Hey, it’s Ryan and this is my first guest post on Brooke’s blog! She asked me to write about our fancy new video camera so listen up.

We recently decided to purchase a new video camera and after a lot of careful consideration and research, we got the new Kodak PlaySport. I wanted something small that would capture excellent quality HD video without sacrificing too much functionality. For the price, it really doesn’t get any better. They’ve managed to cram a ton of great features into a very small package.

I originally looked at the “Flip” cameras because they seem to be really popular lately but I didn’t like that none of them had expandable memory. I didn’t want to be stuck with 4GB or 8GB before I had to offload the video to a computer. Expandable memory means I can put a 16GB or 32GB card in and when it fills up, I can just swap it for an empty one and keep going. Most of the models also don’t have a removable battery. This is a deal-breaker for me. Batteries wear out and battery size only allows 2-3 hours of record time. I like having the freedom to replace the battery or charge 2 or 3 batteries and quickly swap them out when needed instead of waiting for the battery to recharge. There are a lot of other portable HD cameras out there with a variety of features but the PlaySport (small comparison chart below) was the only one that had everything I was looking for.

A lot of these cameras are about the same size (roughly the size of a cell phone. Pictured below with a standard business card and a pen on standard ruled notebook for perspective. Better yet, it’s solid as a rock. This thing is tough! I attempted to squeeze and twist and bend this thing and it doesn’t give at all. It actually listed “crush proof” in it’s features and I believe it. I have no doubt this thing could survive a pretty good drop (kid-proof).

While we’re talking about kid-proof, it’s worth noting that this camera is water-proof up to 10m. That was the key selling point for me second to the video quality. The idea of taking this camera with my kid(s) to the pool or water park and still being able to capture every moment is pretty awesome if you ask me. I can see myself recording a journey down a water slide or two. At the very least, it’s nice to know that if/when my future 3-yr-old decides the camera wants to swim in the toilet or bath tub, it won’t be completely destroyed.

Finally, the quality is simply amazing. It seems to do well in varying lighting conditions too. I’ve used it indoor and outdoor with artificial and natural light but I haven’t done and night shooting with it yet. Compared to previous camera’s I’ve owned in the past, nothing compares to the crispness and detail this camera captures. It’s certainly not professional grade, not that I’d expect that out of a portable camera like this, but it’s better than expected and more than enough for typical family videos. The camera comes with USB, HDMI, and Composite video cables, which I thought was nice. We used the camera over the Easter holiday and after the party was over I connected the camera to my TV with the HDMI cable and we were all shocked at how good the video looked.

Here’s a sample for you. Be sure to turn on HD!

Just Dance! from Ryan on Vimeo.

If you are in the market for an awesome video camera, buy this thing. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Well. One Pretty Thing has struck again. I saw a tutorial to make the cutest Peep banner for Easter a few weeks ago. I knew that this would be one project that I would tackle immediately.

The original idea comes from a guest blogger over at V and Co. This project was so easy and cheap! I was able to get the felt for 1.25 and I splurged on the large rick rack since I had a 40% coupon. The total cost was less than $5. Not bad for a project that I absolutely LOVE! I think it looks pretty cute on the mantel. What do you think?

Now if I can only find the time to get these done before Sunday, I will be a happy camper (I guess happy crafter would fit better)!

Update: I was able to get the Peeps done, but guess what? People don’t like Peeps! Oh well. Lesson learned.

I found  a new blog the other day while I was voting for the bloggies. Confessions of  a Young Married Couple is so funny. I love reading about their daily adventures. When I find a blog that I like, I will often go back and read all of the archived posts (maybe this is why I cannot get things done).

Anyhoo. So I was reading, reading, and reading when I came across this post (insert link to post that I somehow CANNOT FIND, urgh). Katie’s husband installed a double row of closet rails for their little guy’s room to increase storage. What an awesome idea! So Ryan set out to Home Depot with a plan that ended up with this.

Sorry the picture is blurry. I obviously was not paying attention. I also didn’t get a chance to take a before pic because Ryan had the closet emptied before I could get in there.

What a mess! After I got everything cleaned up and put away, the closet looks amazing.

Is it just me that gets excited about things like this? I sleep better at night with an organized closet.

I have a favorite craft site: One Pretty Thing. What I love about this site is that she finds clips of different craft projects and displays them for you to look over kinda like a craft index. Since my cold has put a halt to some of my spring break plans I sat down earlier this week for some good internet surfing. Turns out that I had not gone to this site since January. Oh the crafting ideas I found.

