Ramblings and Photos

30 Week Bump Report & 3D/4D Ultrasound Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Sat, 26 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

How far along: 30 weeks (technically, 30 weeks and 3 days today). Wait a minute...I only have 10 weeks left!

How big is the baby: Our baby girl now weighs around 3 pounds and is about 16 inches from head to heel. If we're talking fruits and vegetables, I think she's about the size of a squash (at least that's what The Bump says).

Total weight gain: Apparently I've gained about 2 lbs since last week for a total of 17 lbs since the start of my pregnancy.

Sleep: Nothing incredibly note-worthy.

Maternity Clothes: Yeah, I'm still rocking them.

Best moments of the week:

This week was pretty awesome. On Monday, my mom and husband joined me at my doctor's office to see our baby girl in 3D/4D (and yes, we confirmed that she is still a GIRL). I included a few of my favorite pictures at the top of this post. Everyone tells me that these images are a great reflection of what she'll look like at birth...which of course makes me even more excited to meet her. In addition to the live viewing, we received a CD with images and video clips. Here's one of my favorites - she's yawning...time for a nap!

We also started our birth classes this week. It's very different than what I imagined...at least what I've seen on television and in movies. Apparently, they no longer teach a specific way to breath, but focus more on comfort techniques. We did learn a little about anatomy, pre-labor vs. true labor, and what type of labor support we'd likely want based on responses to an image.

What I mean by this - our instructor walked around holding an image of a woman carrying a baby (anatomy shot). Each woman in the room was asked to state what she saw...first thing that came to mind. Most women said "baby." One or two said "miracle," or "cramped." Me...I said "head's down." In response, our instructor said that women who tend to point out things like the position of the baby are likely factual moms. I guess that's me. She said for those types of moms, they'll want to know more about where they are in the labor and delivery process so they can mentally focus. These moms also have a tendency to read a lot or watch baby deliveries on television so they can mentally prepare for their own labor. Meanwhile, mothers who say things like "miracle" or "cramped" are more emotional moms who will be looking for encouraging words during labor. I thought all of that was really interesting.

Finally, our nursery bedding and window treatments have returned from the seamstress. My parents are bringing them up this weekend so I can put the finishing touches on our little girl's room. I think my mom is also going to help me hang pictures and such. In a future bump report, I'll be sure to give you a tour...but I have a few other things I'll have to share first, so be patient.

Food cravings: Again, nothing note-worthy. However, my hunger is starting to come back. If only I could physically eat what my brain thinks it can handle.

Food aversions: Nothing new.

Symptoms:

Circulation issues...check.
Heartburn...check.
Flat belly button on it's way to becoming an outtie...check.
Lower back pain (at night)...check.
Veins...check.
Increased butt size (this makes me cry and laugh at the same time)...check.
Braxton Hicks contractions...I think I'm starting to have them.

Exercise: Yep, I'm still hitting the gym about four days a week. Granted, I am not doing much more than walking along with a few light weights, but I'm keeping my butt moving. In fact, earlier this week I had six back-to-back meetings that required me to walk up and down the stairs. Everyone kept telling me to take the elevator, but I refused...gotta keep these legs moving as long as they still feel good. I should probably add that I continued to push myself into the night by going to see Wicked. The show was pretty good, but our seats were in the upper balcony...three flights of stairs. So, I got up at 6 am and got home at 10:45 pm...and watched American Idol until 12:30 am. I was tired, to say the least.

Movement: She is HEADS DOWN, but still moving - mostly during the day. Pray that this means she'll sleep well through the night after she's born.

Gender: STILL Girl!

What I’m looking forward to: my work shower next Thursday!

What I miss: Um...an unoccupied stomach? Not that I don't love being so close to my daughter, but I'm reaching that uncomfortable stage of my pregnancy. One of my coworkers said he would be happy to report back to his wife (who is due next week) that while I give the impression of being one of those "happy pregnant chicks," that I get achy and irritable by day end. Since she's been quite sick the past nine months, I think she was starting to believe that I was just a freak of nature...I am.

Next Appointment: June 1st - I'm in two week increments now.

What a Girl Wants, What a Girl Needs...

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:14:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, I shared a message from our church's "Modern Family" series called "Happy Husband, Happy Home." I mentioned that I'd be back in a couple of weeks to pick up the other half of that message which is "Happy Wife, Happy Life." I probably would have had this message posted a lot sooner, but it's been a busy week (in particular, I overdid it last night so I decided it was more important to rest than to post). If you'd like to watch or listen to the entire message, click HERE.

A happy marriage is usually defined by our spouse's ability to meet our unique needs...needs that only our spouse can meet, because God designed it that way. Ephesians 5:25 says, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." If our men can learn to love us (as wives), then we can all enjoy a happy life. In fact, for those of you that are still single or in dating relationships - you should be looking for someone who can meet those unique needs. If the person you're currently with cannot meet those needs, then walk away.

With that in mind, in this week's (technically a couple of weeks ago) lesson, our minister described three of those top needs...as best he could considering he's never been a woman. Just as I did with the men, I'll describe them in reverse order.

3. Communication

I personally think communication is probably one of the most significant but difficult lessons to learn in relationships. It can make or break a relationship...especially if two people don't learn how to best communicate with one another...or worse, don't communicate at all. Based on what our minister describes communication, my husband may be more of a woman (at least as it relates to how he likes to communicate). He often tells me that he wishes I would enjoy talking to him more - usually when he's driving from one destination to another. I just don't like to talk on the phone (with the exception of my mother). I prefer to be face-to-face so I can really focus in on the person I'm with...so I can emotionally connect. There's really no perfect formula for communication - you literally have to work it out between you and your spouse because we all have individual preferences in this area.

So men - drop that word "fine" out of your vocabulary! Women love conversation - in particular, they love a good story. So, regardless of how boring or significant your day was, share it with her....in detail. It's not that we're trying to be nosy - we are just trying to connect emotionally with you (our husbands). And the truth is that until you learn to connect emotionally, you will never fully connect with God.

2. Leadership

I studied Psychology and Leadership Studies in college. For purposes of this message, I won't get too deep into leadership definitions, but I will tell you that we're not talking about leadership as domination. Actually, the most destructive homes are those in which there is an overly dominant person. Men and women appreciate leadership as initiation...no one wants to be dominated or dictated to. Consider leadership in the same way that Christ leads his church.

Granted, women have gotten very comfortable holding leadership positions on their own...I know I certainly have. However, there are a few areas in which women want to be led (as it relates to marriage):

Spiritually. Although I do believe that all major decisions should be discussed between partners...most often, women will look to men for spiritual guidance (whether or not to attend church as a family, prayer, tithing, etc). I personally remember the first time that my husband invited me to church. It was the first time that I'd ever dated someone that invited me to attend church...and it was very attractive. After church, he asked if it was something I would ever do again - I was quick to tell him that I was so glad he did invite me and that I hoped it would become a huge part of our life (as it has).
Children. Women want their husbands to be involved in the lives of their children. This seems like such a no-brainer, but I'm not sure all men realize what their role should be beyond conception. Men should be involved in the daily lives of their kids...from their education, to after-school activities, discipline, etc. Notice, I didn't say that they should be in charge or dominate those areas - just that they should be involved. Furthermore, men will set the example for how your children will treat you (as mother). If men treat their wife with respect...the kids will follow.
Romantically. At the most basic level, men - don't forget birthdays or anniversaries. She may say she doesn't want anything, but you're a tool if you buy into that. Women love a good romance story. They love it even better if they are one of the main characters in the story. For example, I don't particularly like a lot of spontaneity...but when it comes to proposals, women like an element of surprise. My husband did just that. Not only did he surprise me at Duke Gardens with a dream marriage proposal, but he also hired a photographer to capture it all on "film." I will forever and always have a lead role in my own love story. On another note...when you travel, don't forget to bring your wife something back from your journey - even if it is something small. Say you can't afford it? Then ask yourself "what am I spending my money on?" I know times are tough, but you really can't afford NOT to romance your wife. You never want your kids to wonder if you love their mom. Need I remind you - you set the tone for how your kids will one day behave. In particular, if you have sons...what kind of husband do you want them to be one day? Set the example.

1. Security

Finally, the top need for women is security. God tells us in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Women need to know that their man is going to take good care of them...that he'll be there when she wakes up...that he's willing to lay down his life for her...that he'll do whatever it takes to provide for her and the family. You never want your wife to wonder about her security...in any regard. Insecurity can lead to all kinds of trouble. So, make security (both financial and emotional) a reality for your wife.

In the more literal sense, I remember being at home alone one night when our garage door opened by itself at two o'clock in the morning. I wasn't expecting my husband to come home in the middle of the night, so I immediately called him (probably should have called the police). Turns out there was just an electrical glitch, but my husband immediately called a security company the next day to install a security system. He proved then and continues to prove that my security is important to him.

With all that said, I think my minister did a fairly good job of expressing our top three needs. What did he miss? Furthermore, what are your spouses doing to meet these needs?

Tutorial Tuesday: Black and White Conversions

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Tue, 22 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Tutorial Tuesday! Sarah of Naptime Momtog and I will be bringing you a new challenge every week, to stretch your shooting and editing skills. This week, I'd like to present to you another easy adjustment - black and white conversions. Granted, I typically prefer to use actions to create my black and white images, but the adjustment itself is rather easy.

