Changes...

I’ve been a bit MIA from my blog this past week and it’s because I’ve been working on a big transition. A big project and a big change in my life. And well…I’m a bit scared of this new thing. But I’ve decided to just jump in head-first and let the chips fall where they may! A quote that I once read and has stuck with me for years is...

“You’ll never leave where you are until you decide where you’d rather be.”

And I think that I finally know where I would rather be.

I'm not quite ready to share it with the world yet...I am still working out all the details, but I am excited. So very, very excited. And scared...and deliriously happy...and nervous. All at the same time!

But of this I am sure, I would hate it to not try for my dreams because I was afraid. I would rather try and possibly fail, than to have never tried and always wonder, "What if." So here I go...

Color, Light and a Beautiful Subject

This past weekend, I got to do a very impromptu photo shoot with a good friend...and in a new location! I had such a great time catching up with her and getting to take photos of a very beautiful woman.

I really had an amazing time and the lighting, colors and location were just perfect! Caleb even tagged along and had a blast playing in the water fountain and he was a help, because his natural personality helps to bring a smile to anyone's face!

Thank you Shauna for being such an easy subject to shoot! You are amazing and beautiful and I had a phenomenal afternoon with you. Your smile and the twinkle in your eyes speak louder than words about the passion that you have for life. Thank you for being you and for being a part of my life!

I have a confession to make

So, remember my last post? The one about my big list of things to do over the weekend?

Well, I didn't get any of those things done. Not. A. Single. One.

And it was great!! Instead I went on a date with my husband and finally saw Harry Potter. (It was AMAZING and I cried. Twice.) We had friends over and had a game night. I slept in. I swam in the pool. I laid out in the sun. And I caught up on my DVR'd shows.

It was lazy.

And it was perfect.

And it was definitely what the doctor ordered.

I finished the weekend feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world. And when my husband and I picked up Caleb from Grandma's house I was so ready to see him again...I missed my little guy, but I was glad to have gotten the break to recharge my batteries!

Happy Monday!

I've got a big list...

...of things to do this weekend!

I get to have 2 days minus a certain 4 year old and I have a list a mile long to get done while he's gone. It's amazing how much you can get done without a preschooler trailing after you!

• Mop the Floors
• Clean out the Pantry
• Work in the Backyard
• Organize the Garage (So we can finally park both cars in it!)
• Clean-up Caleb's room and get rid of some stuff!

The hubs and I are also squeezing in a date night tonight.

And get ready for this....

WE ARE SLEEPING IN TOMORROW MORNING!!!

Seriously...this is the best part of the entire time...I daydream about sleeping in on a daily basis. But since the kiddo is an early riser this only happens when he stays the night at Auntie's or Grandma's house!

Have a great weekend...I know I'm going to!!

Newborn Baby Photos - Beautiful Alexa

Ok...so I've been having some major baby fever lately. Majorly.

I think it's because lately everywhere I turn I've been hearing about babies! I have many friends that are pregnant or have just given birth. And so many of my blogland friends are preggers right now too! (Must have been a cold winter!)

So with all this talk of babies...I've been wanting to snuggle one. Smell their new baby smell. Squish their little feet and hands. And this weekend I finally got to do that! A good friend of mine just had a baby last Wednesday and she invited me to come over and get experience with my very first newborn photo shoot!

And what an amazing "client" for my first newborn shoot. She was sweet, snuggly and wonderfully cooperative the entire time!

And beautiful. Oh so beautiful!

 Welcome to the world little Alexa!

Just keep swimming

This summer has been full of lots of sunshine and LOTS of swimming! Caleb has been in swimming lessons for the last few months and he is getting really good. He can swim the backstroke, the breaststroke and freestyle. (He’s still got some work on the butterfly!)

Caleb & swim lesson friend Joey doing the backstroke

Having a pool means that we HAVE to make sure that Caleb can swim, so he’s been in swim lessons since he was 18 months old! Now for me I learned how to swim the old fashioned way…with my dad throwing me in the river and expecting me to find my way to the surface and back to the bank. My husband on the other hand, also grew up with a pool and took swim lessons as a kid, and after watching me swim (I look like I’m having a seizure when I freestyle) he knew that REAL swim lessons would be needed for Caleb. Since school starts next week for the kids in our neighborhood, swim lessons are over for the summer but here are some photos from the last session!

Preparing to dive

Joey showing Caleb how it's done!

My little diver boy!

Taking off for the backstroke!

And as Dory in Finding Nemo says…”Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming!”

Mother Daughter Love & a Secret Photo Shoot

I've been hard at work editing photos and planning for some new photo shoots and I just realized that I hadn't shown photos from this one from about 6 weeks ago.

I had the delight of working with Becky and her daughter Shannon for a secret photo shoot as a father's day gift to her husband Marshall. I had sooo much fun with them...our afternoon was full of laughter, smiles and amazing light! What a wonderful pair to work with!

 

 

The love between these two was just amazing...I have known both mom and daughter for years and I can't believe what a beautiful young woman Shannon has grown up to be! I can't wait to photograph both of them again!