This colors quiet book it way too cute over at everyday celebrations. I probably even have enough scraps, and her tutorial makes the whole process look like a breeze.

I saw this and immediately thought of my nursery. My cover isn’t dirty….YET, but I thought that I could make a cover to match the nursery and keep it from ever getting dirty. Lil Blue Boo is amazing!

I also love the name artwork she made for her niece’s nursery.

Anyone looking for an awesome gift for a new baby boy on his way…this would be it….. I’m just sayin’.

Small-Bottom Enterprises posted this cool tutorial for a family memory game. I have seen this idea before, but I love the way she put it together. I’m definitely planning on making this down the road for some kiddos in my family.

I’m currently working on an I Spy quilt for the baby, but if I can find the time I’m going to make this. So simple and so cute. Moda Bake Shop posts all kind of ideas to use with or without their fabrics.

This could have been my favorite find of the day, and I have already found other cool ideas visiting At Second Street. With a little boy on the way, I was instantly excited about this. All that fun in a suitcase that can be stored under the bed or in a closet. Oh the possibilities for other play worlds.

Does anyone have any hard suitcases they could donate?

All this inspiration. All I need now is more time to work on all these projects!

Little Guy,

Today marked 22 weeks! We are over half way there. This month has been so busy. We found out that you were a little boy, and we immediately jumped into boy mode.

Here’s the first outfit I bought for you.

I though you would look so handsome in the green (especially if you have red hair). Your daddy picked this awesome little outfit out.

You are going to be the coolest! I think Daddy wants an outfit like that for himself. We also picked out your name and ordered the bedding for your room. Your car seat and stroller came in last week. It’s so neat. You’re going to be stylin’. Oh and once we found out that you were a boy everyone started giving us presents for you faster than I could put them away. Everyone is just so excited to meet you.

I felt you move for the first time on Valentine’s day. You like to roll around and seem to be the most active in the evening. One night I was having a hard time getting comfortable to go to sleep. I decided to lay on my tummy. It felt so good and comfortable, but you were not having it. You started kicking and hitting me repeatedly, so I reluctantly turned onto my side.

I still do not really have a baby bump. Daddy took this picture of me on my birthday.

You can kinda see it a little bit, but you still are not sticking out yet (which is so funny to me because you are the size of a banana now) I look more like I ate too much at Thanksgiving than pregnant. Last week was the first time that my regular pants didn’t fit, so I know that you are growing. Maybe it could also be all the cream cheese I am eating. I have always liked cream cheese, but since I have been pregnant it is my go to snack of choice. Before now we never kept cream cheese and bagels in the house.

I went to the doctor last Monday. You look perfect, and everything is just as it should be. This was the big 21 weeks appointment to look at all of your organs. It was so incredible to look at your heart. I was able to see all four chambers pulse with every beat.  And just look at that face!

Gran (my mom) says that your lower lip looks like your daddy’s. We’ll see! And no there isn’t a crack in your head. That’s just an error in the scan.

The funniest part of the sonogram was that you kept….ummm…..playing with yourself. You kept putting your hands between your legs. The sweet lady doing the sonogram said that in her 20 years of giving sonograms that she has never seen a baby girl with her hands between her legs. Let me just go ahead and give you your first set of advice. Stop playing with it or it’s going to fall off!

Love,

Mama

Me: Guess what Little One (LO)?

LO: What mama?

Me: You’re a boy!

LO: Duh mom. I’ve know that for over 18 weeks now.

Last Monday I went ahead and made a doctor’s appointment because I was feeling so bad. When I went in they started talking about rescheduling my next appointment for another 4 weeks. This would have meant that I would miss my sonogram that had been previously scheduled for today (the 8th).

So I started to get a little upset. When my wonderful doctor entered the room I told him about how I was feeling, and then I proceeded to beg him for a sonogram. After one minute of my irrational babbling he said, “Come on girl.”

That’s when we found out that you are a boy. Not only are you a boy, but you already have a big head. Like father like son. I have already gone through all of the clothes we have been given and packed up the pink stuff. Ryan is going to build out the closet with two rods instead of one so I can pack it full of twice the amount of clothing! We also have almost completely nailed down the name (for this moment at least)!

I wonder who the baby is going to look like.

