Life via Pixels

Happy 3rd Birthday, Baby Girl!

2012-01-11T00:18:00.001-08:00

Dear Riley Grace,

I cannot believe you are three years old. Let me type that again...I cannot believe that you are three years old. I used to think that 18 years (adult age) was so far away when we first had you, but now that it's 15 years, it is soooooo not so far away. Time has flown!

I love you so much. I have been so fortunate to spend the last three years with you. Has it always been easy and 'fun'? No. There have been trying times and growing times for the both of us. What do you expect...we're both doing this for the first time! ;) I will tell you that 99.9% of it has been wonderful. I dreamed about being able to stay home with my child years before I was ever trying to get pregnant but I never thought that it would happen. I'm so grateful to God (and Daddy/Daddy's job) that my dream came true. We are not living an extravagant life on one income (thank goodness we've always been 'simple' folk!) but the time spent together is priceless and I never forget how lucky and blessed I am.

I used to write you monthly letters up until the age of two and you will be able to go back and read them here someday. This year I plan to write a lot more to you but in your own scrapbook to take away with you when you leave someday. It will be a nice keepsake for you (in my own handwriting) and it will be easier to remember monthly events. This year the biggest event (that I can remember) is that you started 'school'. You go twice a week for two hours a day and you LOVE it! I love when you come home and start singing me songs that I haven't taught you (or haven't even heard before)!

You know your colors, your alphabet, your full name, your birth date, the city you live in, the city some of your relatives live in, you can count to 30 (most of the time) and you know how to spell your name and you recognize your name. You love your soccer ball (you ALWAYS kick with your left foot!) and your animals that you sleep with (Hoppy, Cinnamon, Monkey, Jessie and Dumbo). We just recently gave you a pillow in the last few months (Mommy was paranoid of suffocation) and we will transition from the crib soon. You haven't seemed to talk about a 'big girl' bed that much and you haven't tried to climb out in the morning (you call for Mommy or Daddy), so we'll cross that bridge when it feels like we need to. I'm quite content knowing that you are safe in your crib and not getting up during the night. :)

You love music and love to dance (we enrolled you in a ballet class for a few weeks and you loved it!). I really hope that you take up an instrument later. You love to color and you especially love to paint! You have recently learned how to make smiley faces and smiley suns. :)

You also LOVE to read. You love trips to the library and you are always wanting Mommy or Daddy to read you a story. I hope you become a life long reader. It's one of my favorite things to do and I hope you continue to enjoy it as well.

We've been very lucky with few injuries. We've had a bad fall here and there but the worst we've seen this year was a slightly discolored front tooth. You hit it on the rocking toy on the playground. It bled a little (which freaked me out!) and I took you to the dentist the next day (he couldn't see us that day). He said it probably was going to discolor (it did) but not to worry about it because it's going to fall out in a couple of years anyway. Not the best thing your Mommy wanted to hear but in the big scheme of things, it could have been worse or any injury could have been worse. We have been so blessed with no big injuries and no big illnesses. I pray to God that I am not jinxing it now! (Lord, I KNOW how lucky we've been and I thank you!)

Another big milestone this year was that you learned to use the potty! You were about two and a half. I cannot tell you how wonderful this is! It's like a new world out there! It only took a week. We had a few accidents here and there but haven't had one for some time (knock on wood). We are so blessed with you...I know that I'm your Mom, but you seem to be sooooo smart and have been so 'easy' when it's come to sleeping, potty training, etc. You pick things up pretty quickly. I pray that continues your entire life.

You have a handful of friends that you constantly talk about it. You are a kind and sweet little girl to your friends. You are good about sharing and including people. You are also a hugger and you love to hold hands with your friends. :)

I'm not sure if there is anything I'm forgetting. I love you so much. I'll end this 'letter' by saying what I say to you every night (and have said to you every night as long as I can remember) before you go to bed:

Mommy loves you.
Daddy loves you.
Jesus loves you.
God bless the baby.

I will probably say that to you your entire life...and when you grow up and move out, I'll write it in your birthday/Christmas cards. :)

Love you, love you, love you baby girl,
Mommy

Little Baby "L"

2011-11-25T23:20:00.001-08:00

I'm not your 'baby in the basket' photographer. I tried it early on and it just wasn't for me. I couldn't get it to look 'natural' and honestly, it doesn't seem natural to me. I'm not saying it can't be cute, I'm just saying I'm not that photographer. I love things that just 'are'. That being said, I love this little session. I love little baby "L" just...being.

Camille - Anytime Session

2011-11-21T14:52:00.001-08:00

A fun little session on a semi-hot day in downtown Long Beach. I'm not one for a lot of actions on images - I like to keep them fairly true to life with a little bit of fudge here and there (depending on the image), but it was fun to play around with these.

You are as amazing as you let yourself be. Let me repeat that. You are as amazing as you let yourself be. ~Elizabeth Alraune

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Sweet Sisters

2011-11-10T21:37:00.000-08:00

These two sweeties are a friend's adorable little girls. This was a crazy session in so many ways - I can only laugh thinking about some of the things we encountered/experienced in an hour or so!

I love big sister's expression in this one.

Whenever I capture moments like these, I like to imagine the siblings growing up close and hanging a picture like this in their dorm room. How wonderful would that be? :)

My little one tagged along on this shoot - these two are only two days apart!

This is my second sand-eating baby. They both survived. ;)

Or maybe this photo in the dorm room. ;)

My friend has a WONDERFUL husband and two precious little girls. I'm blessed to be a part of her journey through life. Here's to former co-workers turned friends.

Little Miss "L"

2011-11-03T17:54:00.001-07:00

Another session from awhile ago! It's that time of year and I have a bunch of sessions coming up for the holidays so it's time to make some room on my computer and blog (finally!)!

Such a fun little girl. I have so many favorites from this session but I narrowed it down to 7. ;)

This images is a lot brighter and colorful (not so muted green-ish) in reality. It's time to think about getting a professional blog or maybe a blog site (and get rid of my website and merge the two). Any input, if you have some, is appreciated!

"L" Family - Summer 2011

2011-10-14T19:34:00.000-07:00

FINALLY getting around to blogging some old sessions before I start some new ones this weekend. This is one of my favorite families - so laid back and mom gives the BEST hugs! ...and I'm a hug connoisseur, I should know. ;)

Wordless Wednesday (sort of, but not really)

2011-10-05T23:37:00.000-07:00

1. Love 2. A newborn session 3. Ballet class
4. Beautiful sky 5. Charlotte's Web - a first for her 6. I have this same picture of her from last year
7. Disney store fun 8. Mall carousel fun 9. Dollar Tree fun

I also lost my Grandma this week. If I had a picture to post, I would. Take more photos of your parents and grandparents - and family.

Wordless Wednesday (sort of, but not really)

2011-09-28T22:51:00.000-07:00

1. Goes to bed with Monkey, Jessie and Dumbo 2. Disneyland with Grammy and Papa 3. Made another onesie
4. Farmers Market with Grammy 5. Painting 6. It's pumpkin season!
7. More naps 8. In the middle of another frame 9. Someone started ballet

Wordless Wednesday (sort of, but not really)

2011-09-21T22:50:00.000-07:00

1. Made another wreath 2. Experimented with clay 3. Thought this was great
4. Visited Disneyland for the first time this Halloween season! 5. Edited photos 6. Ran into a friend at the library
7. Talked to a pirate 8. Made a frame for a friend 9. Started a onesie

Elvis - Repurposed...thank ya, thank ya very much

2011-09-15T01:45:00.000-07:00

Linking up to Crafty Scrappy Happy's craft blog posts for Thursday.

Went thrifting this weekend and found some old album sleeves (1965 and such, old!) and figured they'd make mighty fine frames. Started with Elvis and will move on to Ol' Blue Eyes next. I think this Elvis frame would be perfect for a favorite Vegas pic!

Wordless Wednesday (sort of, but not really)

2011-09-14T19:23:00.000-07:00

1. Aquarium with Grammy and Papa 2. More working out 3. It hailed!
4. Started a new book 5. Part of my 9/11 memorabilla. God Bless America. 6. More naps.
7. Cheat day 8. Made a wreath 9. Made another wreath

Thrifting

2011-09-10T21:06:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned last week, I've been bit by the craft bug. All I want to do is paint, glue, cut, sew, etc... I need to finish editing some photos in between my projects...starting TONIGHT! :/

Today I did a bit of thrifting at two different stores. One was a thrift store and one was an 'upcycle' store - lots of odds and ends and bits and pieces to choose from to upcycle. I'm really curious and excited as to what I can create.

Thrift store find - hubby's Halloween costume: clown. Good thing he's a good sport, he was all for it (and you can't beat the $5 price tag!). I'm going to be a Hippie Chick with the hippie costume. I've never wanted to be a hippie chick, but I couldn't pass it up. I figure I have one more year to just do or be whatever and next year I'll REALLY be dressing up with a almost-4-year old then. This year she's really not going to care what I am. ;) So Hippie Chick it is - pants, shirt, vest, glasses AND tambourine!! All for $8! Also got my baby girl this cute owl shirt in her size - $1!

A little bit of ruffle, cookie cutters to use for painting, LIFE money for a project, cute scraps of paper for another project, a ruler and bottle caps for another project. Oh yes, there's a whole market for bottle cap crafts. If you don't believe me, look it up on Etsy.

