MCP Photo A Day Challenge - August 2014

I was 33 (almost 34 weeks pregnant) and thinking I may have time for a photo challenge before the baby arrives (EDD 9/16). Let's see how it goes... 

This challenge comes from MCP Actions. You can follow her on Instagram and participate each month. There is a theme she posts each month for the challenge. 

During my ClickADay challenge, I used my iPhone. This time, I'll be using my Nikon D7100. 

UPDATE: I unexpectedly gave birth on 8/5 & my older son was admitted to the hospital for fevers of unknown origin. So.. I wasn't as focused on this project. I stopped after the 4th. But then I decided to try and finish it after the month was over... so i'm looking for photos I took on the corresponding dates since I had my camera with me.... This will be interesting!

Day 1 - Something that Grows: You guessed it! A pregnant belly! :)

Day 2 - Something that Shrinks: My savings account. This is a piggy bank my hubby made as a child.

Day 3 - Something that Jumps: I took a chance and used a "Jumper Cable" held by my son

Day 4 - Something that Flies: A Nerf Dart. It took me several times to catch this shot. Those things shoot out fast!

Day 5 - Something Huge: I had to have an emergency C-Section @ 34 weeks. So that was something "Huge" & unexpected!

Day 6 - Something Small: My husband holding our little (small) 5 lb baby.

Day 7 - Something Quiet: The hallway in the hospital at night. I spent a lot of my time walking (or wheeled) through these hospital halls from the recovery room to see my baby in the NICU & my 4 year old in Pediatrics (yes, my other baby was in the hospital too) :(

Day 8 - Something Loud: This machine beeped really loudly if the wires get disconnect from the baby in the NICU. It was annoyingly loud.

Day 9 - Something Far Away: My kids (all 3 of them) seemed so far away from me :( My oldest & youngest was in the hospital with me but we were all on different floors. My middle son was with my in laws. I don't know if this counts since I handed the camera to my hubby. We were strolling around the pediatrics floor while with my oldest and 2nd who came to visit with my in laws.

Day 10 - Something Closeup:  Little brother visited and wanted to hug big brother. I guess they always got a "closeup" view of each other. I was very limited this month with photos. :P

Day 11 -  Colorful: The swaddle blankets in the hospital has colorful edges. I actually like the blue and red or ?pink? combo :) it was super faded.

Day 12 - Playful:  Playful baby talk with his baby (daddy barely got to see him because he spent all his time with big brother in Pediatrics).

Day 13 - Artistic: Okay - this one is tough. Let's just say playing with props is artistic lol. Give me a break!

Day 14 - Lively: Well, this composite makes it look like he's holding himself up. Does that count as lively? haha maybe not but it was the only photo I took this day. I know... I'm not following the theme anymore...

Day 15 - Simple: Crocheting this preemie hat. None of the ones I made fit him since he was early. This was so simple, I finished it while I nursed him.

Day 16 - Sticky: Dry newborn lips. They stuck together between feedings.

Day 17 - Sweet & Salty: I really have nothing this day :(

Day 18 - Fuzzy: Seeing all the love with my boys make me warm and fuzzy.

Day 19 - Fluffy: My new comforter is soft & fluffy :) Being silly with our son who is still ill :(

Day 20 - Silky: My hair looks so silky. HAHA Okay, now I'm just making stuff up. Why not? 

Day 21 - This Makes Me Happy:  I can't believe I didn't take any photos with my Nikon this day :(

Day 22 - Can't Live Without: My baby (I completely forgot about these monthly stickers!). I don't have one of all my babies... but I can't live without my boys (including hubby).

Day 23 - My Hobby is... : Obviously it's photography. But I also love to crochet, scrapbook, sew, DIY projects... too many!

Day 24 - A Place I Love: Home. It's where memories are made such as the first bath for my newborn. The whole family was there (even though they are not in the photo). Big brothers were gathered around watching :)

Day 25 - A View I Cherish: No photos this day either :(

Day 26 - A Taste I Like: I LOVE my husband's burgers! I had to dig into my iPhone Photos for this one which I wasn't supposed to do...

Day 27 - A Favorite Object: I have nothing :( But I will complete this!

Day 28 - This Makes Me Smile...: He's looking straight at me so alert...

Day 29 - This Makes Me Laugh..: I really did laugh out loud.. each time I stroked his cheeks, he smiled.

Day 30 - This Makes Me Sad...: ... and happy too. Babies grow up so fast. His little feet won't stay little for long :(

Day 31 - This Motivates Me...: This kid motivates me. He is always so determined. He can't reach the pedals & can barely reach the floor but he's always so determined.. he can get around by pushing & "walking" on his tippy toes. You should see him get into his own high chair lol

Whew! It's not how I wanted to finish this month's challenge but I really didn't want to abandon it... so what if I didn't have a photo for every day but that's okay with me. I may not have done the challenge everyday but I didn't give up taking photos. 

