I'm working on my portfolio. Finally.

So, in 11pm news, I've been a busy bee tonight.

I've been wanting to re-create my portfolio for awhile now, and finally figured out that I wanted to try making it in WordPress. I managed to install WordPress (pretty easy, actually) on my web server, customized the content, and added a few posts. I officially have a new portfolio!

Now comes the fun part: creating my own theme (graphics and layout), then populating the site with all the content I think is worth keeping in my portfolio. I'll be working on this over the next few weeks. Wish me luck!

PS - you can check it out here, though there's not much to see yet: http://www.boulianne.net/design/

Computering together

Computering together
Originally uploaded by trippykel

The past couple of days have been busy with Cade-ness, since he's decided that naps are for babies. He's also teething and switching to solids, so we've been having a bit of a time keeping him entertained and myself sane. On the upside, I haven't thrown in the towel yet. Hooray for that!

Jeremie is off in Jasper today, snowboarding with the guys. I hope that he has an amazing time - you don't get to head out to the mountains every weekend, so you've got to enjoy it when you can.

In digital news, I made a nice robot logo for Jeremie's robot club last night, and am attempting to install wordpress on my server - both to test out the CMS, and to start (maybe?) a design blog, to be updated mostly when I want to rant about such things or have something new to show off. We'll see how that goes. I do want to see how easy Wordpress is to design for, and to use. So far my favorite is Joomla, though there are a few things I'd like to see made easier for the average joe. And for lazy me.

I bought a ton of groceries today, and also picked out some great fabric for a nursing cover for Amy. I'll let you know how it turns out!

a new blog layout

a new blog layout
Originally uploaded by trippykel

Hooray for a new background graphic on the good ol' blog! I got the idea from Hot bliggity Blog, who has some lovely backgrounds you can use for free. I decided to customize/redo one of their graphics for my background, and quite like the new look. Huzzah and all that!

visiting the hospital

visiting the hospital
Originally uploaded by trippykel

There are babies popping up all over the place in the cabbage patch! I know of 3 new babies, and 2 more to come next month. It's baby shower time again! That reminds me, I need to plan some games for an upcoming shower. Any suggestions?

Tomorrow night is our date night - Jeremie and I are hiring a sitter and going out without Cade. It's been quite awhile since we've done so, and I'm looking forward to it.

Cade took 2 steps on his own yesterday for Jeremie. I wasn't paying attention, but I'm sure there will be more steps in the near future! He's crawling now, not all over the house but mostly just to get into the next room or over to the next toy when this one seems less interesting. He loves to play with cords, the toilet paper roll in the bathroom, and garbage cans - in short, what he's not allowed to touch. He's eating 3 meals a day now, but it's hard for me to figure out what to feed him. He's not good with a spoon, and only likes finger food, so he's eating a lot of peanut buttered bread and oranges, plus some of whatever we have for dinner. He's been fussy the past few weeks, and I hope it's just teething, and not a new personality phase! On the upside of that though, he cuddled with me for about 20 minutes after his nap this afternoon. That was great.

Our photo book has arrived!

Our photo book has arrived!
Originally uploaded by trippykel

The photo book turned out to be lovely, and I'm very happy with it. Hooray for My Publisher!

Last week Gwen came out with me to the church to add all the books donated in the past several months to the church collection. I just got a new order of books in yesterday (hooray!) and so we'll be doing it again this coming Monday. Here's to hoping Cade is in a better mood when we go next. It's hard to get something done when he insists on being played with and held the whole time. Aah, the joys of being a mom.

Jer went to the dentist to get a consulation about his wisdom teeth, and he'll be getting them removed this coming summer. I remember getting mine out. It wasn't too bad, but it wasn't exactly fun either. It's like pulling teeth.

Saturday evening was the birthday party for a two-year old of our acquaintance, so we all bundled up to head out to a local hotel pool for a swim, a chat, and some birthday cake. We had a great time, aside from poor cold Cade. He wasn't a big fan of all the echoey noise, nor did he like the temperature of the big pool. He was abnormally silent and still for most of the swim, until we warmed him up well in the hot tub. I happily took part in a "see how long you can swim underwater" contest with the guys, and was pleased to fair as one of the better contestants. All those swimming lessons finally paid off!

Tonight is my 'night off' from the kid. I'm thinking I'll head into town and do some shopping. Maybe mall shopping, maybe grocery shopping, maybe just a lot of browsing. I don't want to spend much this month since I did end up buying that lovely coat I had my eye on - it was half off and I decided not to pass it up for that price. Thus the window shopping. Window shopping is good for you, right? Wait, I wonder what's on at the movies? I'll have to go check that out as an alternative. I never mind catching a good flick!

Well, I'm off to play with Cade for awhile. His mom has been incommunicado on the computer for long enough!

books and tiles and books

new 'tiles' in the kitchen. I love it!
Originally uploaded by trippykel

I've read a few stunningly good books in the past few months, and wanted to share my book joy. The first book is called 'The Sweetness at the Bottom of the pie' by Alan Bradley. It has got to have the best first chapter, bar none, that I have ever read. It's just great. The rest of the book is well done too, though not quite to the same level as the first chapter. It's a quirky, amusing light read about an 11 year old chemist and amateur sleuth whose shenanigans keep the whole mystery of 'who killed for the stamp' a pleasure to read. Highly recommended.

I also had the pleasure of picking up one of Terry Pratchett's books on a lark. I haven't read any of his work thus far, and was happily surprised by this book. It's clever, it's witty, and it's a bit ridiculous at the same time. It takes place in a well-orchestrated world where some things are the same as here, and some things are normal there that we don't exactly go in for. Like a wizards' university. A kind orc. And a one crazy game of soccer / kick the can. Suspend your disbelief, put your uptight glasses on the shelf for a more serious read, and enjoy this delightful romp through literature.

PS - the photo attached to this post is the updated tiles in my kitchen. I still love them dearly, though they're now several weeks old and the ultra-new-shine has worn off, replaced by a few kitchen spatters.