Photo Friday - Tilt Shift Generator

Have you seen those cool pictures that look like miniatures?

I tried looking up how to do it and I found out it's mostly done in Photoshop, which I don't have, but sometimes wish I did.

I kept searching and, lo and behold, there's an app for that.

The app is called Tilt Shift Generator and you can get more information on it here and here.  You can try out the free version (like I did).  In that version you have to take your photos directly IN the app and you are limited in how many you can take and how you can share them, yada, yada, yada.

Or, for 99 cents, you can buy the full version and play with images you already have and you can email them, save them, etc.

I, obviously, sprang for the full app after doing a dry run with the free version.

Here's a peek at some of my photo fun.

Original photo:

 Edited photo:

Original photo:

Revised photo:

Fun, right?

I can't wait to use this app more.  I don't have any real purpose for it, but it brings me joy.

Let me know if you try it out and what you think!

Photo Friday - Eleven Months Old!

I can't believe how quickly this last month has gone by!  Baby G-O is now eleven months old.

I confess I am a bit sad.  I know this is the very last month before my baby girl turns one year old.  As I snapped several shots of her on her eleven-month birthday, I couldn't help but keep thinking it was the last time I would do it before she was one.  There's something sentimental about knowing your child has gracefully transitioned from one month to the next during her first year of life.  It's also a little bittersweet.  I have cherished every moment, but they were still so fleeting.  I wish I could just slow time down to enjoy each new milestone, each expression, each tender cuddle just a little bit longer.

All that being said, my oh so big little girl is now eleven months old.

Baby G-O, you continue to amaze your daddy and I every day.  You are adding so many more inflections and sounds to your vocabulary and you are trying to copy what we say more and more.  You are also mimicking us all the time and you are learning by leaps and bounds.  When I leave the room and turn the door handle, Daddy tells me you follow and reach to try to turn the handle to come with me.  When I record you on our little video camera, you pay attention and hit the exact same button I used to start it and you end up stopping the recording.  When I showed you how to use your hair brush, you immediately copied the movements and began brushing.

All this learning is also getting you into some mischief.  You now know how to open all our lidded trash cans and consider each of them to be a trove of hidden treasures.  Your curiosity gets the better of you and any time we block you from getting into something that could be dangerous or hugely messy, you attack the target that much more vigorously.  We know it's the explorer and adventurer in you and we are so blessed to watch your desire to learn blossom.

Mommy and Daddy especially love that books are some of your favorite "toys".  At least once a day you pull books off your shelves or out of your bins and just sit quietly, flipping through the pages and pointing at the pictures.  You are particularly fond of the Bible.  Any Bible.  Your Bible, Mommy's Bible, Daddy's Bible...you're not choosy.  I don't know what it is you love about them--maybe it's the smooth, light-weight pages?  Then again, we've prayed for you to have a love of God's Word, so perhaps that's it.

You've also recently become quite the Mama's girl.  You want to be wherever I am--at ALL times.  You can go from a smiley and happy girl to a blubbering mess of tears in 2.5 seconds if Mommy leaves the room to fetch something and is out of your sight line for the briefest time.

We love you, Darling! We are so proud of you and we are humbled and honored to be your parents.

Photo Friday - Spring Fever

I'm a California girl, born and raised (except for a brief time out of state).  If you know anything about the weather in the southern half of this beautiful state, you know that we are spoiled with pretty mild weather year-round.  Truly, it doesn't feel like winter.  As I look at the weekly forecast, every day is in the upper 60s to mid 70s and at least mostly sunny.

Granted, we do still have some bouts of colder weather that remind us not to pack away our cooler weather clothing just yet.

No, I'm NOT complaining.

Yes, I know that what we here in La-La-Land call winter is more like an awesome spring day in most parts of the world.  On those days we're here bundled in parkas, beanies, boots, and scarves and out-of-state visitors are welcoming the weather with tank tops and flip-flops.

Still...

I marvel at how God timed the seasons to last just the right amount of time.  At the start and close of each season I am perfectly ready for the change.  And at this time of year, I'm beginning to feel the itch for spring to have sprung.

It also makes me think of SPRING TRAINING.

Yes, you read that right:  I'm talking BASEBALL!

So my photos for this edition of Photo Friday are in honor of my hometown team: the San Francisco Giants.

Scottsdale Stadium--exclusive home of the San Francisco Giants during spring training.

I had to include the schedule.  Come on, people!

Let's get this party started!

I know this image is small, but I'm just thrilled that Posey should be back in the lineup this year.  Oh, how we've missed you, Buster!

Photo Friday--Put a caption on it

I take pictures of G-O Baby every day.  Why?  Because I send pictures to my mom each day with a little snippet of what new things transpired to keep her in the loop since she lives several hours away.

I have seriously been rediscovering that a picture can say a thousand words.

But sometimes much shorter phrases come to mind...

...or quips...

...or delicious laughter...

Because, when you are photographing a baby, you are sure to capture some really funny and adorable faces.

I call this one "Napoleon Bonaparte":

This one says "I WIN!!!":

This one is simply sweet:

I have so many more to choose from, but I could go on forever.  Perhaps I'll do a future post and let YOU come up with the captions.  Now THAT would be fun!

Photo Friday--catching up

The last time I posted any pictures of our little G-O baby on here, she had just turned three months old.  She's now nine months old.  Didn't I mention how time FLIES???

What follows is a super quick photo recap of the last six months.

Four months old:
We dedicated our little miracle at church.  What a blessing! (Photos taken by Jorge Rodriguez)

Five months old:
Football season began and we truly fell in love with her expressive eyes.

Six months old:
Family portrait time! (Photos taken by Cross Eyed Photography)

Seven months old:

DISNEYLAND!  (She also took a photo with Santa at Disneyland for her Grannie Bug.)

Eight months old:
Christmas.  The birth of our Savior. :) And TEETH are visible (she cut her 1st at 6 mo., but you started to see it in pictures around now).

Nine months old:
Welcome 2012! Crawling, and standing, and cruising...oh my!

She's growing up so fast!