Some brand new scrapbook supplies and comic books - both for craft projects. :)

These FANTASTIC real photographs. I have a few more but don't want to share them all at once. I love these. Most of them have great composition, but the clothes, the emotions, the people...just love. That little boy on the bottom left? Yep, he's wearing roller skates. Didn't even notice - hubby did!

For another project - old record sleeves. Um, 1965 old. Thank ya, thank ya very much. ;)

All that above and a little bit more for $7.00...which will hopefully turn into some profit in the near future. ;)

Wordless Wednesday (sort of, but not really) - Part Two

2011-09-07T23:16:00.000-07:00

I know I documented Riley's first day as my Wordless Wednesday, but I missed seeing our week in review. I'm documenting this just for the fact that Riley will have access to the internet later in life and she'll be able to look back on all of this. :)

1. Riley and Snow White 2. Riley and Grammy 3. Riley and Mommy
4. Stairclimber 5. Our Krispy Kreme date 6. 50 cents of fun
7. A fun session 8. More projects 9. More naps

Wordless Wednesday (sort of, but not really)

2011-09-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

First day of 'school':

Goes for the horse. Must have some of her Momma's cowgirl blood in her. ;)

She LOVES puzzles:

"OK, Mom and Dad, I'll be OK...you can go now."

Craft-astic!

2011-09-06T21:37:00.000-07:00

I spent some time this weekend crafting. I have a HUGE tower of scrapbook papers, scrapbook supplies, ribbon, buttons and now wooden signs, frames, tiles and clay! I plan on trying a little bit of this and a little bit of that to see 1) what I'm capable of, 2) what I LOVE and 3) if any of it is sell-able art! Here are a few frames I worked on. Big shout out to my Facebook friends who helped critique what they did/didn't like, price points and so on.

Halloween frame:

This one already sold:

One of my favorites. It has little peaks here and there from where the 'stamps' were placed upon each other. It has a little dimension and a glossy coat.

Do you craft? I'd love to see some of your creative ideas!

If you give my girl a choice...

2011-09-02T13:54:00.000-07:00

...she's probably going to choose chocolate.

An impromptu outing to Krispy Kreme. I might have to do this a couple of times a month. It was a great morning!

Ah...the choices...but really, is there anything better than chocolate?

Her pick: chocolate iced and chocolate milk
My pick: chocolate iced creme filled and coffee (although, I wish I would have read the menu - I would have chosen iced coffee! Next time!)

A great morning...

Wordless Wednesday (sort of, but not really)

2011-08-31T21:16:00.000-07:00

1. Mommy's working on a project 2. Riley's first swim instructor 3. Painting!
4. Mommy's working on another project 5. Jamba Juice! 6. Picker Sisters - a new favorite show - especially while crafting!
7. More painting 8. Riley's painted cat :) 9. Library
10. Holding on to Monkey & Jessie while sleeping :) 11. Play date with our friends! 12. We bought her a pony! ;)

A Client Turned Good Friend

2011-08-29T22:27:00.001-07:00

I am blessed to know such a kind soul. When I attended her daughter's 2nd birthday party, I sat next to a friend of hers/a stranger to me. We were talking about the mom of these two children below and her friend said something along the lines of, "S is just kind - I'll mention how adorable something is and then she'll have picked the same thing up for me next time I see her." I had the same story to tell. I mentioned how cute her daughter's headbands were when we first met and in a few weeks I had a package of 10-12 headbands/beanies/clip on flowers in my mail. She barely knew me. She's just that sort of person. We don't see each other that often (although hoping to have a play date next week!) but when we do, we catch up like hardly any time has passed - it's not awkward. I didn't feel like blogging tonight but I wanted to get a bunch of images off my computer. I'm so glad I did blog...it helped to remind me of the good that life (and God, in my opinion) can randomly bring you. I love you, friend...and thank you for loving me.

This is her baby girl when I first met her:

...and this is her beautiful 'baby' girl and beautiful baby boy now. This file was so huge that the hosting service condensed it so much that it's more 'fuzzy' now than sharp. Not too happy about that, but I'll be moving to a pro blog soon so I'm not going to worry about it too much - I blogged, that's a feat in itself! ;)

Little Horse With Big Dreams

2011-08-25T18:22:00.000-07:00

Wowza. The crafty side of me has been dying to come out for a month or two now and the craft items have seem to exploded all over my kitchen table. Fabric, ribbon, buttons, scrapbook paper and now paint! I'm looking to make some of those cute signs I see in boutiques and stores but I want a more 'country' and 'beachy' feel to some. We'll see how it goes. Anyway, I picked up a $2 painting kit for the baby girl and we had the best time. She LOVED to paint. I think we are going to make it a weekly project. Michael's has a ton of items for $1 and $2 dollars, so I think we'll make a weekly outing and she can decide what she'd like to paint that week. Cheap family fun!

Here's today's painting memories - holding up Mommy's blank plank of wood and her 'horse'. Maybe it's a coyote? Who knows. Really doesn't matter to her anyway. :)

We're painting!

Mommy's project isn't quite finished. I'm about to go sand it so it looks a bit tattered (how funny is that?) and decide what I'd like my first sign to say. Then I've gotta pick up some wire and some fun beads or maybe torn bandana strips or raffia to tie to the wire. I can't wait!

But my little artist finished her piece. If he was in the Dances With Wolves movie, he'd probably be called, "Little Horse With Big Dreams". ;)

Wordless Wednesday (sort of, but not really)

2011-08-24T22:30:00.001-07:00

1. Play date at our friend's home 2. Sunburn on mommy courtesy of said play date 3. More naps
4. Had to say goodbye to our loyal family member/friend/best dog ever of almost 18 years :( 5. Had to take a sewing class a couple of hours after. HORRIBLE day/weekend 6. Visiting Jo-Ann's after my mom's birthday (yes, she had a birthday after she had to put down our dog - ugh) breakfast. Why didn't I take a picture of Mom at her birthday breakfast?!
7. I sewed 8. Someone wanted to empty their toy box 9. Library

...and sew it begins...

2011-08-23T18:50:00.001-07:00

I'm not sure where to even start this post! Hubby gave me this beauty almost three years ago this Christmas after I asked for it for Christmas/my birthday:

and I'm sad to say that I just opened it last Friday night! But I did learn to wind a bobbin and thread my machine! Whoo hoo! Then I made sure it worked - it did!

I had signed up for a beginning sewing class on Saturday which I was sooooo excited for and, unexpectedly, we had to put our family dog of almost 18 years down that morning. :( Needless to say, it was not my best first sewing experience as I had to fight back tears numerous times while trying to learn how to stitch straight lines, seams, a top stitch and a French stitch. Oy.

...but I did learn some things and I have thousands of projects in my head that I'm hoping to complete. Cute tag blankets and burp cloths made out of this:

...which would have been great if I had stitched further in. :/ I suppose I'm going to have a bunch of mishaps since I'm just beginning.

I've had an easy bunting project in mind for a while and I've seen everything from people making it out of paper to really fancy stitching. I opted for a beginner's route. I've had this material for, I don't know, maybe a year?

I'm happy to say that it's no longer sitting in a bag. It's screaming, "Yea!", "I'm fun!", "I'm funky!", "I'm no longer just a piece of material, I'm a good time!" over my little girl's closet. :)

Thank you, my almost-three-years-old-but-really-brand-new sewing machine. Here's to more good times...and very few big mishaps!

Wordless Wednesday (sort of, but not really)

2011-08-17T22:08:00.000-07:00

1. Helping Mommy get ready for Montgomery Gentry at the fair 2. MG at fair with friends 3. Golden Spoon play date
4. Library 5. More naps 6. Shopping at Dollar Tree for Papa's birthday
7. One of the Dollar Tree gifts that made the cut 8. Finished this book (awesome!!) 9. Toby Keith concert
10. Made chocolate dipped pretzels & licorice for first time 11. Santa Ana Zoo play date 12. Picked up our photos from a fair that's being dismantled :(

Do you MOO?!

2011-08-15T19:00:00.000-07:00

If not, you should! I cannot say enough about MOO business cards, and now, their sticky labels!!

I have used MOO for business cards before and I've had the best experience. Once I had an order come back to me that was too dark (my fault, probably) and they corrected it and even emailed me to tell me they were going to do something to make my logo look a bit better when printed! FANTASTIC customer service. This time around I decided to try the rounded cards. OMG...LOVE!! The quality is fantastic (not those flimsy business cards that are thrown into fish bowls for free restaurant lunches) - firm and the finish is so nice. This is from MOO's website:

Premium paper? It's our standard!

We love paper as much we love print. We never settle for second best and we don’t see why you should either. There’s no sneaky hidden charges for ‘better’ paper, because 'better paper' is MOO’s standard paper.

I also just noticed that they will send you a free sample pack of their products! They just get better and better the more I look around the site! MOO is also a great resource to see how others are using their products to market their business. Some genius ideas out there!

Another thing I love, you don't have to get 50 cards that are the same - you can have a different picture or different whatever-you-want! on EVERY SINGLE CARD!! Anywho...without further ado, the new (paper) loves of my life:

The rounded corners....swoon. The color...kiss, kiss, kiss!

...and my new mailer labels. LOVE!

