Today

Posted on June 27, 2009

With David being deployed I find myself wishing the time away. Being in a constant count-down mode of just wanting each day to go by quickly so he can be back with us. I spend alot of my days complaining to myself at how challenging it can be for me to get both girls down for the night. Being tired of how lonely I feel after they are in bed and it gets dark out and I have no one to chat with. Tired of not having anyone to cook for who will praise me and tell me how great it is (Yes, Kate does compliment me on my mean PB&J and grilled cheese sandwiches and while I appreciate that, it’s just not the same! LOL!). Really resenting having all the bug squishing duties and remembering when to take the trash out. I really love my husband and while I’m completely capable of keeping the home fires burning without him, life is sure so much sweeter and easier and more joyful when I have my best friend to experience everything with. But today as I was cleaning Claire up after Kate assisted with feeding her some delicious pureed baby food goodness I realized how she wasn’t eating solids when David left. She wasn’t rolling. She wasn’t as alert. She was 2 months younger than she is now. Then I look over at Kate and see her inspecting her beautiful piece of glittery artwork from preschool. She wasn’t in preschool when David left. She wasn’t using the word mischievous, wasn’t potty trained, didn’t own a pair of fabulous pink plastic dress up heels and didn’t know that Beatrix Potter books existed. We didn’t have picnics at the park next door, we hadn’t discovered Odwalla juice & didn’t rock out to the song Jungle Drum by Emiliana Torrini. My girls are growing and drastically changing and the real tragedy is that not only is David missing it, but I’m missing it too. So starting today I’m going to stop wishing the time away until he’s home. Starting today I’m going just enjoy the moment – the moments where a perfect slobbery little hand reaches up to touch my face, the moments where my three year old honestly beats me in playing memory and yes, even enjoy the moments when it gets hairy and crazy cause while it’s hard, at least I get to be with them, cause David isn’t, and I know he’d love to be present for a hissy fit or a diaper blow out cause that would mean he’s here with us.

Here is a small collection of this weeks photos. Of me enjoying them and their preciousness. Of me simple enjoying today…no matter what.

Daddy’s Day

Posted on June 20, 2009

I take LOTS of photos. I usually have at least 100 personal images to dig through each week, but sometimes more. I work my best to immediately go through and delete the ones with closed eyes, bad expression, etc., label the keepers for reference and do a little editing to them, but sometimes I just upload the images to my computer, get distracted and (gasp) forget to look at them!! This is UNACCEPTABLE! I need to seriously strive to put the same time and attentiveness with my personal images as I do my client’s images, but alas…there aren’t endless hours in the day!

Since David is currently deployed I wanted to give him something personalized and special for Fathers Day from his two little girls. So I decided to create a book for him. So I began digging through all our personal images and I found so many pictures that I just ADORE and I’d completely forgotten about! I loved going through our family pictures and remembering the moment, it was so special! Here are a hand full of  a few of the layouts in his Daddy’s Day book. I know he’s loving flipping through this while he’s away! Some of the images I chose were pretty and others were just natural not at all perfect. But I loved them all for different reasons!

This first one is a great example of printing something that isn’t technically perfect. The two images on the right aren’t perfect at all…Kate was actually kicking my legs as I took it and I know in the top one especially I was losing my balance as I shot it (which is one of the reasons why Claire’s head isn’t even in the frame at all!) And the second image on the right Kate is a blurry mess. But you know what? It reminded me of our LIFE, Kate always moving. Claire hanging being chill and hanging in her Bumbo, Daddy on the floor playing with them, that’s life!! Bad composition, blur and all.

These are special to me because this is our last Spring here in Germany and the last chance we had for images in the yellow flowers. They are gone now and man I miss them! Glad Daddy was home JUST in time for me to capture these before he left.

These are images I COMPLETELY forgot about!! How sad is that??? Glad I dug through and found them!

More natural shots of my precious girls.

So here is my challenge to you – take LOTS of personal pictures. Don’t forget what you’ve captured (HAAA!), and print them in a way where they are easy to enjoy – for your walls or in a book that is out and easy for you to flip through and enjoy. It really does make me sad how so many great photos are stuck on hard drives and not enjoyed. So while digital photography is AMAZING and computers are even more nifty…nothing really compares to having those precious photos in hand…nothing like it.

Happy Daddy’s Day everyone!!! Now go out and print a picture of the #1 Daddy in your life…your own Dad or your kiddo’s Dad…and while you are at it print a picture of you, and your kids, and your pets, and your home and…well you get the picture (pun intended) – just PRINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best Friends

Posted on June 9, 2009

I have three siblings. I love them all so much. Some of my greatest memories of childhood were with my siblings. I love having that special bond with them. Knowing what makes them tick. Knowing what makes them laugh. Knowing endless inside jokes that only we understand. I love them so much! Which is why seeing my girls enjoying each other it brings me such great joy. Even though Claire is only 4 months old, their relationship is blossoming. Claire finds Kate completely fascinating and will turn her head to wherever she hears her big sissy. Love seeing them share a smile or a giggle. Love watching Kate eagerly share things with Claire and explain to her what characters are in a book, what colors her toys are. The first time our girls met I introduced Kate to Claire by saying, “Kate, meet your sissy, your new best friend” because friends may come and go, but sisters they are forever.   

Winter in June

Posted on June 6, 2009

The weather here has been pretty lousy lately. Cold, rainy, dreary – very January-like. I can’t help but wonder if Germany got the memo that it’s JUNE!!! I was browsing through some images I took when we had some lovely Spring-like weather back in April and came across some landscape images I took when all the beautiful yellow flowers were bloomed out. The yellow flowers are all gone now…and then this chilly weather too…ugh! COME ON SUMMER!!!

The K Family {Family Photography}

Posted on June 2, 2009

Remember my previous post about my friend that thanked me with FOOD…well this is her! Her and her magnificent mane. I am so in awe of people with hair that CURLS…it’s such a novelty to a person with stick straight hair!! But I’m getting off topic!! I wanted to share a few images from their family session. Enjoy!

And I’ve saved the best for last. I ADORE THIS IMAGE…I mean ADORE!!!! Check out the totally serious/bored expressions on the boys faces – ADORE IT! So natural and awesome.