You've Come A Long Way, Baby

Caleb has learned a couple of tricks in the past week or so:

New Beginnings-Again

Well, it is that time of year again, the time when everyone promises that this is going to be the year that they (fill in the blank). I'm no different than everyone else. Each year I say, this year I'm going to be in the best shape since high school. I always start off full force and then inevitably it gets too cold, kids sick or I get pregnant-LOL.

This year, though, I actually started my "new beginning" in December that way I couldn't say that it was a new year resolution and, therefore, I will feel none of the guilt if I can't make it to the gym on such and such day. I have to say that this ridiculous psychology has actually been working! Since joining the gym in December, I have either gone to or exercised at home at least 4 days a week.

One of the things that has helped me is a "fitness" pole. Yes, it looks an awful lot like a "stripper" pole but since I'm not a stripper, I choose to call it a "fitness" pole. For as long as I can remember, I have always thought it looked like fun to be able to do all of those twirls, spins and turns but, of course, I certainly wasn't going to become a stripper just to be able to do it. Well, lo and behold, one night I'm watching some infomercial and this thing called Flirty Girl Fitness comes on and it is a whole workout program that actually uses a "fitness" pole. After that, I could not stop talking about how the people kept saying what a great workout it was and how much fun it looked. So, for Christmas Scott finally gave in and bought it for me.

Let me tell you that it is one of the hardest workouts that I have ever done. Because you are using your own body weight, you really get a burn in all of the exercises. It comes with 6 videos, dancing instructions, etc. Of course, now that it is installed all I hear from Scott is that he thinks that I should do a dance for him--Ha! I told him that is definitely not going to happen, at least not until I have the body those girls have and I don't look like a new giraffe learning to walk while trying to mimic the moves. I should record myself one day trying to do one of the dances becaues I'm sure it would be great comic relief.

So, if any of you happen to pop over to my house and see my bedroom don't start thinking all dirty and think that there are some "wild times" going on in there, it's just me trying to get in shape!! LOL

(First fireman's twirl--I was sore for 2 days after doing this a few times-LOL)

Pics With My New Camera

Getting What You've Always Wanted

Ever since I can remember I have loved pictures. When I was in elementary school I used to take a camera to school and take snapshots just on ordinary days. I have hundreds of pictures from my school days, church camp, goofing off in the backyard, family functions--basically, a chronicle of my life.

This passion increased exponentially when I had Kanin, GracieAnn and Caleb. I want to chronicle every second of their lives. It's as if I feel like if I capture this moment then that little piece of them will be here forever, even when they aren't. Since meeting Scott I have gone through 3 different cameras. All of them have been the point and shoot kind but good cameras, nonetheless. I have been able to take some pictures in black and white, pose the kids and do some light editing but it still hasn't satisfied my desire to take better pictures of them.

If you come to my house you will see almost exclusively pictures of my familiy on the wall that I have paid several thousand dollars. Engagement pictures of Scott and me, pictures of us when I was pregnant with Gracie. Newborn pictures of Gracie and Caleb and some really great pictures of Kanin when he was about 3 years old. While these pictures are all wonderful, my problem is that I truly think that if I had the right camera and knowledge I could have done it myself.

Scott has heard my argument over and over for a "good" or "real" camera for the past 2-3 years and this year he finally broke down and bought me a camera for Christmas. There was a lot of research and debate in buying this camera but I finally decided on a Nikon D5000, against 19 comments from Facebook friends--LOL

So, "What's the problem?", you ask. Now that I've gotten what I've always wanted, it is a little intimidating. I try to read up on photography or the camera every single day but I know that I will never truly get the results that I want until I take some type of class. The camera, itself, is compliated enough without adding in all of the jargon about aperture, shutter speed, ISO, lighting, bouncing, etc., etc. I have to admit that it is a little overwhelming.

I know it is kind of silly to go back through your life and play the "I wish I would have done . . ." game but I honestly do wish that I would have realized that photography could actually be a career all of those years ago. I know that I would have taken a different direction in college. But, then again, I probably would never have gone into the Army and would not have Kanin (or probably Gracie or Caleb) so I'm glad I did the things I did back then.

So, now here I sit, playing with this fantastic camera and, hopefully, one day I will understand how to use it well enough to take great pictures of my kids. LOL I'm going to start, though, with a camera specific class offered at Creve Couer camera (where I bought it). After that, who knows? I'm hoping to be able to take some other classes, too. I'll keep you posted.

2009 Year in Pictures

My sister did A Year in Pics and I thought it was super cute!

JANUARY

The new year brought our beautiful great niece,

Kenzie Michelle McCabe. What a great way to

start 2009!

Can you believe that it was nice enough for the

kids to play hockey outside?

FEBRUARY

We had a Super Bowl/Paul Home from Iraq party.

Paul got to meet his niece, Kenzie, for the first time.

Kanin and Gaga surprised me with

a birthday cake they made that said

"I Love You This World".

We were able to spend the day at the zoo in February.

My love and I took a trip to Las Vegas in February.

Can you see the belly bump? Here we are in front of

Bellagio.

MARCH

We had some really great weather in March.

The weather was so nice that we were able to

take some pics.

APRIL

Kanin started Learn to Play hockey in April.

Kanin's first Learn to Play hockey session.

Easter 2009

GracieAnn, Kenzie and Kanin

GracieAnn, Ben, Aidan, Kanin and Alison

MAY

Doug and Susie came in from Chicago for Kenzie's

Baptism. Here they are with Pastor Hoehner at

Chapel of the Cross-St. Peters.

JUNE

We went out to the Reggae Festival in New Town.


Aidan came over and the kids played outside.

JULY

After 22 hours of labor, Caleb Scott James Westerhold

finally made his appearance on July 3, 2009, at 5:12pm.

We had quite a scare with Caleb. He was in the

Special Care Unit for 4 days because of his breathing

and lack of eating. He had an IV in his head and heart

and breathing monitors. Thank God, he came home and

was perfect.


Because of the addition of Baby Caleb, GracieAnn's

2nd birthday party was a day late. Gaga made this Mickey

Mouse cake for her.

Our baby doll turned 2 on July 1, 2009.

Scott and I went to the All-Star Game in July.

Caleb went to his first Cardinals game at

3 weeks old.

AUGUST


Alison Paige turned 10 in August. We had
her birthday party at Great Skate.


Kanin met his teacher, Ms. Byrnes, at

Meet the Teacher night at Progress South.


My baby started kindergarten this year.

We went to Six Flags for the first time

summer.

SEPTEMBER

We had Ben's 2nd birthday party out at Grandma

and Grandpa's house.

Sherri's 50th birthday party in Springfield, IL.

We were so excited to share in this event and to

finally get to see Still Kickin'!

Gracie had her first big girl haircut at the

Hairy Elephant.

OCTOBER

Caleb's Baptism at Chapel of the Cross-St. Peters

Halloween 2009

NOVEMBER

Kanin turned 6 and wanted a cherry pie.

DECEMBER


Caleb, Alison, Aidan, GracieAnn and Caleb at

Mama and Papa's.

The Westerhold's at Deb and Dave's.

New Year's Eve 2009 at our house.