Thank you, MOO...you have a CUSTOMER FOR LIFE!!

p.s. I am in no way being compensated by MOO with money or products for writing this review...but I wish I was! ;)

"C" Family

2011-08-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

A laugh is a smile that bursts. ~Mary H. Waldrip

New Baby "J"

2011-08-12T12:05:00.000-07:00

I felt the need to get my blog caught up with all my sessions and in doing so, I thought it'd be easier to make a collage until I had the time to go back to full blogging. After I made this collage, I thought this is the perfect idea for monthly entries into a scrapbook album!!!! I haven't even started Riley's scrapbooks (although I have one!) and if I put all my favorite pictures with captions like I do on my Wordless Wednesday's, it will make it so much easier! Happy with that idea that came to me because of little Miss J. :) She's a bit older now, but just as cute, if not cuter. ;) The sign at the end (All because two people fell in love) is also a song by Brad Paisley. If you haven't heard it, it's a great one...so I'm including the song. :) The real music video was having a hard time starting, so I included someone's video with the lyrics.

Happy Friday!

Wordless Wednesday (sort of)

2011-08-11T00:10:00.000-07:00

I love how this Wordless Wednesday post is 1) usually not very wordless and 2) usually late. Ha! Anyway, here we go:

1. More naps 2. O.C. Fair 3. Swimming lessons
4. Cheat day 5. Horsey rides at a Farmer's Market 6. Finally signed up for a sewing class!
7. Living room marching band 8. Mommy getting ready (with baby girl's help) for Montgomery Gentry concert at O.C. Fair! 9. Cheese fries at the O.C. Fair (how come I didn't know about these the last few years?!)

Wordless Wednesday (sort of)

2011-08-03T16:50:00.000-07:00

1. More naps 2. Saturday morning Batter Blaster chocolate chip pancakes 3. Painting
4. What I'm reading (almost done - sooooooo good!!!!) 5. Cheat day biscuits and gravy - the best around!! 6. Ice cream (chocolate teeth with sprinkles throughout!) with Grammy and Papa
7. Library 8. Souplantation 9. Our first visit to Aquarium of the Pacific!

Getting rid of the "Look at how pretty you are in that dress!"

2011-08-02T10:31:00.001-07:00

Came across this interesting article via @amazingmoms on Twitter about how to talk to little girls. Loved it...thought I'd share:

How to talk to little girls via A Cup of Jo's blog via this original article by Lisa Bloom (I must reserve her book from the library - I watch her on a legal channel and LOVE her!!).

And because every blog post is a little brighter with a picture, here's a snapshot of my little one.

Wordless (sort of) Wednesday - on a Thursday

2011-07-28T14:24:00.001-07:00

Holy goodness, I already missed my 'ongoing' Wordless (sort of) Wednesday post. So instead, I've put together a collage of the last week. I really am hoping to blog more (I see a lot of you stop by in my stats!)...I have sooooo many projects (in my head) waiting to be completed!! Hopefully I'll get started on one of those this weekend. But for now, here's the last week in 9 snapshots!

1. Naps 2. Walk in the park 3. More naps
4. Scenery on the way to swimming lessons 5. She likes her chair 6. Nature Center
7. More nature center 8. Library 9. My Gym

How cool is this little project below? I could literally make a wall with my instagram pics about a 'year in our life' at the end of the year if I wanted to!

Picture via apartment therapy:

You can check out this fun little project at apartment therapy!

Wordless Wednesday - The renewed continuation of documenting life.

2011-07-20T23:07:00.000-07:00

Well, I read soooo many blogs and envy people who keep up with their blogging. I love hearing about their days, challenges, watching their kids grow and it inspires me to chip away at this online diary. Then after I put the computer away, it goes to the wayside. Not anymore. At least not on Wednesday's. A bunch of bloggers post at least one day a week - wordless Wednesday. I'm going to challenge myself to start with that. This blog has been a diary of my photography and life and how they've both grown and then it became letters to my baby girl each month of her life until she was 2. It has not been so much about how she has grown lately. :( Well, I'm starting this Wednesday documenting her life again and I hope to make every wordless Wednesday about her. ...and eventually more non-Wednesday photos/blog entries of her, my photography, our lives.

My first Wordless Wednesday post. My heart napping.

Little Man "J"

2011-07-18T22:06:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness. I cannot say enough about this little guy. He was turning five so his mom called on me to take some pictures of this time. I'm so grateful she chose me - it was such a pleasure meeting this sweet little guy. Sooooo adorable...in personality, demeanor and just plain cuteness. Every time I look through his images, I smile. Ah, love!

His parents didn't plan on being in any of the shots, but I coaxed them and after mom saw the pictures, she said she was so glad I did. :)

One of my favorites - little J on the right.

I LOVE fun families.

Happy Birthday, little J. You are a little love. I hope life brings you the best!!

"W" Family

2011-07-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

People are still reading this so I thought I'd blog some sessions! Thanks for still coming by! ;)

So nice to see this family again. I still can't get over how these sweet girls have grown! "They grow so fast..." - not such a cliche anymore!

I know I say this all the time, but I love when parents let their child bring their favorite toy to the session. I think it's a great 'timepiece' when you look back on the photos years later. It may be something they don't remember and it will be fun for the kids to see. Or you may get rid of the toy and only remember it when you look back at photos. I LOVE pieces that deal with everyday life as it is in the moment.

...and the accepted image is...

2011-06-27T18:50:00.000-07:00

Well, I always said last year's fair would be tough to beat. We had such a great experience in the photography competition and you can read about it here. Well, my statement proved to be correct. I entered three images and only one was accepted...but hey, one is fine in my book! I remember one year I dropped off my only image that was accepted and heard some man complaining that he only got one in that year when normally he at least gets two in. I rolled my eyes and was just happy I was part of the competition. Same with this year! In a previous blog post, I asked for your help in choosing which images I should enter and I actually only entered one of those images and two others that I didn't post in that blog entry. Well, the two others didn't make it and I was going to post them here to show you which ones they were, but I didn't want people to ever see those pictures again and look at them in a different light so I decided to only post the 'approved' entry.

By the way, hubby also got two in! So happy for him...after all, he and my Photography 101 instructor taught me most everything I know! So if you're headed to the O.C. Fair this year, this image (and two of hubby's) will be there! Who knows...maybe we'll win ribbons again...a girl could hope. :)

P.S. I took this image while visiting hubby's home state. I told him, "I bet you'll never think it's silly if I ask you to pull over so I can take pictures of cows again!" He said, "No, I'll still think it's silly." Ha!

Little Boy (in) Blue

2011-06-05T13:33:00.000-07:00

Cannot say enough about this little cutie. Sooooo adorable and so fun! His mom and dad were so at ease on the sidelines while taking his 2nd Birthday pictures. Makes for the best kind of fun, relaxed session!

Happy Birthday, little one!

Beach Baby Goodness

2011-06-03T17:26:00.000-07:00

I love this little one...she's so adorable and she's a friend's baby so that makes her even more adorable. ;) She wasn't too in to me taking pictures, but who could blame her? She had the sea, the sand, the birds...why would she want me all up in her face? ;)

...and for those who wonder, yes, I take a lot of 'normal' family shots...but those aren't my favorite and as it goes - this is my blog so I post what I like. ;)

6 months - a world of difference in a baby

2011-05-31T23:21:00.000-07:00

Yikes...this blog is so neglected, it's been almost a month since I blogged! Decided to at least post one image of a session I've been working on. The image on the left is when the baby was a few weeks old. The image on the right is around 6 months. What a difference 6 months makes.

It's that time again...

2011-05-06T01:00:00.000-07:00

fair photo entry time. I'm sure all my loyal friends/family/blog readers remember last year's fair results. If you don't, you can read about them here. :) I'm not sure what to enter (as usual - and I'm not sure if I'm leaving better ones out :/) so I'm asking for some help. You can leave a comment here or on Facebook but I'd love your input. One of these photos is a FOR SURE entry, but I won't tell you which one - I'll just see if it's one of your favorites too. If you could, please let me know your #1 and #2 pick. If those end up being the one that will be entered anyway, I'll just figure out the last one to choose. Thanks so much! :)

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

Michelle & Gabriel - Maternity Round Two

2011-04-18T21:42:00.001-07:00

I feel so blessed for this friendship. You meet friends at work, at we-have-the-same-interest clubs, at church, etc. I met Michelle at a country bar. :) I can't even remember the exact moment I met her, or even exactly how, but it's was before Al came along so it's got to be at least 6 or 7 years now. It was before weddings and babies, I know that. We've done a lot of country line dancing and country concerts and we still do that, but Disneyland play dates come before country bar play dates lately. :) Sometimes we've seen each other a couple times a month and sometimes it's months before we see each other, but it's one of those friendships that picks up where it left off and there's no awkwardness of what to talk about. I love that about this friendship. I feel so blessed for 'random' friendships.

Michelle and Gabriel were my first maternity session a little over 3 years ago. I cannot thank them enough for giving us (Al and I were starting out together at the time) a chance with their maternity photos then AND now. Especially when I have an 'off' day and I told her a few times that this felt like one for me. :/ Even so, here are a few of her maternity...second time around. :)

I love this - this is so their family. I almost deleted it because it's not perfect but saved it because it's just a moment of 'them' before new baby arrives. :) I love this family.

Sweet little guy.

