Hipstamatic iPhone App, Part II

So yeah, those of you thinking these look like junk, don’t worry, this isn’t going to become my go-to camera, I’m just screwing around. I might take a picture or two with it again, but I notice it looks best with non-portraiture.

Melissa, Nina and Ian are in Ohio for Easter. I’m by my lonesome, but am making good progress with the time I’ve got. Looks like I also get to “show the house” on Saturday. Hurray?

I spent last evening loading up my computer with iPad apps so that when my iPad arrives tomorrow it will be ready to go. I can’t believe the cool stuff that’s out there for this thing already!

He doesn’t look like me in this shot, but what’s funny is how much it still feels like a picture from my youth, just because of the effects. See this image larger.

If I haven’t said it before, I love the shape of Ian’s noggin… the angles and the swoops. See this image larger.

Alright Ian, now you’re just hogging the blog entry… See this image larger.

Yay, Nina! See this image larger.

*… and some say, you can still hear the coyotes late at night* (aroooooo!) *what was that?!?* See this image larger.

We spent about 15 minutes throwing that towel back and forth. I’d throw it up to the chair over my shoulder, he’d throw it back down on my shoulder, without much of a word. See this image larger.

Hipstamatic iPhone App, Part I

So I bought this new little application for my iPhone that attempts to give the photos the iPhone can take, a more warm and authentic feeling by adding effects to them. It is a clever little application too, looks like a camera — you trade out lenses and film. The results? Well, you tell me!

First pic I took. Just a plastic cup of water and it looks very cool. See this image larger.

See? Looks like a 1970’s picture, doesn’t it? See this image larger.

Surprise, this quickly turns into pictures of the kids… See this image larger.

This is a bowl of water for our cat. Still looks cool though, doesn’t it? See this image larger.

Hi Nina! See this image larger.

Me! See this image larger.

Me again. Are you sick of seeing me? This is why I don’t usually take pictures of me. See this image larger.

Melissa, so pretty! See this image larger.

More of these next entry.

Eye Ok!

Optometrist appointment went off without a hitch, Nina’s eyes are just fine! Hurray!!!

When we were leaving I took a couple pictures of Ian in his car seat with the goofy glasses that they give you at the Optometrist’s office… and was distracted because I showed Melissa the hilarious results. We pulled out of the parking lot and Ian suddenly piped up, “NO! I’M NOT STRAPPED IN!! NOT SAFETY FIRST!!!” (Melissa often says something about “safety first” in regards to strapping him in, as in “you can have that toy after I strap you in… safety first.”) I am still feeling a bit of shame about forgetting to fully strap him in, but feel intense pride that Ian called that out so we could rectify the situation. Atta boy, kiddo.

If there was ever going to be a time when I said Ian resembled his late Great Grandma Mitchell, now would be that time. See this image larger.

Bye everybody! More pics soon! See this image larger.

Spring is in the Air

Alright so this is pretty much a bunch of random stuff.

Funny Ian story — I was being a little on the lazy side, but also trying to teach Ian the importance of washing one’s hands before one excuses himself from the table… (We even ask him to say “Can I be excused?” much of the time.) so I asked him to get me a wipe after he stood up. The canister was on a nearby table, and he approached it with his food-caked hands and some trepidation. I’m not sure exactly where he saw this, probably me, I’d imagine… but he looked down at his messy hands, and you could see the wheels turning in his mind. How to get to Daddy with the wipes canister to get clean hands, without making the wipes canister dirty too? He reached forward and pinched the canister between his wrists, splaying his hands outward so as not to touch it!

We’ve also had some fun daycare drop-offs and some significantly less fun.

I understand potty-training is the last thing Ian needs to do before moving on to the next class, so we’re anxious to keep that training up. It is difficult, however, when the diaper-changing experience reminds him of being a baby, and he gets our complete attention all that time. We’re trying though, Lord are we trying.

No news on the house yet, but we have an open-house tomorrow, so hopefully something then.

