Photography

So my dear friend McKell (whom I miss so much!) told me about a Web site one can go to to make minor edits on one's pictures. Being without Photoshop, I decided to give it a look-see and took my free time this evening to tinker around and edit some of my favorite photos. For your enjoyment:

This one I'm proud of because it was a very average photo before I went to work on it. I cropped it quite a bit and added the b/w. Now we're the focal point, but the background helps give the photo energy.

This might just be my favorite photo of Will. I was lucky enough to catch this earlier today. Aside from the added border and some minor color tweaking, this is basically the photograph I shot. What I found most irresistible about it was the light and the general sweetness.

One of the best photos I've taken ever.

The site is a lot of fun. I've been antsy to edit some pics since I took a photography class at the U. I was just getting into all the cool things Photoshop can do when the class ended. My complaint about the Picnik site is that you have to sign up and pay to use some of the better features, like dodging, burning, and airbrushing. But this was a lot of fun and I was able to get some of my favorite photos exactly where I'd like them.

Toys on the Kitchen Floor

This morning I was playing with Will in the living room, and I told him, "Will, if you roll over onto your stomach, I'll let you eat rice cereal tonight!" Now, I said what I said mostly in silliness. I don't know if he understands what we're saying just yet. But I felt that perhaps bribery was in order because he's been rolling from stomach to back for a couple months now. But he hates his tummy so he has no motivation to roll from back to stomach. I've been feeling like it's just never going to happen.

A few minutes later, I realized something important had just happened: I'd made my first promise to my son (aside from the unspoken contract all parents make to take care of their children). And even if he can't understand what I'm saying, I decided that I needed to be prepared to meet that promise to fulfill his trust and my obligation. A small promise, but it really made me stop and think about the precedent I'll be setting for him. So when I was grocery shopping today, I bought baby spoons, a sippy cup, and rice cereal just in case.

I came home, put away my groceries, and played with Will while Chris was doing his homework on the couch nearby. I reiterated my promise to Will. And what do you think happened? Yep, the little turkey just rolled right over onto his tummy from his back! I was so excited I screamed and clapped and generally made a big fuss about it. I don't know why it made me so excited, but I've just been in the best mood since then. My little guy is growing up and becoming more independent and I'm just SO excited for him!

So, eating grown-up food meant pulling out all the stops. I immediately unpacked the high chair (thanks, Mom and Dad!) and set him in it. He seemed to take to it. By this time it was dinner time, and so I took Will and his high chair into the kitchen with me while I cooked. And I tell you what, we had so much fun! He was closer to eye level and so he could see what was going on and he was having fun and I was having fun. I'd given him some toys to play with and of course they ended up repeatedly on the kitchen floor, but I was just so excited I didn't mind having to pick them up over and over again. I'm sure that even by tomorrow this trick will be old (Idea: Attach his toys to the high chair with the plastic links that go with Mr. Octopus). But today, for the first time, there were toys on my kitchen floor, and I loved every minute of it.

So Chris and I ate our dinner (well, our first helpings, anyway), then decided it was Will's turn. I've said quite enough. I'll let the pics do the rest of the talking:

It was a hit! He kept grabbing the spoon, which isn't altogether surprising. What was surprising was that the split second I turned my head to smile at my handsome husband, Will grabbed the bowl and dumped half the contents on the tray, as you see. I'm not sure how much he actually ate but he did pretty well.

He's sitting up pretty well. It's amazing what a difference just a week makes. Just last week he was wobbling all over and face planting frequently. But today he's pretty much got it down. He falls backward still sometimes, but he's starting to support himself on the sides. Today, for the first time, he supported himself up on all fours for a few seconds--then promptly lunged at a toy and face planted. But it was still very exciting. All in all, a big day of milestones for Will.

In other exciting news, my parents came for a visit. It was great to have them stay with us and I miss them already. Love you guys!

Capistrano Beach

So, one of the best-loved traditions in the Higgs family is visiting Capistrano Beach in Southern California. We rent a house right on the beach for a week and just lay out, watch TV, relax, go out to eat, etc. It's relaxing time, fun time, all the time. It's been several years since we've been there and it was fun to be back. Some of the highlights:

It's always cool to see what's going on out in the ocean. There were lots of dolphins this year, and they swam pretty close to shore. Unfortunately it was hard to detect them with the camera so we didn't get any pictures.

Pop-Pop LOVES holding his grandson. Will likes him, too.

This year marked the second-ever Higgs Iron Chef Competition. We divide into teams and draw which course we'll be preparing, and every year there's a different key ingredient everyone must incorporate. Then there's a secret ballot where we all vote for a winner. Last time, in South Carolina, the secret ingredient was cheese. Chris and I won with our baked bruschetta-like appetizer. I'm sorry to report that we lost our title this year, but it was to this amazing dish pictured above. The key ingredient this year was lime. Debbie and Kenny prepared this winning appetizer of grilled shrimp in mango salsa (the lime was in the salsa). SO GOOD!

