2011, Here We Go.

Cheers to 2010. A remarkable year and a bunch of new beginnings. And here's to best wishes to everyone for 2011!


I think we're close to being caught up with Xmas (I know.. it past a few days ago...), we at least got the jump start for New Years. =)

Rounded Corners III: Clipping Mask

After researching a few different methods to create rounded corners, this is my personal favorite for ease and flexibility.
1) Do all prepping of photo before hand (crop, shrink, etc). Image resides on Background layer.
2) Duplicate a copy of the Background Layer (Layer1).
3) Between Background Layer and the duplicate (Layer1), create a new layer (Layer2) and fill with background color.
4) Use Tools--> Rounded Rectangle Tool (Or Text or Freeform...etc) to create shape choice
5) Go to the top photo layer (Layer1) and select Layer-->Clipping Mask

http://www.happywebdiva.com/2008/02/03/how-to-make-rounded-corners-in-photoshop/

Rounded Corners II: Vector Mask

Another good method of rounding corners using vector mask.
1) Open a new, blank document. Drag photo into the new document, which will then reside on its own layer, Layer1.
2) On Layer1, click on the Layer Mask icon at bottom of the Layers palette.
3) On Layer1, click again on the same Layer Mask icon, which now adds a Vector Mask.
4) Now select the Rounded Rectangle Tool in the Tools palette, with the Shapes layer icon selected in the Options Bar and set a radius value.


5) Make sure that the Vector mask is selected,


and then drag out the rounded rectangle shape. The only part of the photo that will be visible will be everything inside of the shape. If the shape needs repositioning while dragging the shape, hold down the spacebar.

6) Add a rounded border using Stoke. Click on Layer Styles icon at bottom of Layers palette --> Stoke.


7) Finished product


Summarized tutorial from this reference: http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-effects/rounded-corners/

Rounded Corners I: Quick & Dirty

I am always forgetting how to round corners on my photos. Since there are many ways to do it, I'm documenting the methods that I like. These are notes on how to create rounded corners and drop shadow box for a photo using Photoshop CS3.
This method describes the rounded corners effect using Rectangular Marquee in Photoshop CS3.

1) Open photo, which will reside on Background layer.



2) Select Rectangular Marquee Tool and draw box on the portion of the photo you want captured and rounded.


3) Select --> Modify --> Smooth


Change Sample radius to the amount of roundedness. Trial and error.

Notice how the rectangular selection now has smoothed, rounded corners.


4) Edit --> Copy
5) Open new file: File -->New
6) Edit --> Paste into new file. This should paste the image inside the rectangular marquee into the new file on Layer1.


7) To create Drop shadow box, go to Layer Style-->Drop Shadow.


8) Finished product --> Rounded corners, white border background, and drop shadow.

Xmas Fun

Em is feeling much better and back to romping around with high-energy. Ryan and I are still sick, but at least we know how to blow our noses! I'm really appreciating that after watching Em suffer through being sick and not knowing how to blow her nose...poor baby! Anyhow, here is the upside to Em's first Christmas:

She's getting the hang of opening presents!


Test run of her new toy.


Who? Me?

"oohhh"

"My new ride... a Kawasaki Quad from my aunties!"

"Here dad. Hop on. I'll drive you around."

Christmas

Xmas this year was simple and sweet. Emilia got sick. Connie started feeling under the weather shortly after. And Ryan is now getting a sore throat. There's been lots of soup and Chinese meds. Emilia was a bit lethargic and very snuggly, so holding her all day with extended naps were in order. The Nosefrieda is awesome. Emilia would not be able to breathe without it. She is now on the up side of the sickness and getting better every day. Not sure about the adults yet.. However, Xmas was to be had and so lots of new toys and play time, warm applesauce and hot cocoa, pajamas and rolling around the carpet made Xmas simple and sweet.


We spent the bulk of the holiday at home, but did venture out a little bit to spend some time with grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Em had fun, her very first Xmas!!, and hopefully nobody got sick. =P

Croup

Croup is a condition that causes an inflammation of the upper airways — the voice box (larynx) and windpipe (trachea). It often leads to a barking cough or hoarseness, especially when a child cries.

Most cases of croup are caused by viruses. Those involved are usually parainfluenza virusadenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Croup is most common — and symptoms are most severe — in children 6 months to 3 years old, but can affect older kids, too.

