Sunday, April 29, 2012

Happiness in a Jar...

Whenever I look over at this jar on my table, I am completely happy... May is coming... and that means just a few more weeks until we're reunited with "Dada", and that REALLY makes me happy... but for now, I will just continue to glance over at this sweet little jar, to help this week go by a little more quickly... with a little less stress...


Pin It!

Friday, April 27, 2012

A year ago today...

A year ago today, we received our travel date to Ukraine to meet with the SDA, and find out who they had "waiting" for us to adopt... crazy how quickly time passes. I remember waiting to hear if our dossier (the TONS of paperwork we had to complete) was accepted, and receiving the travel date, just meant that we were approved... wow. A year ago. wow.

Instead of piling together a HUGE amount of paperwork like I did over a year ago, the one thing we have to keep up with, are post adoption reports. Many countries have different regulations/requirements... but in Ukraine, they want 1 a year, for the first 3 years, and then 1 every 3 years, until Charlotte is 18. I'm pretty sure we can manage that...we have to use a social worker to write up a report... and the other part, is on me to complete.... boy is it tough limiting a photographer to keep it close to 10 photos... I think I ended up sending 20!



Pin It!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

April Showers...

It's been nice to have a few days of beautiful weather, and then a day of rain... it helps keep us inside, and relaxing from the days of spending countless hours outside... and for me, helps catching up on life, that much easier. I have no temptations to go outside and show Charlotte the beautiful flowers/gardens, and she certainly doesn't want to play in the rain... so we spend lazy days like today, inside, watching shows (for Charlie) and photo editing (for me)...

Can you believe May is right around the corner? That means just a few more weeks until I get to hug the one man in my life that I have missed DESPERATELY the last few months... Bring on these April Showers... because it means May is on it's way!



Pin It!

Monday, April 23, 2012

LIFE in order...

Sorry I haven't said much in awhile... or that I won't say much for awhile... just trying to get things "straightened" out/organized here... May (which is RIGHT around the corner) is going to be a HECTIC month for me... so for right now, I need to get the LIFE in order... we'll see how I do.

Pin It!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Crazy Hair

Last week was a crazy week... I photographed 24 little ones for their school photos at the local pre-school, and then had all the photos edited by Friday... Of course, Charlotte joined in on the fun...



Pretty sure my child had the worst "bed head" hair that day... and I'm totally okay with it... it's SO her... no static, no posing no purpose, just pure BED HEAD...



and she doesn't mind looking like a cockatoo... but, question for you... if you could do something with her hair...what would you do? Would you keep the bangs? Would you grow them out? Would you keep her hair short or long? I'm SO lost on how to style the girl's hair...and as much as she is my little fashionista, she gives me NO input on how to do her hair, unless it's in a ponytail or pigtails.... what to do? what to do?
Pin It!

Friday, April 20, 2012

Cherry Snow

Before our shopping trip (from yesterday's blog post), we made our way to the famous Cherry Blossoms in Yeouido Park... and they were breathtaking. With this being our last Spring here in Korea,  I just HAD to share this beautiful sight with the little one.





Every time the wind blew... the blossoms fell off the trees, and Charlotte called it, "Cherry Snow"... it stuck, and that's what we called that sweet blossom dust on the ground from that point on.













So happy we were able to see the Cherry Blossoms before they all fell off the trees... we have rain this weekend, and I fear that the rain is going to take it's toll on them...



Here's a fun outtake for you... I couldn't resist.

Pin It!

Sore Thumb

What to do when your eyes need a little break from all the photo editing you've been doing for a few days straight?

that's right... head to the bus station...

and enjoy some shopping in Seoul...


With it warming up, Myeong-dong (Seoul's largest shopping district) was HOPPING the other day. Sometimes I fear bringing Charlotte into a big city with tons of sensory stimulation and people... fearing that she might get lost (since it's only my eyes that are looking after her)... but in all honesty, Seoul is the BEST place to bring her to get her used to "city living"... She sticks out like a sore thumb... it's more of a challenge trying to LOSE a little blondie (dirty blonde of course), then actually LOSING her.

Pin It!

Monday, April 16, 2012

POP of yellow...

