Laughter.

I just joined a group with some wonderful women/photographers that I met through the Bloom Forum. It's a Project 52 where we take a picture every week based off of an overall topic. This was our topic was laughter. Normally this would be the perfect topic for me. I LOVE, I repeat LOVE, photographing laughter. This week however has been a rough one. I don't really want to get into details but we are going through a tough time at the moment so in case you were wondering why I have been posting less that has a lot to do with it. Sometimes life hits you with one thing after another. It really teaches you to stop saying "Could this be any worse?" Because it can. I said this once two weeks ago and ended up backwards on a freeway so I learned my lesson. Eventually there will be nowhere to go but up. So bring on the April showers. I will find the puddles to splash in until it stops and the rainbow appears. 

As much as I try to teach Zachary everyday I should really take a lesson from him. That boy smiles through anything. His little baby giggles are infectious and can really brighten any rainy day!

Please check out Marsette Guerrero's beautiful portraits of laughter. The images of her son and dog are so beautiful:  http://mdgphotographyonline.blogspot.com/2012/03/52-week-week-1-laughter.html

If you're a bird I'm a bird.

We have been having such rainy, cold weather here. After 3 months of Zachary being sick I am eager to get out of this house. Today I was on my workshop in the Bloom forum and we had an assignment to try out different lighting than we are used to. Zachary was climbing all over this vintage suitcase his grandma got me that I carry props to my shoots in. the sun looked like it was breaking through the clouds finally, so I swooped him up, threw on a sweater and rainout of the house to chase the light and play. Well, by the time we got to the location it had gone back to hibernating behind the clouds. I happen to love shooting in overcast light so still began shooting. It was freezing. He as hungry and tired. He hates hats. There was goose poo everywhere and he kept falling over. What was I thinking? Needless to say it didnt last long. This is what we got while there:

Reminds me of the Notebook a little. I had no idea there would be so many geese. Pretty cool! I was nervous one would attack him so we stayed a little bit away at all times.

Happy February!

I hope your February's are filled with love, kitschy hearts, too much chocolate, silly faces and lots of baby drool! Minus the drool. Ours definitely will be. I'm already dreaming up a few things to bake and crafts to make if (fingers crossed) I have time and a healthy baby this month. Our January was spent sick. The entire month. Ya. Not so great. Thanks to some antibiotics, after he had a 104.3 fever and woke up shaking and panting, little man is doing better and so am I. And I am so very thankful.

Here's to hoping February is filled with more sleep and I don't see the clock hit every single hour all night long. Please excuse me. Sleep deprivation makes me whiny. Happy thoughts: Cupcakes. Disney. Starbucks. All better.

Happy Turkey Day!

My little turkey and I want to wish you all a very, VERY Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all fill your bellies and hearts.

Zachary and I will be Thanksgiving orphans going to see Daddy at work and then driving around to see my parents. Don't worry though. This belly will be full of stuffing and mashed potatoes on Friday. Or what we call Thanksgetting in my family. Even Zachary will be getting his first taste of sweet potatoes that day. My little boy is all grown up. Eating solids, sitting up by himself, and we are going through his first tooth coming in and his first cold at the same time. No sleep for us, but my little tough guy is still the happiest baby. Who secretly loves Wizards of Waverly Place and is the luckiest mom ever? This girl!

Here are a few things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving (in no particular order):

My family
cupcakes
Disney movies
Starbucks (salted caramel mochas at the the moment)
Getting to spend all of my time with my baby boy
The wonderful families I have gotten to photograph this holiday season
Documenting Zachary at this very perfect time because it's going WAY too fast
Sweet emails, comments and tweets from sweet people
Once Upon a Time & Glee
Singing & Dancing all day every day
That I got the chance to meet a very special and wonderful man Mick (who passed away earlier this month)
That I am finally able to breastfeed my son again & being healed
Getting to see Sara Bareilles in concert next month finally
Zachary's first holiday season


What are you thankful for?

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the pumpkin patch a few weeks ago for Baby Bear's first trip. It was fun and such an adorable little patch. We had the whole place to ourselves to just take pictures and be silly.

Happy Fall!

It's finally starting to feel like Fall here. It went from 93 degrees in our house last week to cold and rainy yesterday. I just love Fall! Overcast skies are my favorite. I love the moodiness. They are the angsty teenager of skies. It's my ideal light for a shoot. It allows me to shoot pretty much anywhere as it acts like a giant gorgeous soft box.

Zachary and I took this picture the other day to commemorate the changing seasons. Yes, I put him in a suitcase. Being the professional model he is, he didn't mind. Maman Sherry (his grandma/Dave's mom) knew how much I love vintage suitcases so she bought it for me. Super sweet huh? I decorated it with a felt leaf garland I made based on Elsie's DIY.

I love kicking off Fall with my favorite hot seasonal Starbuck's drink. What are your favorite seasonal traditions?

Week 13 (Zachary 365)

AUG 26

AUG 27- We went to breakfast with Uncle Ben and Meri and took this picture later because I was wearing one my favorite dresses that I just got back out from 9 months of not being able to wear it.

AUG 28- Dave's work party at the bowling alley. I love this picture because it's my two boys being so sweet with their favorite baseball team represented in the background. PS. this is proof that he can (could) sleep anywhere if you hold him. It was insanely loud with people chucking bowling balls and music and he took a good little nap.

