The heat and sharing a room

We don't have air conditioning which is really ok 350 days a year, but for those 15 or so really really hot days, like today, it's unbearable! There is no wind, it's 29 degrees INSIDE the house, and we have 10 fans blowing like crazy all at the same time. I don't like it. I know it's only about 15 days, ok maybe 20 in a bad summer. But man it's tough. Then add on being pregnant! We have been talking about getting a Geothermal heating and cooling system, because we have a 180ft well sitting there doing nothing, and even though it would cost a minor fortune, it would have MANY advantages. For one it would include a cooling system, so no more dying in the hot hot summer; and then in the winter, no more heating with oil - which costs an arm and a leg now, so the cost of heating with oil would be transfered to paying for the Geothermal system, and pay itself off in about 6 years at the rate we are paying now for oil; It's environmentally friendly; and would increase the value of our home for resale. So we called the supplier and they will come tomorrow and give us a final quote on the thing, and I think we are going to do it. Not that I want more debt, but this one is worth it in the long run!

So while we all swelter in the heat, we also choose this week to be the week the girls start sharing a room. Not exactly the best time to choose to transition them, but it had to be done. Last night was the first night and let me tell you it did not go so well. We need to refine our system!! putting them both in there awake was a nightmare, because they just giggled, then eventually started running around, then started slamming the door.... etc. Then they cried because we closed the baby gate and started fighting... etc. Yikes. So we pulled Abby out, calmed Gillian down and got her settled, then finally put Abby to bed at 9:45! Needless to say, they were awfully tired and cranky this morning! Gillian was also up at 5:15, as she woke up in a different place and had to get up. Tonight we just put Gillian to bed first, and kept Abby up until 8:00 pm, and that seemed to work out well. Abby is still finding ways to put off sleep by coming out of the room, saying she can't sleep, has a belly ache and so on, basically stalling to no end! But I guess it's normal and as she gets older we can't expect her to go to bed at 7:00 like before... bummer!!

And before I part, here are some photos from today:




I hope for rain and wind tonight... I need to cool off!

The missing photos from last night...

I wanted to post a photo last night, but was ready for bed before I had time to process it.These were taken on Saturday. I had left my setup there to specifically take photos of the girls. Gillian wouldn't sit for me, but Abby did:



My watermark is on there, because it's for my gallery and my other blog. Do you like them??

Photoshoot, sleepover and bunk beds

I did a really fun photoshoot on Friday. An old colleague and friend, Yana, came over with her little boy - 8 months, and also brought along a friend, her husband and their brand new baby girl - 14 days!

I was a little nervous about shooting two different babies at the same time, but it worked out really well, while Dina tried to get her baby to fall asleep, I would shoot Yana's boy. He was great, didn't cry, didn't pee on anything and had lots of smiles for us!

Here is the link to my blog to check out some of my favourites from the shoot:

http://christinedenisphotography.blogspot.com/

Saturday we had a treat, in that Eric's parents offered to take the girls overnight, giving us a date night/sleepover combo. We went out for supper to Suisha Gardens, yummy sushi, followed by a martini at Zoe's at the Chateau Laurier. We went with another couple, since we never get the change to hang out with them without our little ones running around. It was a lot of fun, but needless to say I fell alseep on the couch at 10:00 pm, about 20 min after we got home! It was very strange to wake up and not have the girls around, I sure did miss them, but I did enjoy the quiet morning also!

Before going to pick them up, we drove out to Ikea to finally buy a bunk bed. We've been looking for a while on-line, second hand, and in stores, but decided on the Ikea one that matched the furniture we already have in Abby's room. We still haven't put it together, but Abby is already excited to see it, and start sharing her room with her sister.

I only have 3 more weeks of work! And non of them will be a full week. The next two are 4 days long, followed by a 3 day week, then I'm done! I'm at 32 weeks, and today I started to swell up. I never experienced that with the other two, and I must say - I don't like it! My lower legs fell really tight, and even my wrists are feeling "full"! I just hope it's normal and as a result of lots of soya sauce last night and not enough water... just hope it goes away!!

Tuesday Update

I see my posts are getting farther and farther apart!! Yikes! I just can't wait to be done work. I work, get home put the kids to bed, then fall asleep - earlier and earlier. I want to update my blog with all the fun and exciting things going on, but I just can't muster the energy! I'm doing this now just before I leave for work...I'll just be a few minutes late I guess :) Blogging is more important! hahaha!

