Life with London: Six months together

Six months ago this little strawberry blonde made her way into my life. I have been trying to take time to document her life through photos and words so I can always remember this time. Her photos are slowly getting edited and the journal doesn’t have quite as many entries as I’d like but I’m glad to have something. While looking through it tonight one morning jumped out at me. On April 12th, I texted her image to Daddy while he was at work (something we do almost daily) and he texted back,

“I fall in love with her more everyday”

My eyes watered as I saw his words come  across my phone and I thought to myself, there isn’t a more true statement.

This little girl is changing every day right before my eyes just like everyone told me she would. She has graduated to sleeping in the crib in her own room yet the tiny bassinet still resides next to our bed. I am reluctant to take it down because it will mean that portion of her baby stage is over. It’s a catch-22. I want to see her grown and mature yet I also want to keep her little. I realize the need to slow down and enjoy all the moments I get to spend with her each day.

I’m starting to feel more and more like a mama… like I’m learning what to do and adjusting to this new role in my life. And maybe I’m getting somewhat good at it by now. I don’t know, you may have to ask London next time you see her.

To Londy,

You are beautiful, a true miracle answer to my prayers. I love you lots baby girl. The most important thing I can give you is love and I hope you always feel it surrounding you like a big bear hug.

I have a lot to show and share with you in this big, exciting world. And I know we’ll be laughing together while I make good on that statement.

Love, Mama

My new little assistant

Her daddy and I have waited patiently and prayed for this miracle and she has finally arrived, beautiful as ever. There is an angel baby in heaven who preceded her that makes us even more grateful for this gift.

Born with a full head of hair, the same color as her daddy’s beard, here she is… baby girl London Everleigh. She may have my nose but every other feature belongs to Chuck including her dark blue eyes.

February 5th, 2011 – 6 pounds 11 ounces – 20 inches long

I can’t begin to say how thankful I am that my friend Stephanie Kraft-Terry was there to capture the events of the day. She graciously put together a slideshow in record breaking time and had it posted on the internet the very next day. Chuck and I sat in the hospital bed and watched a recount of the event as tears streamed down our faces.

So where do I start on the subject of motherhood? Everyone told me it was a life changing event, duh. It is in so many ways. I’ve tried to jot down or at least mentally journal little points that I want to remember. And the photographs, oh boy, I have already purchased a separate external hard drive and labeled it “London” because it will quickly be filled with photographs and videos of her. And you know what images are my favorite? Not the posed, setup shots. I love the everyday images that show how we live our life and love on her. Most of these are taken with the iPhone and that’s okay since that’s what we have closest to us at the time. It doesn’t matter as long as the memory is captured.

So on to share a few more images of this little light in our life. Of course her mama adores her and it’s easy to see in this image that Stephanie took on her birthday. When they wheeled the bassinet into my room I kept thinking, “I can’t believe that’s my baby!”.

My favorite part of this journey is to watch my husband with her. He was never really into babies before she came along. I’ve probably seen him hold three in his life and two were his nephews. He has become the father, the protector, the lover of cute little miracles.

So here we are on this ride, joking about how we won’t get any sleep for the next eighteen years. Yes, it’s tough, it’s life changing, but of course it’s worth it! We’re finding that out more and more each day.

A little inspiration

Trying something a little different today so thanks in advance for being understanding. Last year I realized I wanted to enrich my blog with a more personalized experience. I’d like to encourage my readers to *want* to come and read and look forward to new postings. Well one aspect of that goal is more frequent posts! And I’m working on that. But I also wanted to share more of myself, what inspires me, who I am, and how much I whole-heartedly enjoy my job! I quickly signed up for the “Blogging Your Way” class when I saw it offered on the Decor8 blog. I am really enjoying the introspective weekly homework assignments Holly and Leslie have given us.

I’d like to share this past week’s assignment with you. Holly asked us to create an inspiration board that best defines our style and what we personally love. I quickly set out to take inspiring pieces from around my home that enliven me daily. I have these images, artifacts, colors, and textures in my studio and living space as they are things that make me happy and therefore inspire me creatively.

I love how it all looks together but I realize there’s a lot going on here. Let me focus on a few details:

• The image on the top left was pulled from a KC Weddings magazine. Photography credit goes to Lemon Lime Photography. I instantly fell in love with the way these images are displayed at the wedding. I want to incorporate this into my own family photos somehow. Lemon Lime did an amazing job capturing this distinctive detail of the day.

• The top right image incorporates a couple things. The vintage wooden type stamps showcase my love of design. And the small scrapbook off to the side is something I put together using images from my brother’s wedding. I purchased the kit from Karen Russel and unfortunately I don’t think she is selling them anymore. Please visit her blog though! I am floored by her amazing, intimate family photos. She allows the viewer a pass into her everyday life through her images and writings.  A blogger that writes from the heart. She makes me excited to become a mama myself someday. I’m left with ideas of how I want to photograph my own kids everyday lives and leave them a beautiful day to day “yearbook” of their childhood.

• Like that vintage camera in the middle row? My good friend Jamie recently took out some of the “guts” to it and converted it into a pencil holder for my desk. Brilliant! I often glance at it and wonder how it would be to use a camera like that instead of my digital one. How far photography has come is amazing to me. It’s something I definitely want to try this summer. What do you think Jamie? Are you game? Guess we’ll have to go antiquing again, darn.

• I bought that film proofer a year ago while antiquing with another friend of mine, Amanda. I’m going to use it to frame a favorite image in the new studio. I always enjoy finding new ways to display photos.

• Another image from the same wedding that Lemon Lime Photography captured. I love everything about it, the lighting, the wording, and most definitely the mood. Makes me want to plan my own wedding all over again to incorporate this unique and heartfelt touch. To all my 2010 brides, who wants to try something like this using wording that is different and unique to you?

• My favorite Beth Quinn necklace that my mother-in-law gave me as a Christmas gift. The saying is a mantra for me. At times when life gets hectic it’s also one I forget but the minute I put on this necklace I am reminded. It’s also the reason I do what I do. Photography allows you the one opportunity to go back and visit those “moments”.

• Some favorite images of my best friend and I together. These were taken in a photo booth at a wedding I was photographing and she was helping at. Ironically we have photo booth images from middle school too. This is us being us. It inspires me to capture that same unabashed silliness in my clients. No need for fancy, stiff, posed portraits. You want to remember the authentic smiles that graced your face everyday of your life. I feel it’s not only my job to capture them but to remind you that those are the images you’ll love most many years down the road. You being you . . .

Well I hope you enjoyed seeing what inspires and brings me to life. Maybe you gained a better understanding of who I am? I sure hope so.

Now I’d like to know . . . what inspires you?

Wordle

Wanna see the content of my blog in a slightly different way?

“Any man can be a father . . .

but it takes a special person to be a Dad.