26 Apr
Lately
I’m really not that great at writing posts about day-to-day life. I admire those who do, and I want to be like them, but it doesn’t seem to work that way for me. Here are a few updates on our life.
I went out and took two year pictures of T1 last week. The light was great right up until we got outside and started shooting (of course) so I think I’m going to give it another try, in the same spot where we did the first portion of our family pictures. Wrangling a two year old all by yourself can be tough, but I like that doing it solo means the majority of pictures are more photo-journalistic than they might be otherwise. He is free to run and dig and play and I scurry all over the place trying to catch him in action. I want the pictures to reflect what he is really like at this age (busy, happy, independent).
On Saturday I photographed a wedding, my second and sadly last one this year. Photography businesses are built on referrals, and it’s hard to grow and build a client base when you are moving as often we have. Not to mention a summer schedule like mine, where in a 14 week period I will go from Chicago to Washington to Provo to San Francisco to Poland to San Francisco to Thailand and back to San Francisco again. Of course I want all of these things to happen, but I like weddings and I like photography and I would love to be doing more of it. I’m working hard to accept that I can only do so much at one time. Know anyone getting married in July in Utah that needs a wedding photographer? I’m game.
This school quarter has been the toughest one yet for us. TH is gone for long hours (he works really hard and I love him for that) and it’s just not possible to do all I have on my plate caring exclusively for a toddler while remaining sane and a nice person to be around. We had a babysitter while I was finishing my stats class, but she isn’t available anymore. One of my friends in the building had a sister move in for the next 6 weeks (exactly the amount of time I need help for) and we worked a schedule for her to watch T1 a few hours each day. I’ve heard moms who work outside of the home talk about how the time away from their kids makes them a better parent, and I finally get what they are saying. Instead of feeling desperate about the amount of stuff I have to do, trying to squeeze it all in before he wakes up in the morning, during his nap, or when he goes to bed, I can relax and enjoy my time with him. He comes home from the sitter, eats lunch, naps, I make dinner, and then we play together! My mind isn’t wandering to my email inbox or my pictures or blog posts I want to write or studying to do because I already did those things. And when husband comes home from school at 9 or 10 at night I can actually spend some time with him instead of shooing him away telling him that the baby is sleeping and I have to be on the computer. Childcare assistance is my friend.
Speaking of studying, I haven’t made much progress on my second (and final) online class. I think I’m about 1/4 of the way through, but I’ve got an entire wedding to edit, and several photography sessions scheduled before we leave. I just need to buckle down and get to it! The English classes are much quicker and easier for me than the Statistics class was.
I have two big trips planned in the month of May. We’re headed to San Francisco on a house hunting trip the first weekend of May (our coupleversary weekend 
), and I’m looking forward to seeing the neighborhoods in person and possibly finding a place to rent. I’m still holding out for a house, but there is a possibility we will end up in an apartment complex or condo situation again. Just give me a dishwasher and washer/dryer at least! The second trip is over the weekend of May 19th. I’m headed to New York for some photography sessions in the city. Anyone interested in doing a session with me on the morning of the 19th? Otherwise I’m planning to explore the city and eat at as many places as I possibly can.
Other than not having nearly enough time with my husband, things have been really good lately. I’m spending a lot of time thinking and reinventing and changing. There is a part of me that wants to tell you all everything about it, but it’s not a good choice for several reasons I won’t get into here. I am grateful for blogging and the people I have met online who have pushed me to grow and think about things in new and different ways. I look forward to sharing more with you when I feel it’s appropriate.
And one more from our family picture session because I love them so.
Also:
I'm a farm-raised almost-crunchy stroller-pushing picture-taking lifestyle-blog-writing gastronomy-obsessed divine-seeking thrift-store-combing cheese-inhaling pavement-pounding laughter-sprinkling lover of individuality and taking chances.
Busy Busy! Good luck on your househunting trip…we are in the process of buying one ourselves in your old hood. (Coppell) I cant imagine trying to navigate the San Francisco market!
1I wish that I was the opposite and wrote more thoughtful post like you, but I never know what to say or rather what I have to say would probably be very boring!
I agree…I would do anything for a dishwasher!
2I’d love to share a meal with you (and C!) if you have time while you are in NYC! I love playing epicurean tourguide
Life on Mulberry Reply:
April 26th, 2012 at 10:56 pm
I’m up for it!
