single most important step in her actually becoming a HAPPY person, because she hasn't been happy for a long time. I wish I could fast forward her to that point - but... I can't. She has to go down that horrible road of trying to figure everything out on who she is, what this means for her, what is most important, how to balance making herself happy being the wonderful person she is... and being Mom. It took time for me to start putting myself .. not above, or below... but on an even level with my kids. Being a single mom is so hard....

And I have to say - for all the single moms out there, or seperating moms.... that joining free dating sites is wonderful... you don't have to go on there for actual dates, but ... it's nice to know when your ex treated you like crap and put you down every chance that they got... that they aren't right and that not everyone shares their opinion. I gained SO MUCH weight while married... and I managed to lose a lot of it before I met Dennis (not mentioning I gained a lot of it back - thanks to Dennis being Italian and loving to cook AND getting and being pregnant with Mr. Nathan)... anyway - I couldn't seem to lose ANY of it until the day that I realized my marriage was over... and suddenly it all dropped off......

Anyway... I'm gonna go to bed... Daddy went and rescued the all important Nathan... who is sucking on his fist like he's STILL hungry... so I might go make him an ounce and see if he doesn't want a little more...

{{{HUGS}}} to all...

My Boys are Gone....

My boys are gone..... and I'm left with....

(Collective awwwwwwwwwwwwww)

So yeah... my EX-MIL took my older boys. There is a family reunion on her side of the family this weekend and she wanted to take the boys. I said sure...

While packing them up yesterday, they were screaming and bickering and I just wanted to pull out my hair. And then they were gone.... and the house was silent... and I missed them HORRIBLY... ::sigh:: Such is the life of a mother I guess....

I did a lot of work on the business yesterday... Calahan told me a day or so ago that he was "Very Proud of me" for figuring out a way to work and still be able to stay at home with them. I thought ... awww... and then he said ... "And you are REALLY good at taking pictures!"

I worked on my business cards yesterday - designed them.... this is what the last one of my cards turned out as (minus our phone number, because it is our home phone number right now) ... it's one thing when you are handing them out to prospective clients, and another just putting it out for anyone to prank ya! LOL... I designed another one for me ... and I also designed one for Dennis too... I also started a MYSPACE for the Photography business... I'm still working on the stupid "look" of site... ugh it's not easy - let me tell you!! LOL... I have a lot of stuff yet to do for the business ... slowly I'm working on it all.

Anyway... not much else going on at our house lately.... getting some jobs lined up, I'm super excited about. Picked up more props and backgrounds... Gonna play with Nathan a little bit today I think... set up a temp studio at the house here...

We shall see... we shall see...

Melzie Tagged me....

1. Name someone who made you smile today? Nathan of course

2. What were you doing at 8:00 this morning? Considering it's only 8:58am.. LOL.. I was feeding Nathan talking to Dennis on the phone before he went into work

3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Putting Nathan in his swing so I could have two hands to be on the computer for a little bit before tackling my living room

4. Name something that happened to you in 1992? Let's see.... 1992, I turned 16... so I got my DL!

5. When is your birthday? June 25

6. Four words to explain why you last threw up? I was really sick!

7. What color is your hairbrush? Black and Lilac colored

8. What was the last thing you bought? Groceries? Last thing I bought before that, was Business related... and last thing I actually bought MYSELF - was a "staying around the house" outfit .. lol... blue lounge pants and a pink & blue white shirt...and Harry Potter's last book, book 7 :::wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh::: Melzie must be in TIGHT with JK if she's reading Book 9!! DANG!!

10. What was the weather like today? HOT!?!? I don't know, I don't care, I'm not going out there today

11. Where did your last hug take place? This morning before Dennis left for work...

12. What are you excited about? My business taking off...

13. Do you want to cut your hair? I need a small trim, but no - I am loving my long hair and Dennis seems to like it...

14. Are you over the age of 25? Ppppppppppppphhhhhhhhhhhh DUH

15. Do you talk a lot? Nope not at all, I could just talk for days and months and hours and years - whatttttever!!! Actually, if I don't know you, I don't talk much... if I do... I will talk your ear off... unless you are talking mine off cuz I am a good listener :)

16. Do you watch The O.C.? Nope... watched a few moments of it at some point, but it wasn't something to float my boat... I did my Dawson's Creek and 90210 days...