Today, I am referring to Katie Evans Photography's simple tutorial: click HERE. There are a number of tutorials out there that claim to offer a simple black and white tutorial, but her tutorial really resonated with me. I added one step to her main three.

Let's first start with a clean processing on your color image. I decided to use a photo I took of Carsyn.

Step One: Convert to black and white. You can simply use the black and white adjustment layer. Within this adjustment, you can certainly get creative by adjusting the color channels, but I kept it simple.

Step Two: Increase Brightness and Contrast. Depending on your image, you'll want to play with your brightness and adjustment layer. I really like how Katie goes for those crisp clean black and white conversions, so I followed her lead. My brightness is at +20 and my contrast at +18. You'll want to adjust according to your own image.

Step Three: Increase Blacks (adjust levels). From this point, your image will need more black. The easiest way is to go into your levels adjustment and move your left slider in. I think mine was moved to 12. For those of you that really like a hazy image, you can also pull the output slider to the right - I did not.

Step Four: Add tone. I personally like a little color in my black and white images. There are a number of ways to do this...photo filters, gradient maps, color fill layers, etc. For purposes of today's edit, I went with a simple gradient map. I used the purple to orange gradient map, set to soft light at 12% opacity for just a hint of color. What do you think?

For the sake of comparison, on the left you see my color edit...on the right, my black and white edit. I don't recommend this approach if you plan on doing bulk processing (unless you have the ability to create an action), however, I do think it's kind of fun to walk through these steps manually if you have a few spare minutes.

Just for fun, I decided to edit another photo (Carysn's older brother, Dustyn) using the exact same steps. I really like how the black and white removes any distractions that may have been in the background.

Ready to join in the fun? Here's how to do it:

1. Read THIS TUTORIAL.

2. Choose your favorite creation (or more!) to share with us.

3. Don't forget to grab the button for your post!

4. Link up between now and next Monday.

PS: If you have any photography or editing suggestions, please don't hesitate to let Sarah or me know! We would love to feature your tutorial.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Sun, 20 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

I don't think I have to tell you how quickly this month...year is flying by, but let's be honest, time is flying. Hard to believe that in two and a half months, I'll be having a baby. Part of me is convinced that these months will also fly by, but our North Carolina humidity is already settling in. It's going to be hot!

But enough of that, let's get back to the Scavenger Hunt. If you've participated in the Scavenger Hunt in the past, I hope this week's items inspired you. If you're new to the Scavenger Hunt...WELCOME! Next week's items are sponsored by Catherine at No Wooden Spoons.

The rules are simple:

Anyone can participate.
You're encouraged to take five new photos this week for the challenge. Creativity is also encouraged!
If you get stumped, you may use one photo from your archive (although I'm not too strict about it - I do my best to take fresh shots).
Link up here on Sunday (or Tuesday at the latest) - you can use the button above.
Leave comments for at least five entries around yours (we have so many new participants each week, this is the only way I know to be inclusive).
Have fun!

Without further discussion...here are my interpretations this week:

1. Rainbow

I could have dived into my archives for an actual "rainbow" - maybe one with a leprechaun on one end, but I decided to take an alternate route. Here I'm wearing my favorite pair of flip flops...RAINBOWS! And that green thing...that's my belly.

2. Fluffy

What's fluffier than clouds? Granted, these clouds have a hint of rain in them, but they are definitely fluffy.

3. Letters

This is probably my least favorite photo this week. I'm not quite ready to release our baby girl's name so I don't have those "letters," but I do know that when a "letter" arrives in the mail...it is typically placed in a mailbox. Right?

4. Metal

During my scavenger hunt walk on Thursday afternoon, I noticed a strange eye drawn on the side of a metal dumpster. I took a completely different shot earlier in the day, but I'm drawn to this bit of weirdness.

5. Tree(s)

I've been trying to capture the squirrels in our office parking lot for a long time. While I was walking around the other day, this squirrel posed for me on a tree. I was a little surprised that he didn't run away when I moved in closer.

So, what were your interpretations of the items this week? Be sure to load your pictures on your blog (or your Flickr photostream) and link up at the bottom of this post. Feel free to grab a button to display on your blog along with your scavenger hunt items. The linky will be open until Tuesday night at midnight (EST). If you didn't participate this week, but want to participate next week, here are your items (these can also be found at the bottom of my blog each week), sponsored by Catherine at No Wooden Spoons:

Beneath Your Feet
Capturing Movement
Texture
Face Your Fears
Currently

Again, thank you to Catherinefor so many great scavenger hunt items. If you'd like to contribute items to the list, just send me an email with your suggestions (I can better keep track of them this way - and I appreciate all of you that have submitted lists already...my SHS file is quite happy). Each week, I will select one reader's prompt list, add those items to what is currently on tap and give the selected reader a shout out on my blog during Scavenger Hunt Sunday. Happy Shooting!

PS: I'm attending a wedding today so I'll plan to visit your blogs either tonight or tomorrow. Enjoy your Sunday.

29 Week Bump Report and Maternity Photos (Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

A couple of weeks ago my friend, Sarah Halstead, asked if I would be interested in taking some maternity photos. We had already discussed taking some later in the summer, but getting closer to my due date...we realized that by late July, the baby may already be here (either that, or I'd just be hot and swollen...doesn't make for a pretty picture). So, since she was in town, we thought we should take advantage of the time.

For those of you that follow Sarah on Facebook, you've probably already seen most of these photos...but for purposes of my own "maternity journal," I also wanted to share them along with my 29 week bump report.

How far along: 29 weeks (technically, 28 weeks and 3 days today).

How big is the baby: Our baby girl now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel (I'll confirm that on Monday during our 3D/4D ultrasound). Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain.

Total weight gain: Since my last bump report at 28 weeks, I'm holding steady at a total of 15 lbs gained since the start of my pregnancy.

Sleep: I don't really have any complaints this week with regard to sleep. In fact, there have been several nights in the past week that I haven't even gotten up to use the bathroom. Granted, I'm waking up fairly early...but I feel rested.

Maternity Clothes: Nearly everything I've been wearing the past few months is still working. I've become a bit bored with some of my clothes and it's tempting to purchase new stuff, but it's pointless. You guys gave me some great feedback on nursing tops. Throughout my pregnancy, I've been wearing a "genie bra." It's been nice not to have to worry with my specific size and it's way more comfortable than under-wire. I'm convinced that I'll be able to continue wearing these while I'm nursing along with tank tops.

Oh...and you may be wondering about my swimsuits (or not). I found this great company called Pez D'Or through either Zulily or Totsy or Baby Steals (one of those discount sites). Although I'm thinking I might get brave enough to wear a bikini while at the beach, I was really excited to wear one of my Pez D'Or tankinis for my maternity shoot.

Best moments of the week:

On Sunday (Mother's Day), I spent the day with my sister since my parents decided to put the gift certificate we gave them at Christmas (beach resort) to use...and my husband was with his brother for a bachelor weekend. It was really nice to spend some time with my sweet sister. We went to lunch and saw The Hunger Games. It was so good that both of us really needed to use the bathroom, but neither of us were willing to get up. I was putting my kegels to work!
I don't think I've mentioned it on my blog until now, but my younger brother is also expecting his first child...in October! This past Wednesday, they went in for their anatomy scan and found out that they will be having a baby boy! We are really thrilled for them. I almost feel like our family is getting a two for one special - me having a girl and him having a boy...but it is going to be a crazy fall!

Food cravings: Still no major cravings. I still love my chocolate/banana/peanut butter protein smoothies and frozen yogurt though. In fact, earlier this week, my coworkers and I went to Five Guys for lunch. There happens to be a Yogurt Mountain next door...and they had a new flavor: iced cinnamon rolls. YUM!!!

Food aversions: Nothing new, but I am getting tired of eating anything Asian. Sorry Pei Wei, but I think we need to take a break from one another.

Symptoms:

Still some circulation issues. In particular, when I start walking, my right leg starts to go numb just a bit. I typically just keep walking and it goes away, but it's not comfortable. I'm convinced that our little girl is laying on a nerve. I'll be sure to ask my doctor about it.
Still heartburn. Much like last week though, it's not nearly as frequent.
Belly button still really wants to be an outtie. It hasn't popped yet, but it's coming.
NEW - lower back pain. I feel my best first thing in the morning, but by day end, my back is really sore...mostly on the right side. Again, I think it must be a nerve thing. I found a heating pad last weekend that I put to use earlier this week which really helped.
NEW - VEINS! I've been warned that at some point, my veins would really start showing. As I was getting out of the shower the other night, I noticed that my chest looked like one of those human anatomy models. I pointed it out to my husband...and he got a bit grossed out. Joy!

Exercise: Twenty minutes of walking, four days a week...some light weight training and plenty of stretching. I think more than anything, I enjoy the routine.

Movement: I can't tell yet if she's moved into position or not - I guess I'll find out on Monday. However, she still seems to have enough room to move around that I'm feeling her move, kick and punch quite frequently...and mostly during the day. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I am carrying high. I guess the good news is that she is not sitting on my bladder (yet) - the bad news is that I feel very uncomfortable around my chest. I get winded very easily, but I'm not complaining. I'm hopeful that her activity level now is a reflection of what life will be like when she's born. Sleep through the night...pretty please?