...and pretty soon there will be a LITTLE GIRL trotting along with her brother - holding her PINK :) balloons. I. CANNOT. WAIT.

...and a fun little outtake - no big editing here, just kept it for their memories. :)

...and pulling from the old school archives - here's a snippit of my wedding and with some of my country friends doing the "M.I.B" line dance to Will Smith's "Miami". Michelle is in the floral dress. :)

Tuesday Afternoon

2011-04-12T18:26:00.001-07:00

Looking for bugs with her fancy-schmancy toilet paper binoculars (craft from library story time):

Daddy and Riley's artwork:

Our stray kitty that is part of our little family:

"Feed me"

Shadows - iheartfaces Photo Challenge

2011-04-10T13:11:00.001-07:00

This week's iheartfaces photo challenge deals with shadows. I chose an image from Brandi and Eddie's engagement session. I love how he is holding her and that those are hearts that she drew in the sand.

Off to a family session...Happy Sunday!

Check out more entries at iheartfaces!

They grow up so fast...

2011-04-05T22:05:00.001-07:00

I have plenty of sessions that need posting (and editing) but as you know, I'm having a love/hate relationship with my blog (or blogging right now) so I'm only posting when the mood hits me. ;)

I didn't take ANY 'real' pictures of my baby girl last month. :/ That really bummed me out. I suppose it was bound to happen at some point in her life, but I was two years in already! I made it a point to take her out and get some pictures today - maybe send a couple to relatives for Easter.

I came back and edited one I loved and I decided to look back on last year. I knew exactly what type of picture we took last year and that plastic eggs were involved and I remember exactly where we did it. What I couldn't believe was the difference in my baby girl after only one year! I still can't believe it. She's a little girl now. Well, toddler, I suppose...but looks like a little girl. As silly as that cliche is, they really do grow up so fast. Wow.

I looked back at her monthly post and it said that she was understanding things and started or was trying to say things. When she saw a dog in a book, she was saying "ruff ruff". Now she says, "There's a doggy!" or "I see a doggy!" or the like. She was also learning body parts and saying elbow and now she says sooooo much more. Today when we were in the truck she told me she wanted her Minnie ring that was in her toy box. I asked her where it was and she told me she didn't know. I looked through the toy box and found it and she said, "Thank you for fineing it." ;) I couldn't believe she put that together and said it. I was so touched and I told her how nice that was and thanked her for saying something so nice and she said, "You're welcome." It was one of those moments that I know that I'll remember forever when I look back on today's photos.

My mom and stepdad took her to dinner tonight and when I dropped her off I told her that maybe she could get a balloon when she was finished with dinner. She said, "I want a blue balloon." I told her to tell them she wanted a blue balloon. When my parents dropped her off, there she was...with a blue balloon. :)

I love you, love you, love you baby girl.

Disney, Friendship and Blessings - iheartfaces photo challenge

2011-03-27T22:36:00.000-07:00

I love these iheartfaces photo challenges if only for the reason that it makes me take a look back at photos I've taken and remember again. I just looked through soooo many images of my baby girl and how she's grown. It's only a little over 2 years, but it's crazy how fast they grow. That cliche is sooooo true!

This week's challenge is a "slice of life". Well, Disneyland and Mickey are definitely a slice of our life. And so are these girls. We have a pass to Disneyland and I know how lucky I am and I know how lucky Riley is. Believe me, soon as she's old enough to understand, I will let her know (constantly) what a privilege it is to be able to go anytime we want. I wish all little ones had at least one chance to visit Disneyland or Disney World or Disney whatever. I definitely get use out of my pass. We probably go once a week (minimum!). Some people like to kid me about going so much but I figure, why have a pass if you're not going to take advantage of it?! We are so lucky but also blessed - Mom paid for my pass this year as a Christmas present. That is a BIG DEAL. Thanks Mom. :)

Anyway, these little cuties are also a slice of our life. My girl met these girls through a MOMS Club that all of the moms are in. I love the mom's of these girls and I hope that we (and our girls) will be friends forever. So...these girls and a play date at Disneyland is definitely a slice of our life right now and what a blessing that entire sentence is!

You can check out some more slices of life at iheartfaces!

Lauren - Anytime Session

2011-03-24T23:38:00.000-07:00

Wow...this session is a couple months old and I'm just now blogging it! I met this sweet girl through Brenda, sort of. When it all comes down to it, we all met through Incahoots, the internet and our love of country music. Too long of a back story and I'm not sure anyone would care anyway. ;)

A few of Lauren's images that I loved. This session just says "fresh" to me now that I revist it a couple months later. Everything was crisp and cold this day, if I remember correctly...and Lauren just kind of 'glowed' in the pictures.

"Baby Blues"

2011-03-21T00:38:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in awhile and this topic wasn't even on my mind to ever blog but I get a lot of readers here (I check my stats every few weeks...not sure why a lot of you don't comment, but that's neither here nor there!) and I felt that this would be good to put out into the internet world in case there is another mom out there wondering about it.

Yesterday a friend of mine had a baby shower and there were cards that asked you to write advice for the mom-to-be. My husband and I have talked sooooo many times about things that people don't tell you when you become a parent. You get all the generic advice: get your sleep now because you won't sleep when baby comes (worst advice ever - you can't bank sleep!), take it all in - they grow so fast, your life is never going to be the same (um, yeah, thanks). :/ I swore that if new moms ever asked me for advice (I'll never offer because that's another thing that is maddening - unsolicted advice for new parents!) that I was going to be COMPLETELY HONEST. On my advice card, I wrote:

1) Try to remember that the sleepless nights aren't going to last forever.
2) Cry it out when you need to!
3) If hubby offers to help, LET HIM!

Seriously, that is the advice I wish someone would have given me. I'm only bringing this up because a friend on Facebook posted a status update today asking if it's normal to have the baby blues 7 weeks after having a baby. My answer was YES!!!! Two other commenters said the same thing.

The first three months for me were the hardest. I wouldn't say that I was in a depression, but there were definitely days where I would just start crying and hubby would just take over. I'm blessed because I have a GREAT hubby, I really don't know how some people do it alone. For those single moms (and dads) out there, KUDOS TO YOU! Anyway, I really can't remember much of that time if I'm being honest. As I told my friend, after the first three months, it was like the clouds opened up and sun started shining through...and it continued to get better as time went on. I'm not sure that I had anything like post-partum depression (although, maybe that's exactly what it was), it just felt gloomy at times and that I felt I should be happier than I was. I also told my friend there were GREAT days, too...and that it, indeed, does get better.

She asked what you could do for it and one friend suggested she read this book. I read that book and I didn't have feelings anywhere near the desperation Brooke Shields did, so I can only imagine the cloud that some moms have hanging over their head. :( I really think that I had a light case of baby blues and they were only here and there, so if I had a light case, I feel for the moms that have it bad. :/ I told her that maybe some books would help or if it was really bad, she should talk to her doctor (and another friend told her the same advice because that's what she did). I also told her the advice I gave my mom-to-be friend and I'll repeat it again:

1) Try to remember that the sleepless nights aren't going to last forever.
2) Cry it out when you need to!
3) If hubby (or anyone!) offers to help, LET HIM (them)!

I really don't know why mom's aren't so truthful about lots of parenting things they experience. I'm sure some of them don't experience everything others experience but I also know some do. Maybe they don't want to seem like a bad mom or a failure or whatever. That is soooo crazy because it's a new life and if it's your first time, you're definitely going to be thrown for a loop. So if you're reading this (whether you're a regular follower, came via keywords, whatever) and this was your experience, don't be afraid to share it with your other mom friends or family - it may help someone down the road. Or if you still experience this, maybe they (or a doctor or books or something else) can help you. But I wish moms would open up more and talk to each other about 'real' stuff. It's a hard job (the hardest I've ever had!) and we all need support. I'm thankful that my friend asked and didn't keep it inside. I kind of did. I only sent an email to a few friends with several kids asking for their advice. I was so grateful for it. And if you ARE feeling the baby blues right now, again, I promise you...it gets better. The 'baby' days weren't easy for me but 3 months and on have been FANTASTIC. Life with this little girl just gets better and better and better. :)

Best Face in February - I Heart Faces Challenge

2011-03-07T18:15:00.000-08:00

Participating in iheartfaces photo challenge again this week because it was fun seeing new visitors this week and seeing their fantastic images. So much talent out there!

This week's challenge was "Best Face Photo from February 2011". I try to take pictures of Riley and categorize them by year and month now since I'm no longer doing a blog for every single month. This image was from February 23rd right after she woke up from a nap. She looked so adorable that I had to run out and grab my camera. I love, love, love this picture of her.

If you want to know more about iheartfaces, click on the button!

A Weekend in the Life...

2011-03-07T00:11:00.000-08:00

I follow a LOT of blogs. A LOT. Photography blogs, crafty blogs, 'mom' blogs, food blogs, and 'interesting' blogs - a category for those blogs that have so much going on, I'm not sure how to categorize them. I love seeing how other people are living their lives, what creativity is out there, learning about new things...love it!

