{baby knox - 4 weeks}

I promise, I will get an update and pics of my kids on here again soon...things have just been crazy busy as usual, school, colds & respiratory infections, training for the 1/2 marathon this weekend, and photoshoots, etc., etc.!

Baby Knox was 4 weeks and, wow, it really does get so much harder after they pass the sleep-all-the-time age of 2 weeks! So we really had to work for it!

{thank you & a few more pics}

I just wanted to say a quick thank you to all of you who wrote such wonderful, encouraging comments on my last post! You girls are the best!

And, apparently I've been missing out on blogging more than I realized because just writing out what had been circling around in my head (and reading your comments) for a couple of months already gave me some clarity! Although I definitely, definitely love photography & don't ever want to stop, right now is definitely not the time for me to go into a full blown business...I just have way too much going on to focus on that right now & I feel so relieved to have that settled within myself.

I realized that I AM happy right doing a few sessions here and there for friends & family (just hope people keep asking!)...I am keeping plenty busy doing that right now & if it ever slows down to where I am not getting my fix, I can think about getting serious...I'm sort of thinking maybe next year after my boys are a bit older and both in preschool, and I've finished my doctorate (in Feb!), etc...

So, thanks again to all of you...

And, here are pictures of my ADORABLE nephew, Ethan at 4 months (he's already 5 months!)...

{photography & me}

I've been able to do several photoshoots in the past couple of months & I've absolutely fallen in love with doing this! I cannot even begin to wrap my mind around what this means for me and my photography future. I am torn...on one hand, I absolutely love this & my friends and family have been really happy with the results. But, on the other, I have huge doubts about my ability to consistently deliver quality photos and be able spend the time I need to even do a part-time business justice. This has been consuming my mind the past couple of months - I can't think of much else besides photography. One of my friends, Aileen, posted this article on facebook about what it takes to be a good photographer & wow, does it ever have me pegged...I am utterly obsessed!

But, I just don't know where/how I should/want to go from here...So, for now, I'm just taking on a few free sessions with my friends & family & trying to be satisfied with that, knowing I'm gaining experience & portfolio shots....But, I have this overwhelming desire to make it more & I don't know how long I can hold it off...

Here are a few pictures of my friend's 5-week old, baby T...He was a bit more of a challenge than a brand new baby, but we still had a lot of fun & managed to get several good ones!

{california trip pics - part two}

Here are some more of my favorite pics from the trip....It was so nice to be able to hang out! The wine tours zapped my energy - the slow seepage of wine into my system just made me sleepy! But, that's ok, it helped ensure that I really did get to relax the whole time!

left: lor, mom, heather, lori @ in & out burger right: lori & me

heather: isn't she beautiful?

our hotel suite...

mom & her girls...

mom in front of the wandering dog wine bar...one of my favorite places in solvang....

me...

left: lor... right: checking out the wine menu...

lori: gorgeous, isn't she?

left: heather in a solvang phone booth... right: the dutch-influenced town of solvang...

{california trip pics - part one}

Well, my trip to California was well over a month ago and I'm just now getting around to posting some of the pics on here! After I got back we had over 5 weeks of sickness plague our house! From bad colds to teething, to reflux issues, to Roseola, we had it all and it lasted FOREVER! I cannot tell you how many times I was thrown up on...no fun at all. The worst of it really was just being stuck in the house every day all day long...it nearly drove me insane & I felt so bad for Caden who was only sick for one of the weeks - he got very bored, but still did remarkably good despite the circumstances.

All of the sickness also meant I missed out on a whole month of training for the 1/2 marathon in November. Fortunately, I've been back on track and didn't seem to lose any of my stamina! I'm really enjoying running again - it had been way to long since I'd done it consistently!

It's almost hard to remember the trip, but the pictures do bring back the memories! It was gorgeous there & I think I barely managed to keep from driving everyone crazy shooting pictures! Most of these are from an early morning drive we took...the coastal fog was still heavy & it was so much fun to be able to stop and take pictures of it all!

{bowling with the little ones}

{bsm: b&w}

More Best Shots here...