What was your favorite date?

It was probably our engagement.  Our families had coordinated and witnessed the actual proposal, then he swept me away to a fancy italian restaurant in Seattle.  OR Valentine's  05 - David & I made dinner here at home after Will went to bed.  Nothing terribly fancy but all our favorites and ate by candlelight using wine goblets and the nice dishes.  Before David I had very high expectations and no one ever met them; no event ever lived up to my own personal hype. I was always dissatisfied with a person or experience.  I was waiting to be the princess swept off her feet.  As I grew up (ages 18-23) I learned to make my expectations more realistic (but still high) so when David came along he really did sweep me away.  Most of our dates are my favorite.  Even the ones where we go out for dessert and coffee and just talk.  Often we try to not discuss the problems and perplexing issues.  I don't think we've even had to set that as a ground rule or anything, we just both do it.  It is definitely a conscious decision on my part to breathe deeper (metaphorically), pay attention to what he's saying and listen.  It's hard to believe sometimes that we've been married more than six years.  Our friendship is always growing and I learn new things about him all the time.

IN OTHER NEWS....

AJ had his 12 month check up today. 20 lbs, 6 oz; 30 inches long.  He's about 30th% for height and 20th% for weight.  Whatever.  He's the biggest 1yo I've ever had!!  Doc was a little concerned that he wasn't talking yet (no "mama").  He definitely can say a lot of consonants (b, g, d, p, m, n, h) and a bunch of vowels, but he wasn't put anything together more than "uh oh" and "hot."  And "hot" only happned a few times one day.  I'm not worried.  AJ always talks more when the other kids aren't.  HA!  That doesn't happen very often so I'm not surprised.  He'll talk soon. 

I like the convenience of going to a large pediatrics group and I see the same doctor every time, but I feel like he doesn't know me.  I'm there a minimum of 3x during the spring just for well-child checkups.  Just May and today I've been there 4 times and saw him twice.  I know he needs to be thorough but I'm a little annoyed as to the routine question of "is he drinking whole milk yet?"  What?  Haven't I been a pain enough about that issue and my kids?  Isn't that marked on each of their charts - dairy issues?  Or maybe it's "mom has dairy issues?"  Anyway, NO he is not drinking whole milk.  BUT he is still nursing twice a day, is still rear-facing in the carseat, eats table food a minimum of 3x a day, sleeps through the night, naps twice a day, walks well and climbs things. 

AND

I met with a client tonight to discuss their print order....

And they're buying a bunch!  I'm so relieved!  This is the first time I've had someone order more than just a handfull of prints.  It's such an amazing feeling when I get to discuss "which one do you like better" and not "if only he was....."  Yeah, there are definitely a bunch of "if only" shots but I think I got fewer this time.  I love the ones where they're not looking at me.  As an artist, that's my favorite.  But as a mom, I know that's not something I would have all over my house and the grandparents don't want that either.  So I know that I must shoot more full face portraits for business purposes, but I will always include these "faceless" moments as well.