I'll be honest...I'm tired of blogging. I started to feel like I had to blog, either to keep family informed of how Riley is growing or to showcase images from sessions for people who are stopping by to check out my work. I try to keep my blog and Facebook light hearted because I do have a lot to be thankful for and I try to be a 'glass half full' kind of girl...it doesn't always happen, but I try. But I'm tired of blogging and I was thinking that I HAD to blog a couple of images from either this weekend or a couple of months ago (that I haven't blogged!). Well, when I looked over my weekend via Facebook, I thought, "Oh yeah! I forgot about that!" while looking through my pictures. How crazy is that?! It was just today and yesterday! But sooooo much happens and we tend to forget the little things...and it made me appreciate my blog and the blogging process a little more. So this entry is for me - a reminder of (some of) my weekend when I look back on it a few years from now. Because if I hardly recalled some of it before looking at some of these pictures NOW, I'm certainly not going to recall it in the future - unless it's in a diary or blogged...and I'm CERTAINLY not going to go through the process of keeping a diary if THIS seems like a chore sometimes. ;)

So "Cheers" to my blog and it's keeping of my memories.

After the gym, I spotted snow capped mountains.

Riley has never had a topping on frozen yogurt before and I gave her a choice this weekend: brownies, rainbow sprinkles or chocolate sprinkles. She chose rainbow sprinkles. :)

An engagement session with a friend from JUNIOR HIGH/high school!:

A funny bird performing for passerby (leaving the engagement session):

A fun birthday party where Riley experienced her first bounce house (LOVED it - this was the FIRST shot of her being in it!):

Her first banana lollipop...seriously, a banana lollipop?! No, thank you...but she seemed to like it!

...and fun souvenirs from a crafty party:

The not so fun part of the weekend...the price of gas. :/

And a big thanks to the Instagram app...makes documenting life fun!

Anything But A Face - iheartfaces Photo Challenge

2011-02-28T22:31:00.000-08:00

I've never participated in iheartfaces weekly photo challenge but have seen a lot of photographers do so. Saw it this week and thought, "That is right up my alley!" I LOVE taking headless photos...some may think it's weird, but I think it tells more of a story than when you see the entire person sometimes.

Anyway, one of my favorite "anything but a face" photos is of my (first internet and then real) friend Stephanie. One day I emailed her asking her if she'd be up for a laundromat shoot and she was totally game. This image won 3rd place for "People" at last year's O.C. Fair (someone even wanted to purchase it(!) but it is now hanging over my bed) so it has lots of special memories for me. :) You can see it in it's fun yellow frame if you click here.

If you're reading this Stephanie, thanks for being so game for this on a early Sat or Sun morning. You were the best...move back to Long Beach!!!!

Check out:

Stormy Days

2011-02-26T15:18:00.000-08:00

I seem to be the only person I know that never trusts the weather person. I NEVER believe the weather unless it's summer and I know it's going to be hot, hot, hot. When it comes to the 'rainy' season, I just kinda roll my eyes when I see "storm" or "rain" on the news. Yes, today it was supposed to RAIN, RAIN, RAIN...so this is what a Saturday in the 'rain' looks like:

Maybe the weather will be better tomorrow. ;)

Bye bye, Crackberry...Heeeelllllloooooo iPhone!

2011-02-25T14:29:00.000-08:00

I still have a few 'real' sessions to blog and I know this blog has been way too much about my life lately (at least for me it has!), but today is a big day, folks. The iPhone has arrived.

I don't even know where to start with this bad boy. Hubby gave me a iPod Touch awhile ago and it was the best little toy ever...I cannot even imagine how much I am going to love this little gadget.

Why is this a big deal? Because I NEVER shop...I RARELY ask for anything. Hubby asks what I want for Christmas: "I don't need anything." What I want for my birthday: "I can't think of anything." What do I want to do for our anniversary: "Let's just go out to dinner right now!" And Valentine's Day? "Do not waste your money!" I really don't "want" much and seriously, phones and my iPod Touch have been my best gifts. Hubby surprised me with my Blackberry (AKA Crackberry) when Riley was just a baby. With a lot of sleepless nights, painful recovery and hormones getting back to normal, it was a WONDERFUL surprise. The iPod Touch was a surprise too so those gifts have special meaning for me because I never even asked for them and with them being a surprise, it's just special memories. Well, we knew I was going to get a new phone once my contract ran out and thankfully Verizon acquired the iPhone a few weeks before my contract was up! Whoo hoo! Score!

I have to say that I will miss my little Crackberry. It seems like an old friend. Countless phone calls, texts, pictures...I will miss the little guy. It was with me from back in the day. :(

Thanks old friend. You were good to me. I'll always have fond memories of you...

Proud Mama Syndrome

2011-02-23T17:21:00.000-08:00

I get a kick when we go over to my Mom's sometimes. Of course, Grammy thinks Riley is the cutest/smartest/funniest/you name it. And that's good, grandma's should feel that way about their grandbabies.

I go back and forth with that...of course I think Riley is a pretty little girl, a smart little girl, etc...I'm her mama! Then you have mom friends or hear other moms talk about how their baby is the cutest/smartest, etc. I try to remember a funny quote:

If children grew up according to early indications, we should have nothing but geniuses.
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Ha!!

I had lunch with a friend today and we started talking about Riley and I went through the whole "Riley, count!" thing and after that I said, "Let's see, what else..." and then I laughed and said, "OK, let me stop the 'let me show you how smart my kid is' mom thing!" and we both started laughing. :)

But for today, I will think (out loud) that my daughter is a beautiful little girl...especially when waking up in a fun spirit after her nap.

...and I hope she grows up knowing how beautiful/smart/funny/etc., I will ALWAYS think she is - because when it comes down to it, all little ones should have mommy's and daddy's that feel that way about their babies.

Potato Head Family Bonding

2011-02-20T21:37:00.001-08:00

My baby girl and hubby bond over playing Mr. Potato Head. It's almost a nightly occurrence. Decided to snap some quick images of it tonight.

Potato Head kisses:

Daddy's Potato Head:

Mommy's Potato Head:

Riley's Potato Head:

"Rainy" Day Laziness

2011-02-16T13:06:00.000-08:00

We spent the morning being 'lazy' because of the rain.

Well, it WAS sprinkling this morning. I can't help that the sun is out while typing this post and that we are still in our pajamas. Well, I can help the pajamas part, but I'm not going to. :)

Oh, and my girl loves her Halloween socks. Pair them with Christmas pajamas in February and the whole day is quite amusing. :)

Little Baby "P"

2011-02-15T23:14:00.000-08:00

It seems such a chore to keep up the blog lately, so this little cutie is a lot older than these pictures now!

I went to high school with this little sweetie's mommy. It's crazy to see some of your high school friends in a different place in their lives when you hadn't kept in touch with them. Beautiful, but still crazy!

This little sweet pea was just that - so sweet and sooooooo good during the entire session. I'm supposed to have coffee with her mom and another high school friend soon and I cannot wait to see how much she has already changed. The baby days go by sooooo fast. Here are some of my favorites of her 'newer' baby days. :)

Seriously, she is a gorgeous little girl:

Love this one:

Aaaahhhh....what a little love!!

Love this one of my friend and her new little girl. :)

Let's not forget Daddy. :) I love that he/she is going to have this particular picture when she's an adult.

...and how adorable is her room?!

...and can a little girl have too much pink? As a mom of a little girl, I wholeheartedly say, "No! There can never be too much pink!!"

A baby girl...one of the most beautiful miracles in life, one of the greatest joys we can ever know, and one of the reasons why there is a little extra sunshine, laughter and happiness in your world today.
-- Author Unknown

$4.94!!

2011-02-10T16:25:00.000-08:00

First of all, excuse the blog...it's going through a bit of a makeover right now and it's not quite finished yet...that being said, let's get on to my deal of the day!

I am NOT a shopper. CANNOT stand shopping. I think I did most of my Christmas shopping on Amazon.com and I cannot tell you how that simplifies your life. Love, love, love! Anyway, I had to go to the mall (UGH!!!!!) today to restock on some of my MAC makeup. Normally, I would even purchase MAC makeup online when there is a free shipping deal but their free standard shipping is a little slow...so I know not to reorder when I am LOW. I have go to the mall instead. :/

Well, today's shopping trip turned out lovely because 1) my baby girl was so good, 2) the MAC girl was so nice and even did my eyes for me (ooh-la-la) and 3) I found a sweet little deal. My little one wanted to go see the doggies at the pet store (which I am not a fan of but that's a whole other post) so after we stopped by MAC and on the way to the pet shop, I saw the new Forever 21 store in the mall. It's two stories now - way too much shopping when you've got a toddler with you. So I just thought I'd stop in and see what goodies they might have and a girl can always use another pair of earrings, so I went over to the accessories. I saw a few that I liked and picked up a pair to look at the back and was like, "What?!?!" $1.50!!!!! Of course, there were a few more that were a little bit more, but seriously, $1.50?! How can you go wrong with that?! So, I picked up these three:

Simple...

Love these, so sweet...

...and these will probably accompany me to some country concerts!

