Pre-First 48 | Life's Work...

I've been thinking a lot about my life's work. What in the world is God's purpose for me here on earth? I'm sure I probably still have new mom hormones running through me like crazy, but having a new baby has made me feel even more anxious about the future than I already was. And if that's not a crappy double edged sword...because all I really want to do is sit at home and hold her and not think about having to do anything else ever. But I know that's entirely unrealistic, so I'm all of a sudden feeling this pressure to do something. Something different, something meaningful. And I think I've taken the first step towards that by staying home with our baby girl for awhile. Which may not seem like a big deal, but was a huge decision for us. Because what is more meaningful than caring for your children?

Beyond that though, I know I can't just stay at home and stare at her forever…she'll probably not find me so entertaining in a couple years. Plus, I do have talents and passions that were built in to me by my Creator…I just hadn't, up until recently, figured out what exactly to do with them.

But I think I'm finally getting somewhere.

Though I became a mom 4 years ago through the process of adoption, giving birth to our second child was another completely new experience. Tons and tons of firsts that I didn't get to experience with our son. And I have just been completely enamored with the role of newborn momma. The entire past year…the pregnancy, her birth, and all those firsts I mentioned earlier…they are things I have never experienced before and will probably never experience again (my husband said he's done at 2) :)

And yet, I can look back through photographs and be instantly transported to the time when I looked and felt like I was carrying around a beach ball and she was still dancing around in my tummy; to the time when Benjamin met his daughter for the first time; to the time when Ian met his sister for the first time, etc.

I've always said the one possession I would save in a fire would be my photos, because of the incredible gift they give us. So to hopefully end this brain dump quickly….what I'm trying to get to is that I think I may, may have found a bit of direction in my life's work. Maybe I can give other moms and dads photos that will conjour up distinct and profound memories of those first days of their children's lives. Because I know for me, those are moments I never want to forget.

I know I can "do" photography. I grew up with a camera in my hand and got a degree in the field. But I've never been extremely confident, and I've never felt truly inspired. If I've taken your photos in the past, I don't mean to say they were uninspiring, or that I didn't enjoy it; I just always stressed so much about the logistics, and the technical side of things (posing, lighting, location, etc.). I focused way more on the photographs than on the emotions in them, and it sucked the joy out of what I was doing.

In birth photography, you don't really even have that option. You have hospital light, and completely unromantic and uninspiring settings, and messy hair and un made-up moms. But those moms are such beautiful of subjects as they prepare to bring a sweet soul into the world.

In birth photography you have the most brilliant of experiences taking place, and that, as a photographer, is something I have found a heart for. SO, as I transition from family photography to maternity/birth/newborn photography, I ask that you pray that I have confidence, that I don't give up, and that I serve these moms and families well.

Finally…here are the images. Ideally, these First 48 (typically the birth shoot will take place over a period of 48 hours in the hospital) sessions will include a maternity, or a "Pre" session where I get some images of the mom or family before the baby arrives, and then a Newborn session, after the baby arrives. With this sweet family, I got/get to do all three parts, and it has been so wonderful. Here are some from exactly a week before (almost to the hour) their baby boy #2 arrived:

4 months | A Letter To My Daughter

Gosh. You are a dream, baby girl. Despite what the numerous meltdowns I've had this week may say about me, I absolutely love being a mom. And I love being your mom.

And since we're technically in your 5th month (!) I won't go into detail yet about what a massively chaotic few weeks its been. That can wait til next time.

For now, I'll just talk about last month, and I'm going to try and practice a little brevity this time since I  want to get this done before it's time for the next letter. You are so perfect, and such a joy, and in the midst of my most bleak times, your smile and your laugh make EVERYTHING melt away. It's like magic.

Here are some pictures from your fourth month.

You discovered your feet this month...

And your hands...

You got a little better at tummy time. Previously, 30 seconds would pass and you'd be over it. We got a few minutes out of you here and there last month!

I feel like here you are ok...maybe a little resigned to the fact that you're going to have to stay that way for a bit:

And now you are beginning to look at me impatiently. And no matter how ridiculous it is, the last picture still breaks my heart.

You took your first trip to the Hill Country, to visit my hometown and your grandpop. That trip was rough. You did not want to sleep, and I remember getting out of the car physically sore from tension; from hearing you cry so much. I know babies cry; but that doesn't make it anymore fun to hear your baby cry.

We stopped in Marble Falls finally to eat and look at Christmas lights. More pictures from this trip when we get to the iPhone pics.

One of my oldest and best friends came to meet you while we were down (again, more pics in a sec), and she gave you two of the most gorgeous baby dresses I've ever seen. You went to your first Christmas Cantata at church the next weekend and wore this one:

More tummy time pics:

Agh! I wouldn't make you do it if it wasn't good for you!