Here is a bullet form recap of what has gone on in the past week:

• Had my Dr's appoitment, and everything is going well, I'm up another 3 lbs. No diabetes with is good to report;
• Gillian had her eye check up, she is doing well so far. No treatment necessary yet.
  
• I booked a couple more "shoots" for my portfolio, so I really look forward to those;
• My dad helped me build a floor platform for use in shooting... I'll take a photo of it today and post later. It's beautiful and can't wait to try it out!
• Abby started her soccer group, an informal group of parents who have organized soccer for the 3-4yr range. Soccer Chelsea only starts for kids 5 and older. I didn't get to go, but Eric went and said it was fun. She came home chanting a cheer, which was really cute;

Guess that is about all I can remember right now!

I didn't get a chance to take my backlighting photo for the photo challenge this week, as it was pretty cloudy all week.

And couldn't possibly go without posting a photo:

Have a good Tuesday!

Layout Challenge #7

I can't believe I've completed the challenge for this week already! Just had this flash of inspiration!! Here it is:

I probably could have varied the photo a little more, but I decided to stick to this series I took of Gilly swinging on her birthday. Such a thoughtful pensive look...

Friday Photo Challenge and Layout Challenge #7

Are we at layout challenge #7?? (Not sure Beth can correct me because I'm sure she will remember) Anyway I thought since I was my turn I should post the challenge of the week. For the photo challenge, it will go along the lines of my last post: Use Back lighting to light up your subject.

The layout challenge will be to use a photo cluster on a page - that is a cluster of 5 or so photos. See this product here for an example: http://www.designerdigitals.com/digital-scrapbooking/supplies/product_info.php/products_id/7599

Now lets hope for a sunny week to get those back-lit shots... it just clouded over here...

I love back lighting...

I just wanted to post this. I do love the look of back lighting, it's so fun to play with when the sun is shining brightly and it's hard to take any other photos in the full sun!

Beautiful Saturday

It was an amazing day today here in Chelsea, the sun was shining the temperature was perfect and there was enough wind to keep the bugs away! First thing in the morning was Abby's final Gym class, so we got to enter the gym and take photos today. It's so hard to take photos in a big gym lit by fluorescent lights, but I did get a few to capture the moment. I didn't use my flash, so they aren't the sharpest.

This is Gillian look that says "I'm just looking
to see what Dad's response is to me, as I'm just about to take off
and join the gymnasts!" Basically - pure mischievousness!

After naps we spent the afternoon playing in the sun, it was so nice! A little swinging and a little sisterly love, and we were ready for supper!






Now the girls are in bed, and I'm off to catch the rest of the hockey game! Hope it doesn't rain tomorrow!! Fingers crossed.

Happy Birthday Gillian

My baby girl turned 2 today! Of course at two she didn't really have a clue what was going on, but I think by the end of the day with all the singing and ice cream at daycare and then singing and cake at home, she knew something was up! Abby had fun to, eating all the goodies and helping blow out the candles, and she is now, even more so, looking forward to her birthday in August. I'll have to plan something a little better for her as, she is now getting to the age where she will remember and know what it's all about!


Now to recap what I've been up to! Well, lots of sleeping! I try to watch the hockey games, I try to stay up "late" but I'm usually crashed out and sleeping on the couch at 8:00 pm, so it doesn't leave much time for blogging! I miss it. I miss having the energy to scrapbook (sorry Beth - I've fallen horribly behind on the scrapping challenge). I miss having the energy to take photos (mind you it's been pretty cold and rainy here... sorry Jen for not keeping up with the photo challenge!). But after the baby comes, I'll have lots of photos to take and lots to scrap!

Last weekend I attended a Baby photography workshop with Amber Shereen. She held it at her place, and there were only two of us there, so it was great to get such personal time. We had 3 baby models, each around 7 months old. Two we shot in her natural light studio and one in her basement studio with strobes. It was fun to see how she set every thing up and how she goes about getting the fabulous photos that she does. Here is a link to my other blog that I decided to set up for posting these photos: http://christinedenisphotography.blogspot.com/ I was really happy with the way my photos turned out and couldn't wait to do it again! I just have to work on the set up of the "Studio" to be able to do it successfully!