The price?! I couldn't believe it! Excuse the receipt, my little girl got a hold of it :), but you get the idea:

Anyway, most of you shopping fanatics probably already know about the good deals over there, but just in case you didn't, now you do. ;)

Nate - Anytime Session

2011-02-08T01:25:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I forgot to blog sweet Nate. When I met Nate he had all sorts of questions about lenses/photography and I couldn't believe how much he knew about it all. Not only does he love photography but he's also a musician. Can you imagine this sweet face serenading you with a song?! It'd be Bieber Fever but with WAY cooler hair. ;)

Light Mini Pizzas

2011-01-31T20:46:00.001-08:00

Al and I have been in a weight loss contest for the last 4 weeks and have had successful weight loss every week. I think one reason is that we never deprive ourselves of anything. Let me also add that I had a lot of chocolate pie last week (father-in-law's birthday) and lots of my infamous chocolate cupcake icing (again for father-in-law's birthday) and I still lost 1.8 last week! You cannot deprive yourself while losing weight - you'll just sabotage yourself later on...and I am a chocoholic...MUST. HAVE. CHOCOLATE. EVERYDAY!!!! Anyway, Al and I also love pizza and started creating these mini pizzas some time ago. They are delish when you're watching what you are eating!

Start with Thomas' Light Multi-Grain English Muffins - only 100 calories! Top with your favorite spaghetti sauce or tomato sauce - just a few calories there. Add your toppings...we like to use red and green bell peppers:

We add a little Garli Ghetti to our pizzas. Found this stuff at the O.C. Fair and LOVE it!!

Stick them in the oven at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes and then take them out and add some fat free cheese. I think it's about 25 calories a slice and we use the sharp cheddar for more flavor. Stick them in the oven for another couple of minutes:

Take them out...ta da...light mini pizzas! :)

...and baby makes three!

2011-01-26T23:35:00.001-08:00

Another session from last year! This was a easy, relaxed session. Krystl and I met at my old job and had lots of fun times together. We've seen each other through a few boys before we both found "the one". :) It's been so nice to see her in this new happy place with her new little family!

Her little boy is adorable!! He was also the toughest cookie I've ever photographed! It makes me smile looking at these images. I could say the silliest things or make the stupidest noise and nothing! I can see the possibility of a career with the Secret Service in his future. ;)

I love this one. :)

Seal Beach Sunset...in January

2011-01-23T21:15:00.000-08:00

Riley's New York grandpa is out here visiting and it's been a whirlwind of adventures. I told him that he needed to see a California sunset in January before he left and God did not disappoint. It was a beautiful day today...70 something in Southern California - he said it was about 10 degrees in New York!

Seal Beach:

Brenda - Anytime Session

2011-01-18T00:44:00.000-08:00

I met Brenda via the internet and the story is too long to try write at this late hour, but I'm glad I reached out and I'm glad she was game. I also had to postpone this session a few times and she was so understanding each time. I think it was meant to be when it finally happened because this was the first time where I think I found my "sweet spot" in regards to light. I wish every session had light like this to work with. Oh, it was heavenly!

One of my favorite images that I've ever shot.

Another favorite. I know I'm biased because I took it, but I feel I could see this photo set in the middle of a "feel good about yourself" article in a women's magazine.

Little Miss "G"

2011-01-15T00:27:00.000-08:00

My little blog has been neglected - this session is from before Christmas!!

Remember this little cutie?

She's growin' up!!

My heart is happy that I was able to make friends with this family and have been able to see this little one grow so far! She's just the sweetest and it's nice to have a friend like Mom that knows life gets in the way and is understanding when you have to put off play dates...and yet, when you see each other again, it's like no time has passed at all! Love this little family...but it's not going to be little much longer...baby #2 is on the way!! Sooooo happy for them!! But until then, this little love bug is the star of the show. Love, love, love her!

...and Riley loves her too! :)

Happy 2nd Birthday, Riley Grace!!!!

2011-01-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

Dear Riley Grace,

Wow, wow, wow!!!! Today you are going to be 2! On 1/11/11! ;) I cannot believe it!! Where did the time go?! Everyone used to tell me, "It goes so fast!" and you think, yeah, yeah, yeah...but it really does!!

I won't go into the monthly update stats because everything is basically the same. The only things I want to make sure to document this time is that we made it to almost 2 years without any ear infections! I know that's a big problem in some little ones and you just had your first one this last month and you were a trooper! You told Daddy that your ear itched but you never really cried or fussed or anything. When your cold kept lingering, we decided to call the doctor. Poor girl, you had an ear infection. :( You would have never known it - you were pretty much your normal self throughout it - which is usually pretty happy! You were also a trooper about taking your medicine. I cringed the first time I saw it because it was milky white and I didn't even think to ask if we could have it flavored but you took each teaspoon filled syringe (two doses twice a day) each time without grimacing. You were amazing! Every time you took your medicine you'd pull on your ear and say, "Make ear better." and I'd say, "Yes, it's going to make your ear feel better!" OMG, it was the cutest thing. :)

I forgot to mention last month that you know your last name although you leave out one of the syllables. :) Today someone asked you your name and you told them our last name! Ha!!

I know every parent says this about their child, but you are seriously so smart!! You can recognize all your letters and numbers and colors and most shapes which I think I mentioned before but you surprise me with new things. Today after we went grocery shopping, I promised you that you could ride the horses out in front of the grocery store if you were a good girl (which you usually are!). I put you on the horse and I said, "Ready?" before I put the quarters in and you said, "Ready!" and then you said, "Hold tight!" Ha!! It cracked me up - I didn't know where you heard that but Daddy said he said that to you at Disneyland when you were on the carousel there! When were in the store you said, "Mommy! Mommy!" and I asked you "What?" You then said, "Parade! Parade!" You were looking at the ceiling and I couldn't figure out what you were talking about until I heard the song. "I love rock and roll" was playing and that was your FAVORITE song in the Disneyland "Celebrate" parade! I could not believe it!! I told you that were so smart. I seriously cannot get over that moment!

Tonight we're having a little get together with Grammy and Papa to have the official cake (and maybe ice cream!) but we took you to Disneyland on Sunday to celebrate your birthday with Minnie and Friends at the Character Breakfast! What a fun memory that was. You were a little overwhelmed at first because there were so many characters that just wanted to spend time with you (and the other families that were there). Instead of waiting in line to meet a character, it was like the characters were waiting in line to meet you! It was wonderful! There were so many characters coming over and so many opportunities to talk with them, hug and kiss them that our breakfast kept getting cold! I think you'll really "get it" if we do it again next year, but you did enjoy it and it was just a nice, sweet time with just the three of us. We then rode the carousel, Dumbo, passed Jessie and Woody which you loved and rode the big pirate ship. We then headed over to California Adventure to see the Muppet 3D show and then went home and napped! It's one of my favorite memories so far.

Telling Minnie that you are "almost two". You use both fingers to show the number 2. :)

Dancing with Minnie:

Kisses from Minnie:

Fairy Godmother telling you she helped make your Cinderella dress. :)

Minnie wiping your face. She even pretended to wet the napkin in her mouth before wiping!

White Rabbit catching your kisses:

Taking a balloon to go:

It was a great day!

Looking forward to celebrating the day with you, baby girl! You are such a blessing and we love you so much and hope for the very best for your life. I hope to do right by you and I hope you look back and are happy with your childhood. I hope that you grow to love Jesus. I hope that you are close with us when you grow up. I have so many hopes for you. Most of all, I hope that life is good to you. Dream big, little girl...and may all your dreams come true!

Love, love, love you, baby girl!
Mommy

Fairytales, Princesses and Fireflies

2011-01-05T23:22:00.000-08:00

Last week we went to look for paint for Riley's room. We never found out what we were having while I was pregnant (we figured life only gives you so many GREAT surprises and that is one of the few) so we registered for everything gender neutral and we painted her room a neutral color. Kinda yellowish, kinda creamish, kinda yuck-ish. Our baby girl is going to be 2 next week and we felt like she deserved a little girl's room.

It was pretty instant. We skimmed the paint color selections and hubby said it was my decision. We picked up a few colors. One was too dark. One too pale. The next, just right. I looked at the color and kinda laughed. Fairytale Pink. But of course.

Before I had a baby girl I used to cringe at little girls wearing princess dresses and watching princess movies and reading knight-in-shining-armor-on-his-white-horse stories. I thought it created an unrealistic reality (and sometimes still do). I feel that if you don't have parents who help you understand that real life isn't like that usually, it could make for some unsatisfied women later in life - and some miserable men.

I also used to cringe when people would call a little girl "Princess". Al and I cringed a bunch when she was just months old. Family, friends- and especially - strangers love to call a little girl "Princess". I really think that I've only begun to accept the 'princess' nickname in the last year. Something in me started to change. Why shouldn't she be called princess? Why shouldn't she dress in the same outfits she sees some of the pretty girls in the movies wear? Why shouldn't she believe in good overcoming evil and falling in love and never looking in the rear view mirror? This is the time to believe in fairy tales and princesses. This is the time where her mommy should go along with those things whether mommy believes in them or not. We're coming up on 2 years and this is a magical time. Christmas lights are exciting, flowers need to be smelled and the stray cat that daddy feeds is funny.

I now embrace the short time where one can believe in fairytales and princesses...and my princess deserves a Fairytale Pink room.

And if "life" starts to get in my way of remembering to believe in fairytales and princesses and the cow jumping over the moon, I'll sing this, the perfect anthem for remembering to believe and to dream:

A new year brings renewed hope.

2011-01-03T21:33:00.000-08:00

My 2011 has started out with lots of Oprah on the DVR. I am in HEAVEN with a whole channel devoted to Oprah-approved shows. I just feel like I can be a better person or do better things or have learned something or heard something a different way after I watch one of her shows. I usually come away feeling inspired and/or hopeful about what my life is/can become. I loved her little new year quote:

“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.”