Gender: Girl!

What I’m looking forward to: Our 3D/4D ultrasound on Monday. Many of my male coworkers say that it's a bit creepy since it looks like your baby is swimming in clay...and that you can really tell what your baby will look like. I'm just excited to "see her" one more time before she makes her grand entrance.

What I miss: I'm still missing the ability to move fast. Walking...even getting up from a sitting position requires so much effort. I even grunt like an old man.

Next Appointment: May 21st (Monday) for my 3D/4D ultrasound!

And with that, I hope you enjoyed this first round of maternity photos. Thanks so much Sarah for taking such great photos of me - you're the best! I have another session scheduled for June 2nd with Casey Martinez. I guess I better start thinking about my wardrobe...and my husband's for that matter. Have a great Saturday!

Zan: Nine-Month Old Sneak Peek

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Fri, 18 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

On Sunday, I met up with Zan for his nine-month portraits. Every time I see this kid, he's gotten just a little bit bigger and even more adorable. Ha ha - I guess I have to...gotten bigger.

His mother suggested we meet at a local park. She said that another one of her photographer friends uses it quite frequently to photograph some of his clients. Considering how many other photographers I saw on Sunday while we were there, I get the feeling that this particular park is quite popular for portraits.

The fun thing about photographing a nine-month old is that they are really coming into their own personality at this point...and they really enjoy standing up. Zan was more than willing to show me his mad skills by standing up against this stone wall.

Of course, I also wanted to capture him from above - this is one of my favorite positions for nearly everyone I photograph. I love the look on his face - it's like he's saying "seriously?"

This park had multiple places for us to wander...tree-covered paths, stone walls, tall grass, etc. In particular, there was an old barn that we quickly learned was a photography favorite...but we also found this neat old fence. Zan enjoyed peeking out. Peek-a-boo!

One of my challenges though, was trying to get Zan's attention when we sat him down on the ground. He was so intrigued by all the clover, that it was hard to capture him looking at the camera. I think we still managed to catch a few sweet moments though (like the shot above in black and white...because every good sneak peek deserves a black and white photo, right?).

All in all, it was a great session. In fact, I proved to myself that even at 28 weeks pregnant, I can still move my body into all those weird photography positions (you know what I'm talking about). Zan's mother even said to me, "I don't know how you're able to get down like that." I wonder if I'll still have that kind of energy for the photo sessions I have coming up at 32 weeks and 34 weeks - that should be interesting!

With all that said, I hope you enjoyed a preview of Zan's photo session - I know I did. I also hope you have a great weekend!

Bless This Mess

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, my church started a new series called, "Modern Family." Since that time, our weekend schedule has been a bit chaotic (visiting family, etc), so I haven't physically attended our church, but I have tried to keep up with the lessons via our church's podcasts. This week, I'm picking up with a lesson from a couple of weeks ago called "Help for the Mess We've Made," aimed at discussing how we restore our families as God intended it. You can listen or watch the original message by clicking HERE. I've also included a few photos from my recent family portrait session with Sarah Halstead.

First, let's talk about Job.

Job 1:1-3 says, "In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East."

Job could legitimately wear the shirt "I'm kindof a big deal," because he was such a man of influence and wealth. But as great as his resume looked on the outside, he was an even greater man on the inside. Job was not just a pretty face. So in Job 1:8, Satan is up in heaven talking smack to God:

"Then the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.'"

We're all aware that Satan trolls around earth looking for ways to test God's people...and in this case, God basically says, "Bring it!" God presents Job as the type of man that Satan cannot break. Satan likes a good challenge and does his best to break Job of his spirit. So, one day Job wakes up and his world has been flipped upside down - he's lost everything (Job 1:13-18). But remember, Job's heart is much stronger than any of his wealth...he cannot be broken.

Job 1:22-22 says, "At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: 'Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.' In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing."

I tried to imagine what I might do if the devil had tested me in this same way. Would I have been so understanding? Would I have offered the Lord my praise? The truth is that my behaviors are not always a reflection of my heart. I can't say that I've spent nearly as much time with God in prayer as I have focusing on what society deems important. Granted, preparing for a new baby is certainly appropriate, but buying "stuff" is really insignificant in the whole scheme of things, isn't it?
With that said, as we try to apply Job's experience to our own lives...and restore our families as God intended it, we first have to understand the stages we go through.

1. "Give Me"

We all start our lives in the "give me" stage. As parents, we all hope that our children will grow out of this stage...but so many relationships fail because both parties have yet to advance beyond an expectation that others provide for them. Said another way, how many people do you know that became Christians because they didn't want to go to Hell (especially if they became Christians at a very young age). At this stage in our lives, our decisions have nothing to do with God and everything to do with "what's in it for me?" If the scripture or outcomes benefit us, we're all in...if it doesn't benefit us, we tend to ignore it.

I guess there's no shame in being in this stage, because we all start our spiritual journey with this level of immaturity. Unfortunately, we all start at this stage within our personal relationships (friendships, marriages, etc.) as well. As a result, we can be very quick to be disappointed when things don't go our way...when the other person doesn't live up to the expectations we have for what they should be doing for us. We then start trying to look for other things that will make us happy - new relationships, new clothes, etc. Recall the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-12)?

When we realize that only GOD can fulfill us...when we can die to ourselves and do for others instead of expecting everyone to give to us...that's when we can advance.

2. "Search Me"

Back to the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:17), “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!'"

You will never grow in your relationship with Jesus if you are still blaming someone else for your life circumstances. And this is why so many relationships and marriages fall apart - no one is willing to be held accountable for their part. Psalm 139:23 says, "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts." At some point, we've got to take a hard look at ourselves in the mirror to find out what is really going on. You're not responsible for anyone else's actions but your own. Unfortunately, two things hold us back: our pride and our insecurities. In particular, we're scared of what we'll find by taking a deep look at ourselves - what if we're the problem? And if we don't resolve it, we'll always carry that baggage...from one relationship to another.

3. "Make Me"

Going back to the Prodigal Son one last time (Luke 15:18-19), "I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants." At this stage, we can do the same thing by asking God to make us a servant...to our children...to our spouse...to HIS Kingdom. And in doing so, we can repair our families because we'll be serving more than ourselves.

Matthew 20:26-28 says, "whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

With that said, our minister gave us a bit of homework...so I offer it up to you as well. Look for an opportunity to serve: your spouse or significant other...or if you don't have either of those...a friend or coworker. We must think of our families as an internal investment. In fact, we could be more like Job and focus more on what's important inside than what's on the outside. At the end of the day, it won't matter if our children attended practice (insert your sport or instrument of choice here) or if we have the best house/cars/clothes...what will matter is if our heart is in the right place. That's really all God cares about.

Tutorial Tuesday: Shooting in Direct Sunlight

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Tutorial Tuesday! Sarah of Naptime Momtog and I will be bringing you a new challenge every week, to stretch your shooting and editing skills.This week we have the lovely Rebecca from Bumbles & Light. If you haven't checked out Rebecca's blog make sure you click over immediately. Seriously, you will be inspired. This week she is giving some tips on shooting in direct sunlight, which is perfect since Summer is almost here.

Also be sure to click over to Sarah's blog for today's lesson on shooting in Direct Sunlight. I'll give you a short preview:

Sadly, not all of the fun things in life or the memories we want to capture happen during the gentle, soft light of overcast days or during those beautiful hours before sunset. Life goes on at all hours of the day.

On those gorgeous bright days during the summer, you most likely wont want to schedule a formal portrait session when the sun is bright and high in the sky, but you still want to be able to photograph your kids at play. Sometimes it's possible to move into open shade or to create your own shade, if you're prepared then you can also perhaps use a reflector or fill flash where needed. If your subject is in bright light, you're just shooting casually and you still want to capture the moment, there are a few things you can do to make the best of it.

Have your subject's back to the sun
Metering
Use shadows to your advantage
Focus on details

I really try to avoid high sun as much as possible, however, I don't always have a choice. On Saturday, I had a client session at 10 am. Fortunately, it was a bit overcast so I had beautiful and even light for most of our shoot. Unfortunately, towards the end of our shoot, the sun decided to come out...forcing me to apply some of Rebecca's tips. In addition, it just so happened that I had my reflector. When all else fails, a reflector can block or redirect the sunlight. Granted, I didn't use it in the shot below, but every post deserves a picture...and it just so happens that I had full sun in this shot. I'll be sure to share more from this session on Friday.

Ready to join in the fun? Here's how to do it:

1. Read through today's tutorial: Click HERE.

2. Choose your favorite shot (or more!) to share with us.

3. Don't forget to grab the button for your post!

4. Link up between now and next Monday.

PS: If you have any photography or editing suggestions, please don't hesitate to let Sarah or me know! We would love to feature your tutorial.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Sun, 13 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Happy Mother's Day! I hope that each of you enjoy a beautiful day with your family...hopefully with your mother or reaping the benefits of being a mother. That's certainly what I've been doing this weekend.

