the little ones

I get asked a lot on what it is I actually do at the hospital when I go to photograph sweet little babies. Most of the time I am just there to photograph. I'm in the room as a silent guest, not part of the conversation or the goings on, unless I am asked to be. But there are times when I do more. I am able to help relieve the hospital staff from doing prints and molds. And then there are the times when I get to help bathe and dress the babies and those times are a little more sacred.

Most commonly, the babies are stillborn. Usually in the weeks of 20-34. Amazing people make gowns and outfits for these little babies because they are TINY and you can't buy clothes for them. The smallest diapers the hospital provides are way too big. Most of the time they don't put a diaper on the baby. It's difficult to take photos of the feet because they give the babies 'frog legs' and we have to undo the diaper to get the photos.

A good friend of mine who's daughter, Grace, died of the same thing as Olivia, Polycystic Kidney Disease, made her little Grace a diaper. She was born at 32 weeks and her diaper fit.

I had been trying to think of something more that parents can have to take home with them. I had searched the internet for doll diaper patterns, and nothing really seemed to fit what I was looking for. So I made my own pattern in 2 sizes and so far they have been perfect. the smallest if the diapers fit 20 weekers. the biggest fits 34 weekers.

When I have shown these to people in person, they are amazed that a baby can wear such a tiny diaper, but they do.

If you need a good service project, I recommend these. They are simple and easy to make and they will make photographing the tiny babies easier and give parents one more thing. I am happy to get you instructions and the pattern through email or leave a comment and I hope to post it on my blog as soon as I get the pattern scanned in.

(If you know of any places that sell tiny teddy bears, maybe 3-4 inches in size would you let me know? Yes? Awesome!)

i'm a little bit crazy.

October has been a crazy month.
My house is a disaster right now and it has been for a week. I volunteered myself to make the class quilt for the school silent auction...what was I thinking. Making Brinley's Halloween costume, the Halloween parties, volunteering at the hospitals, volunteering at school, the meetings I attend, the callings I have at church and the photography business, and just being a mom...it just wasn't enough for me, so why not throw in making a quilt. Actually, I quite enjoyed it. So much that I forgot to get any good photos of it, which means I will have to get photos of it at the school on Friday, before they display it for the auction. :(

We have been doing lots of fun stuff this month too.

Grandma Lana had a Halloween party at her house. The kids decorated cookies and made their own pizzas.

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We went to the pumpkin patch too. Twice actually. The first day was a bust. Brinley was out of school for Parent Teacher Conferences, but it was rainy and muddy and Sarah fell just as we got out of the car. I had my niece, Chloe, with me also. It's hard to run after a couple of almost two year olds in mud. These pictures are from the second trip.

I'm such a dork.

The 'three little girls' were a handfull.

Busy. Busy. Little. Girls. We don't recommend having babies with your sisters. When you have family events, nobody wants to play with your baby cause they have their own. Just kidding. Having babies with your sisters is awesome!

I'm sure these stinkers will be best friends. And why walk when your mom can pull you and your pumpkins around.

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October 15th is National Pregnancy and Infant Death Awareness Day. We took balloons and apples out to Olivia and Mackenzie. I still need to fix Olivia's headstone. I would like to get it done before the snow falls, which won't be long.

Since Olivia and Mackenzie share a plot, I had a little plaque made for Mackenzie until her headstone is placed. I didn't realize how small each of the girls spots are. We have plans this Spring for making them look nice. I'll have to get the bulbs planted as soon as possible though.

That night we drove to Coeur d'Alene to release balloons for our babies. We had three. One for our Olivia. One for my great nephew, Christian. One for my great niece, Makenzie.

It was really beautiful and we will be doing it again next year.

I should be:

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editing photos

cleaning the house

doing laundry

mowing up the leaves

vacuuming/sweeping the floors

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Instead, I am:

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picking up Brinley early from school and heading to Greenbluff with my family

carving pumpkins

making pizza

decorating cookies

watching Halloween movies

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The other stuff can wait till tomorrow, right?

pretty little girls

Brinely taught Sarah how to make faces.

I especially love that they both have dirt on their faces.

well, heeeellllllloooooo there.

This sad neglected blog. I have had so many things I have wanted to sit and blog about. I was sure that once Brinley started school again, my life would be back on a schedule, things would get easier.

Not the case.

Life is busy. Very busy.
But I do want to keep up on this blog, even with small posts about everyday things. I think I will just recap some of the things we have been doing these past few months.

