Tidbits.

- My photography business has been fairly busy lately, mostly networking and hanging out with other local photographers, combined with a few 2nd shooting gigs.  Someone asked me the other day what it felt like to be a 2nd shooter, and while I admit it was a little humbling at first, I actually really enjoy it.  I love not having so much pressure on my shoulders to think of all the posing, and the fact that I hand over my raw images and don't have to edit them is the cherry on top.  I actually hope to continue to 2nd shoot as much as possible... it's great experience, great exposure, and a lot of fun.

- I'm absolutely in love with the fall weather we've had recently... 64 degrees and cloudy today and I feel giddy like a school girl.  I love this season.

- This past week I lost another 1.5 pounds, making my total loss 24.2 pounds.  I was shopping on Saturday, looking for a dress for Sunday, and came across a cute lacey number that I thought would work well with leggings (that I'm required to wear when I'm on stage).  I loved the dress on the rack and actually thought about just walking out with it, knowing it would fit and that I would 'probably' love it, but decided I better just try it on.  I grabbed a Large, which is my normal dress size, and when I tried it on... it just looked super funky.  Didn't do a thing for my body, so naturally I was disappointed.  As I was taking it off, I realized how loose it was and told myself to not even bother with a Medium, thinking it wouldn't fit.  I changed my mind and gave it the medium a shot, and it fit like a glove.  Insert happy dance here....

Ignore the scowl look on my face.  :)
Also, I wore it with a cardigan.  Another requirement for being on stage (no sleeveless).

- Recently, my inlaws gifted us with some old furniture of theirs, so we finally have couches to sit on in the basement.  Our layout is so different down there that I wasn't sure how it would work, but after a few hours of rearranging I am really happy with it, and amazed how much more time we spend down there as a family.  Pictures to come, after my alphabet wall finds a new home.

- Jaxon's sleep schedule is still all over the place and it's been pretty stressful trying to get him figured out.  The easiest answer is to take away his naps, but even on the no-nap days we struggle getting him asleep before 10pm.  And then he's up at 6am.  And then he wants an afternoon nap.  And then he won't fall asleep till midnight.  I really miss our quiet evenings together, just Tyler and I, while we knew the boys were happy in la-la land.  Now every night is a battle, and it has become so frustrating for us both.

- Our worship Pastor and his wife (who are great friends of ours) were gone this past week on vacation, so I lead worship on Sunday, and practice the Wednesday before.  I am fairly comfortable doing this, but usually with a piano in front of me as my security blanket.  This time, I pushed myself to lead without the piano, standing with the worship team. The best part about it was on Sunday morning I didn't even feel nervous.  Anytime those fears hit my mind, I reminded myself it had NOTHING to do with me, and that eased every nerve I had.

- I can't believe my sweet baby (who obviously isn't a baby anymore) will be 2 next month.  I have really been making a conscious effort lately to soak him up, and have realized how big he has become, right before my eyes.

- As much as I can recognize that the house we're living in is definitely not a "forever home", I have felt so content living here recently and I'm grateful for those feelings.  It's not a big house, it's not great for entertaining (which is probably my biggest complaint), it's not "nice", and a lot of times I wish that we could change things about it, but in this present season we can't.  And for now, I feel ok with that.

- The 5k I'm running with my Dad and Sister is coming up in less than a month, and I feel ready for it.  We're doing the Color Run in Des Moines, and I can't wait!

- I really really really want to jump on the colored jeans trend, but just feel like they do nothing for my body, which is so unfortunate because they are stinkin' cute!

Time to brew another cup of coffee, grab my favorite blanket, and catch up on some Army Wives.  My newest nap-time addiction.  :)