On another note, I really meant to draw a winner for Kim of Mom Tried It's online workshop for Photoshop and PSE. Clearly, I let my time get away from me. However, I do have a winner. Congratulations to Susan at Happy No Ears! You can send me an email and I'll connect you with Kim.

With that said, let's get back to the Scavenger Hunt. If you've participated in the Scavenger Hunt in the past, I hope this week's items inspired you. If you're new to the Scavenger Hunt...WELCOME! Next week's items are sponsored by Yolanda at Chickens on the Moon.

The rules are simple:

Anyone can participate.
You're encouraged to take five new photos this week for the challenge. Creativity is also encouraged!
If you get stumped, you may use one photo from your archive (although I'm not too strict about it - I do my best to take fresh shots).
Link up here on Sunday (or Tuesday at the latest) - you can use the button above.
Leave comments for at least five entries around yours (we have so many new participants each week, this is the only way I know to be inclusive).
Have fun!

Without further discussion...here are my interpretations this week:

1. Sidewalk

I'm not sure that there is anything especially interesting about this shot. I realized while I was hanging out with my mom yesterday that I hadn't taken a few pictures - sidewalk being one of them. I do like the repeating patterns of the columns and the bokeh in the background.

2. Inspiring

Saturday afternoon, we went by Michael's to get some new artificial flowers for my grandparents' grave (this particular cemetery doesn't allow real flowers). We thought azaleas and eucalyptus leaves would look really pretty for this spring and summer. Anyways...I share this photo because my grandparents were a huge inspiration to me. My grandfather died in October 2004, and of course my grandmother died about three weeks ago. Here's a portion of what I said during her funeral:

"Just imagine a kinky-headed 18 year old leaving everything she knew in Mountainville, NY to move to Rocky Mount and start a life with Bobby Mears. I’m not quite sure if she was joking or not when she told me that she’s still mad at her mama for marrying her off so young, but she did love my Granddaddy.

They immediately became parents to Bobby’s two year old brother, Dan…before of course starting their own family. And I try to imagine the commitment and responsibility of being so young and getting through the war effort as my grandfather was serving in Guam. And then of course, upon his return…the activity surrounding the Englewood Lunch Bar and eventually the Englewood Supermarket as Englewood began developing into a community. With Bobby’s charm and Janie’s push, anything was possible."

They were quite a pair - and if my life looks anything like their life when I'm 80 years old, I will feel as though I'd lived a beautiful life. They were truly inspiring.

3. Time

Earlier this week, Sarah Halstead and her family came into town. You may have already seen a few of the photos she took of me and my belly bump. It was also "time" for Carsyn's 2 year old photos. So, we met up on Thursday night for about an hour to take a few photos of Carsyn and the family. I'm hoping to edit a few more of those photos this week to share.

4. Close-up

Just yesterday, I met up with Zan (you may remember him from his multiple photo sessions over the past year) and his family for his 9 month portraits. We lucked out with beautiful weather and beautiful light. Unfortunately, everytime we put him on the ground, he became much more interested in the clover-covered ground than looking at me (can ya blame him?). So, I thought I might try to capture his beautiful eyelashes. He's such a sweet kid. I'll share some of my favorites by the end of the week.

5. With Mirror

Like I said in my first shot, I hung out with my mom at her shop on Saturday afternoon (after my photo shoot). She owns a children's boutique called the Red Caboose and sells everything from newborn to pre-teen clothing and gifts. You better believe that my baby will be the best dressed baby in town! Although this is clearly not my best shot, this is me taking a photo of myself in her dressing room mirror.

So, what were your interpretations of the items this week (if you haven't already linked up)? Be sure to load your pictures on your blog (or your Flickr photostream) and link up at the bottom of this post. Feel free to grab a button to display on your blog along with your scavenger hunt items. The linky will be open until Tuesday night at midnight (EST). If you didn't participate this week, but want to participate next week, here are your items (these can also be found at the bottom of my blog each week), sponsored by Yolanda at Chickens on the Moon.

Rainbow
Fluffy
Letters
Metal
Tree(s)

Again, thank you to Yolanda for so many great scavenger hunt items. If you'd like to contribute items to the list, just send me an email with your suggestions (I can better keep track of them this way - and I appreciate all of you that have submitted lists already...my SHS file is quite happy). Each week, I will select one reader's prompt list, add those items to what is currently on tap and give the selected reader a shout out on my blog during Scavenger Hunt Sunday. Happy Shooting!

28 Week Bump Report

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Sat, 12 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

How far along: 28 weeks (technically, 28 weeks and 3 days today).

How big is the baby: Our baby girl weighs approximately 2.4 pounds and is a little under 15 inches from head to heel. If we're talking fruits and veggies, she's about the size of an eggplant.

Total weight gain: Since my last bump report at 26 weeks, I've gained another 3 lbs for a total of 15 lbs since the start of my pregnancy.

Sleep: Other than when I'm away from home (as I was last weekend), I sleep pretty well...unless I start thinking about all the things I need to accomplish over the next few weeks. The other night, I woke up at 2 am and couldn't go back to sleep until 4 am. After tossing and turning for 30 minutes, I went downstairs to read Mockingjay (the third book in the Hunger Games series). My husband didn't even notice I was gone. I have a feeling it's only going downhill from here...and that I'm getting some practice for when our little girl arrives. At that point, I may be asking "what's sleep?"

Maternity Clothes: It's mildly depressing to see all the cute new spring dresses out right now. A few weeks ago, I was still managing to look cute in them. Now, with the way so many of them are cut, it looks like I'm wearing a tent. I don't really need to spend my money on maternity clothes anyways. Instead, I'll start thinking about nursing bras and tops. Suggestions?

Best moments of the week (past two weeks):

We finally put the crib up...just after I complained about our lack of progress. It is beautiful. There is still plenty more to do (retrieve bedding from seamstress, hang curtain valance, pick up chair and ottoman, move changing table upstairs, hang artwork, etc), but we'll get there over the next couple of weeks.
Our first baby shower! I posted a few pictures yesterday, but it really was wonderful and I'm looking forward to having a couple more. Actually, there's part of me that wishes I could already have my showers...but only because it'd give me a better idea of what I need to purchase, and I'd spend less time thinking about stuff at night. Patience is not one of my best qualities.
I met up with Sarah Halstead on Tuesday night for some early maternity photos since she was in town this past week. She was originally going to take them in late July, but we were worried that she might miss it (if I went into labor a couple of weeks early) or that I'd be hot, sweaty and swollen (okay, that was just my concern). Actually, she took my bump photo this week (one day early - taken at the end of our day...thus the lack of a smiling face) and she posted several of her favorites to her Facebook page: click HERE. I'll probably share some of these same photos here next Saturday (maybe a few extras...we'll see). I should also mention that I'm meeting up with Casey Martinez in a few weeks for another round of maternity photos. It's so nice to have photography friends nearby who want to take pictures of me.
Finally, I'm getting to spend some time with my mom this weekend. The closer I get to my due date, the more I find that I want to talk to my mom...whether I'm asking her a question about decorations or what I should expect at a certain month - she's my best resource!

Food cravings: I still haven't had any major cravings - I essentially eat what I have always eaten. However, earlier this week, I did want a Jimmy Johns sub. I try to avoid cold deli meat, but I don't think one sandwich will hurt.

Food aversions: Nothing new.

Symptoms:

Still some circulation issues. Drinking water is helping though.
Still heartburn. But not as frequent (although still quite painful). I haven't had to take Zantac as often as I was prepared to take it - which is a good thing.
Belly button really wants to be an outtie. I think Elena called it the Napoleon complex. Either way, I feel like it's going to pop in the next week or two. I wonder if it'll make a ding noise when it's done...easy bake oven style?

Exercise: Still doing my thing...aiming for 5 days a week, but happy if I am there 3-4 days a week. I'm spending more time in cardio and stretching.

Movement: Still moving a lot - I'm wondering if and when she'll decided to get into ready position. Assuming she's not breach, I'll be enjoying swift kicks to my ribcage.

Gender: Girl!

What I’m looking forward to: a mini beach vacation. My husband says I'm in desperate need of some color. I guess vampire white is out. I'm also looking forward to the start of our "Preparing for Childbirth" classes that start up on May 24th. My husband is really looking forward to them as he will finally feel as though he can do something...ya know, other than move things around for me.

What I miss: Speed. I get slower by the day. My office parking lot feels like it's miles away (in fact, I have parked in visitor parking a couple of times just to avoid the long walk) and my husband is trying really hard not to be impatient with me as I try to accomplish everyday tasks. Yes, I'm slow but I'm still capable.

Next Appointment: May 18th for my regularly scheduled appointment and May 21st for my 3D/4D ultrasound!

A Pregnancy Story: Baby Shower!

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Fri, 11 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Last weekend, my mother-in-law (and family) hosted my first baby shower. It was relatively small as she just invited family, but she didn't leave out one detail. From the invitations, to the napkins, chocolate-covered strawberries, punch, flowers and cupcakes (among many other goodies)...we really did have a wonderful time.

I obviously could not take photos while I opened presents, but I did manage to take a few photos of the set up before every one arrived. Then, I passed off my camera to one of my husband's cousins. I'm especially fond of the photo below - I had just opened a bag of "mommy gifts," which included a nursing gown, nursing pads and nipple cream. Don't you love the look on my husband's face as he realizes what I've got? He has no clue what he's getting into!

