365 Project - Day 7 - Train of Thought

People say that everything changes when you have kids. I have to admit that I don't quite agree with that. 

As a whole, my life is pretty much the same as it was before Cadence came along. I still enjoy writing and taking photographs. I still enjoy watching movies and reading good books. I still love my husband and enjoy just hanging out and goofing off with him. I still enjoy taking long drives and people-watching and singing along (loudly) to music.

Yet, for all the things that have endured, there have been many changes.

It takes a lot more planning and a lot more time to get out of the house these days, and though I am still anti-purse, I've had to come to terms with carrying a very purse-like diaper bag wherever I go. I've developed a whole new appreciation (and damn near love affair) with showering. I've learned that it is possible to function on just two hours of sleep, as long as there is a cup of coffee involved in the equation. 

The biggest change of all though is in my mind--for it's hard to think about much of anything these days without also thinking about my beautiful little girl.

It seems strange that a year ago, I hadn't even officially met her yet. These days, I have a hard time remembering what life was like without her. Perhaps that is just the price of motherhood--having your thoughts completely derailed and rerouted by this little person that you love more than anything in the world. If there was ever such a thing as a good obsession, I think parenthood might be it.

Today's 365 Project entry is dedicated to all the parents who have had their hearts and minds highjacked by their children.

365 Project - Day 6 - Well Played

It's no coincidence that my daughter's name is Cadence.

I was fascinated with drums the first time I saw my Uncle Tim's drum set in Grandma and Grandpa Felker's basement, and I was often reprimanded because I simply couldn't keep myself from playing them. I began playing for real in 3rd grade when I joined the band. I bought my own set few years later, when I saved up enough money from my summer lawn mowing jobs. I played in pep bands, jazz bands, marching bands, accompanied choirs and musical groups at school and church. I even played a few songs with a band in college for a Coffee Shop entertainment sponsored by one of the campus fraternities.

I developed a crush on my husband Steven when I first saw him emceeing the Freshmen Orientation Entertainment, but what really sealed the deal for me was when he put down the microphone, picked up a pair of drumsticks and hammered out a flawless five-minute drum solo.

When we went in for our first ultrasound, we barely had any girl names on our list that we both liked. But the moment we saw her bouncing around on the monitor like she was marching in a parade, we both agreed that we just might have another drummer in the family.

Today's 365 Project is dedicated to my favorite drummers.

365 Project - Day 5 - Dinner Time

After being sick with a stomach virus for nearly a week, Cadence finally started eating solid foods again with a vengence. On the menu tonight...peas, carrots, half a grilled cheese sandwich, a few pieces of mozzarella cheese, a handful of Cheerios and Kix ceral, and some big girl whole milk. She inhaled it all, and is now sleeping soundly (hopefully for more than two hours at a time as has become the most recent trend).

I love watching her eat. She's so dainty and tidy about it...even when she's stuffing her face. Today's entry in the 365 Project pays homage to my hungry little girl. It's dinner time.

365 Project - Days 1-4

Once again, the blog has been neglected. In the midst of our move from Arizona to Nebraska, the holidays, getting the stomach flu, and trying to get settled before Steven started his new job, I just couldn't seem to keep it updated. But it's a new year, and it's time to get serious.

I've been wanting to do a 365 Project for awhile now, and I figured that the new year would be a great time to start (though if I'd known we'd be moving over the holidays, I might have chosen a different time to begin). I'm only getting around to unpacking my camera today, so my first 4 photos are snapshots taken with my camera phone and posted here. From now through January 1, 2012, I will be posting one photo a day, and I'm looking forward to using the project as a way to get back into a routine with my blogging.

Let it begin...

Day 1 - 1/1/2011

Day 2 - 1/2/2011

Day 3 - 1/3/2011

Day 4 - 1/4/2011

Cross Country and Halloween

Whew! It has been a crazy couple of weeks around here! First a trip to Colorado to see family, and then a few days later, a trip to Nebraska. My 9-month-old daughter has been on more airplanes in her short life than I was on in the first 22 years of mine!

Just wanted to post a couple recent pics. First, a few of my little sister at her Cross Country meet. She placed 4th on her team and qualified for Regionals and Varsity! Woohoo!

Then, Halloween sort of snuck up on us this year with everything going on. Just shy of 9 months, we figured Cadence was much too little to enjoy Trick-or-Treating this year, so we decided to hang out as a family at home and pass out candy to the little neighborhood kiddos. I did get a few shots of Miss Cadence manhandling the Halloween candy. Of course, it didn't take long for Electra to get in on the action. Apparently, tiny packages of Whoppers are irresistable to both babies and dogs. Go figure.