I had a great success using the Walkability Score to find a place to live in the Bay Area. The website creates a heat map of walkability scores by area, takes your work location into account, and then maps apartments for rent onto this map from all over the Internet.
You can control the price, # of bedrooms, proximity to parks, schools, and grocery stores, and other convenience factors.
Even if you are not walking exclusively, it is a great way to screen neighbourhoods.
Good luck!
Jenna Reply:
April 26th, 2012 at 11:27 am
Coupled with http://spotcrime.com/ I think we could find a great place! Thank you.
Loved reading this update! You’ve got so much going on! I know you’ll be able to make it though this semester with flying colors - it might be hard, but I know you can do it!
Adore that photo, also!
5May sounds like it will be an exciting month! Hopefully you will get a lot of good meals in…
Also, congratulations on finding a babysitting situation that works for you. It really is an art.
6lol i read the first part as “took two pictures of T1″ and I was like IMPOSSIBLE!! knowing you : ) cute photos and i am loving the family pictures!
7I’d love to get together while you’re in New York!!! WE’re moving May 8th!
8I hope that you are able to find a house in the Menlo Park / Palo Alto / Mountain View area! My one year old and I frequent parks and library story times and other kid places in all three of those towns. Let me know if you have any questions about locations.
9I love your thoughtful posts! I have a cooking blog and then my personal blog and I find my personal blog just becomes an endless run of polyvore boards of clothes I think are cute. Not a lot of substance at all, haha.
Re: wedding business, it’s hard no matter what you do. I know it is taking me ages to build up a referral base for so many reasons. It isn’t just you, I promise! I am so excited about you moving to SF. I am interested to see how your search for housing goes
10Like many things in life, writing should be about quality not quantity (at least in my humble opinion). I really enjoyed your post - very informative and composed in a lovely laid-back and warm manner. Sounds like life is pretty full on at the moment…..sometimes the best we can do at any given time….is the best we can do! I look forward to hearing more about the ‘everything about it’…I’m sure when the time is right….the words will assist the process. So glad I read this today. Take care. Jeff.
11I think you’ll love living in the Bay Area. If you are looking in Silicon Valley, I highly recommend the downtown Mountain View area. We lived there for about a year, and it’s where my baby boy T was born. You can walk to the very cute downtown with tons of cafes, restaurants, book stores, etc., and there are several great parks all within a short walk of anywhere in downtown. And an awesome public, but extremely del maintained and clean, gigantic public pool in one of the parks. Tons of moms (and dads) walking their little tykes. Also, the Mountain View farmers market is one of the largest in CA, and we loved walking through it on Sundays. The houses in that area are adorable, too. I miss the little gingerbread house we rented.
Jenna Reply:
April 27th, 2012 at 9:20 am
Talk of the farmer’s market is the best way to win me over!
Katie Reply:
April 27th, 2012 at 10:35 am
It is an amazing farmers market! People drive and take the train in for it from all over, and I felt so lucky to be able to stroll over to it after breakfast on Sunday mornings.
I have been reading your blog for some time now, because I find you interesting as someone who I use to disagree with. I have only commented one other time and it was on a post about SAHM and childcare and I posted about how hard I have worked my whole life to have an amazing job. I have married a doctor who could provide for us and my ability to stay home, and yet I still believe that I have dreams as well. That post…it was not met with positive responses.
I am not saying that your values have changed, but I love that recently you have explored the idea that you can still be an amazing wife, mother and women even by watching R rated movies, understanding that love knows no bounds beyond gender and a man can love a man and a woman can love a woman even if I prefer the opposite. And this post, that a woman can work hard, accomplish a blog and follow dreams with a little help from a trusted sitter.
Just wanted you to know that I truly enjoy reading how you are looking to explore more in life. I am attempting to open my eyes and trust my faith in noticing the little differences, trying new things, and living my life to the fullest along with my family. Its amazing how fulfilling it can be when you accept the notion that we can do anything.
Jenna Reply:
April 30th, 2012 at 11:42 am
Amy,
A whole new world has been opened up to me. I can use my own brain to determine what is best for my life, my family, my future. It’s a wonderful place to be!
If you need any restaurant recommendations in Manhattan I’m your girl! Living there was not good for my weight loss goals but man we ate so much delicious stuff that year.
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