Nina is inching forward in the sleep category, although not quickly enough to keep Melissa and I from being a little “intense” at times.

Work has been tough lately. Programming is hitting a hard stretch, and it is very hard to concentrate sometimes. I literally have to tether myself to the computer by wearing headphones, sometimes. The right soundtrack does wonders. I’m “behind” enough that I’ve been skipping out on the kind of things I usually don’t miss. For example I’ve had to have Melissa pick Ian up a couple times from daycare this week, or trips to stores… I’m even going to skip out on the Easter trip to Ohio. I’ll miss playing with my niece and nephew, but will hopefully gain all kinds of ground on my work. I did manage to go with Melissa to Nina’s cardiologist appointment… the entry below this details that out, but mostly she’s doing awesome and gaining weight like a champ!

It is funny watching Ian try to sell us into “one more episode” of a show or one more book before bedtime. We’ve got Ian up off the floor a bit now at bedtime… there’s a boxspring under his mattress now. At first he liked it, then before his first sleep on it asked us to remove it. We didn’t. He hasn’t looked back since, and is doing great on a double-decker.

Nina’s been doing a lot more smiling and cooing lately. It’s great to see and hear these positive forms of expression from her!

Here’s a few great movies for you to chew on, click on the links to see each video, they’re relatively small:
Ian pedaling very well!

Nina thinks her Dad is a goofball! (Look at that smile!!!)

Ian dance! (Might be hard to see, but wow is he wiggling and moving right after I say “Ian, dance!”)

Spiky Hair and More

On March 9th, Ian went out to get his hair cut and came back looking like a punk rocker! Ian – *You talkin’ ’bout me, huh buddy?* See this image larger.

It was a cute look while it lasted… See this image larger.

But to be honest I want to be reminded more of his sweet side… See this image larger.

and maybe a little less about his rebellious side. See this image larger.

We’ve got plenty of time to let him be rebellious in a couple of years. See this image larger.

Very fashionable though. See this image larger.

From March 10th, thanks Dick and Donna! I actually don’t thank people very often on the blog, because I always figure I’ll forget somebody. See this image larger.

On March 15th, and of course a new shot from Nina! Wait’ll you see the NEXT entry though! See this image larger.

Early Spring Visit, Part II

We decided to hop in the car and go to Meijer Gardens to check out the butterflies… See this image larger.

See, Ian’s younger thus he’s still earning his wings. See this image larger.

Ian was short on patience and thus so was I. He didn’t do TOO bad, but he didn’t do very well either. Even compared to this trip, though, in the last several weeks I’ve witnessed him gaining control of himself. (Curiously at this phase it looks very strange because one moment he’s blowing a fit, the next he regains his composure… little side story here — yesterday morning he didn’t want his shirt on and threw a tantrum; eventually I gave up and went to check on email, a few moments later I heard Ian’s voice from the top of the steps: “I want to be a good listener, Daddy.” Talk about a heart-breaker!) See this image larger.

This kind of looks James Dean like to me.See this image larger.

Look at all those smiles! Thanks for coming with us guys!See this image larger.

This was the best of about 20 shots, Nina’s really thinking about something.See this image larger.

Mysterious fountain ball thing.See this image larger.

Ah my beautiful wife. So pretty! See this image larger.

We took a brief spin around the outside garden area… Ian took the kid’s entrance, as usual! See this image larger.

This was good for him, he needed to burn off some energy and got in a much better mood. (Until he saw the gift shop.) See this image larger.

Thanks for the visit, Grandma Marcia and Grampa Dave! See you again soon!

Early Spring Visit, Part I

On March 7th, Grandma Marcia and Grampa Dave visited us here in Rockford!

Nina was happy to see her grandparents again, and was not shy at all about showing it! See this image larger.

*Hi Grandma! You have awesome taste in clothing color, can I just tell you that? What do you think of this little number I’ve got on?* See this image larger.