Anyways, I'd like to publicly thank my mother-in-law once again for hosting such a beautiful shower. We are so thankful for everything we received - now we just need to load up on diapers and wait for our little girl to arrive!

Happy Husband, Happy Home

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Last week, I shared the first of a new series at my church called "Modern Family." This week, I pick back up with a lesson called "Happy Husband, Happy Husband." No worries ladies, something to the effect of "Happy Wife, Happy Life" is coming up. If you'd like to watch or listen to the entire message, click HERE.

Photo by Lynette Mittendorf Photography

So many people will cling to the verse, "wives, submit to your husbands," but the other end of this piece of scripture is "husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church," followed by "He who loves his wife, loves himself." We are to show reverence to one another.

With that in mind, men do have needs...and in this week's (technically a couple of weeks ago) lesson, our minister described three of those top needs.

3. Companionship

Our society has gone out of its way to try to prove that men and women are the same. But there are some significant differences. For example, try as you might to prevent your little boy from playing with a gun (you can eliminate all water and nerf guns, etc. from your home), but little boys will inevitably turn something (stick, finger, piece of cardboard) into a gun...and then chase other little boys and girls around the yard. That type of behavior never fully goes away. Therefore, if men didn't have a need for companionship, they'd really have no reason to come home - they might just get lost in the great outdoors shooting stuff.

Ephesians 2:18 says, "The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone.'"

Another word that is often used for companion is playmate...and I'm not talking about the bunny kind. Men like to have fun - you know, like dogs that want you to throw them a ball. If we think back to when we were dating our husbands, it probably included a lot of fun. We laughed, we took risks, did something new, did things together, etc. Granted, I know that life happens - we have children and responsibilities take over. However, if we tried to build more fun into our marriages, we might experience stronger connections with our husbands.

2. Sexual Intimacy

You didn't think the top three needs of men would be void of sex, did you? Sex is not a dirty word (although I'm cringing a little bit right now as I write it multiple times) - God created it. And sure, there are plenty of things that we like in life. I am personally a huge fan of photography, frozen yogurt and cinnamon toast crunch. However, I can't tell you the first time that I picked up a camera or ate my first Fro Yo or CTC...but if you're like me, I bet you remember your "first time."

Even still, when it comes to sexual intimacy, men and women have very different attitudes. A lot of women can just take it or leave it. Meanwhile, if a man's need for sex isn't met at home, society tells us that there are other options. It is not uncommon to hear of men visiting strip clubs, hiring escorts or engaging in extramarital affairs. However, just as we saw in the case of Tiger Woods, we're quickly reminded that if the need is met outside of marriage that is wrong and society (in addition to God) disapproves. 1 Corinthians 6:18 says, "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body."

1. Honor

Man's #1 need is honor. You may recall the story of a a Prophet Without Honor found in Mark 6:16:

Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

This story reminds me of a conversation I had with one of my coworkers some time ago. This particular coworker is an incredible speaker and consultant. However, when his older brother (who is in the industry that we serve) was describing a situation that his company was faced with...and the prospect of hiring a consulting firm to serve that need, my coworker was a bit disappointed that his brother would not consider talking to him first (and I later learned that he wouldn't entertain hiring our firm either). Essentially, we can go out into the world and do great things...but at home, we are just family.

Unfortunately, it is quite possible that we're living with a potentially GREAT MAN that is not being fully honored. More specifically, it's not necessarily WHAT we say to our husbands, but how we say it (you know what I'm talking about ladies). And when we don't speak to our men with honor, they don't hear us...they discount our words completely. At best, they'll shut down...at worst, they'll "fight back" with angry words.

With that said, let's go back to Ephesians 5:21-22 and treat our husbands as we would Jesus....perhaps they'll start to act more like Jesus in return. It's worth a try, right?

Alyssa and Carter had a Birthday!

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Wed, 09 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

We had a busy weekend. Between my niece and nephew's birthday party (their birthdays are a few weeks apart - this year Alyssa is 8 and Carter is 3) and my first baby shower, I have quite a few photos to share. If you remember their birthday party from last year (and I'm too lazy to find the link), then you might remember the deflatable toys, hot dogs, cupcakes, and lots and lots of children. This year, we kept it simple...a tractor and violin cake (Carter loves tractors and Alyssa loves her violin), some family and a few friends, and of course presents. At the end of the day, whether you have a lot of people or just those you love the most - we had an incredible time! Happy Wednesday - come back Friday for some of my baby shower photos.

Tutorial Tuesday: Background Color Change

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Tue, 08 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Tutorial Tuesday! Sarah of Naptime Momtog and I will be bringing you a new challenge every week, to stretch your shooting and editing skills. This week, I'd like to present to you what I think is a fairly quick and easy change...at least once you know how to do it - changing the color of your background.

Actually, let me not limit this tutorial only to backgrounds. I've used this approach to change part of an image such as a door or shirt color, in addition to changing an entire background. The approach we're using can also be replicated in either Photoshop or Photoshop Elements since we'll be utilizing the hue/saturation adjustment layer.

But before we get ahead of ourselves...let's watch the video tutorial.

Quick and easy right? And if you're sitting on your end saying "no Ashley, I'm completely lost," no worries - I often have to watch and rewatch a tutorial several times...then practice it a few times before it all makes sense. I don't know of many people who learned how to use Photoshop overnight - most of us spend many hours of our time learning how to do various editing techniques.

Anyways, here's my original image. It's a variation of another image that I submitted to my cousins as part of their graduation portrait package. We all really liked this door that Emily is standing by - I think it offsets her outfit nicely.

In case you don't feel like watching the video tutorial or you just want to see the steps laid out in print, here's what I did:

Ran a clean edit on my image. What you see above is not my SOOC shot, but a clean edited image using my favorite action: Perfect Portrait 3 by the Coffeeshop Blog.
Used the quick selection tool (located in the tool bar on the left side of your screen) to select Emily.
Right-clicked and selected the inverse of my selection. This selected my background. You'll see a layer mask in your image that will have your subject in black and the background in white (white reveals a change, black hides it).
I then selected my hue/saturation panel - using the master sliders (if you really want to fine tune a color, you can use the drop down to select a specific color), I brought my hue down to -144, my saturation to -4 and my lightness to -3 (see screenshot below).
Finally, I cleaned up my edges using a soft white brush at 20% opacity (my selection left some of the background in her hair).

That's it! I'm sure you can make it more complicated if you really want to or use the color balance adjustment panel to really play with your colors but this particular approach is pretty easy to use. The result of those adjustments is a blue door that I think beautifully works with Emily's eyes.

Granted, I rarely if ever take the time to make this sort of adjustment, but you never know when it will come in handy. Here's a look at my original image (left) and my adjusted image (right). What do you think?

Ready to join in the fun? Here's how to do it:

1. Watch THIS TUTORIAL on YouTube (or follow the steps above).

2. Choose your favorite creation (or more!) to share with us.

3. Don't forget to grab the button for your post!

4. Link up between now and next Monday.

PS: If you have any photography or editing suggestions, please don't hesitate to let Sarah or me know! We would love to feature your tutorial.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Sun, 06 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Over the past two weeks, we have had nearly 150 Scavenger Hunt Sunday participants. That's pretty awesome. Granted, I gave you an additional week to submit your photos...but most of the entries were made during our usual Sunday to Tuesday time frame. Considering my heavy heart (following the death of my grandmother), your photos really brought a smile to my face - so much creativity and artistry among this group. It makes me proud....so proud that I thought I'd give away something.

Earlier this week, Kim of Mom Tried it contacted me about an online workshop she is offering for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements users (click HERE for more information). During these workshops, you will see Kim's screen as she walks you through her editing steps. You will get to watch and hear everything step-by-step. You may remember the meme that Jill Samter and I offered last year (Shoot and Edit). Kim's workshops are very similar but are being offered to you in real time. Here's just a few of the lessons she'll cover during a two hour session:

How to sharpen your images
How to use Dodge and Burn to make your photos pop
How to add custom contrast
How to brighten and adjust exposure
How to use layers to make your images the best they can be
How to convert to black and white
How to add textures and manipulate the effects
How to adjust skin tone
How to optimize for internet

I think it's pretty awesome and considering how proud I am of my fellow Scavenger Hunters, I thought I'd offer a seat in one of Kim's upcoming workshops (a $75 value) as a sort of thank you for standing by me. If you're interested, all you need to do is 1) participate in this week's Scavenger Hunt and 2) leave me a comment indicating your interest (I'd hate to draw someone's name who isn't interested in attending this workshop, ya know?). That's it!

So...with that said, let the scavenge hunting begin! If you've participated in the Scavenger Hunt in the past, I hope this week's items inspired you. If you're new to the Scavenger Hunt...WELCOME! Next week's items are sponsored by Brittany of The Richard Trio and Sacha of Sacha's Saucy Snippets.

The rules are simple:

Anyone can participate.
You're encouraged to take five new photos this week for the challenge. Creativity is also encouraged!
If you get stumped, you may use one photo from your archive (although I'm not too strict about it - I do my best to take fresh shots).
Link up here on Sunday (or Tuesday at the latest) - you can use the button above.
Leave comments for at least five entries around yours (we have so many new participants each week, this is the only way I know to be inclusive).
Have fun!

