5211-22 - Creative light challenge

I so excited about the new twist over at 52 Week Project!  I was needing a boost of inspiration and when Jill contacted me about an idea I was thrilled!  She proposed to try some weekly challenges for the self-portraits during June AND she wanted to guest post.  {Um, Bonus!}

Jill already inspires me with her fitness infused photos each week so I knew her challenges would be a hit.

The first post went live on Friday.
Challenge: Use lighting to express yourself.

Here is mine...

Taken with natural light through side and front windows in a dark room. The bonus when I looked through the 2-3 frames I took was the little cast shadow from the bill of the cap (borrowed my little cousin Jake. Yes, he is super cool.) 

Go check out the challenge and see the fun examples Jill has posted over at the 52 Week Project site and in the Flickr Group. 

This would be a good time to try out your own self-portrait. 

5211-21

I usually am not a dress or skirt person (especially when my legs are so transparent looking)
but I do dig a good twirly skirt. Don't you?

Saw this quote - probably on Pinterest - and thought it fitting:

When in doubt, twirl. -Anonymous

I love having no inhibition and feeling free like a kid and spinning and twirling
will definitely make you feel that way!  

Try it! 

WARNING: it will also make you dizzy and possibly nauseous so twirl with care! ;)

There will be a little something new over at the 52 Week Project site. Just some new inspiration for the weekly challenges.  If you are not participating, I urge you to give it a try for kicks and giggles.  There will be a wonderfully driven and inspiring guest blog post so I'm super excited to see her ideas. 

Friday.

Morning.

Be there:

52 Week Project

5211-20

Well you knew this week would include the most precious little sweetheart ever!

Excuse me but I am still high on Carlee Love! 

This was just a few hours after she was born and she already has me wrapped around her finger!

Carlee is here!!!

Thursday changed our lives forever!

I really don't know what else I can say except to show you:

I present Carlee Claire Whitten

 

Words cannot begin to describe how perfect she is. SERIOUSLY....I really am not just being biased because she is part of the family.  She came out NOT looking like a newborn.
Don't you agree????

Carlee's stats:
Born 8:23 AM, Thursday, May 12, 2011 @ White River Medical Center in Batesville, AR
HERE is the link to her hospital pictures: WRMC Babies
Dr. Keith Harville
She weighed 7 pounds 2.2 ounces
She was 18.75 inches long
She has fuzzy blondish hair with a hint of strawberry
Long fingers
A sweet little dimple when she purses her lips
Beautiful dark eyes
She can poop with the best of them!  (I know TMI, but it's for posterity's sake) ;)
Amy (her mom) had a c-section and although sore and exhausted is doing well.
She already has her Daddy wrapped around her little finger!

If you have followed my blog at all you may remember me posting about Case Lee Whitten, who would be 5 years old this summer. I know Case is watching his little sister from heaven and will be her guardian angel.

It's been a rough few years on my stepson and DIL, Cody and Amy after losing Case at 5 days old with a serious and rare genetic disorder, but the amount of prayers that have been lifted for them is probably not measurable on this Earth.
 
I honestly had no doubt that God would make this child completely perfect and I am so full of pure JOY that Carlee has made her debut and all apprehension that our family and friends had completely melted away Thursday morning when this blessing arrived.

I just give thanks to the Lord for his mercy and rich blessings on our family for allowing us to spend many years to come with our angel on Earth, Carlee Claire Whitten.

5211-19 Happy Mother's Day!!

You knew I would do my self portrait this week with my mom of course!

I decided to do something a little different and non-traditional this time.

 I am truly blessed with a wonderful mother! Her unconditional love for me is amazing!

Happy Mother's Day to you one and all. Since I am not a "real" biological mother but have had quite a hand in raising stepchildren, I leave you with this wonderful poem I found. I truly feel these words!

Not flesh of my flesh,
nor bone of my bone,
but still miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute,
you didn't grown under my heart - but in it.

5211-17 & 18

Well, once again I have neglected to post. :(

Our weather has been totally crazy with storms, floods, tornadoes and such and ironically my Week 17 pic was a capture of an oncoming storm and my little cousins and I doing a little acting!  We were fortunate right where we live, but others around...not so much. I pray that our storm season is nearing the end for the year!  Those tornadoes in Alabama are truly sickening. I also pray for those being affected by the flooding rivers. The Mississippi is expected to crest in the next several days and it is heartbreaking how many people have had to leave their homes and belongings behind.  

I guess this photo will also remind me of what has occurred during the Spring of 2011.

Last week's photo was just the typical bathroom mirror shot with a little fun post-editing. I think this particular editing utilized Coffee Shop Photography blog action. {Have I mentioned lately how much I love her actions? Well, I do!}

If I don't get back Sunday, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to you all!!!