This year Chris and I had the side dish. We marinated the pineapple in lime juice, honey and vanilla, then broiled them.

Rob and Erin made this grilled lime chicken that had a variety of seasonings. This was my favorite course. It was so flavorful and satisfying.

Mom's and Katy's coconut lime cupcakes. They presented these to the family by dancing conga-line style from the kitchen to the table singing Harry Nillson's "Lime in the Coconut" song, which they felt they deserved extra points for.

The girls had a shopping day, and the menfolk met up with us around dinner time. There was a carousel at the mall and some of the family decided to take a ride with my nephew Ethan. I love this pic, because Erin looks like the rock-star-meets-beauty-queen-goddess that she is.

I have no response to this. It just needed posting. :)

Seriously, isn't he just the cutest?! Ethan is such a great little guy, a great cousin to Will. The whole trip he was so nice to Will, and so great about having to share Pop-Pop with another grandchild.

This and the few pics following are for my sister Katy's satisfaction. She loves the funny pictures of Will.

So handsome! (And no, I did not get lip injections. I was blowing raspberries at him trying to get him to smile for the camera.)

I don't see profile pics of myself very often. I didn't know I had so many freckles. I also don't know why Will's arm is purple.

We also went to a Dodgers game, of course. We had these amazing seats along the first base line. It was great because we were in the little ground-level box seats, so we had shelves to rest things on and place our food on and stuff. It was great. We got to see a grand slam! Go Dodgers!

Ethan!

Pop-Pop with his two grandsons at the Dodgers game. Life is perfect. :)

I'm sorry to say Will did not enjoy this experience at all. Every time the crowd cheered (which was VERY loud), it scared him and he started crying. Poor little guy. Granny Janny took him out and walked him around where it was more quiet, until the early caravan was ready to leave.

Katy, Debbie, and Erin. See how pretty they are! I have such a beautiful family!

Granny Janny and Will. See how GORGEOUS my mother is?!

I know this is a little dark, but there are so many things going on in this picture, it's worth enlarging if you can. I'm watching Ethan, making sure his being gentle with Will. Ethan is kissing Will, and Will...doesn't know what is going on but I think he's having fun.

These little guys are so FUN!!!

We went to Sea World for a few hours. Here's the Shamu show.

I want to learn how to surf on the back of a killer whale. Just sayin'.

This pic has nothing to do with our California trip. The sun turned this crazy red color last night and I just thought I'd share the coolness.

A Much-Needed Update

So, yes, I've been negligent in my blogging responsibilities. We've been some busy little bees lately! For the 24th of July festivities, we went to visit Sam and Laura up in Logan. We ate dinner and visited in their backyard and it was heaps of fun.

My brother Rob and his little boy Ethan came to visit us while my sister-in-law Erin was in Nashville with my mom. We ate hot dogs out on the patio and Ethan made friends with his cousin Will and was generally amusing and fun.

Ethan decided he wanted to play with Mr. Octopus, too... Will couldn't understand why Octopus was suddenly moving with much greater force than ever before; it startled him and he cried.

So Uncle Rob rescued Will.

Ethan decided to keep playing...

While Rob comforted Will.

Then we had hot dogs and Ethan really liked the ketchup.

Mom got to stop by for an overnight visit on her way home from Nashville. She took us to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory and it was super yummy! Thank, Mom!

The cutest jammies ever! Courtesy of his Auntie Debbie.

Oh, and Will has started grabbing his toes. It's only a matter of time before they make it into his mouth.

We've been going pretty regularly to the concerts in the park. Every Tuesday and Friday they have shows and we've made a tradition of walking down to the Tuesday night concert. Some friends from the ward meet us there and we chat and, sometimes, listen to the music.

Grandma Tingey passed away last week, but we were fortunate enough to be able to visit her and let Will meet her before she passed.

This last week Will had his immunizations (sad!) at his four-month check-up. He's now 25 1/4 inches and weighs 13 lbs, 7 oz. Doc says he's growing really well and was very impressed with Will's ability to roll already.

And yesterday we went to the aquarium. I really didn't expect too much of a reaction from Will, but actually he was pretty excited about it, kicking his legs and chewing his fists and gasping wide-eyed every time something squishy swam by.

Also, Auntie Debbie and Auntie Kiki came by to visit us on their way down to Orem. They went to music in the park and played with their charming nephew. :)

Auntie Kiki

Auntie Debbie. (And Debbie, no matter what Katy says, your picture is NOT smaller because Will loves you any less; just because I don't know how to make it any larger)