7 Quick Takes -2 Kids, My dream job? and My Little Photographer in Training

Getting back on track, here is this week’s Quick Takes, better late than never! (photos to follow).

1. Last Saturday evening I had a moment with the in-laws where we were just enjoying each others company, laughing over something that we thought was funnier than it probably really was (‘soo slooow’). Every time I think back on that moment though I smile, proof that I can learn to get along with them afterall lol.

2. These past 2 week I’ve been adjusting to having 2 kids. My toddler is really cute with the baby but we have to keep a close eye on him because he tries to pick the baby up, doesn’t notice when he’s climbing on him and he tried to feed him fruit loops.

Of course the new baby has provded me with lots of new photo opportunities. I’ve been playing with my photo editor, here’s another artsy baby shot:

3. The day after we came home from the hospital was Halloween. I didn’t have too much planned for the new baby’s costume because I thought he’d be part of mine so I made a trip to Walmart that day and picked up a Santa suit for him and my toddler was a pumpkin. That afternoon I took baby’s hand and foot prints, 3 days old just like his brother. hen that night we took the kids trick or treating (feels good to be able to say that, like I finally have a family ) to visit the Superintendent at our old apartment and then around my mom’s neighborhood.

Then the next day I took baby to church for the first time and we had fun showing off a 4 day old baby! Then as usual we went to my mom’s for lunch.

Handprints

Possible pumpkin costume

Santa Costume

Pumpkin Toddler

Pumpkin

Baby’s first trip to church, 4 days old

Church


Fridge Magnet

4. My toddler has developed a bit of an interest in photography. He’s always been fascinated with my camera and after seeing him help out some relatives with taking a picture I decided I’d let him play with my point and shoot (the little silver one not my good one).

Helping Relatives

Here’s the first photo he ever took:

These photos show his perspective on the world,

My high chair

Living room

and lastly, a self portrait:

He’s not great at it, but some of his shots aren’t bad. He really has to learn to look at the screen to see what the picture will look like – and not to put the flash on cause it kills the batteries faster!

5. Wed I was home with the kids by myself for the first time. I decided on bruschetta for lunch since I had things that needed to be used up. I put the bread in to toast and a few minutes later I looked over and smoke was pouring out. There was also a good sized flame inside, but it was safely contained. I knew to unplug it and leave the door closed because there was a note on our toaster oven, and the flames did go away after 5 minutes, but not before setting off the smoke alarm twice. Somehow my toddler stayed asleep through it.

When the smoke cleared my lunch looked like bits of moon rock.

6. I had a sort of epiphany Thursday evening: I realized sometime since moving in with the in-laws my older son started to seem like a burden rather than a blessing. At least once a day it has felt like all I’m doing is telling him what not to do again and again, and it gets exasperating. A part of this has been that I was spending some time at my computer, but I am learning to strike a balance. Another part of it was that I just didn’t know what to do with him. I find it difficult to come up with fun (free) activities to do as a family etc, let alone coming up with a new toddler-stimulating activity every 5 minutes! I just felt I didn’t know how to play with him, and I think the reason I felt this way was because all I was doing was telling him off. The same as with my husband, I need to remember to see into my toddler’s world, to see things through his eyes. I spent so much time telling him off that I had completely lost that ability. Further more it’s been a vicious circle because I think the main reason he was getting into trouble so often was because he wasn’t getting enough attention… Now I have to work on spending more time in his world.

7. Friday I went shopping with DMIL. I managed to buy $50+ worth of stuff I didn’t know I needed (but now the kids both have stockings!). When I went to develop 1 more photo for the baby book something caught my eye. There was a sign on the door of the photo place that they were hiring portrait studio staff. I have been wanting a job for over a year (I had the TAing thing but even before that) and the thought had occurred to me that I might like working in a place like that, but I figured I’d need some type of photography qualification, like past work or maybe some kind of arts degree. All the same I was compelled so I asked for an application, and then asked about qualifications: turns out the only qualifications are that you’ve completed grade 12 and are over 18. Check and check. They are looking for 3 people just until Dec 18th, but they will want one to stay on after. And the fact that I have some photography experience should definitely be an asset. I’ve always wanted to be paid to take pictures! I loved working at McDonalds for over a year, but this, I think I would absolutely love this job, taking pics of cute kids all day