leaving.

Leaving this space for awhile.
I'll be back. Not sure when. Maybe a few weeks. Maybe a month.
I don't know.
Time will tell.
In the meantime, I'll be reading all of your lovely blogs. :)
Thank you.

released.

Pure exhaustion - the work to create the perfect life, home, child, self.
Reading extra books at bedtime because that's what good mothers do, right? Making my son a different meal just about every night because he has to eat something...he's skinny. Giving-in to buying that bag of candy or book or toy at the store because you don't want to be the mom with "that" kid. Crawling into bed with him night after night after he's come to get me because its more important that he get a good night of sleep.
Sweeping every little crumb, wiping every little spill, washing every little dish. Picking-up every toy and putting it in its place. Making the house look "normal" again at 9pm knowing all to well it will be a mess by 9 the next morning.
Putting on my face and straightening my hair, every. single.day. Struggling to say just the right things to the right people. Telling them what they want to hear. Keeping my thoughts and words to myself so as not to offend. Fighting back tears. Searching for that pre-mommy piece of me that was left wandering the halls of the maternity ward that snowy day in January. Looking for something that is mine - all mine. Frustration when my pictures fail to look as spectacular as my blog friends' photos. The pressure of constant comparison and constant disappointment in myself...
Welcome to the inner-workings of Andrea. Exhausting, isn't it?
The quest for perfection will tie you in knots and leave you feeling less-than-perfect every. single. time. The higher we raise the bar, the more tiresome it becomes to stand on tip-toe in our attempts to reach it.

The good news is this: We have been released from the burden of perfection. God doesn't expect us to be perfect. And additionally, we shouldn't expect anyone else in our lives to be perfect. Divinity is an awfully heavy burden to place on our shoulders and the shoulders of those we love.

the laugh.

So, remember in my post the other day I mentioned having video of my son's chuckle? Found it! Max's laugh still sounds exactly like this. It is music to this momma's ears.
A little laughter to start your weekend off just right.
Happy Weekend, Friends!
A

the end of summer.

This is going to be another one of my famous (or infamous...) random posts...

1. Our three weeks of hot summer weather has come to an end. I know that summer doesn't start around here until August, but come June I always think it should be sunny and in the mid 70s - perfect summer weather in my book. Summer came very late here...like the end of August late. And then she made-up for lost time and all of our PNW whining. Upper 80 to low 90s. It felt a bit like an inferno to me. I guess I'd wrapped my mind around the fact that we weren't going to have a summer and we were just going to head into fall at some point. Summer had other plans... And I am very thankful we have air conditioning.

2. I think I need new "fat pants." TMI?...Maybe, but I told you'd this would be a random post.

3. I also think I need a whole new wardrobe. What girl doesn't? (Don't worry, dear...don't worry.)

4. Ok, I can't have a whole new wardrobe, but maybe some new shoes?...

5. I'm mentally preparing for two days of laying flat on my back, in bed, on bedrest. Well, I'm trying to mentally prepare. It's one thing when you choose to spend the day in bed, lounging, reading, watching TV. It's a completely different monster when it's imposed on you. So, I'm gathering books and magazines and my husband is going to move the big TV in the basement up to our room AND move the cable box that allows us to have onDemand! I suppose I'll have plenty of time to catch-up on the far-too-many magazines I get. And browse Pinterest and Facebook and my Google Reader. {Oh! And I can't forget Words with Friends. I'm MissAR28. Come play a game with me!} So, when you all are busy or having fun Sunday and Monday, think of me...in bed...itching to get-up and move around. Thanks. Oh, and someone puh-leezz go to Starbucks and have a decaf, short vanilla, nonfat latte for me on Monday...and let me know how wonderful it was.

6. See my blog header?...yeah, I need a new one. Need to design a new one before I engage in item 5 on this list. The one above is a bit too summer-like. Need something different for fall.

7. We got our notice from the county to renew our pet license yesterday. It made me sad for a moment. And it makes me really sad if I think about it too much, so...moving on...

8. Oh, how item 5 would be so much better with Maggie around to keep me company...again, moving on...

9. My child has far too many toys. I need to go through them and get rid of a lot. He doesn't play with 60% of them. And his closet...I found a size 2T shirt hanging in there the other day. Guess I need to clean that out as well.

10. Have I bored you enough yet? I wouldn't blame you if you moved on to the next blog in your reader...

11. Speaking of books (see item 5), what are you reading these days?... One can never have too many books on their book list. :)

12. I finally called Verizon to check about changing to an iPhone. No go. I have to wait till I'm eligible for an upgrade, which will be next July. So the Droid photos will continue for another 11 months. Not that I'm counting...at all...