It’s been too long. Why did you go away for so long? I hardly remember the things I love about you. Iguess that is behind us now. I’ll take you back, and yes I did miss you.

Welcome back. (and I’m in denial that one of the actors said that they are 11 episodes into the final season at it still doesn’t make sense yet. There better be closure ABC!)

Actually it is more accurately the house of snot. Ryan, my mom, and I are all sick this weekend (which really sucks because we can’t really take care of each other). I should have seen this coming Friday night. I woke up in the middle of the night to Ryan’s snoring rattling the headboard. He always snores, but it is never to the point of waking me up. No amount of poking or pushing could make him stop, so I relocated to the couch.

While attempting to sleep I had the weirdest dream. I have to preface this with letting you know that my dreams have been out of control over the past few weeks. I have has some truly traumatizing dreams. Supposedly these dreams are caused by being pregnant. So Friday night here’s how my dream went:

I was sitting at my computer checking the Ellen Degeneres show site, and they had just opened the reservations for seat in the month of May. Why is this important you ask. Ellen does an awesome Mother’s Day show every year for pregnant moms, and she gives away thousands of dollars worth of baby swag. Ever since I found out I would pregnant on Mother’s Day I have dreamed of going to her show. Anyhoo, back to my dream. They had released the block of tickets and I could fill out the reservation form, but I was so excited that I was having a hard time typing. I lovingly looked over at Ryan and asked him to help me fill out the form.

He looked at the computer screen and said, “Yeah. I’m not doing that.” That’s when I slapped him (remember in my dream, no spousal abuse claims to the PD please). He got this look of shock on his face and said, “I cannot believe you just hit me.” My response was, “I didn’t hit you nearly as hard as I wanted to. If I had hit you that hard, you would not be sitting up straight.” I know that I’m such a sweet wife.  It was the impending sickness that made me have those dreams…..right?

Then I woke up to a dog’s paw ramming in my neck. The next day we decided to go check out the BuyBuyBaby in Addison. It’s  a lot bigger than the Plano store, but they didn’t really have more of a variety. Ryan’s nose really started to run and he looked like death in the store. We went home, and then my nose started to run. We tried running errands once more thinking that it was just our allergies.

Then the fever hit, and we were done for. It’s been nonstop snot over here for the past 36 hours. Granny was so sweet that she did a grocery run for us because the Walgreen’s by our house of out of tylenol cold. Pepsi makes everything better.

Ryan and I are both planning on going to work tomorrow, but we’ll see if we still feel the same way in the morning. I can only imagine down the road when the whole house being sick involves a kiddo too. I’m going to enjoy my wallowing while I still can.

I have watched this video over 10 times easily in the past day, and it has left with such a feeling of appreciation. I am so blessed for all of the wonderful people in my life. Thank you for being there and making memories that will last forever.

Enjoy the bliss below!

Little One,

It is so hard to believe that I have been pregnant with you for over three months (16 weeks yesterday). The time seems to have gone so fast. Over the last month lots of things happened. You received your first Christmas presents. So many of your family members remembered you on this special day, and it really made me happy. We spent the whole day in our pajamas hanging out on the couch.

On January 4th we had our first visit with the doctor that will deliver you. He is really funny and made both me and your dad laugh within minutes of meeting him. I was hoping to get a sonogram and see if you are a boy or a girl. Instead he sent me to the specialist to do a routine sonogram to make sure everything was forming correctly (you are growing perfectly by the way). I was promised that this doctor would be able to tell us pink or blue.

You had other plans though. We were able to see you wave, flipping around in my belly, and count all of your fingers. However, you did all of this with your legs criss-crossed like you were sitting in my kindergarten class the whole time.  You were not even being still. You kept arching  your back and wiggling, but your legs were still. So now I will do my best to be patient until our next appointment on February 8th.

I just can’t wait to get things ready for you like painting your room, going through all of the clothes family and friends have given you, and pick out your name. As you will soon find out after you are born, I am kind of anal when it comes to some things. I will do my best to not make you the same way, but just rest assured that all this energy comes from a good place inside of me that only wants the best for you.

We are officially in the second trimester now. The sickness is completely gone, and I am hoping that the fatigue will end soon (fingers crossed). Most days you do not seem real to me. I still am not showing. I will often look down at my stomach (knowing that you are now almost 5 inches long) and wonder where are you? I’m sure by next month you will have made yourself outwardly visible and hopefully I will have felt you moving. We just can’t wait to meet you.

Love,

Mama