ClickADay Photography Challenge

I wanted to dedicate some time for short photography challenges. I almost did the 365 but life is crazy right now and I just can't commit to 365 days even though it seems like I take photos everyday!

I follow the Click it up a notch blog and thought I'd give the Clickaday Photography Challenge a chance.

For this first photography challenge, I will stick with my iPhone as my camera.

Let's get started!

Day 1: Logan smashing Ritz Crackers for my broccoli casserole. 
What a great little helper!

Day 2: Connor was crying as soon as I got home from work. He's looking up at me with sad, teary eyes wanting me to pick him up. Baby brother "bump" is in his way. If only he knew how much baby brother will be "in the way" :(

Day 3: Logan just sitting around after work telling me about his day.

Day 4: Picking up my boys. I miss them so much and it's always smiles and open arms for mommy when I get there. ♥

Day 5: I gave Connor a snack and Logan wanted to sit next to his brother for a snack too. He doesn't need the booster but he's been wanting to do everything his little brother does.

Day 6: Both my boys had a baby well visit. Logan turned 4 (May 12th) and Connor turned 15 months (April 30th). They both got 3 shots each. Logan got it in his arms and Connor in his thighs. Sad to see but it went better than I expected!

Day 7: We went to a birthday pool party. It was Connor's first time in the pool! He enjoyed the kiddy pool more than the big one where he just hung on to me nervously.

Day 8: I was cleaning my loft (where my home studio is) and Connor was so busy, everything was being thrown down the foyer! Decided to sit him down for a quick snap! And yes, I took that paper clip from him! haha

Day 9: I was taking annual photos of Logan in his daddy's T-Shirt. He turned 4 last month but we've been camping almost every weekend so I'm a little behind!

Day 10: The kids were playing with those sticky men that starts to tumble down on glass surfaces... well this one got stuck! haha Logan tried to climb on the windowsill to get it.

Day 11: I finally cleaned up Logan's old truck (from his 1st birthday) for Connor since Connor actually loves cars and trucks. Of course, Logan wants to play with everything his brother plays with. 

Day 12: I really wanted chocolate so I bought a giant bag of minis from Costco. I felt sick after eating too much of it! I have no self control!

Day 13: Camping at Wright's Beach for Father's Day weekend. I forgot to take photos! So this will do. Connor lining up his cars and trucks.

Day 14: Logan sitting in the sand at Doran Beach in Bodega Bay. He loves this beach & calls it the "little beach" since camping near the ocean, there are huge waves (aka "Big Beach"). It seemed so perfect to sit there... relaxed. Happy. Carefree.

Day 15: Father's Day 2014. Hanging out under the trees away from the breeze at Wright's Beach.

Day 16: We are at the dump site waiting for daddy. Sad to be going home.

Day 17: My poor baby who is usually such a happy baby is sick and grumpy.

Day 18: Had my glucose tolerance test today and wanted to take a listen to my baby's heart when I got home. I purchased this heart monitor with my first pregnancy.

Day 19: Logan is obsessed with sprinklers. I saw him peeking through the fence from the kitchen and snuck out to snap a photo. At first I was wondering what he was doing...then I realized that the neighbors probably had the sprinklers on.

Day 20: Silly boy put shorts on as a shirt and underwear on his head and says "Mom, I think you should take a picture of this, it's so funny" and starts laughing!

Day 21: We were at Target and alone in the freezer isle. I couldn't resist. My poor baby was so tired, I picked him up after this photo and he knocked out in my arms.

Day 22: Logan found all the balls he could and stacked it on top of his auntie. Silly boy!

Day 23: Hmm.. losing sight of my feet @ 28 weeks pregnant (and very uncomfortable).

Day 24: Potty training my baby. So far he's peeing every morning in his potty. This may have to wait or be delayed because it's so hard to get on the floor with him nowadays. 

Day 25: I didn't get a chance to take a photo this day and snapped one of Logan as we went to the storage facility to clean the fifth wheel.. yes camping again soon!

Day 26: DIY Play dough!

Day 27: Logan came running from his room this morning and was so excited to see the sprinklers, he asked to go outside still in his underwear! haha. Unfortunately due to the drought in CA, sprinklers don't come on often.

Day 28: Camping at Calaveras Big Trees.

Day 29: Bird watching.

Day 30: On our way home from the camp trip and seeing lots of flags for this July 4th. Snapped this baby at 50 mph! ha! (I was not driving)

Whew! That was harder than I thought! Why? Even though I used my iPhone which I always have with me. I have to constantly think about having a photo for each day. Some days I end up with more than I can choose from and it's really hard to choose just one. Other days, I have nothing and am forced to come up with something late at night. Maybe I will revisit this when i'm not so pregnant! lol

Overall it was fun. I would like to try another project soon and maybe stick with my Nikon.