Without further discussion...here are my interpretations this week:

1. Shadow

In case you missed it on Friday...last Sunday, I met up with my twin cousins (Emily and Erin) to take their graduation portraits. Even in the late day sun, I still had to compete with some harsh shadows such as the ones at Wilson Library. I still think it makes for an interesting shot.

Funny story - while I was photographing Emily at the top of the stairs, someone walked out of the library. As the door opened and then closed, we were enveloped with a cool gust of air. Although it felt really good, I was more interested in the smell. Without missing a beat I proclaimed, "mmmmm, that smells like books." Emily busted out laughing at me. Well it did. HA HA

2. Keys

These are my keys (hello Captain Obvious). I've got two car keys (one for me, one for my husband's car), three house keys (two for our house and one for my parents) and a key to my office. I also have what looks like the end of a silver spoon. No, I did not grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth, but my mom gave it to me and I think it's cute. Unfortunately, it is often mistaken for a knife when I go through airport security.

3. Smile

I shared this photo on Friday in black and white, but it's so pretty that I had to share it again. I think this shot would look pretty cool blown up. I also love this angle - works for babies, works for adults!

4. Unedited (SOOC)

Here's a photo of Erin from our session last weekend. I initially had the girls facing the sun - I'm sure you can imagine how that looked (yikes!). However, when my brain and eyes had a chance to refocus, I thought better of my initial pose and had them face away from the sun...ya know, to take advantage of some pretty back-lighting. Okay, so this photo is not the best example but just roll with it. Anyways, I was working with Erin and asked her to gently turn towards me. I must have said something funny because she lit up with a beautiful smile. I love this natural expression. And yes, this is straight out of the camera (SOOC).

5. Fish

Finally, can you tell that this is a fish? In preparation for a pregnant summer, I ordered a couple of PEZ D'OR bathing suits from Zulily and Baby Steals (aka the Devil...jk). Not only did I get a great deal, but each swimsuit came with a cute little sequined fish. Oh and look...it's high key!

Sidewalk (Brittany's suggestion)
Inspiring (Brittany's suggestion)
Time (Brittany's suggestion)
Close Up (Sacha's suggestion)
With Mirror (Sacha's suggestion)

Again, thank you to Brittany and Sacha for so many great scavenger hunt items. If you'd like to contribute items to the list, just send me an email with your suggestions (I can better keep track of them this way - and I appreciate all of you that have submitted lists already...my SHS file is quite happy). Each week, I will select one reader's prompt list, add those items to what is currently on tap and give the selected reader a shout out on my blog during Scavenger Hunt Sunday. Happy Shooting!

PS: Tayet is hosting a new photo challenge called Take Your Best Shot that kicks off on Tuesday. Be sure to check it out.

PSS: I'll be away from my computer all day. My inlaws are hosting a baby shower for me and my husband this afternoon so we'll be enjoying our family. I'll catch up with your entries either tonight or tomorrow.

Life While Pregnant vs. Life With Baby

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Sat, 05 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Hello Third Trimester! According to this trimester calculator, I am officially in the last leg of my pregnancy. I'll be honest, I am both excited and nervous. Like many women, I have dreamed of becoming a mom since I was a little girl playing with dolls. There was absolutely no question that when the time came, I would have a family of my own. However, dreaming of being pregnant/having a family feels very different from actually being pregnant. I guess reality has finally set in that I'm going to have to deliver a baby in a few months...and I don't feel ready.

Just the other night, I went into panic mode (que the melodramatic music). Husband's translation = intense mood swing. Last month, my dear sweet husband painted the nursery. I was thrilled...and then quietly daydreamed about getting the nursery done by mid-May. Up until Wednesday, nothing else had been done, but I guess my complaining paid off. Good thing...I was getting impatient.

Three years ago, I was also impatient...but more because I was done planning our October wedding and still had five months to go. Needless to say, that wedding was over-planned. With only three months left of this pregnancy, I don't feel nearly as put together and I can only registry-stalk so much. The good news is that I am having my first shower tomorrow (yay!) so I can occupy some of this idle time by writing thank you notes.

With that said, rather than stress...I thought it might be fun to look at the differences (er, similarities) between life while pregnant versus life with baby. I was inspired by a chapter in a book I bought for my husband called, "Pregnancy Sucks For Men" by Joanne Kimes and her husband, Jeff Kimes. The original piece was written from a man's perspective so I adapted it for the ladies.

Funny? Honest? I think both. But I'm curious - what should be added to the list? I'd love to hear your personal stories of how being pregnant prepared you and your husband for parenthood.

Emily and Erin: UNC Graduation Portraits

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

My twin cousins, Emily and Erin. have grown up. In fact, they will be graduating next weekend (Mother's Day) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with degrees in Education.

Over the Christmas holiday, I offered to take their graduation portraits. And can you believe it...they took me up on my offer! So, I met up with this past Sunday for a complete tour of campus.

Interestingly enough, earlier in the day, my husband asked if I wanted to hit the gym with him before I met up with my cousins. Although tempting (ha ha, who am I kidding), I decided that I would probably get a good cardio workout in later in the day. I'm pretty sure walking around a college campus for two hours counts as a workout, right?

Actually, I was quite tired...but there was no way that I was going to admit defeat - pregnant or not! Emily and Erin had a full list of places they wanted to capture, and I...I was bound and determined we were going to capture them at every single one of them.

Luckily, we had an incredibly beautiful day to work with...as evidence by all of the other graduates having their graduation portraits made at exactly the same time.

In addition to the weather, I also had the benefit of working with two beautiful models. I mean seriously...I have an entire set of images that I could have shared in my preview. I'm a bit jealous that they snagged those gorgeous blue eyes...and eyelashes.

Either way, it's really hard to believe that my youngest cousins (they're about 8 or 9 years younger than me) have become such smart, classy and beautiful young women. I am so proud of them and know that if anyone is capable of teaching our next generation of leaders...it's them.

With that said, congratulations Emily and Erin. You have made the entire family proud. I know that Grandma will be smiling down on you next Sunday.

Modern Family?

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Thu, 03 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, my church started a new series called, "Modern Family." As it so happens, we invited a couple of our friends to church that weekend and sat in the family chapel with their 2 year old - kind of gave me a taste for what life will be like in a few short months. Anyways...since I took the last two weeks off (with regard to my faith posts), I thought I'd start at the beginning of the series: "What Happened to the Family." Warning, this is a long one.

Let me run a few statistics by you that our minister shared during the lesson:

40% of people believe marriage is becoming obsolete...which would explain why nearly half of all marriages end in divorce. Furthermore, more and more divorce attorneys state that social media is the reason marriages come to an end.
32% of teenagers admit to underage drinking and 39% admit to using marijuana. Unfortunately, the statistics don't seem to change much between kids going to church and kids not going to church.
70% of teens walking around the church have probably had premarital sex before the age of 19.
26% of kids are raised by single parents - 80% of those households being single moms.

I'm pretty sure I missed a number of other statistics that you can hear in the live message (click HERE), but the point is that the family as God originally intended hardly exists anymore. And if you don't believe me, just turn on your television or read the paper. Long gone are the days of "Leave it to Beaver."

However, God's original plan for us as a family has never really come to fruition. If we back up to Genesis - yep, Adam and Eve...God created male and female in his own image (Genesis 1:28). He further created the family such that (Genesis 2:25), "man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." Sure we were naked, but we didn't really know what that meant...so there was no shame in our game.

Unfortunately, within a few verses, we break a perfect relationship with each other and with God. We all know the story of the serpent who tests Adam and Eve with the Tree of Knowledge (Genesis 3:1-6). In that very moment, sin entered the family. As a result, we now live with three consequences:

1. Shame

Genesis 3:7 says, "they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves." Verses 8-11 describe how Adam and Eve then hid from God in fear because they were naked. Up until that point, humankind had never experienced shame...but it's something we live with today.

Interestingly enough, I bet we've all had naked dreams...perhaps fears of speaking in public...being caught with our pants down? It's normal to have these fears - especially considering that no one wants to be seen naked when everyone else is fully dressed. No one wants to be naked man on campus, right? However, Adam and Eve were the only two people around - what did they have to be embarrassed about? It's not like the animals were wearing the latest fashions.

When shame entered our lives, God was certainly disappointed. However, in his forgiveness (Isaiah 61:10), "he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness." He does this because Satan feeds off our shame. Therefore, the only thing that can cover our shame is the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

So yeah, shame definitely wasn't part of God's original plan for us as a family...but he also doesn't leave us hanging.

2. Blame

Genesis 3:11-13 says, "And he (God) said, 'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?' The man said, 'The woman you put here with me —she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.' Then the Lord God said to the woman, 'What is this you have done?' The woman said, 'The serpent deceived me, and I ate.'"

What you see here is Adam blaming God and Eve...and then Eve blaming the serpent. It's no wonder that when kids do something wrong, they immediately want to point a finger at someone else rather than accepting responsibilities themselves. Actually, I'm being generous considering that we're all inflicted with a case of "it wasn't me." The blame that started with Adam and Even follows us today...except most times we house it in therapy as we try to figure out why we've done something or why we are the way we are. I'm often amazed when someone actually takes responsibility for their actions because we're so quick to cast blame on someone else.

