Discovering Blogging on Windows Live Writer

Recently, at the suggestion of a friend, I discovered Windows live, and more specifically, Windows Live Writer.

For me, it’s a trip. I was getting pretty bored with blogger. I was getting pretty frustrated with the impossibly slow photo download, with the fact that they removed the video feed, and with the meager font choices. The perfectionist in me was really paranoid that they had removed their spell checker, and I was just down right unsatisfied with the whole experience.

Enter in Windows Live Writer. I am varying my font choice, not only to be annoying, but to prove a point. I am fickle, because I can be. So there! I love variety, and I love to be able to change my font choice. Enter in again, Windows live writer.

You can even watermark your photos so that the internet loons cannot steal your photos. Because, you know, my baby is pretty darn spectacular, if you ask me. Any internet baby photo stealer would love to claim him as their own. it is pretty groovy.

My love with Windows Live Writer knows no bounds. It is shameless and should probably invest it it’s own room. But alas, Windows Live Writer and I are shameless and are all about the PDA.

This might be just the kick that I need to make blogging more interesting to me, and thus allow me the creative outlet I need to be a better blogger. We shall see!

Finger Foods Galore

Finger foods have opened up a new world for Maxwellington. He is now able to feed himself, and to date, has tried a myriad of different culinary delights.

1. Cheese
2. Beans
3. Diced Carrots
4. Pears
5. Bananas
6. Potato
7. Green Beans
8. Cheerios
9. Yogurt Melts
10. Sweet Potato
11. Apple
12. Peaches
13. Fruit Cocktail
14. Earth's Best Organic Smiley Crackers

Since his introduction to the finer foods in life, he has since found the fruit and veggie basket. He can be seen, saddling up to the fruit, and sucking on the banana peels. He knows what he likes!!

The Baby is Well...

Maxwell is doing really well, that according to our pediatrician during our Well Baby visit today. He can do all of the following:

• Work to get toys that are out of reach
• Look for dropped objects (he loves to drop them and then try to find them)
• Pull up to standing position from sitting
• Crawl
• Get into sitting position from stomach
• Get onto stomach from sitting position
• Stand holding onto someone or something
• Pick up small objects between his pointer finger and thumb (pincher grasp)
• Say "mama" and "dada"
• Cruise
• Understands "no," but does it anyways ;)
• Wave
• Clap
• Put objects into a box, and take them out
• Feed himself

At his visit, he was weighed and measured. He weighs 22 lbs, 14 oz (90th percentile) and is 29 inches long (75th percentile). His growth seems to be slowing down, but we know a huge growth spurt is on the horizon. (The boy has been eating and eating lately). He got one shot, the H1N1 booster. He is officially done with all infant shots and will be moving onto toddler shots at his next visit (when he officially turns into a toddler). I am so glad that my boy is so healthy and is thriving. I am a proud mama!!

My Mansy Has Been an Outside Baby...

My boy has been in the world for as long as he was in utero. Hence, my little Mansy has been an outside baby for as long as he was an inside baby. He's 9 months old today, and he's one of my life's greatest achievements at such a young age. He is sweet, happy, giggly, grumpy, talkative, dexterous, boisterous, loveable, snuggly, quick, mobile, and all around the most perfect human being. He can crawl, pick himself up to stand, cruise around his crib, wave, clap his hands, say mama and dada (but to no one in particular), feed himself, put things into a box, and of course take them out of the box (mostly by dumpage). He is great fun, and we love him so much. I hope the next one is just like him, but a better sleeper ;).

Times They are a Changing...

Disclaimer: It is too hard and too time consuming to find a song for every entry. In fact, I think that is why I have been neglecting my blog. As part of my New Year's Resolution, I am trying to get organized, be more productive, and make life easier on myself. So, there will not be a song lyric, stanza, or pretty sonnet to start out each entry. I will still quote songs and poetry, when the mood strikes, but I am not longer going to be a slave to alllyrics.com, or whatever site I happened across. From now on, it's just me, saying what I need to say, no fancy intros, no frills, no chills, just Katie 2010 Raw. Happy New Year!!

I Got a New Toy...

It's really for business, but I am learning by playing. So here is what I have been doing with my new Adobe Creative Suite 4 software (on Photoshop):

The first shot I played around with a couple of different ways.

