About Me

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Thank you for visting my blog. When I started this blog, it was just the vehicle for which I had hoped to share photos of our life in Chicagoland with our loved ones, but it has turned into so much more for me. Life is ever evolving in our household and time no longer stands still. Every moment is precious and worthy of being captured and treasured. In addition, through my love of the camera, I have had the opportunity to meet and also capture moments in others' lives. It is my hope, with this blog, that when my memory fails me, the words and photos on this blog will remind of where we were. History...Through My Glass...

Monday, January 28, 2008

almost 33 months

Every mother believes that her child is the most amazing, little human being, but I have to say that I think I have the most unique one. Now that he is certifiably a little boy, I've noticed some very odd, yet cute things about him. I have been making notes for the past couple of weeks and will attempt to list them below:

1. Roan does the cutest little happy dance when he is very happy. He spins around and shakes his little bootee. Sometimes, he also says, "Shake-it, shake-it..."

2. It doesn't matter when we go to PBK, for some reason he always ends up with #2 in his diaper. I don't know if it's exceptionally calming there, but it works, every time. Thank goodness, they have very family friendly restrooms.

3a. Anyone who knows Roan, knows that he loves his blanket(s). He is actually very aware that he has more than one (we had two made to be identical). Sometimes, he'll pretend that one is, "Eww, dirty..." and proceeds to make a sound with his tongue that it's icky, just so that he can have them both because. Usually, we put the other one and his other back-up ones up high so that he cannot see or get to them.

3b. Lately, if his blankets are not around, he'll start chewing on his hat, scarf, mittens, my sweaters, and he'll even take his shoes off, just so that he can get to his socks and put them in his mouth. It's gross, but he usually wears slippers and shoes so I'm not too concerned about dirt.

4. He is intent on taking showers now, but not alone. He insists, "Too Mommy. Too Daddy." He loves his family showers. Unfortunately, our shower is not made for the whole family.

5. Roan's been referring to me as "Mom and Dad." It's really quite cute.

6. And this one I don't mind too much because I like that he is independent. Ever since he was little, he has always needed his alone time, much like me. Lately, however, he's been attached to me, but there are times in which I hear no noise so I go looking for him to see what mischief he has gotten into only to find that he is laying in his bed or on his playroom floor, chewing away on his blanket, just chilling out. I wonder what it is that he is thinking about in those moments.

7. Roan has this amazing ability to be able to separate the foods he likes from the ones he doesn't like inside his mouth. We have been trying, unsuccessfully, for about a year now to vary his food intake. We really want him to eat rice so that when we go to other people's homes, he will at least be able to eat something. Tonight, after trying the usual things, I hid a few grains in with his eggs and he ate it, but a few seconds later, he magically spit out the rice, fully in tact. I guess that'll be his party trick.

8. Roan is obsessed with spiders, except he calls them spiderman. He asks me to draw spiders of all different sizes.

9. Roan talks in his sleep. I didn't realize that there was a gene for this, but apparently, I passed it onto him.

I've been missing him a lot lately even though we are together as much as possible. I adore him and feel so blessed to be his mommy, even though, he cried for 30 minutes yesterday on the ride home from our museum trip without Choua. I still have no idea how it started. One minute he was contently watching a movie and then the next he's full out crying. Fun times...

Saturday, January 26, 2008

lensbaby...and footprints

I realized that I had not posted any pictures from the free seminar I went to in November with the Bogen Cafe. I found this picture that I took using the lensbaby lens that they were promoting and I didn't really care for it at first, but now I really like it. I'm not sure I used it correctly, nor do I think I'll ever buy one, but it makes a neat picture...especially with the antique preset in LR, which am loving!

Here is the original.

I also learned how to add a texture to pictures. I re-did one of the Michigan Dunes pictures with a rust texture.

Here is the original.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

...and the winner is...

...Jen! Please send me your email so that I can get the gift card out to you.

A special thank you to all of you that left a message. I was actually surprised. I thought maybe only a handful of visitors would actually leave a note.

I started this blog out as a means to keep all of our family and friends who are far from us updated on our everyday life and a way to document my budding photography hobby. Our lives are so mundane that I never thought that anyone would be interested with the exception of my family and close friends. Now, I can at least say that I have a few more friends in my circle...even if it is just virtually.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

blogiversary contest: OPEN


Contest is officially open! Please leave a comment. P.S. The blue thing is a bubble wand in the shape of a shark.

Contest rules:
1. Leave a comment in today's (1/19/08) blog entry.

2. On Wednesday, next week, I will pick a name from the list of those that left comments and announce the winner in the next blog entry.

3. If you are the winner, you must send me an email at: kaosongvang@yahoo.com, so that I can arrange sending the prize to you.

4. Double entries will not be accepted.

The Prize:$15 gift card to Borders Books (and an envelope and postage).

Good luck!

Friday, January 18, 2008

blogiversary contest

It's been just under one year since I started this blog. I can't believe it! In honor of my blogiversary, I will be holding a contest tomorrow. I still have no idea who visits my blog so this is a great way to meet "readers" AND thank you for taking time out to look at my pictures and read my entries. I'm sure it's minimal and the prize is not huge, but I'd like to hear from anyone who visits.

Contest rules:
1. Leave a comment in tomorrow's (1/19/08) blog entry.
2. On Wednesday, next week, I will pick a name from the list of those that left comments and announce the winner in the next blog entry.
3. If you are the winner, you must send me an email at: kaosongvang@yahoo.com, so that I can arrange sending the prize to you.

The Prize:
$15 gift card to Borders Books (and an envelope and postage).

The chances are in your favor. :)

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

i left my heart

I have been on a business trip since Sunday night. Tonight spoke with Roan on the phone. I couldn't believe it because he was actually talking to me. Choua put him right on the phone with me and he started talking right away. He asked me, "Vere ah you?" I almost cried. And then he told me that he missed me and that he loved me. I can't believe that he was just having a little person conversation with me.

I miss the guys so much! I can't believe how tired I am. I have spent two nights in a very comfortable, king-sized bed and I have not been able to sleep. I just am so homesick. Two more nights.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

all-e-bohd

We finally got the chance to try out one of the three trian sets that Roan got for Christmas this year. We are trying it out to see how he does with it. He pretty much destroys everything. Keeping our fingers crossed...

He loves his Piderman t-shirt. He always picks it out to wear.

All-e-bohd.

Choo...choo...

Cool.

Everything seemed good...until...you can imagine my disappointment when I came back into the room and Roan had pulled the entire set apart.

I love these pictures because Roan's hair is just so perfectly him...mangy.