Lightning bug hunter

Can you see them? Yes, it's very blurry, these are my first long exposure shots ever so I'm still getting the hang of it. The lightning bugs are out and cicadas are starting to buzz, it must be summertime!

Happy Dad's Day!

...to Jeffy, Bryan, and Ryan (yes, our dads have practically the same name...weird huh?) Without you Jeffy, who would do "crazy monkey business" with Row? The picture below isn't the most perfect technically, but it is SO them!

Joe Cool

The future's so bright he's gotta wear shades B-) We've been a little busy lately dealing with the latest head cold unfortunately, he's on the mend but still has a little ways to go before he's 100% Jeff had to stay home with him while I went to check out the birth center. Let me tell you, I was sold on it the minute I saw their corner tub :) Although last time I didn't really ever make it to the tub.... I keep hearing every time is different though! I heard a funny term the other day describing water birth: "liquid epidural", and I'm hoping it lives up to the term.

On the steep side of the learning curve

Hmmm well it turns out it isn't as easy as it sounds to take a picture of a lightning bug... This is as good as it got the night I tried. I swear they were taunting me! I would set off the flash, and that would signal one or two to flash briefly in response, but my camera wasn't fast enough and I never knew where exactly they would be.
Another skill I'm working on mastering is using my new lens, a 70-300 tele-macro. It has been pretty windy since I got it, but I've managed to get a few shots with it. It sure is nice to not have to crouch down to take a macro what with my growing bump. When I tell people how far along I am, they say "oh you look so small still!", but I'm starting to feel like there's no room for my lungs in there! On Monday we check out Missouri's *only* birthing center. I am still considering another homebirth as an option too, as I'm not sure we'll have time to drive anywhere since my labor went so fast with Rowan! The midwife I spoke with today said that you can never tell though. And it sure would be nice to be somewhere I could get just a little pampering ;) I'm thankful for the healthcare bill Senator Loudon just passed which eased restrictions on midwifery, and hope it doesn't get overturned. I'm getting a little nervous as the time approaches, in case you can't tell! How will Rowan handle his new sib? Will s/he be healthy? How will I handle having a very energetic toddler and a baby? I guess these are all questions that are impossible to answer right now so I will have to let it go.... :)

Dogs+Golfcart+Kids+Horses=Chaos

Uh, yeah... no humans or animals were injured in this stunt! The dogs ended up in time out though, as you can see below. It was a whole bunch of crazy cousin fun, that got a little out of hand!

Meet Clayton!

We finally got to meet little Clayton, who is about a month old. I didn't get as many pictures of him as I wanted, and little ones change so fast in their first year especially! Here he is sleeping with his auntie Katie. He was very alert for much of the time, despite what you see here! What a cutie :)

The girls :)

Miss Maddy always knows what to do when the camera comes out ;)
A cute picture of Ariel!

Giant Leopard Moth

A gorgeous moth we saw the other day at Carol's house. Someone ID'ed it as a giant Leopard Moth. I just love the intricate designs on it's wings! Missouri certainly has ALOT of bugs, both the good and bad kind ;) I never saw a lightning bug til we moved here, I still feel like a little kid when I see them (ooo wow! pretty! wonder how many of those it would take to light up my room?) One cool thing about them is that they always come out at about the same time every night--around 8:00. I hope to figure out some way to photograph them sometime, any technical suggestions?