AUG 29- I just adore these pictures! I know you love the tiny faux-hawk I gave him =)

AUG 30

PS. In case anyone is wondering I do not edit his eyes. They really are just that pretty and I usually photograph him by a window to get a pretty catch light.

Week 12 (Zachary 365)

AUG 19- Dave's cousins came into town and we spent the day with them at the hotel. It was so great to spend some time with them!

AUG 20- Stacks for breakfast with Uncle Ben (Saturday morning breakfast is a new tradition in our house)

AUG 21  - I cut-out "I love you" and put it on the wall behind our bed (with little tea lights all over the room) to surprise Dave one night when he got home from work. With all of your attention and energy going to the baby all the time it's important to remind each other that we love each other too.

AUG 24  - His new friend Monsoir Bunny that I got him for his 2 month birthday. It's a good thing he has the rest of his family to teach him French (his dad grew up in France) because I clearly don't speak it at all. I thought I had named him "Mr. Bunny" but I fused Monsieur (mister) and bonsoir (good evening). Now it's just funny and stuck. He also conveniently only speaks the french words I know. Most of which are from "Les Poisson" from the Little Mermaid.

 Isn't he so cute? He's from Super Sock Monkeys. I just love all the little creatures in that shop.

Happy Friday!

Sleep Well... Good night!

The above quote is from the book Time For Bed  by Mem Fox (thanks Leah!)

It's impossible to love anything more than I love this boy! My heart aches with love and I stare in amazement each and every day at this incredible little blessing. To me, he's perfect. I love every single tiny little detail about him. In a time where everything else seems to be going wrong he is what is right in my life. He's so absolutely wonderful that he makes every bit of strain more than worth it. There is not a single moment I don't cherish with this boy. This stage is so wonderful! I want to freeze time and keep him just like this forever. I have tried doing the freeze dance to no avail. Where it failed at actually stopping time it did succeed in me looking super cool, so I still came out a winner.

Thanks for sharing your comments on what you are loving lately. They were so much fun to read, and super sweet! Hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day weekend! We went to a fun BBQ at our friend's house. I would share pictures but silly me forgot to put a memory card in the camera. Perhaps I can do an interpretive dance to re-enact it for you. Maybe with a little freeze dance thrown in just for fun. Happy Tuesday!!

Week 9

That smile right there, well, that is my reason for existing. It will also be the end of me when he wants anything. I'm doomed. The above picture might just be my favorite picture of my beautiful baby boy yet. I am going to have to have that one printed and on the wall.

Right now I am singing to my handsome little mister and he is cooing, smiling, and making noises back like he is singing with me. It's too cute for words. I can't wait until he can really sing along. The smiles are in abundance in our household tonight and that is just fine by me.

JULY 29- On a walk with Daddy.

JULY 30- At his friend Gavin and Avet's first birthday party (with Auntie Courtney)

JULY 31- Big eyes.

AUGUST 1- Tiny hands and bored of tummy time. 

AUGUST 2- Hanging out in the swing, which he is finally starting to like. Mama is very happy to get to eat with two hands sometimes. 

AUGUST 4- Silly face. 

My Puppet.

"I'm just a toy, just a funny boy
That makes you laugh when you're blue
I'll be wonderful, do just what I'm told
I'll do anything for you
I'm your puppet, I'm your puppet" -"I'm Your Puppet"  by James & Bobby Purify



I have always loved floor scenes. From the Kindle commercials to the many photographs and beautiful music videos created from a high vantage point. Oh, the creativity. Then there were the gorgeous series of photographs Mila's Daydreams by Adele Enersen. What a perfect way to do something creative with a baby since all they really can do is lay there. I've had lists of ideas for images to create in this vain for quite a while now and never got around to it. Now that I have the perfect little model though I couldn't resist. This specific idea has been in my head for a while so it felt good to get it out of there as it's getting quite crowded in there. I'm going to have to start charging my ideas and constant to-do's rent as they overstay their welcome. And when they don't pay, they, like so many before, will be evicted to my notebook. Or as I call it, the Land of Homeless Visions. 


And what I said about him being my perfect little model is totally true. This little man was dancing and moving just like a little puppet the second I laid him down. It was absolutely adorable! I almost wish I had video taped it instead of taking photographs. The out-takes are just too precious. He is definitely turning into a photographer's child. As soon as there is a phone or camera on him he stares right at it and most of the time smiles. I'm sure the day will come that he will resent it, but until then I will click away in utter bliss at that sweet little face. 


A special thanks to our roommate Ben who let me wake him up to play puppeteer.

Week 6 (Project 365)

JULY 8: Hanging out on the bed 

JULY 9: Auntie Kristin's Surprise Birthday Party

JULY 11: Looking out the window

JULY 12: Tummy Time

JULY 14: Playing with ribbons (these pictures make my heart SO happy)

Week 5

Week 5 was a big week of firsts for our little man. He had his one month birthday, his first 4th of July, his first walk and his first bath! Here are some of the pictures that I haven't posted yet from that week:

JULY 5- First Walk

JULY 6: First Bath

(this one was taken by his Daddy while I held him- thankfully he likes baths better now)

JULY 7: Second Walk (and finally awake for it)