17. Does your screen name have an "x" in it? No, none of them do...

18. Do you know anyone named Kelsey? Grammer? LOL... I don't know anyone personally

19. Do you make up your own words? ALL THE TIME

20. Are you ticklish? Only for Dennis

21. Are you typically a jealous person? Not really with my friends, but when it comes to Dennis I can be..

22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter "C". Cathy...

23. Who's the last person to call you? My Hunky Hubby... no wait!! Jackie (Nathan's Public Health Nurse) called after he did this morning...

24. Do you chew on your straws? In the movie theater during movies!

25. Do you have curly hair? Yes I do... I donno that it's "curly" but it's definitely wavey....

26. What is the next concert you're going to? Whatever my kids put on? LOL

27.Where did you go today? Out of bed, into the living room, Kitchen, nursery, down the stairs, bathroom, kids room, laundry room... so - yeah - pretty much every room in this house!

28. What is something you say a lot? (LOLing at Mel's answer) .... Too true, living in a house of males really does make you say everything a lot because you are constantly repeating yourself...

29. Have you seen the movie 'Donnie Darko'? I have heard of it, never seen it I don't think... if I did... it didn't leave an impression...

30. Do you have to work tomorrow? Yes... I work everyday all day from the time I wake up until the time I go to bed.... plus I have a TON of business stuff to get done.

31. Who was the last person you said "I love you" to? My Hunky Hubby...

32. What should you be doing right now? Everything but sitting my arse here on my laptop!! I have some cleaning in my living room before Jackie comes over...

33. Do you have a nickname? Nissa, Nissa Rae, Nisser, Anne

34. Are you a heavy sleeper? Yes unless one of my children is crying - I seem to wake up right away for that...

35. What are you listening to? The TV...... Big Brother After Dark from last night! Danielle got HOH!!! Yehhhhhhhh!!

36. What is the best movie you've seen in the past two week? Harry Potter 5? LOL... it was the last one I saw...

37. Is there anyone you like right now? Nope - I hhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaate everyone. J/K.... There is only one or two people I *Hate* right now... I loooved everyone... until they piss me off! LOL

38. When was the last time you did the dishes? Last night before bed...

39. Did you cry today? Not yet... gimme some time, I might

I TAG...Nancy, Kelly, Mandy... and anyone else who is bored!

Week Ending Thoughts

Well... hum....
* Spent tooooo much money this week...
* Got my first 2 paying jobs semi-scheduled
* I have a TON of stuff to put away
* I have a TON of business stuff to do this weekend..
* I need to torture Nathan and the other boys some more and take more pics
* It was a loooooooooooooong week
* I am still worried about Dennis
* He started smoking again because the patch was "making him sick" after almost 2 weeks of NOT smoking!
* I don't think this cycle is going to be a pg cycle... and frankly I don't care either way... I'll be happy if it happens, maybe a little disappointed if it doesn't... I've spent so much time TTC it just seem "natraul" to me to be on that roller coaster I think...
* I need to clean my living room again * I need to clean and organize my kitchen
* I need to fold more clothes
* I need to find clothes that FIT Nathan
* Who is getting weighted today - his nurse is coming around 10am (Nathan that is)
* I enjoyed doing my "Day In the Life" that was fun... looking forward to doing it again!
* I am trying to kill fruit flies in my kitchen (oye)
* I need to get pictures printed off :)
* I still need to write my ex a letter (finish the one I started) and get it out to him along with his fathers day card and a few pics (bahahahaa)...
* I need to finish Harry Potter...
* I need to do a lot of things.. LOL... so I'm gonna shuddup now!!