The colors are just POPPING over here in Korea, and the warmth keeps on coming. It's making Spring time extremely enjoyable (even though we get the occasional rainy day) and walks are becoming quite popular as an afternoon activity. I love taking Charlotte out and about (especially in our little Korean village area) and showing her all the gardens that are being "turned up" right now, and how that's where our some of our vegetables and fruits come from. She usually looks at me confused, being that I'm pointing to dirt (since the plants haven't come up yet)... but she points out to me all the different flowers and their colors, and I LOVE it... because she pointed out my favorite one that comes up in the Spring. I'm not sure exactly what it's called, but it's a bush, with yellow blossoms, that usually line the rice paddy fields, or other fields... typically they separate one Korean's farm, from another. They also grow in other strange places (usually up really high on a hill). So when she pointed out the yellow flowers, I knew we needed to stop and take a few photos... and figured we might as well add another lesson (or relearn something I may have shared with you before).

A while back when I started posting tips on photography, I mentioned something about adding "depth" to your photos... sort of like adding layers to create more drama or have a more appealing effect on the eye. Yes, the focal point can still be an individual (or whatever your subject may be), but to add depth to a photo (your depth of field) you want to make sure you have a foreground and background.

So, I decided to use these yellow flower blossoms/bushes to create depth...


This first photo... is "okay"... There's a sense of openness... a cute little subject, and a little bit of a warm glow from the yellow flowers...


Openness wasn't really the feel I wanted for that photo... I wanted to capture that POP of yellow, but yet, wanted the focus to be on my sweet girl... so I added some more flower blossoms to my photo... and although this picture is sweet, it sort of breaks the rule of thirds (another fun topic for another post) a little. Charlotte is a little TOO centered in the photo.


So I directed myself to "step" into the bush area, to create a little more of a "frame", adding some more depth to the photo...



and just to show you... you can completely frame in your subject, to create the MOST depth (maybe not as appealing). It sort of goes without saying, but the further away you are from your subject, and the wider the field of view is, the more the sense of depth is increased. It's because it'll include more of the foreground that eventually leads up to the subject...


and lastly my favorite... a sense of openness, a beautiful glow from the POP of yellow (even in the top left), and a cute subject...



Now go outside and have a play date with your camera...
Pin It!

Saturday, April 14, 2012

10 down... Hallelujah!

Dear Charlotte...

We made it 10 months... Yes, Hallelujah!


So happy this last month flew by quickly... not because we really want to see you grow up and leave the nest (eventually)... but because it just means 1 more month down as a "Single Mama" while Dada is gone. I know, it's more selfish on my part than anything else, because life has been super tough without him... you have been SUPER tough on me lately... and I know it's because you miss him big time. You will take ANY rough housing from just about ANYONE willing to give it out... in fact, you always ask for "more" or "again", and I keep having to tell you over again, that "begging doesn't look pretty on you..." but you don't really get the hint. Soon sweet girl... soon you will be "flung" around by Dada again... in about 1.5 months.

You've started to prefer yogurt, granola and fresh fruit for breakfast... other than your "go to" oatmeal choice... and spaghetti and Thai food, are still dishes that you ask for (even for breakfast), because they are your ultimate favorites. You are a snacker though, and are constantly wanting to "eat"... and your recent growth spurt is definitely the root of that little habit. I have given you A LOT of massages on your aching muscles this month, and you always return the favor by rubbing my back for 3 seconds. Yes, I rub for 15 minutes, and you for 3 seconds... not sure how fair that is, but I'll take it.

You're starting to remember people's names lately, and aren't just calling them "Man" and "Lady"... it's sweet when you actually recognize someone, and call them by their name properly... makes my heart warm up, the same way it did, when you called me "Mama" for the first time.

You are growing closer and closer to Runyan (who you now call by name, and not just "kitty cat"). Sometimes you let him snuggle you, even though you'd prefer to just pull his tail.

You have two favorite new books, one is "The Ear Book" and the other is "Brand New Day"... both are total winners in your eyes, and usually like to read them back to back to back to back of each other...





Your most FAVORITE thing this month though, has been going on "outings" out and about here in Korea. You NEVER want to stay in the house all day... in fact, every morning when you wake up, you want to just put your outfit on, and GO... ready for any adventure that I have planned. I'm sure the change in weather has played a huge part in that... but even on rainy days, you are ready to head out... those days where I just want to stay in my jammies all day. You dread rainy days.. and sometimes I get so excited when we have one, because I have an excuse to actually STAY in the house. Oh, our adventure seeking, energetic little girl... you are LOVED and we are excited for another month down and many more to come...

We love you,
Dada and Mama
Pin It!