Maxwell, playing under the table. The camera was set on auto because I haven't learned all my settings yet. I am mostly shooting in auto, and auto flash off.

 Unedited photo.

 Photo edited in Photoshop CS4, brightened, adjusted saturation/contrast, and color.

This photo was the edited the same as the photo above, but I also adjusted the vibrance and saturation. I like how just the tip of his nose, his shirt, and the floor are in color.

This is the raw photo. I love this picture, it is one of my recent favorites. It didn't need much work.

But I decided to play anyway. In this photo, I adjusted the brightness, hue, contrast, saturation, color, vibrance, and sharpness. I love the way it turned out.

And this is my most favorite photo. In this picture, I adjusted NOTHING. It is this good all on its own. ;)

Christmas Times Two.

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas~

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas,

Only a hippopotamus will do.

Not crocodiles, or rhinosauruses

I only like hippopotamuses.

And hippopotamuses like me too...

~Gayla Peevy

No I did not neglect my Christmas entry, I just needed to wait for Christmas to be over. You see, in our family, Christmas is a week long celebration. Okay, not really, but we do celebrate Christmas on its calendared day, as well as on New Year's Day. This tradition came about last year. 2008 was the year of adverse weather and new family obligations. It was the year that one grandchild was born, and the other was on its way. It was the year that we realized that the celebration of Christmas could very well end in disaster and loathing, if something drastic did not happen. And so, as fate would have it, our Christmas celebration would change forever. It would change for the better.

You see, last Christmas (2008), the Pacific Northwest Region of the United States experienced an extreme cold front. That extreme cold front lead to some even more extreme snow, snow that the city of Seattle (and all surrounding suburbs) was not prepared for. The inclement weather all but completely ruined Christmas.  People were snowed in and loved ones could not get from their homes to the homes where the merrymaking was taking place. This lead to a reevaluation, if you will, of current Christmas celebrating practices. It was the year that Opa Rio and Grandma Sharon came up with their genius idea to celebrate the Christmas on New Year's Day. Brilliant. Thus, extending the gift giving and merriment for seven whole days.

I love it. It is so fantastic. And, in due time the boys (Sterwell and Maxling) and all children to follow, will realize that they are the luckiest kids in the world. To them, Santa will come not once, not twice, but three times. It was way too much fun. Oh, and Max learned to crawl (more on that later). Onto the photos:

First Christmas, with the Nemo side of the family: Nemo Christmas is always super fun. We go to Nate's mom and dad's house first. There, presents, stockings, and cinnamon rolls await us. Breakfast is always delicious, and the company isn't too shabby either. After we open gifts and eat, we head over to the big family function. It is usually held at Nate's uncle's house. It always consists of more gift giving and shoving copious amounts of food into one's face. It is one of the highlights of my year. This year was especially fun because we had added one new member to the Nemo family. Everyone always goes nuts over Max. And who can blame them, really. He is pretty adorable.

The tree at the In-laws was pretty jam packed. Guess we were good this year, or Santa is a sucker for a baby!

Papa and his boy.

Max's first present was this big white teddy bear.

Next, he tried his hand at unwrapping (he didn't quite get it this year).

But the bows, now those were delicious.

Wearing daddy's mohawk hat, that auntie made for daddy.

Playing with his stocking stuffers.

Sitting on Auntie's lap, wearing his Christmas Sweater.

Playing on the floor, with mommy and Grandma.

Sitting on Grandma's lap.

Sitting with his 2nd cousin, Mckenna.

The best gift of 2009.

Second Christmas with Mommy's family: Like I said earlier, this Christmas was celebrated on New Year's day, and I love this tradition. It makes the holiday feel calmer, not so rushed. There isn't that big Christmas "let down" after all is said and done. It is just wonderful.

The Christmas tree at Grandma and Opa's house.

Baby Sterwell, opening his gifts.

Max in his new bib.

Max's favorite stocking stuffer, spoons. Eating utensils are his favorite thing.

Max and Sterling check out Sterling's new Elmo airplane. It's wicked cool!

Sterling replaces Max's Christmas bow, so sweet.

Max plays with his new big toy. This one is mommy's favorite. It is so fun.

Look at that super cool activity cube. I can't wait to play with all of Max's new toys!