Images taken at El Dorado Nature Center on New Year's Eve 2010.

A few hopes for this upcoming year:

Spend more time with my family away from the computer, Blackberry, etc. It's getting a little crazy with the technology, don'tcha think?
Train for and complete a half marathon. Yikes. Yikes. Yikes. Wasn't I the one who said "Never again!" after my first 10K in 2009? Yes, but then I did another 10K in 2010 and it wasn't so bad. If I train, I believe I can add a half marathon to my list of "things I achieved after the age of 35". Not sure that I WANT to, but I'm pretty certain I am capable. (Thanks Scotty. :))
Read at LEAST one book a month.
Choose two people each month to send a card to - just an out-of-the-blue "thinking about you" card. Write meaningful words in it. Things I can say now instead of things I would have wished I would have told the person if they were no longer in my life. Life needs more of this. In fact, I know the first two people that I'm going to write to for the month of January.

Thankful to the Lord for another birthday at the very end of 2010 and waking up to another new year a few days later. Thankful for life.

I wish a great 2011 for us all!

2010 Favorites

2010-12-29T18:10:00.000-08:00

Just a look back at my personal favorites. Happy 2010, everyone!!

Feeling grateful...

2010-12-26T13:15:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! It's been a great few days and today is my birthday and it's been one of the best so far! Have a great rest of the weekend!

Christmas Time at Disneyland

2010-12-19T21:12:00.001-08:00

I cannot even begin to describe how beautiful Disneyland is at Christmas time. It truly is magical. From the huge tree to the beautiful decorations to Small World being lit up to "snow" coming down after the castle is lit or fireworks have ended...it's just a sight to see.

Disneyland does such a great job with the decorations throughout the year, but I believe Christmas and Halloween have been my favorite. You can see the Halloween post here.

For any photographers out there, I didn't use a flash for these photos. Just took my trusty 85 mm with me and used a 1600 ISO on most of them. Not all of them because some of them didn't need it with all the light, but for the most part, that is what I used.

Enjoy and Merry Christmas (soon)!

One of my favorite images ever.

New Orleans Square

Nightmare Before Christmas at Haunted Mansion

"Snow" :)

Another favorite image.

It's a Small World

Another favorite. Love, love, love this image.

Sweet Sisters

2010-12-14T20:51:00.001-08:00

Seriously, these girls are the sweetest! Soooo good with their parents and yet so silly at the same time. I don't get too many kids that LOVE the camera, but these two soaked it up. :) A lot of the times you come back from a session and while editing, you relive certain feelings over again. That happened while editing this one and while blogging the images. Such a nice, warm family as a whole. Mom was as kind as can be when I first met her and was really interested while asking questions getting to know me (that's pretty rare with people these days, it seems), but the girls...the girls make my heart smile. Pure innocence and silliness at it's best. Wishing great things for these sweet girls!

Simple Sunday

2010-12-12T18:56:00.000-08:00

Wow. I haven't had a free day to myself in awhile. I had no plans except for one thing I had been looking forward to for a couple of weeks. I couldn't wait to go to the O.C. Swap Meet! It's such a fun place to spend some time - especially when you don't have anything else planned for the day. Today was a little warm (88 degrees for the 12th of December?!) but I'd rather have this than being snowed in, I suppose.

If you haven't been to the O.C. Swap Meet (or Marketplace as they like to call it), you HAVE to go! They have everything under the sun there. It's not one of those swap meets or flea markets where people are selling their old stuff. There are tons of different vendors - everything from custom signs to scrapbooking goods to nail polish and home grown pickles. Love this place!

After you spend some time going through the many rows of aisles, don't forget to spend some time checking out the barn and animals on the fairgrounds! I love, love, love the O.C. Fair and it's so different walking on the fairgrounds when the fair isn't there. When I stepped foot on the fairgrounds today, I started remembering what a great summer my family had there. Meeting up with friends a couple of times, seeing a concert, having a date night with just the hubby and seeing our pictures win awards in the photography competition. This was such a great year in all of our years of attending the fair. It's going to be hard to top!

Anyway, here is our (just me and the baby girl!) day in pictures. Not sure why they are so dark today, but maybe Santa will bring me a new blog!

Happy 23 Months, Baby Girl!

2010-12-11T14:30:00.000-08:00

Dear Riley Grace,

Holy goodness! I cannot believe you are going to be TWO YEARS OLD next month. I thought the first year flew by, but this year REALLY flew by. Wow.

Where do I begin?! You do so many things now! You can count to 14-15 and recognize numbers. You know all the letters of the alphabet, you don't say them in order, but you recognize them in your puzzle, on books, magazines, etc. You know all the basic colors (red, yellow, pink, blue, purple, black, brown, orange). We think you are so smart, but every parent feels that way, I'm sure! But we still think you are. ;)

You know so much that I don't even know where to begin. The longest sentence you've said is "Where did Mommy (Daddy/Grammy/Papa/fill in the blank) go?" or when reciting one of your books "And the cow said Moo. And the duck said quack quack."

We've been watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and you've started to recite the movie. It is so funny! One day when you were sitting on the couch next to me you started doing it and I cracked up and rewound it over and over just to hear you say it. You got a kick out of me laughing and now you'll do it sometimes when the movie isn't on just to hear me or Daddy laugh. :)

You've also been anticipating things. While waiting for a light to change by Disneyland the other night, you said, "Go people, go!" Daddy and I cracked up!! Yep, Mommy says that sometimes while driving. :/

Things are about the same. Size 4 diapers. Some 18 month clothes, some 24 month, but those are baggy on you as well. Shoe size is 5 to 6 now depending on the shoe. 6 gives you more room, though.

Again, I'm sure there's tons I'm missing, but that was a little recap.

Now in pictures...

Grammy loves making silly hats for you and you love wearing them:

We bought you a little play house someone was selling and you love it! I love, love, love this pic of you.

Of course, Disneyland!! Autopia with Mommy:

Mickey with Grammy and Papa:

Your little curls after a bath.

Cold day at a park:

We had fun painting Christmas ornaments at Color Me Mine. Well, you had fun...Mommy had fun watching!

You chose all of your own colors:

Beautiful!

The final products. Picking them up today! Can't wait to see them glazed!

We saw little Miss Gemma again! So much fun seeing you two together.

Her mommy gave you a sucker and you weren't quite sure what to do with it. :)

Belmont Shore Christmas parade!

We took Christmas pics almost a week ago in between the rain falling. You did great! Here is the comparison from last year. I cannot believe how much you've changed!

You are a cutie pie!

Love, love, love you, Riley Grace!!

Love,
Mommy

This is real life.

2010-12-07T23:46:00.000-08:00

These images make me smile. This was a compilation of two different sessions. One of the sessions we had three little girls (mine included) and it was just complete chaos, fun chaos, but still chaos! One of the little's :) didn't want to take any pictures so we tried with her again during the family session. I love this little family. Mom is so nice and even with all the chaos, she never got uptight or upset...she just went with it. That always makes a better time for everyone involved. The two little ones are as sweet as can be. Some of these images just bring a big smile to my face because of the easiness and sweetness of the whole situation. I did get a couple of 'normal' family portraits, but those aren't my favorites (they usually never are!), these are. This is real life. :)

...and this is what a session with three little girls is REALLY like. :)

"Let the Memories Begin" - Disneyland

2010-11-30T21:52:00.000-08:00

I used to hate beach sessions. It seemed there was one point where everyone was either taking their pictures at the beach or requesting a beach session. I'll be honest, it made me roll my eyes.

I have to say that I kinda felt the same way when I was planning this previous session, but it was for a special reason so I went with what they wanted. I came home, uploaded the images and FELL IN LOVE with the beach all over again. I don't know what it was. It just made me feel happy looking at those images with that family and Seal Beach was just so beautiful in the background. I love, love, love Seal Beach - the town (in fact, I would LOVE to live there at some point in my life), but I could take or leave the beach part - it was just so overdone. Not anymore. I love, love, love Seal Beach - the beach. I can't believe I used to feel so differently about it.

Anyway, this session was also at Seal Beach and again, I love looking at the images. Seal Beach is just so beautiful in the background. It also helps that I have warm feelings for this family. I met Mom through my MOMS Club. So sweet and so easy to talk to, not to mention that her little girl and Riley love seeing each other too. In fact, her little girl is in a couple of pictures on Riley's last 'birthday month' entry. This is also another military family. God bless them.

Mom mentioned at one point that she wished this little one would put Mickey down for some of the shots. I told her that years down the line, she may not remember Mickey there until she looks at some of the pictures. Her daughter will probably only know these memories with Mickey through these pictures. I believe that images should show every part of the memory that day. My heart is happy when I see Mickey in these images...I don't think I would feel the same about some of the images if he hadn't been there. It just seems that he was meant to be part of the story. Not to mention, Disneyland's new slogan is "Let the Memories Begin"...so there you have it. :)

Caroline & Matt - Maternity

2010-11-27T15:38:00.001-08:00

I am sooooo behind in blogging that this little bun in the oven has already been born!

