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Somewhere along the line I forgot how to have fun with Hailey. At first, I was really good at it. I worked during naps, and when she was awake, it was all about her. We painted, colored, played with her toys, took walks, you name it. But then, she stopped taking a couple 2-3 hour naps a day and I began needing to work during ‘Hailey time’. And then, it became all about work. I am constantly trying to find things to occupy her time so I can work. It’s gotten out of control. I lost my sense of priority big time. Last week, we had the luxury of having daddy home for the entire week. Every year he gets the week after Christmas off. Usually we are busy doing things, either traveling or doing home improvement projects. But this year, we had nothing. We got a week of hanging out as a family…and it rocked. I don’t think I checked Facebook more than once. I know I slacked on my posting of anything AMP related, and we all survived. Life went on. Nobody dumped me as a photographer because I was off line for a week. Heck, I’m sure nobody even noticed. But what we got out of that week was something to be treasured.

In just a very short amount of time (less than 4 months now!!) we will no longer be a family of 3. We will be welcoming a precious baby boy into our lives. Things will be insanely different. I’m not really big on new year’s resolutions…I figure if there’s something that needs to be changed, do it today…not just because it’s a new year. But that’s just me. However, if I were going to make one, it would be to focus more time and energy spent on my family. To take the time to stop and do something with Hailey and not be checking my phone or trying to write a blog post at the same time. She deserves to be more important than my work. Period.

Did you make a new year’s resolution? Or should I say a ‘today’ resolution (because you don’t have to wait until the new year!) I’d love to hear about it!

Meet Boots

This little guy showed up on our TV yesterday morning with a book from Santa! Hailey named him Boots. Too bad I had already named him Benny and keep messing up and calling him that. But, she came up with the name all on her own and we love it. So Boots it is. As we started to read the story to Hailey, it seemed as though things weren’t really going as planned. Instead of being super excited to be  a good girl so Boots would have only awesome things to tell Santa, she was freaked. out. Which I can completely understand. I mean, the idea of a little elf just hanging out watching you all day kinda creeps me out too.

All day she kept saying things like, “I just don’t like elves in my house…” Great…now what are we supposed to do? We’re going to try to come up with some super silly things for him to do and hopefully show her that he is a fun elf! . Since I’m already posting the One Frame A Day photos here daily, I’ll probably  just post Boots pics on Facebook. So if you’re not a fan, head on over and click ‘like’!

Wish us luck!

I am still veeerry early in this pregnancy. Only 16 weeks in. I know I still have a long ways to go, but every once in a while Hailey and I will just be hanging out and I feel this wave of sadness wash over me. For so long it’s been just the three of us, and that’s all going to change forever. I remember feeling this same way when I was pregnant with Hailey. Don’t get me wrong. I am OVERJOYED to be having another little one, and I know we will have many more amazing memories as a family of 4. I’m just going to miss all this time I get with my babes.

I had quite the drive to my session the other morning, and I had to be up mighty early. So on the way back, I was trying to stay awake and popped in Justin’s iPod. Since the hum of the road was lulling me to sleep, I thought I could rock out to his running playlist. I figured that would have some steering wheel drumming music I could stay awake to. So, when Taylor Swift started singing to me, I couldn’t help but smile . It’s okay babe, I won’t tell anyone . Anyway, this song came on and it immediately brought my mind to Hailey. I’ll admit it doesn’t take much for her to come to mind when she’s away from me, but this one hit home. It’s not exactly about a daughter, more about a boy, but we’ll just ignore that and appreciate the lyrics as they are .

You’re beautiful
Every little piece love, don’t you know
You’re really gonna be someone, ask anyone
When you find everything you looked for
I hope your life leads you back to my door
Oh but if it don’t, stay beautiful

Stay beautiful and goofy baby girl ~ xoxo

Since starting my One Frame A Day project back in January, I have gotten a lot of questions from friends and other photographers. I’ve also taken a LOT of pictures . Only one of the makes it to the one-a-day file, and I feel bad for the rest of them. They just hang out in a file on my hard drive. So I thought I’d give you a peek into my one-a-day rejects, if you will .

On this particular day, me and my mini  me were out shopping. There is this super cute shop with this adorable little snoopy ride on it. As soon as I saw the blue wall, I knew it would be a fun place to get a one-a-day. So we pulled up and she immediately locked in on the ride. All I had to do was pop in a few quarters and snap away .

We have a preschooler! I can’t even put into words how proud I am (we both are) of this little big girl! Yesterday was her first real official day of preschool. We took a stab at preschool last year…and promptly realized that 2 was just too young for her to start school. Every drop off was filled with tears and clinging and pleading for me not to go. Yesterday was so much different! Hailey woke up a little nervous, but looking forward to preschool. We arrived plenty early so we got some time to warm up to everything before she was rushed off to start her day. By the time they were ready to head into the classroom, she whispered “mommy, it’s okay if you go home now”!!!! Cue the tears . I was actually fine until I saw some of the other moms crying…then I teared up a bit. But we are all so ready for preschool, this is going to be a great year .

Happy first day of preschool baby girl!

Do you ever go to write an email (or a blog post) and finally finish, go to press ‘send’ and your computer freezes? Email (or in this case, blog post) gone. That has got to be one of the most frustrating things. I just typed out a nice long post and it’s’ gone into cyber neverland. Ugh.

So, summer. Why are you going by so quickly? It was just May and now all of a sudden, in the blink of an eye, it’s August. Last year we made our first Summer List. Summers always go by too fast, and this really helped us slow down for a second and make sure we got as much as we possibly could out of our summer. So this year we wanted to do the same thing, and make a tradition out of it. But I had a silly little project (which I’ll hopefully post on here soon) that I wanted to get out of the way first. Well, two months later, here we are in August and we are just getting down to our Summer List. Gotta admire our persistance though, right? . So, in the next 3 weeks before Hailey starts preschool, we’re going to try to cram in as many of those fun little summer memories as possible! Ready? GO!

What an incredible week it’s been! First a two day wedding, then zipping up to Chicago for one of my best friend’s baby showers, then back home for the night, then we woke up bright and early the next day to drop Hailey off with Grandma and Grandpa for a 4 day vacation for all of us!

On the way back last night, the miles dragged especially well. We could not get home fast enough. I am very used to being with my girl every day, all day. so 4 days apart was about as much as I could handle. Although, I did tell Justin that I’m glad we took the time away. It has definitely left me refreshed and excited to spend the day with my little girl again.

…while I try not to think about the pile mountain of work that backed up while I was gone. As an example of just how far behind I am, here’s the March One. Frame. A. Day.’s for ya…oi…

The light last night was the kind that makes my heart happy. If only I had more Smarties I could have shot so much more. Unfortunately, little miss here was working the bribes….and I ran out :/

I am totally going to justify a late Father’s Day post by the fact that I was actually spending time with some of the  most important fathers in my life. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be with my dad, but we got to spend the day grilling, blowing bubbles and being greatful for these amazing men.

My dad with his grandbaby:

My father-in-law (a king in Hailey’s eyes ):

And my hubs (new all time fave picure):

He’s such a good dad…he lets Hailey play with his sunglasses

Happy late father’s day guys! We couldn’t do it without you.

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