Moving in the right direction...

At long last the scale is moving in the right direction. I had read that it takes three months for the post-partum body to move out of the let's-hold-on-to-our-fat-stores mode--maybe there is some truth in that? This morning's all time low: 175 lbs! Considering that I reached 222 in pregnancy, I am tickled pink that I have hit the 170's. My ideal weight is around 165, so I'm going to keep plugging at my boring but effective diet. It goes something like this:

Breakfast--one bagel and big cup of coffee
Lunch--stew made fresh by hubby--chock full of lean meat and veggies
Supper--huge salad with fat free dressing, fat free croutons, and chicken
Night time snack--huge bowl of low fat popcorn

So, I am no longer overweight or obese according to the Metropolitan Life Insurance weight-height tables. YAY! I can now pursue a second pregnancy and do it all over again...oh my...

I had my second photography class last night. It feels so odd to have the time and ability to go to school for something fun. Not that my theology degree wasn't fun on some level (well, the dissertation part was bloody boring), but this is just pure fun. The only downer is that it stirs up my want for more camera stuff: better lenses, new filters, new flash, new software, etc. I better hit the lottery if I plan on pursuing this right brain hobby of mine.
I've decided to go for the certificate of photography: http://www.southalabama.edu/cce/photography.html

I like to dream of one day doing something creative and profitable with this shutterfly lust of mine. I may start out with custom announcement cards and my own website (note to self: learn HTML in spare time), then take the lunge and try portraiture. But, first I thought it prudent to learn all I can about photography at home and in the courses offered at the university.

As I have said before, there is something about capturing beautiful images that appeals to the sacramental theologian in me. It may be as simple as a hermeneutic lens of gratitude: observing the world for vestiges of the divine. I lay in bed last night thinking about a book I might like to write, one with beautiful photos of people celebrating the various sacraments of the church (inspired no less by the Baptisms on my fave show LOST last night), a real combination of left and right brain activity. In my mind, the sacraments are beautiful and simple and take place in a variety of settings. I'd love to capture that in vivid pictures and create a systematic theology of gift to flesh out my vision. Maybe that is my new project on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, the center of my universe, Sir Gabriel, is growing and changing almost daily. It is the subtle stuff that is amazing. He now seems interested in our eating habits and watches intently as we chew our food. He will also imitate me if I am chewing gum (a not so lady-like habit I have when dieting). It is almost scary how observant these little ones are.

Gabe has come to hate bedtime with a fierce passion. It is as if his feelings get hurt that his body is betraying him and needing this upcoming long stretch of rest. Once he goes down, he does well. He wakes up once for a 2am bottle, then back to bed until almost 8am, sometimes 9am. It is amusing to watch him come up with new tricks for staying awake.

My main joy and goal in life is to be a good mother. That comes first. But, there is the professional and creative side of me yearning to get out. I will be teaching my first masters level course this fall. I want to do that really well so that I will be invited back for more. But, until then, I will continue playing with my camera and being grateful for the time to develop this hobby.

The little prince is awake...time to go...