13. The photo above: sun tea. Love it. It represents all things summer to me. Not sure why, but it does.

Thanks for listening to my randomness. Words are not my thing lately. I used to be fairly good at writing interesting, poignant things. But since I finished Grad School and spent two years writing my thesis, I haven't done much writing. I think I used-up all my big words writing that beast. {But it was oh-so-much fun to write. Seriously. I "heart" college.}

Happy Thursday, friends!

my boys. {or should i say, my men?...}

These two guys are a crack-up.
They both have the greatest laughs. I love it when my husband goes into silent laugh mode and his face turns red. Doesn't happen a lot, but that's what makes it priceless.
And that little guy dangling upside down...he's had the same silly chuckle since he was just a few months old. I'll have to dig-out the video of one of his first great laughs and post it...(hmmm, I wonder where it is.)
These two have a lot of energy. Like a million times more energy than I. They run around and are always busy with some project or playing and they don't sit still very much.
They drive me crazy some days. Yes, both of them.
These two have a lot of fun together...being silly outside, going bowling, to the park, playing Wii.
These two also battle a little bit sometimes. I mean, really, don't we all battle with loved ones sometimes. I know everyday I have to remind myself, "Pick your battles." Some just aren't worth fighting.

These two...
These two silly guys who crack me up on a regular basis...
They are priceless.

{The sun was really low in the sky and I kind of love how it lit-up all the little particles in the air. And notice how that little guy still has hold of his beloved blanket?}
{Also, one of the very few photos I've edited in Elements. :)}

phone photo friday.

1. The road back from Starbucks. 2. Popsicle man. 3. Sun setting.

4. Swings & Sunset. 5. My snack. 6. The Mighty Columbia & Mt. Hood

7. Wall-E. Best kids movie, ever! I think we've watched it about 45 times this week.

8. Zonked! 9. IVF. Need I say more? As of this moment 

I've given myself 31 injections. (Very thankful for the layer of fat on my gut right about now.)

I have iPhone envy. There. I said it. My HTC Droid is nice, but it doesn't have apps like Instagram. I mean look at these cool photos and these and these and these. See what I mean. Kinda makes you wish you had an iPhone, am I right? My Vignette and Little Photo apps are nice, but no Instagram. Sigh...

Our week was fairly uneventful. It's been HOT here. As in summer finally decided to show herself. As in 90+ all week. Yuck. I'm a hot weather wimp. And my body and mind had accepted the fact that we'd just from spring to fall, so this weather is a bit of an attack on my system. Thank goodness for air conditioning. And at least the nights are a bit longer now so we cool off nicely at night.

I haven't picked-up my camera much the past month. Not sure why. Busy with other things and have other things on my mind. I just need to pick it up and start shooting though. Get back into the swing of things.
Well, isn't this post exciting? Aren't you glad you spent five minutes reading it? Hahaha... My mind is blank, so I'll just stop right here and say, Happy Friday, Friends! Enjoy your weekend!
And all of you Instagram-ers - take lots of cool photos for me! :)

a story.

Her life was a chapter in the story of my life, and many others.

There are so many stories to tell about her...
Defiantly peeing on the carpet to show me she was boss the first time I dog-sat for my husband (we were dating at the time.)
Jumping the fence, running into the neighbor's house and chasing the cat.
Running so many circles in the backyard she created her own "track" which my husband tried to rope-off so the grass could have a chance to grow back.
Bolting out the door anytime she got the chance...leaving us to chase after her.
Wearing "booties" at my in-law's house so she wouldn't scratch the floor (yeah, they didn't stay on long.)
Hiding bagels in the couch, eating batches of chocolate chip cookies, chicken bones, and a whole bag of Hershey Kisses - foil and all.
Chasing squirrels and bunnies.
Going for long runs.
Trips to Doggie Disneyland (aka the dog park.)
Running and running and running at the beach.
Curling up in a "Maggie ball" on the couch.
Curling up with me in bed and keeping me warm when I had the flu and a high fever, and Eric was out of town.
Guarding when her master was out of town.
Waking-up early with Eric and staying-up late with me.
Listening to bedtime stories in Max's room.
Stealing Max's food off the table.
Rides with me in my little red Civic with the windows down. Just us girls.
Muddy paws tracking dirt in the house.
Nervously enduring Independence Day fireworks.
Quietly accepting Max as one of the "pack" when we brought him home from the hospital.
Always loving, wanting nothing more than to be with the people who loved her, who gave her loves and hugs and kisses and treats.

She was a long, ten year chapter in the 38 year-old story of my life.
A chapter full of fun and adventure and craziness and lots of love.
A chapter I am so lucky to have shared with her.

{For the Shutter Sisters One Word Project: Story. Everybody has a story to tell. What's yours?}

the stars.

The shimmer of sunlight on a glass.
The soft glow of candle light.
The sparkle of dew on grass.
The glimmer of sun through leaves fluttering in the breeze.
The twinkle in a child's eyes when they are full of joy.

Stars don't just come out at night.
If you look closely they are all around you.

{Picture Inspiration Week 24 Shoot for the Stars}

phone photo friday.

1. Yep, that's me. 2. A sure sign of fall. 3. Do you see the angel?

4. Evening sun. 5. Morning java  6. Future rock star!

7. Back home where she belongs. 8. Where's My Monkey Butter Express survived Hood to Coast 2011! 9. Sleep training is much harder (on both of us) at four and a half.

Happy Friday, friends! Enjoy the holiday weekend.