Just a quick note to all of my devoted readers (Mom and Stacie), I am still alive and will be blogging again soon. I have not given up on my Project 365. I have taken my pictures everyday but just haven’t uploaded them to my blog in quite awhile. Aside from my volunteering, I’m starting a new business venture and have been giving it most of my attention right now. I’m also currently working on a way to extend the days to 30 hours as opposed to the measly 24 that are now offered to us humans.

A little late this week but here they are…

19/365: Today we headed to Children's Urgent Care because poor Lainey has been having stomach pains that cause her to cry out and even moan in her sleep. Allergist said no allergies, Urgent Care doc said it was a virus. Mommy says there is something more. Based on timing of pain, constipation and strange rashes, I'm checking out Celiac Disease. I'll keep you all updated.

20/365: It was a wonderful day today. The only thing that could have made President Obama's inauguration more enjoyable for me would have been if I could have been among the millions in DC. Oh well, maybe in 4 more years for his second go around.

21/365: All is right with the world again... Obama is President and LOST is back!!!

22/365: When Dedi was here on Sunday, she planted my paperwhites for me and 4 days later they are sprouting. She even put a pinch of rubbing alcohol to stunt their growth.

23/365: Can you guess what this is? I've always thought that the tiny patch of white hair on Duke's black tail was cute so I took a quick picture of it.

24/365: Just a random shot today. This is a solar ball that I stuck down into my jade plant.

25/365: Yep you guessed it, it's snowing again in Ohio. I thought I would throw an aged texture into this edit for interest. Hopefully the temperature will climb above 15 degrees so that we can go sledding soon.

I’m smart enough to know that one person can not change a country. Well, actually ‘change’ is not the right word here. The United States does not need to change per se, we just need to be turned in the right direction.  I am optimistic that President Obama – with the help of Congress and time – can improve the necessary things to make America an even better place.

I watched the inauguration Tuesday with inspired eyes.  I felt hopeful and even more proud to be an American … which I didn’t think was possible.  I love this country.  We are a lucky bunch to have been born in a place where citizens are allowed and even encouraged to be independent thinkers yet are inherently members of one community.

The swearing-in faux pas by Chief Justice Roberts was handled with grace by Obama who with just a hesitation after the word “execute” did not let on to public that the mistake was made by Roberts as opposed to himself.  This NY Times op-ed has an interesting take on the oath and grammar.

So besides the fact that Chief Justice Roberts re-administered the oath today to ensure Obama was properly sworn in, the other amazing tidbit is that for 4 minutes Vice President Joe Biden was actually the President of the United States since the inauguration was running late and Bush’s term expired prior to Obama’s swearing in.

I was disappointed that some people were flipping Bush the finger when his helicopter took off from the inauguration.  I’m not a fan of former President Bush but I am a fan of people showing some class.  And that was as classless as those who booed at the mention of Obama’s name at McCain’s concession speech on election night.

All in all, it was a wonderful day with many beautiful moments.

Photo courtesy of AP/Getty Images

I know most people like the picture of Sasha Obama giving her dad the ‘thumbs up’ but this is one of my favorites.  Malia Obama reportedly takes her camera everywhere with her (a girl after my own heart) even though she can likely get her hands on any picture need wants nowadays.  I just love that she chooses to document her own memories.

It was a tumultuous week.

The Ohio State Buckeyes lost in the Fiesta Bowl despite Jay wearing his lucky sweatband. Here he helps the officials by pointing out that there is a flag on the play. Vedo could not care less, he just wants to go to bed.

Lainey enjoys a bath more than any toddler I've met. I'm also a little concerned about her request for me to go get my camera everytime she gets in the tub.

Lakyn had a swim meet at Columbus Academy. She got second in this breast-stroke event.

This is Lainey's back while we waited for the results of her allergy test. So far she is negative for the items tested. We have to retest for more allergens later. Of course Lainey, being the tough little bird she is, barely whimpered from the needles.

Lainey got her first haircut today. Yes, we know she's 3 years old. I just couldn't bear to pass this milestone so I kept putting it off.

Today as we were walking to the locker room after swim lessons, Lainey tripped over several floats that were left laying next to the pool. She landed face first and busted both lips, knocked her front tooth loose (we're off to the dentist Monday), scraped her feet and got a black eye. She cried longer from this fall than she did when she got stitches in 2007.

Today I came home from shopping at the outlet mall with my neighbor to find this clean kitchen (and a matching clean house). The amazing part is that Jay did this while watching Lainey and then went to the grocery. Yes, I am aware how lucky I am.

If you don’t know what Project 365 is, check out this post.  Here is my first week (keep in mind that 2009 began on a Thursday so this is a short post).

1/365 A shot of my hubby through my plastic champagne 'glass.' Here's to 2009.

2/365: A rare sighting... Lakyn is vacuuming (and smiling at the same time).

3/265: Lainey decided tonight that her new baby doll should start sitting in her highchair for dinner.

4/365: It was a yucky, rainy, foggy day so we turned it into a 'movie day.' We watched "21", Vantage Point and Iron Man.

I can barely contain myself… it’s just 22 days away, 22 days, 22 days, 22 days, 22 days, 22 days, 22 days, 22 days, 22 days, 22 days, 22 days, 22 days, 22 days, 22 days, 22 days,22 days, 22 days, 22 days, 22 days, 22 days, 22 days, 22 days, OMG I can’t believe it will be here in just 22 days.

We have to go back!

If you haven’t already done so, you need to go to Sawyer’s Nickname Generator and find out what your nickname would be if you were so lucky to end up on the LOST island with that hot manly man.  I would be Dr. Giggles … I love it!

Oh to be a bottle of water

And take a look at this shot from Josh Holloway’s most recent Cool Water ad… again, people, what do I have to do to get the job of ‘water pourer?’

It’s one of my New Year’s Resolutions. Project 365 is a way to document one whole year of my life, improve my photography skills and give me a daily challenge (aside from the normal everyday challenges of avoiding a tragic fall in the shower, not getting run over by stupid people talking on their cells and not watching the road, etc.). I will be required to take at least one photo everyday (and post it with a description).  As to not bore you all with daily postings, I plan to post a week’s worth of photos each and every Sunday of 2009.  While this may not sound like much of a challenge, you have to admit that, as a mom, there are days that just seem to “get away from you.”  Well, at least that happens to me.  So… anyone out there want to join me with your own Project 365?

In the meantime, here are some very cool Project 365 examples.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdrae/sets/72157606530271115/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/secretagentmama/sets/72157604353847422/

And finally, one of the COOLEST photography couples on Flickr (no I do not know them but I am a fan of their hard work and obvious talent) Aaron Nace and Rosie Hardy

At no point do I ever think my Project 365 will come close to these examples but I just want to see what I have accomplished by December 31, 2009.

When Lainey gets tired, she gets hyper and a little silly. The other night she was singing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” so I grabbed the camera and asked her to repeat it for me… this is what I got. Please excuse the bad lighting since I didn’t want to blind my kid with the optional light kit. (And yes, she’s still in a crib… and I love it… I know right where she is.)  And her request through this entire video is for me to turn the viewfinder around so that she can watch herself… why not?  She is her favorite person.