when i started this project i had no idea what it would turn into.
first of all, i thought it was going to be easy... it was not.
sometimes there wasn't anything to take pictures of. sometimes i was tired and didn't feel like blogging. sometimes i didn't have time to sit and come up with anything witty or amusing to write. sometimes i wondered about what i had gotten myself into.
but i'm glad i stuck it out... because sometimes in those moments when i had to get creative, my favorite blogs were born.
and interestingly enough, i thought that this would just be a blog of pictures, but it was so much more than that. it was a journal. a window into the life of mindy balut. a memento of who i am.
and who am i?
i am a wife. a sister. a daughter. a shoe lover, dog lover, food lover. a business card collector.
i am sensitive. lovable. funny. caring. hopeful. dedicated. creative.
i am a teacher. a student. a friend. a confidante.
10 years ago there was a terrorist attack on the united states.
right after it happened everyone was saying that we would all never forget where we were when it happened.
and it's true. 10 years later and i still remember like it was yesterday.
everyone has a story. some have stories that are heart wrenching.
a few years later, i read the first chapter of the book let's roll, by lisa beamer, and cried my eyes out. i couldn't read the rest. there are too many people with stories like that.
to those that lost someone they loved... my heart hurts for you.
to those that helped in the aftermath - police, fire, military, etc. - i am thankful for your selflessness.
to those still fighting to keep our country safe... you are our heroes.
people use their cameras to get shots of themselves all the time.
they hold the camera at arms length and click away.
unfortunately i can't do that with mine.
it's so awkward. it's really too bulky to hold in one hand, and even if i do get it situated in one hand, at arms length, the button is on the right side, which means that if i'm holding it in my right hand and facing it at me, the button is on the left. which means my finger can't exactly reach to push the button.
so if i switch and hold it in my left hand, i can't hold the weight of the camera because it's heavy on the right side.
it probably doesn't make sense to you, but if you have a camera like this you would know what i mean.
aaaannnywaaays... i was trying to take a picture of maeve and myself.
we wanted to celebrate. and the best way to do that is with food and family.
and a pool always helps.
maeve fell asleep at one point and uncle matt put toys all over her. he said that's what happens when you pass out at a party.
maeve also got in the pool for the first time.
she loved it! well, not at first. she kinda cried a little, but i think she was just being dramatic cause after a little while she was enjoying it.
i tried to take a lot of pictures while i was there. i only have 10 days left of the blog, and i thought it would be nice to get a few more people on here.
usually people hide from my camera, but there was so much going on, i don't think they noticed i was taking pictures.
for those of you that don't know, or didn't pick up on the comment in the last blog, i extended my maternity leave for another 6 weeks.
i am totally thrilled about staying home with maeve for these extra weeks.
but at the same time, it is a little strange not going back to work.
for the last six years i started every fall by getting ready for my students and now, this year began without me.
i didn't meet the new faculty. i didn't set up my room. i didn't pass out a syllabus. i didn't explain the lunch schedule 25 times. i didn't pass out books day one and get dirty looks from students that thought this year was going to be easy. i didn't do any of it.
and yet, on tim's first day back to work, he came home with flowers for me.
and who am i? 
