My Big Texan

Last year's bluebonnet post was titled "My Little Texan."  Look how small Dominic was last April.  I miss that little baby!

So anyway, we did our annual bluebonnet pictures on Sunday.  The bluebonnets came earlier this year and they are everywhere thanks to some big rain storms we had in the last few weeks.  (The grass looks a ton greener and healthier this year too.  Last year's pics look pretty dry in retrospect!)  I discovered a large patch about 1/2 mile from our house, so I didn't even have to drive the 10ish miles to Old Settlers Park like I did last year.

I think my photography skills have improved since last year, although I didn't escape the overhead sun like I planned.  I took last year's bluebonnet pics in the middle of the afternoon and they had too many shadows, so we started by 8:15am this year.  A photographer told me that you really want to do outdoor pics in the early morning or at dusk so the sun is not overhead.  Note to self: 8:15am is not early enough.  I probably should have been out there by 7:30 to avoid shadows.

I have also discovered Picasa since last year, which is how I made the colors appear so vibrant in a few of these pics.  I am noticing Picasa does have its limits, though.  I can only change the color saturation of the entire picture, so the subject (the boy) gets darker/brighter as the flowers get brighter.  Someone told me that in Photoshop you can select a color such as blue, and just play with all the blues it the photo.  But I don't have the time to devote to learning how to use Photoshop. And it's not free. :)

Finally, here are some of the pics:

Notice the difference on this one, which I did not touch up in Picasa?

 

Major water spots on the camera.  He was watching some police cars departing from the station across the street.

P.S. It was really dewy outside so we got our pant legs, shoes and socks got all wet! I also noticed there were some water drops on the lens toward the end, which made some blurry spots in the pictures.

Interview with an 18-month-old

Had to repeat some words because he stated a little slow.

Mt. Splashmore

Today I was lamenting that my sweet, happy-go-lucky boy has turned into a demanding toddler who is just kind of whiny when he doesn't get what he wants RIGHT NOW.  This change seems to have occurred in the last week.  When he sees me holding my cell phone, he expects me to show him google images of fire trucks, school buses, etc.  He starts saying the word "more" repetitively, getting louder and more demanding.  "Muh muh muh muh muh MUH MUH MUH MUH MUH."   If I try to talk over him, he gets louder.  My mom visited last weekend, so she can vouch for the quantity of "muhs" we hear around here.  Sometimes he gets on a roll in the kitchen, and we don't even know what he wants.  He just says it dozens of times in a row without tiring.   It reminds me of the Simpson's episode where Bart and Lisa beg Homer to take them to Mt. Splashmore.

Marcos doesn't play this game so he is left in peace, like Marge.

(Wow, this was episode #31 and now they are advertising episode 500.  It aired before my little brother Robert was born!!!)

Maybe I am exaggerating because today was worse than usual.  He actually started to cry when I ignored  him.  I think he must be tired, and I also think I saw new teeth coming through on the top.  Emmy usually reports that he was great during the day, so I guess he's just tired by the time I get home. He still seems pretty good and tantrum-free compared to other kids I hear about.  (He still has not had an episode where he thrashes on the floor and refuses consoling/logic).  I just hope he doesn't turn into a 2-year-old monster in the next six months.

Here's a pic of the boy trying on my grandmother's ring last weekend.