Of course, the consequence of our actions consist of a painful childbearing experience (makes ya kinda curious what it could have been like if we just followed the rules, right?), our husbands to rule over us (we were designed to be servant leaders to one another), the men in our lives to work long days to make a living for the family...and of course, we die.

3. Fame

The other night, I was watching the movie, "Fame." The movie follows a talented group of dancers, singers, actors and artists over four years at the New York City High School of Performing Arts, where students from all walks of life are given a chance to live out their dreams and achieve real and lasting "fame"...the kind that comes only from talent, dedication, and hard work. Much like our own lives, this journey is also plagued by self-doubt as each student's passion is put to the test. I think there's a part of each of us that wants that fame...at least the desire to be recognized for something we're passionate about.

Once again, it all started with Adam and Eve. In Genesis 3:20, "Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living." He immediately separates himself from his wife. In fact, up until the fall, her name was not Eve - notice...God did not name Eve, Eve...Adam did. God created male and female...I think a much older translation refers to them as Adam-man and Adam-woman. They were one. But Adam sets himself a part...he labels Eve and tells her what her purpose should be.

As a result, for thousands of years, women have believed that their #1 purpose in life was to bear children. When that purpose has been fulfilled, many women aren't quite sure what to do with themselves....which of course can lead to depression and marital conflict. If we try to imagine God's original purpose for us though - being a mom was not our primary purpose. Yes, God has a plan for each of us...and prior to the fall, it may or may not have included child-bearing.

Men sometimes have a hard time believing that women have a purpose outside of the home. Let's be honest, if a woman is away from home, then her attention may be distracted from the needs of the man. But everyone (man and woman) has a calling...when the kids are home and when the kids are away. Our highest calling is to be a child of God...not a mother, not a father. It just so happens that so many of us have the opportunity to be parents.

With all that said, God isn't necessarily happy about any of this: Shame, Blame or Fame. Much like we'd do with our own children though, there are consequences for all actions. However, in Christ, the curse is broken because Jesus came to repair our families.Without him we'll always be competing with one another and failing to live up to God's truth.

Tutorial Tuesday: High Key Photography

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:51:00 +0000

Welcome to Tutorial Tuesday! Sarah of Naptime Momtog and I will be bringing you a new challenge every week, to stretch your shooting and editing skills. A few weeks ago, Sarah shared a tutorial on how to do Low Key Photography. This week, she will be sharing the opposite: High Key Photography!

Unlike low key photography, high key photography's goal is to avoid shadows. I never realized how much I enjoyed high key photography until I started looking at other high key images. My white dining room table really comes in handy...and considering how infrequently I have someone other than myself to photograph, I spend a lot of time photographing inanimate objects using this technique.

Be sure to click over to Sarah's blog for some tips on shooting high key photography. In the meantime, I pulled a few of my favorite high key images taken over the past year.

One of the things I love most about using my white table (or white foam board if you don't have a white table) is the reflection I'm able to capture. For product photography, I think it creates a lot of impact.

High key photography doesn't always require super clean backgrounds. For this particular image, I placed my sunglasses on the window sill of my hotel room during a bachelorette weekend. The light pouring in gave the illusion that my glasses were glowing.

Here's another example of product or food photography using a high key approach. In Sarah's tutorial, she references a trick I used a few months ago to really make your background white white. In case you missed it, click HERE.

I don't know if this particular shot completely counts, but I threw it in anyways. Every so often, I find myself taking photos in the bathroom. Unfortunately, I don't always have adequate lighting so I supplement by using my speedlight. Actually, I have been known to bring out my speedlight at night when I realize I need a new photo for the next day. High key photography completely works with it because I don't really want the shadows.

Finally, I remember taking this photo in a parking lot while waiting to meet Sarah for dinner. It might have been a tad bit overexposed, but I for purposes of high key photography - it totally works.

Ready to join in the fun? Here's how to do it:

1. Read through today's tutorial.

2. Choose your favorite shot (or more!) to share with us.

3. Don't forget to grab the button for your post!

4. Link up between now and next Monday.

PS: If you have any photography or editing suggestions, please don't hesitate to let Sarah or me know! We would love to feature your tutorial.

Abandoned

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:50:00 +0000

Today, I am musing. The theme..."Spring in Black and White." Considering what's going on in my life right now (or rather, my life as of last week), my post got a little heavy. I can assure you that I am not depressed...I definitely didn't plan to go there - it just happened. Either way, I would really love it if you "swung" by for a visit. In fact, I turned off my comments here in hopes that you'd leave me a little bloggy love there. When you're done, be sure to come back for Tutorial Tuesday - we'll be talking about high key photography.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

First and foremost, I want to thank each of you for your condolences last week. It means so much to me to know that I am part of such a loving, creative and supportive community. I also want to thank you for giving me some time away from blogging. Not that I really needed to be anywhere (since I went back to work on Tuesday), but the quiet time was really necessary.

With that said, let's get back to the hunt. If you've participated in the Scavenger Hunt in the past, I hope this week's items inspired you. If you're new to the Scavenger Hunt...WELCOME! Next week's items are sponsored by Kamana of Journaling through Photos.

The rules are simple:

Anyone can participate.
You're encouraged to take five new photos this week for the challenge. Creativity is also encouraged!
If you get stumped, you may use one photo from your archive (although I'm not too strict about it - I do my best to take fresh shots).
Link up here on Sunday (or Tuesday at the latest) - you can use the button above.
Leave comments for at least five entries around yours (we have so many new participants each week, this is the only way I know to be inclusive).
Have fun!

Without further discussion...here are my interpretations this week:

1. Yellow

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I would share the color of our nursery. I'm not sure that you can see it well in this photo, but we went with Benjamin Moore's Popcorn Kernel yellow. I actually painted the entire downstairs of my townhouse (before I got married) this color...it makes me happy. I'm hoping that over the next week or so we'll pull together the rest of the nursery. Of course, once it's done, I'll share a few photos.

2. Something that makes you smile

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Dina Lettre sent me a box of Cheryl's spring cookies out of the blue. It makes me smile that I have made so many blog friends...it makes me smile even more when we can send each other little bits of happiness.

3. Ancient or Antique

I love antique furniture. I used to regularly go with my parents to auction houses to see what might turn up. The auctioneer would say things like "oh yeah, this is nice" - dragging out the niiiiiiiiiice. It made me laugh every time. My mom would inevitably find something that she had to take home with her...in particular, this beautiful antique crib. It's about the size of a portable crib (sits low to the ground like a pack n'play) and will be perfect to keep downstairs once the baby arrives.

4. Splash

I was really hoping to capture something new for "splash," but I failed. So, I went back into my archives and found this shot taken in July 2010. A few years ago, we had something called Raleigh Downtown Live. From food to music to the arts, it was a great time. On our way out, we saw these kids having a blast rolling around in the water...in these plastic balls. I made a note to myself to find one of these when our daughter is old enough to need to be worn out.

5. In the Sun

The other day, I was hoping that the sun would come out long enough for me to run home to take my 26 week maternity portrait. While I was home, I thought I'd take advantage of the beautiful light shining down on our new blooms.

So, what were your interpretations of the items this week (if you haven't already linked up)? gBe sure to load your pictures on your blog (or your Flickr photostream) and link up at the bottom of this post. Feel free to grab a button to display on your blog along with your scavenger hunt items. The linky will be open until Tuesday night at midnight (EST). If you didn't participate this week, but want to participate next week, here are your items (these can also be found at the bottom of my blog each week), sponsored by Kamana of Journaling through Photos:

Shadow
Keys
Smile
Unedited (SOOC)
Fish

Again, thank you to Kamana for so many great scavenger hunt items. If you'd like to contribute items to the list, just send me an email with your suggestions (I can better keep track of them this way - and I appreciate all of you that have submitted lists already...my SHS file is quite happy). Each week, I will select one reader's prompt list, add those items to what is currently on tap and give the selected reader a shout out on my blog during Scavenger Hunt Sunday. Happy Shooting!

26 Week Bump Report

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Photo inspired by Kelly Cameron Photography

How far along: 26 weeks (technically, 26 weeks and 3 days today). I'm getting close to the end of my second trimester (depending on how you calculate it)...and we only have about 94 days until we meet our baby! Where has time gone?

How big is the baby: Our little girl now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches from head to heel.

Total weight gain: Since my last bump report, I've gained half a pound for a total of 12 lbs gained since the start of my pregnancy. I actually went to the doctor on Friday, April 20th and I hadn't gained any weight since my 24 week update...I attribute it to stress. I did make up for it a bit over the weekend, thanks to some good southern comfort food...but it doesn't seem to show much. For what it's worth, I feel a lot bigger than this photo seems to portray. However, one of my coworkers did comment this week that my baby "has grown so much!" I'm not completely sure, but I think she was saying that I'm getting big.

