A New Year, A New...Something...

A look back: My very favorite picture of last year


My life's wish for them is that they will always smile this much.

And now a look ahead...

The holidays came and went. Seems like fall is when I fall off any yearlong project I'm doing ... maybe THAT'S why it's called "fall?" Or maybe it has something to do with leaves and trees, but my way seems to be more accurate. Last year was a blur. New house, new baby, new goals ... but this year we are gonna get grounded. Dig in and lay down some roots. Really get growing.

So here are my resolutions for 2012*

Get in shape: Losing weight is the side bonus. Ok, who am I kidding? Losing weight is the main focus. I thought about getting a tape worm, but the gym seemed like a more productive idea. I used to be made for speed and not so much for comfort...now I'm TOO comfortable. So it's time to get moving. After a month of gym workouts, I'm feeling good and looking better! Go me, go away my butt.

Mind my own business: Yeah, I'm nosy. But that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about taking my two side gigs and turning them into ... something. I've been designing photo cards for years and studying photography for longer than that. I want both cards and photography to be more than a hobby. I'm still a little nervous about it and I want to do A LOT of portfolio building and even more learning first. But I got a much-needed, no-BS kick in the butt from Brianna Saban (if you don't already know her work, get to know it, she's AMAZING! And she's fun too, so if you ever need a no-BS kick in the butt, she's the girl to give it to you), so it's on the list.

Sure, there are trips I want to take, things I want to do to the house, to my hair, to my husband...but these two big resolutions are things I want to do FOR ME. And I think in doing them, I will be a more present wife and mother. I can already see differences. In my body, in my mood, in my creativity flow.

Not sure what to do about a project this year. It's too late to start a weekly deal. Maybe I'll do a monthly thing. We'll start with two from January.

And since this is my photo blog...here are some photos of the little people (who aren't really so little anymore, a fact I'm not all too comfortable with).





*Barring any epic world-ending Mayan-predicted fiascoes, of course.

October - New Way of Looking at Things

I got a new lens...and with that, a new reason to keep on shooting. It's a 50mm, f 1.8. This means fast. But what it really means is I've taken the first hit of photo crack and I want more. More zoom, more prime, more body functions...I want more. I don't NEED it, but I WANT it. A good photographer can take great pictures with a cell phone or a point-and-shoot or a camera like mine, a hobbyist DSLR. But that doesn't mean I don't wonder what I could do with ... MORE.

Week 24 - 3 months and counting...

A white couch with kids...whose bright idea was that?

Week 20 - Keep It Clean

There's a lot of baby crack in my world. And I mean that in the most literal way as well as the "I'm totally addicted to my baby" way. Can't get enough of the latter...the former, well, that's just part of the package. No "package" pun intended.

I'm thinking I might need a creativity jumpstart so I'm thinking of doing a 30-Day Photo Challenge. C'mon...you know you want to do it with me...who's in?

Week ... 19 - Baby baby baby...oh!

I feel like such a slacker. All I do is watch baseball games and play with the kids. And laundry. I do LOTS of laundry. Who would have guessed two little people could make SO MUCH LAUNDRY?! I try to remember that if the blog isn't posted, the facebook isn't updated, the thank you cards aren't sent (I REALLY need to get on that) and the dishes aren't done...it's ok. My babies will only be babies for so long. I'm enjoying this time with the littlest loved ones and trying to remember to pick up the camera between feedings, diaper changes, diaper changes, diaper changes and, oh yeah, feedings.

Week 17 - Love That Face!

Week 15 - Water World

We went to the zoo for Owen's birthday. The pictures of the kids were just ok, but these giant goldfish were more photogenic.


And in our quest to turn the new baby into a beach lover like the rest of us, we gave him a bath. He liked the sprayer on the sink. I think he might actually like water more than the rest of us.

Week 14 - The BIGGEST week EVER!

We had a BABY! Dane joined our family on April 3. I didn't take this picture, of course, my mom did. But it was definitely captured the week best.


And in other news: Owen got his very first haircut. He hated it, we were just happy he finally had enough hair to actually cut.