One month of my 365 in and done! You know when you start a new year and straight out of the gate you have all this stuff you want to do? You want to eat better, exercise, be more organized, etc. How far do you usually get? I usually make it to March-ish. April and May are typically inconsistent and by summer I've given in. This year, I have the usual stuff on my list (eat better, exercise) but I've added this photo-a-day thing to my daily to-do. The last thing I wanted was for this to be a dreaded task, so I vowed from the get go to let me life guide what I shoot and that I just needed to be more in tune to what inspires me throughout each day. We are all inspired by something or by someone each and every day. I know that when I would feel inspired, I would catalog it and think about it and feel it, but, I would rarely take the next step to carry out my ideas. Throughout my daily photo project experience, I've pushed myself to take that next step. I am feeling the benefits of this already. What have I learned after one month? Well, this isn't new, but I have confirmed that my life indeed revolves around my children. Obviously. I knew that. The thing is, I'm content with that. So much so that it isn't difficult for me at all to put them first for pretty much everything. My challenge is to put me first. If I'm content with that, and don't mind being last, then why change it, right? Well...I figure this is why my resolutions fizzle out by March-ish. As I approach the Big 4-0 on June 2nd, I realize it is important for me to take the time to take care of myself in order to achieve my long-term life goal, and that is to live to 100. So, I will not quit on myself this year, because I have 60 more photo-a-day projects to complete before I rest. I just hope that these kids that my life revolves around will help me keep up with the changing technology of my craft as I age to triple digits. Oh, and before I give you the skinny on Week 4, here's my healthy January update: I gained 2.5 lbs. last week taking my loss total down to 1.5 lbs. Yep. It's horrible. BUT (big butt), I lost 3 more inches for a 4-week grand total of 16 inches lost! Those 16 inches are collectively gone from my arms, hips, waist, chest, and legs. If all I did was weigh myself and didn't take measurements, I would have been really discouraged. Hopefully the scale budges soon...in the meantime, I'm enjoying feeling healthier and 16 inches smaller than I was 4 weeks ago. Now...here's the recap:

Day 22: I walked past a shelf in my living room and saw this. Before kids, when Mr. J and I were desperately trying to have a family, we took a vacation with friends. We visited one of those pottery places where you paint your pottery and pick it up days later. I painted our two kitties Leo and Lana, our sweet babies we adopted a couple of months after we were married. Our kitties kept us good company, and they were my shoulders to cry on during those difficult infertility times. Lana passed away in August of last year, and Leo in his grief followed a couple of months later. So to see these figurines displayed on a shelf, together as they were always were in life, I didn't have to think too long about who placed them there. They will always be together. We miss them terribly. 

Day 23: I love playful Coco mornings. Wherever we go, he goes. As soon as one of us wakes up, Coco comes by for his morning cuddles. Having a dog is such a joy. For Mr. J, having another boy in the house is a life saver! 

Day 24: Another basketball game for Emi...is she getting more aggressive than she was in week 1? Maybe a little tiny bit. This photo shows how close Emi gets to the ball, yet she is so nervous to take the ball out of someone's hands. Our girl is having so much fun! It's exciting to see her slowly come out of her shell. Last week she scored, making a nice shot from afar. I was videotaping with her iPod and was so distracted watching her go down the court I forgot to move the camera and missed it. Mom fail. What can I say, I was super excited!  

Day 25: Two of my daughters, Natalia and Maya, are part of a tap dancing group called the Cleveland Tap Crew. As part of their commitment they were required to attend to a Tap Intensive weekend where they would be instructed by several amazing guest instructors. I had the honor of taking pics on the final day of the intensive and I was covered in goosebumps! Here my daughter Maya and her friend Samantha are being led by the amazing Jumaane Taylor (M.A.D.D Rhythms, among other amazing things). Seriously...if I could dance tap I would be happier. I love that my girls are focusing on tap, there's just something really special about making music with your feet. 

Day 26: Mr. J found his basketball watching buddy for life...Maya. This is such a sweet daddy/daughter moment. Melt my heart...

Day 27: Tuesday nights are reserved for Emi and I while the other three are gone at dance. We work out together, eat dinner, and either watch a movie, play a game, or do another activity of her choosing. Tonight, though, I wanted to get busy in the kitchen so Emi and I were getting our hands dirty. I found this recipe for pepperoni pizza pull apart bread and wanted to healthify it (is that even a word? It is now!). We used whole wheat flour, low fat cheese, and turkey pepperoni. While we worked, I played the The Carpenters station on Pandora. Yes, I played The Carpenters station. So, I sing The Carpenters songs all the time, I'm serious. Why, you ask? What do you mean? I love them! But the station plays so many songs I remember hearing when I was about Emi's age. So, we prepared our meal, we talked, I reminisced about my childhood, we hugged and kissed and enjoyed each others company. I felt so good tonight. When the others got home, they absolutely LOVED what we made and Emi was so proud to show it off! Day 27 was a feel good day for sure. 

Day 28: Oh it's cold out there! I really wish Coco didn't have to go outside to use the bathroom, but he does. So I've cracking the front door so he could run out, go really quickly, then he runs right back in. Before I closed the door I admired his paw prints, awwww. Grab the camera and freeze the paw prints. Check! Look at the little puppy feet...of course I wrap him up in a blanket and warm him up. He's my baby!

That's Week 4! Stay warm :)...