Emilia is now going through her first real illness. She started acting a little under the weather on Tue eve so we put her to bed a little early. At 11 pm, she woke up crying and had a really nasty cough. She also seemed really hot so we took her temperature. We have one of those armpit thermometers, and it really sucks because it's difficult to use and takes forever to get the temp. Anyway, her temp was 100.8 so she was definitely running a fever. We decided to call the night nurse at our pediatrician's office. She listened to the cough over the phone, and instantly said it sounded like croup. She recommended that we take her to the ER, and have her diagnosed and treated there. The main risk was that if her throat swelled too much she might have difficulty breathing. We arrived at Palomar Hospital ER around midnight, and found it to be standing room only. Interestingly there was a baby ahead of us with the identical cough. We finally saw the doctor, and he confirmed the croup diagnosis. They (actually I) administered an oral steroid which helps control the inflammation in the throat. We got home, and got her to bed around 2 am. Of course she woke up crying/coughing around 3 am. They say that cool, outside air can make them feel better. So I held her by an open door with the wind and rain howling outside. It actually worked, and we got her back to bed shortly thereafter. She seemed to get a little worse the next night, but has been better since. Her fever is down (temp was 98.8 today), and she has a good appetite and energy. She still sounds like she has something stuck in her throat and her nose is runny, but we think she's on the downhill side of this now. Hopefully she'll be good to go for Christmas.

An Evening Play with Em

The Pianist


The Book Worm


Peek-A-Boo, Em's way.

MotoGP

During MotoGP....

this is what goes on.



Definitely Daddy's little girl... she likes MotoGP and speed racer cars.

Mental Manipulation

She picked out this magazine herself...really.


And she picked out this toy herself (Thanks Chris and Jess).

Drum Roll Please!

Can I have a bidda-ba-da-boom?

Flock of Seagulls

One morning, she decides to do the 80s do...


and sport the 'semblance to the Flock of Seagulls


Even mimics the 80s punk spunk!


Rock on, my babe!

That Toothy Grin

Yes, they're finally in. Em's two bottom teeth have finally broken through. After months of drooling, this is what she has to show for it. And she's now becoming a gnawing machine.

Busy Busy Busy

We're here, just busy, busy, busy. How to fix baby Em's hair when we're busy...

A Day in the Life of Em at 8 Mos

I decided to do something a little different for this update on Emilia. I basically just took a bunch of pics and video during one of our morning sessions. So I'm sure I've missed some things, and she doesn't always do what you're hoping she might do. But so goes a Day in the Life of our baby Em...

New and improved crawling.

She's a lot faster now too.

New safety gate installed, and being tested (note C-clamped plywood on railing).

Uh, hopefully she can't open it.

Everything has to pass the lick test.

Just learning to climb up the stairs.

Starting to eat finger foods. Connie's teaching her to feed them to herself.

Feeding her and videoing it at the same time is not easy.

Her new play area with her playing outside of it, of course.

Yes, she actually does play inside it as well.

She loves her mirror dance partner.

The bouncer is now just for standing.

There's definitely a musical bone in this baby. She dances whenever she hears a tune.

Mesmerized...
by the birds on the swing.

Mesmerized - the video.

MJ (Michael Jordon) Impression:

She's become quite intricate with that pointy finger.

Gotta keep things out of her reach.

Her jumping can get out of control.

This doesn't look good.

If she only knew...

I caught it just before it tumbled over.

Em's not a big laugher so this is rare, hard to capture video.

Don't fence me in (even though she's actually on the outside of the fence).

Boulder series...





This update wouldn't be complete without a weight and length report. Emilia now weighs 15 lb 3 oz, and measures 26" head-to-toe. This puts her at the 10th percentile mark for both categories. She had a big weight increase last month, but apparently lost some weight this month. That was probably due to a couple of factors. One is that last month's weight may not have been real accurate as it was difficult to get her to hold still. This month I used a new method of weighing her while she's in the car seat. Also, last month was a transition period as we started to supplement formula as Connie's milk supply has decreased. In any event, we're not concerned about it as she's in good proportion and healthy as an ox (albeit a very small one).

Here's a list of the solid foods she's eaten so far. She definitely has her favorites (sweet stuff, of course) and dislikes (avocado, boo), but so far no allergic reactions. Connie's become a gourmet baby food chef with her Beaba baby food processor.

Fruits: Apple, Banana, Blueberry, Pear, Plum, Peach, Avocado
Veggies: Sweet Potato, Yams, Squash, Green Beans, Carrot, Zucchini, Peas

We're now regularly supplementing her milk with formula to extend out the breastmilk supply, and get her ready for when she'll be on formula exclusively. Interesting thing is she won't drink the formula we got from the hospital (Enfamil), but she sucks down Gerber's Good Start. Picky kid ;^)