Ian was a little more skeptical. We got home from church and he wanted to stay there and play in the “daycare” area. I believe he suspected that Grampa Dave and Grandma Marcia had us running home early. He’s funny like that. He came around pretty quick though, and we had a great time!See this image larger.

*Don’t worry Grampa, Ian’s just going through one of those phases.* See this image larger.

*This is my favorite chair, from here I can spit-up and get it all over someone that’s not me.* See this image larger.

A little belly time allowed us to see just how strong Nina’s neck muscles are doing. See this image larger.

*GUUUH-TWO-HUNDRED-AND SEVEN…. GUUUH-TWO-HUNDRED-AND-EIGHT….” See this image larger.

Stories

I was straining with Ian to get his coat on while listening to the events of the day spouted by Jillian, the day care-giver who is usually there in the evenings… she said
“Charlie came up to Ian with a toy saw and grazed Ian’s forehead and Ian said ‘He cut my head off.'” I looked at Ian and he nodded his head in verification.
Me – “And what did you say to him about that?”
Ian – “I said ‘No thank you.'”

When we got Ian’s hair cut the other day, he seemed excited and said “We’re going to get my hair cut! We’re going to the hair cut store!”

Just a night or two ago “the boys” went out to pick up pizza for the family, and Ian tried to steer me elsewhere as we walked back to the car. “We’ve got to go to the bench so you can sit next to me.” I didn’t understand where he meant until we got in the car. He said to turn where I was planning to anyway… “Right there! In there!” Turns out he wanted to sit next to me in another full-size chair in our local mexican restaurant, where we had been a week prior to that. It was not easy to explain why we couldn’t bring our italian food into the mexican restaurant.

Nina’s been getting a little more quiet and giving great big smiles lately. You can tell she’s growing into her body a tiny step at a time. It’s great to see those big smiles.

Ian’s fits are still ridiculous at times, but he does seem to be maturing in some way, like Nina. He’s still testing his boundaries but once in a while now I catch him looking like he’s realized that he might not need to test that particular boundary again. And I’m learning to be more patient, which is also helping.

Seth still appears to be doing ok. I still have the feeling we’ll be back at the vet shortly.

I pre-orderd an Apple iPad. Time will tell how useful that purchase is.

All Smiles, Part III

Happy Birthday, Grampa Dave!

Update – Nina’s weight is up to 9lbs 15oz as of today, 3/12/10… that’s awesome, she’s gaining weight in a very healthy way. That’s very good news!

Consider these bonus shots for the “All Smiles” entry, taken on the same dates… here Nina shows off her gums as she laughs and laughs! See this image larger.

So good to see her healthy and happy! See this image larger.

A happy Nina makes us all happy! See this image larger.

Another tongue out… this isn’t hard to capture seeing as she spends 90% of her awake time “mouthing” to Mommy that she’d like more milk. (Not that Mommy is holding back — Nina just always wants to be nursing!) See this image larger.

Mommy and Nina enjoy some sunshine! See this image larger.

All Smiles, Part II

I know, yesterday’s pics were the best! Or WERE they? Check out today’s! These were all taken on March 6th.

I’m just going to start out with the winner. You need to look at this one bigger to really appreciate it. See this image larger.

*hi* See this image larger.

*plbplbplbplbplbplbplb* See this image larger.

*Now I’m just cracking myself up.* See this image larger.

*Have you met my brother, Ian?* See this image larger.

*He can smile too, see?* See this image larger.

*But only if you ask him real nice.* See this image larger.

*This is my mommy. She’s beautiful and can make milk out of regular food. Magic, I know, right?* See this image larger.

*This is my daddy pretending to be a super model with his patented Sexy Look®.* See this image larger.

*Ian, Daddy said that look was patented.* See this image larger.

Still more pictures from this day tomorrow… I have some that don’t quite fit into this entry. 😀

find me on social media

©2025 Copyright - Out Of Their Minds Design, LLC