And here are some of your Christmas PJ's, that I'm still putting you in by the way, because its too sad to me that you'll never wear them again.

Your love for this rattle just continues to intensify. It was recommended by a lady in one of the baby boutiques we registered it as being good for babies development, and it is seriously awesome. You love it.

Your brother turned 6, which means you went to your first birthday party! I love your face…you were just taking it all in.

Long ago your dad and I talked about trying to stay put for Christmas every year so you and Ian could make special memories in your home, and for the past few Christmases all your grandparents had come to stay with us for the holidays. This year, since we were moving, we spent Christmas with your  grandparents in Abilene...it was nice to go to a home that looked and smelled like Christmas, because ours certainly did not. All our decorations were in storage, and all we had was a bare tree that we were giving to someone else after the holiday was over. It was pretty bleak. Not exactly how I had imagined your first December.

Some pictures of our visit:

I know putting a picture of me nursing you is kind of weird, but your grandma took it, and when I saw it on my camera it just completely summed up that time for me. Being away from the craziness of moving, spending some downtime with you in someone else's home..it was a welcome respite.

More pics of you and I! These don't happen very often...

Doesn't matter how blurry;these are so precious to me.

And then there's this :)

This trip was the first time you really got to spend some extended time with your uncle Jacob and aunt Rachel. Which is weird, because we're so close (literally and figuratively!). But I'm thankful for it!

Christmas morning you did pretty well! You opened all your presents and made it to about 10:30 until the sleepy dust took over.

Now the iPhone pics. Always hate that I have so many more of these, but am also immensely grateful that I do!

It got pretty cold last month! I love these puffy footies…your dad makes fun of me.

Your wake-up faces:

And these are the pictures of you meeting Jenn for the first time!

You are only 4 months old and you've already been to two of our most favorite restaurants! :)

Flores, above…and Salt Lick, below. Plus more wake-up faces.

So, this month was easily defined by sleep, or lack thereof.

This month was the month we began a bedtime routine with you. And you like it! You get a bath, you get fed, you get a story, the Bible, some lavender, and you're out. You sleep very well at night, and we are so thankful for that. And you are so happy in the mornings.

But you don't like to nap. You kinda refuse to, unless you're being held. And even then you put up a pretty big fight. From what I've been reading though, and hearing from other people, that's not too unusual, and I wasn't about to start trying to nap train you during the craziness of moving combined with the travel of the holidays. So, we held you. And we took walks. And we drove around. Whatever we could do to get you a couple naps throughout the day.

I would even walk around the driveway with you some days just because the cool air calmed you down. The first picture is us on a walk around the playground while your brother played. I think you had just woken up. But the second picture is just us standing on the front porch. You would not sleep, and you look exhausted and worn out. :(

Your dad was home for two weeks for Christmas break, and you napped on him so easily. During those couple of weeks you got two or three really good naps in with him each day while I packed. The last picture above is after one of those. You're always so content with him holding you.

This was a Christmas afternoon walk to burn off all the goodies. You didn't sleep, but we got some cute pictures!

Happy four months sweet Adalyn. What they say is true…it is all going by way too fast. I love you so so so much.

Love,

your mom.

Birdseed Ornaments | Kid's Christmas Craft

As you will be able to tell in the pictures, this was another little craft we were able to do during Ice Storm 2013. It made for some pretty pictures. :)

Birdseed Ornaments

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 c flour

1/2 c water

1 envelope plain gelatin

3 Tbs corn syrup

4 c birdseed

Also:

Cookie cutters

Wax paper

Straws

Twine/ribbon/string

DIRECTIONS:

Stir everything, except the birdseed, together in a large  bowl. Slowly add in the birdseed and mix.

Line a cookie sheet with wax paper and lay cookie cutters out. Spray with cooking spray. Carefully spoon birdseed mixture into each cookie cutter. Press down and smooth with the back of your spoon.

I love how careful it looks like he's being. In all reality I think he gave up halfway through and let me finish filling the rest of them.

Poke a straw through the top of each ornament and let dry for a couple of hours. Guessssss which step I forgot?!

The next step, normally, is to remove the straws, remove the cookie cutters, and flip the ornaments over carefully so they can continue to dry from the other side.  I, unfortunately, had to try and poke the straws through our ornaments at the half-dry phase, and as you can see…we lost a few.

Then, string twine or ribbon through, and hang for the birdies!

He was so excited about this part.

Being iced in for 5 days means we don't have to brush our hair. :)

Needless to say, he decorated this tree the same way he does the Christmas tree. All the ornaments in one square foot of space. But I didn't move them!

Have fun!