1...2...3

Let's just jump right into it.  I have three separate things to blog about.

1.  Photography Class

I am currently taking a fundamentals of photography class through Indy Photo Coach and I LOOOOOVE IT!  During our last class, we talked about shutter speed and learned how to create images based on changing said shutter speed.  Without getting into technical jargon, let me just say that I was on a complete high after this class.  Learning to do cool things with your camera is AWESOME.  I am so so so glad I decided to put my two year plan into motion and take a class.  (And of course now I'm itching to take MORE classes!)

Slow shutter speed = soft looking water.  I tried to do this in July after reading the manual for my camera and it did.not.work.  I just didn't know what I was doing.  Now...I do!

A slow shutter speed means you can also blur motion.  Fast cars...BLURRED! 

Balloons blowing in the breeze?  BLURRED!

And if you raise your shutter speed, you can freeze motion. 

But the coolest two things I learned how to do are these...

Zoom blur...welcome to the vortex.  And say hello to my new camera bag too.  Helloooo Crumpler!

Panning...another way to freeze motion, but this time you blur the background.  Pretty cool!

2. Girls' Weekend

Last year Kelli, Barb and I started a new tradition - a girls' weekend, where we pick out a hotel that has a spa, a steakhouse, and entertainment.  This year for sure topped last year's get-away.  We stayed at the Blue Chip Casino & Hotel in Michigan City, IN.  The town is small and you'd never expect this resort-type place to be there, but once inside, you're transported into another world.  There were several places to eat, including the steakhouse where we had dinner Saturday night.  The entertainment for the weekend was not only watching all of the people come in to gamble, but also the "It's Vegas Baby" club.

There were DJ's, an awesome band called Phreak Show (who are also known as PS Dump Your Boyfriend), and a bartender who handed us drinks over the lines of people at the bar so we never had to wait for our beers.  We made friends with the DJ's, ran into some of Kelli's old high school friends, and danced the night away until 3am came and they shut the place down.

But these weekends are more than just steak dinners, shopping, spa treatments, and having a night out.  It's time to bond with your best friends...to have conversations you normally wouldn't have...to share our thoughts and feelings with one another...a chance to become just a little bit closer.  I'm so glad we started this tradition and hope we can continue it as long as possible!

3. My Growing Girl

Ava has blossomed so much lately.  She is starting to say more and more words and even put little sentences together.  It's amazing and I want to freeze time for just a little while, to capture this stage in her life.  Each month passes by so quickly and I just know that sooner than I'm ready for, she's going to be a little girl.  But for now, I cherish every toddler moment.  Every word, every laugh, and even every tantrum...because sometimes a big drama scene over the littlest thing is quite funny.

She loves her shoes and often asks us to put them on her.  But sometimes, she likes to try putting them on herself.

This toddler stuff can be so challenging and draining, so I have to remind myself of the bright side: she makes me laugh with her silly faces and contagious giggle; her voice sounds unbelievably cute when she says things like, "Ba-ba" for bath or "My baby" when she wants her stuffed dolly; she loves to be outside playing and often will run to the door and say, "I anna go ou-ide."  I wonder how her personality now will translate into a little girl's and then a teenager.  I wonder if she will become easily frustrated when she can't do something like she does now...I wonder if she'll be into sports or dancing or both...I wonder what kind of friend she will be.   I hope she continues to love reading, being outside and hugs.  I hope she knows that we will help her when she needs it and will let her gain her independence as well.

For now, I will continue to take plenty of pictures so that even if I can't physically freeze time, I can capture each moment of her toddler years!

*Excuse the watermarks on the photos...I haven't created a good one yet, and the pictures were uploaded at different times, hence the different watermarks.