August:

Half of my family went on the 15 mile Hiawatha Trail. It was a lot of fun and I would like to go again next year. Brinley rode most of the way. She did not like going through the 1.6 mile tunnel (which you go through twice) in the dark with a little flashlight connected to the front of her handle bars, the first time through. On the way back, the second time, she was a pro and was singing "Fly Me to the Moon" with her dad the whole way. Sarah did amazing. Not much of a peep from her the entire trip. She loves bike rides :)

September:

Brinely started 2nd grade. She loves it, but has some focusing problems and comes home with lots of extra homework because she doesn't finish it in class. We give her fish oils and other vitamins, but this year, it just doesn't seem to be doing the job. Any suggestions?

I bought a thermos for her lunches this year too. It was worth the expense and has saved us from sandwiches every day. The girl loves soup and leftover pasta.

The week school started, so did the fair. I was a little disappointed this year. The attendance was WAY down. They usually have a kids free/ adults half price day, but not this year. The homemade/ handmade parts of the fair are my favorite. The photography, quilts, cakes, jams, sewing, etc. I lOVE it. The animals too.

I got to go three times this year. Once with all the family, once with Matt to see a Clint Black concert and a third with Brinley and her school. By the time I got home from the field trip, I couldn't walk. I was out for a week, with three trips to the chiropractor. I hate back pain. It was hard to lay on the couch and not be able to work on things. It drove me nuts. I had lists going through my head of all the stuff that needed to get done, stuff that had deadlines. AHHH.

We decorated for Fall/Halloween a week early. I couldn't help myself. It's my favorite time of year. Now if the Fall weather would return... A week of 80 degrees is not what I like to see. I love 65 degrees, where I can wear hoodies and jackets and drink hot cocoa in the morning. (starbucks brought back their salted caramel hot cocoa...yay!)

The leaves are just starting to fall from the 10 trees we have in our yard. I'm still waiting on the maples leaves to change color.

Matt got our fence finished. It only took him six months :) The gates aren't done yet, but I'm super happy that I have a fenced yard. Sarah is quick and now I don't have to worry as much about where she is.

We bought a chicken coop. I still need to seal the wood. We have decided to wait until Spring to buy the chickens. We are excited to have fresh eggs.

Sarah is a wonderful artist. She likes to show off her work on our walls, Brinley's dresser, her arms, legs and stomach. She is quite a talker now too. My favorite thing...when she walk into the kitchen and points to a cupboard and says 'No canny, no no canny. no" She knows where the stash of candy is for sunday school class and always wants a piece. I always tell her no. She also says:

pancake,

bye everybody,

papa,

baba (grandma),

i go out tide?

binney (brinley)

big gurl

binky

sippy

shoosh (shoes)

cookie

biaper (diaper)

bum

bath

gabba gabba? (yo gabba gabba)

bunkey (monkey)

da-dee (daddy)

mom, momma , mommy, mom, mom, mom, momma, mom, mooomeeee!!!!!!!

Brinley loves to be at home, jumping on the trampoline, hanging with her mom, playing with her sister. She does not like doing homework, going to bed or brushing her hair.

We took Sarah to the dentist, she had three cavities. She isn't two yet. Brinley has no cavities and perfectly spaced teeth. Lucky girl.

I have been nuts. HA! Our photography business has taken off. We had 4 shoots this week. We have 5 weddings booked already for next Summer. Family pictures are now the season. I have been trying to keep up on everything around the house, including all the yard work. I talked to a class of high school kids about Olivia yesterday. My niece, Cindy, invited me and is fundraising for memory making things for families who's babies die. Her brother just went through losing their daughter a month ago. I also am helping once a week in Brinley's class. I love helping at the school. Tuesdays are crazy. I have meetings every Tuesday. So does Matt. I have to drag my girls to half of them. It is not fun.

Matt works. all. the. time. I see him for a bit at night, but Tuesdays and Thurdays he has meetings, those nights are crazy for me. He has decided that he loves to golf and I allow him to go every Saturday morning. I say 'allow' lovingly... he feels guilty most of the time. I think everyone needs a break from a crazy life :)

Sundays are the only day that Matt doesn't work. It's filled with church and sometimes a photo shoot. It is not a day I get to completely enjoy. Truthfully, I don't look forward to Sunday. Matt and I both teach a Sunday school class. Sarah isn't a fan of nursery and so I am usually wrangling her so that we can teach and then wandering the hallway so that she can get wiggles out. Church is from 1-4, which is right during nap time. I can't wait for the time to change in January to 9-12, however, i dread 9am church and like the 11am time better :) It seems like church has been hit and miss a bit lately, my back was out one weekend, sick kids, being out of town, etc. We try to go faithfully, eventhough I feel like I get nothing out of it, Brinley needs to be there and Sarah needs to learn to sit still. I'm sure that this is just one of those season's in a mother's life.

That's it for now. My crazy life. Filled with lots.