Sleep: It's getting more difficult to find a comfortable spot. At this point in my pregnancy, I'm not supposed to sleep on my back so I'm forced to sleep on my side. I normally sleep on my side, so this should not be a problem. HOWEVER, our little girl thinks it's fun to kick mommy in the side when she rolls over (although she likes kicking my left side more than my right). In addition, Kitty Paw has recently decided that I need a little extra attention and wants to sleep as close to me as possible (the other night, that meant on top of my head).

Maternity Clothes: Nothing new to report here. A lot of people who haven't seen me in a while are shocked that I'm 6 months pregnant. I guess because I'm all belly. I've been told on a few occasions that I have the cutest maternity clothes. I can't say that I spend much on them...I just don't think pregnancy is an excuse for being frumpy.

"Note-worthy" moments of the week (past two weeks):

During my doctor's appointment, they checked my hemoglobin levels. Apparently, I am not getting enough iron in my diet. Therefore, I've started taking an iron supplement...and paying even closer attention to foods that are rich in iron. I didn't bother arguing with the doctor, but I can't imagine that my nutrition in the days prior was much to brag about...eating just enough to get by and limited to mostly fast food options around the hospital. I'm sure my body was showing some wear and tear.
I also had to do my glucose test during my visit. I had a choice between orange and fruit punch. I went with fruit punch and it wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting. I assume I passed the test since I haven't heard anything.

Food cravings: Nothing specific, but my hunger is really starting to come back.

Food aversions: Nothing new.

Symptoms:

Leg cramps. I'm still getting these and attribute it to not drinking enough water. So...I'm trying to drink more water.
Circulation issues. Every so often, my hand or foot will just fall asleep. I hear it's normal, but still kinda weird.
Still hungry, still experiencing heart burn. I picked up some Zantac this week - hopefully that'll do the trick...otherwise, I'll be asking for a prescription. If the old wives' tales are true, this is one hairy baby.

Exercise: I got back to my routine on Tuesday after being out of the gym for a week. Up until this point, I've still been doing my thing on the elliptical machine. I briefly decided to move over to the treadmill and walk (at least I did on Tuesday)...much easier on my body now that our little girl has decided to work out with me. What I mean by this is that she normally falls asleep when I'm working out (something about the movement of my hips that simulates a rocking motion). Now, she likes to jump on my bladder or do a kick-boxing routine. It's awesome. On the other hand, some of my gym buddies (the ones I don't know by name...the ones that have never spoken to me before) have decided to congratulate me and comment on how cute I look. Only took 6 months to realize I wasn't eating too many donuts. Sweet!

Movement: She is moving all the time now...and it's kind of exhausting.

Gender: Girl!

What I’m looking forward to: Now that we're back to our regular schedule, it'll be nice to finish up the nursery. I'm also looking forward to our upcoming showers - we have one next weekend that should be fun. In addition, we just reserved a shelter at one of the nearby lakes for a baby party we're throwing in June for all of our local friends. I guess I should start working on those details.

What I miss: My energy. I get a little bigger every day so it's becoming more difficult to move around.

Next Appointment: May 18th for my regularly scheduled appointment and May 21st for my 3D/4D ultrasound!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (postponed until next week)

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Yesterday morning, my grandmother passed away. She was 84 years old. Several of you know that I've been by her side at the hospital since Wednesday...and I've been asking for your prayers for a couple of weeks (thank you so much for all of your prayers - I am truly blessed to have such friends). Although I will miss her so much, I know that my prayers have been answered and she has been healed. She has been a child of God for many years - so, I know that she met Jesus yesterday. Heaven must be absolutely spectacular! I also know that she must be having quite a reunion with my grandfather, her brother, and all those who have passed before her.

Photograph by Lynette Mittendorf Photography

Anyways, I apologize for being so absent the past few days...although I know you understand. It has been an incredibly emotional few days. As I write this message, I am not exactly sure when her funeral will take place (I imagine it'll be Monday), but I do know that I am speaking at her funeral...so I will be praying for the right words to say. If you wouldn't mind praying for me as well, I would really appreciate it.

Since I have clearly not had a chance to do much shooting this week, I have not prepared my own Scavenger Hunt collection. However, I am going to go ahead and open the link. It will stay open through Tuesday, May 1 - and, I will post my own photos next Sunday. For those of you that follow along with Tutorial Tuesday, I won't have a tutorial this week either (it's my week). Thank you for your understanding, your prayers, your love and your friendship. It means the world to me and I really am thankful to be a part of such a community.

Tutorial Tuesday: Low Key Photography

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Tutorial Tuesday! Sarah of Naptime Momtog and I will be bringing you a new challenge every week, to stretch your shooting and editing skills. This week, Sarah is sharing a tutorial on how to do Low Key Photography.

In traditional photography there are three types of lighting used: key light, fill light and back lighting for even illumination. Low-key lighting requires only one, key light. Be sure to click over to Sarah's blog (click HERE) to see a pull back of her set up as well as read some tips on setting up your own low key photographs.

As for me, I'll be honest...I rarely attempt low key photography. I think it intimidates me. That, and I usually only have myself to work with...so I'm a bit limited with regard to willing photography subjects (at least until our little girl arrives and she doesn't have a choice). However, I have had some success with low key self-portraits. Here's a few of my favorites:

ISO 250, f/1.8,1/20 sec.

In this particular shot, I used the light from my computer screen to illuminate my face. I also processed this photo in black and white, but thought I might show what it looks like in color. Click HERE to see the black and white image.

ISO 2500, f/4.5, 1/30 sec.

In this particular shot, I was going for more of a character portrait...the character being a girl who felt isolated. In order to achieve the look, I needed to shoot in mostly darkness...of course, I also needed a hint of light to illuminate my body. I think I used what I call a "funeral parlor" lamp (the ones where the light shoots upwards instead of downward) tilted towards me. This created an interesting shadow that I think really plays into the mood of the image. From there, I processed the photo in black and white and applied texture. But enough about me, it's your turn to show us a little low key photography.

Ready to join in the fun? Here's how to do it:

1. Read through today's tutorial on Sarah's blog.

2. Choose your favorite shot (or more!) to share with us.

3. Don't forget to grab the button for your post!

4. Link up between now and next Monday.

PS: If you have any photography or editing suggestions, please don't hesitate to let Sarah or me know! We would love to feature your tutorial.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Sisk) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

This has been a good week - quiet, but good. If you saw one of my tweets earlier this week, you saw that my husband painted the nursery. I think I'll take a photo of the color for one of next week's prompts since the nursery is popcorn kernel yellow. Now, we just need to move a few things around and get our bedding in - so excited! In other news, my grandma is back in the hospital...but we feel really good about where she is and the care she is receiving. Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Now, let's get back to the hunt. If you've participated in the Scavenger Hunt in the past, I hope this week's items inspired you. If you're new to the Scavenger Hunt...WELCOME! Next week's items are sponsored by Sacha at Sacha's Saucy Snippets.

The rules are simple:

Anyone can participate.
You're encouraged to take five new photos this week for the challenge. Creativity is also encouraged!
If you get stumped, you may use one photo from your archive (although I'm not too strict about it - I do my best to take fresh shots).
Link up here on Sunday (or Tuesday at the latest) - you can use the button above.
Leave comments for at least five entries around yours (we have so many new participants each week, this is the only way I know to be inclusive).
Have fun!

Without further discussion...here are my interpretations this week:

1. Simple

I'm not sure if this photo is simple, but I didn't put too much thought into taking this shot of Kitty Paw. I was in the process of putting away some things in the nursery when I noticed Kitty Paw enjoying the sunlight in our guest room. She looked like she wanted her picture taken.

2. Grain

I took this photo back in January during our trip to Duke Chapel. I had my ISO at 4000, so it obviously created a lot of grain. I've learned that in some cases, you have to embrace the grain.

3. Transportation

Technically, this form of transportation is not going to get any of us very far...I mean, it's a hot wheel, but I think it makes for a pretty good photo.

4. Stitch

I was looking for an obvious stitch around the house when I noticed the pattern in our antique crib mattress that we have downstairs (it'll be used as a napping spot while I'm downstairs during the day once the baby arrives). It's not a true stitch, but it looks cool.

5. Bubble(s)

I'm saving one of my bubble photo ideas for later in my pregnancy, so I had to try something different for this prompt. I started with bubbles from my husband's glass of Sun Drop - but my focus was off. So, I went for a container of clear marbles that looks like bubbles. I think it makes for a really interesting photo.

So, what were your interpretations of the items this week? I can't wait to check them out. Be sure to load your pictures on your blog (or your Flickr photostream) and link up at the bottom of this post. Feel free to grab a button to display on your blog along with your scavenger hunt items. The linky will be open until Tuesday night at midnight (EST). If you didn't participate this week, but want to participate next week, here are your items (these can also be found at the bottom of my blog each week), sponsored by Sacha at Sacha's Saucy Snippets:

Yellow
Something that makes or made you smile
Ancient or Antique
Splash
In the Sun

Again, thank you to Sacha for so many great scavenger hunt items. If you'd like to contribute items to the list, just send me an email with your suggestions (I can better keep track of them this way - and I appreciate all of you that have submitted lists already...my SHS file is quite happy). Each week, I will select one reader's prompt list, add those items to what is currently on tap and give the selected reader a shout out on my blog during Scavenger Hunt Sunday. Happy Shooting!