I went to high school with Caroline and we reconnected on Facebook so it was so nice to see her again after all these years. She just looked beautiful AND adorable being pregnant! I loved that she wanted to take some pictures of the nursery and the things that made it special. Matt had some Spanish books for the baby (love it!), the monkey that is in the pictures was Matt's when he was a little boy(!) and a friend of theirs let them use the pram (or buggy) while the baby is little. It is vintage and in perfect condition and lots of other babies have used it while they were newborns. It will be a very special piece of their new little one's story.

Here are a few of my personal favorites. Wishing this new little family the best!!

10K...apable!

2010-11-24T01:58:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow's the big day...my second 10K. Like I said before, I'm not as prepared as I was last year (weight-wise or training-wise), but I would have let myself down signing up for the 5K just because I knew I wasn't as ready. To combat that, I challenged myself to try it again, even if I am 'worse off" than before. I like to reach back to that old saying, "If it was easy, everyone would be doing it."

To say that I'm looking forward to it would be a total lie. I'm scared. Or anxious. Or a little of both, but there's no excitement in there at all. I let myself down by not completely preparing for it but I'm hoping that's it's going to be easier than I am remembering and trying to remember that I will feel so proud after. I can't even comprehend that moment yet. It's a looooooonnnnngggg way from right now until that finish line tomorrow morning sometime.

I have everything on my play list from PINK to Blake Shelton to Train to Eminem. Not everything has a fast tempo like I usually prefer while running, but most of the songs really speak to me in some way and I hope that is going to help push me through.

Justin (the founder of this race) says there are more than 6,000 walkers/runners from more than 18 states participating tomorrow. 62% are doing the 5K, 24% are walkers. What do I think when I read this? That I hope I'm not one of the slowest 10K'rs out there. But what if I am? I certainly wouldn't judge another 10K'r or 5K'r whether they were one of the slowest. Why do I feel I need to judge myself? I'm running 6.2 miles on Thanksgiving morning, fast or slow, there's something to be said for that and I need to keep that positive thinking in the front of my mind.

I've never written on my hand or anything for any race I've been involved in before but I saw it done during the NYC marathon, I think. I thought that was such a great idea. Three quotes will be with me:

While watching Sarah Palin's Alaska rock climbing episode, Sarah said something after a tough trek. I thought it was perfect since I will be outside and 'making the effort and I'll be running on a beautiful path and I know that will make me thankful:

"It's so worth it. Just putting forth some effort. Ya know, you ...just gotta get outside. Breathe in the air, look what's around us."

I also love this from my friend Scotty. When I posted my fears about this 10K he wrote something to encourage me and I absolutely love this part of it. I think it could fit into so many parts of my life - not just a race:

"You are totally capable!"

I love that. Thank you, Scotty. :)

The final thing is a quote that I found the other day. The 10K is on the beach path and sand is literally on either side of you while running. Like I said in my previous blog entry, I'll have two of these - given...hoping to have happy tears at the finish line:

The cure for anything is salt water -- sweat, tears, or the sea.
---Isak Dinesen

And when I get tired, frustrated and mad at myself for putting myself through something that difficult (for me), I'll think about it being Thanksgiving Day. I'll think about how I have so many things to be thankful for. And I'll remember to be thankful that I am able - and CAPABLE - to run.

Sweat, Tears or the Sea - Sunday Citar

2010-11-21T16:32:00.000-08:00

I live very close to the beach. So close that I used to take it for granted. Until I had a baby girl. Last summer we went to the beach sooooo many times and I was so thankful it was so close - we could pick up and go on a whim and when I felt like going back home, I knew it was a short drive away. I also realized last summer what fun, free entertainment it is for children. So many times I sat on the shoreline and thought how lucky Riley was to experience this just about any time and how lucky I was to have sand underneath my feet and the warmth of the sun on my shoulders. It's very therapeutic.

As I was looking for quotes for this week's Sunday Citar, I came across one that really spoke to me. Last year I ran my first 10K on Thankgsiving Day. It was so difficult for me and I swore that I would NEVER do it again. Well, I'm doing it again. I'm not in as good as shape as I was last year and I certainly didn't train like I did last year. In fact, I've missed three days recently due to being sick. :/ But, I felt that if I signed up for the 5K, I'd be letting myself down. I know I can do it, it's just going to be a little more challenging this year. :/

The Turkey Trot 5 and 10K's are held on the beach path, so if you have to run a 10K, there's not too many nicer places to be running one. I have a couple of inspirational sayings that I'm going to write on my palm come Thursday morning and I think I'm going to add this one as well. Two of these things will be a given during my 10K. I'm sure the tears will come at one point, I just hope that they are happy ones at the finish line.

The cure for anything is salt water -- sweat, tears, or the sea.
---Isak Dinesen

If you'd like to join in this week's Sunday Citar, click here!

Little Baby "N"

2010-11-18T21:27:00.000-08:00

I posted a sneak peek to this cutie pie a while ago but I never blogged my favorites. This little angel was so good and so totally adorable! Her parents were so nice and easygoing - makes baby sessions soooo much easier! I hope life has lots of good things in store for this precious baby girl.

My 15 Minutes of Internet Fame

2010-11-14T17:03:00.001-08:00

I was selected as a nominee in Pioneer Woman's Four Legged photo contest. I was in Group 6 - fourth one down! You can see the original post here.

If you follow Pioneer Woman at all, you know what a huge honor that is. She has thousands of readers (if not hundreds of thousands) and there was probably hundreds to thousands of entries into that contest. To be selected in the finalist groups was such an honor - there are soooo many gorgeous images.

Here are my sweet little cows that I photographed in New York. Since they did so well in such a big contest, I may just enter them into the O.C. Fair next year. Maybe they'll push me up from third place. ;)

I didn't make the final finalists group, but I seriously am not disappointed at all - to have been in ANY of the groups was a big deal and I have had 100 something views on my photo on my Flickr page and some nice comments, so all in all it was a fun experience.

And if you've never heard of Pioneer Woman (where have you been?!) you might want to start reading here. She was a city girl who fell in love with a country boy and now lives on a ranch and writes about her adventures. There's even going to be a movie made about her life! I started reading her blog when it was just one page - now there are categories for food/photography/home schooling, etc. She now has a cookbook, she's been on the numerous television news shows and well, she's just a big deal in the blog world. She's come a long way!

Anyway, have a great week! Thanks for stopping by. :)

Happy 22 Months, Baby Girl!

2010-11-11T22:05:00.000-08:00

Dear Riley Grace,

Two more months until you are 2! I can't believe it!

Things are about the same. Size 4 diapers. Some 18 month clothes, some 24 month, but those are baggy on you as well. Shoe size is 5 to 5 1/2 depending on the shoe.

I'm happy to report that this month was a bit easier than last month! You're really starting to understand the whole discipline concept so that helps making things easier. You're a really good girl for the most part and we even received a compliment about you from a stranger when we were at dinner one night!

Not sure what to say that hasn't been said in the last 22 months! We love you so much, Riley Grace!

Recap of last month:

We had a fun little Halloween get together with the MOMS Club:

Play time at the park. Love, love, love this photo of you:

You rode a supermarket horse for the first time and you asked Mommy to do it again so we did it again after the store. :)

Play date with the MOMS Club. Your new little friend - so funny that you both wore the same headband. This is also your 'chhhheeeesssseeee' smile. :)

Play time at the park with Daddy. He put your license plate on your wagon!

Lots of library story time. This was on the way home - you put the hat on yourself.

We participated again in Justin Rudd's Haute Dog Halloween parade - for dogs and kids. I was so worried about this costume. I bought it at a consignment sale for $12 when I already had a Raggedy Ann dress for you (but no wig). You hated it when I brought it home and wanted nothing to do with it. Then Daddy had a good idea one night and said we should practice trick or treating. You reluctantly put on the costume but after that night, you wanted to wear it all the time! You even wanted to wear the hat to bed one night and cried because you couldn't! We let you wear it for a little bit and then took it off. :) You LOVED the costume by Halloween and even wore it to a library story time when they told us costumes were welcome that week. Everyone LOVED this costume. It was the best $12 I've ever spent! Daddy was the 'farmer' in the parade with you. :)

And it wouldn't be a month in the life of Riley without a few trips to Disneyland!

I love, love, love you baby girl!

Love,
Mommy

Print Quality Reminder

2010-11-09T13:05:00.000-08:00

About a year ago I did a post about quality of prints. It doesn't make sense to pay for a professional session and get your pictures printed at a discount lab. This week I'm going to do a test of Target and Costco prints compared to ones I order from our lab, but here is the example of one printed by our lab and one by Walmart:

As soon as I get the test prints back from our lab and Target/Costco, I'll post those results, but I cannot say enough about purchasing quality prints. Here's an example of where I took a picture of our pictures printed from the lab and even the picture of the picture looks great! Print quality does make a difference in the final result of your images.

Sunday Citar - City Girl Gone Country

2010-11-07T11:52:00.001-08:00

I'm not sure I believe in other lives, but if I had one, I'm pretty sure I was a cowgirl. I love, love, love all things country. The small towns, the miles and miles of scenery, the farm animals, the music, just about everything. If I won the lottery, I'd love to buy a beautiful home somewhere just outside Nashville. A place where I could be in the country, have a horse or two, a lab and a golden retriever, wear cowgirl boots just about everyday and be close enough to town where we could go have a few beers at the local pub on a Saturday night while watching new artists try to break into the country scene. Sounds just about perfect to me. :)

I took this picture when I visited my husband's hometown last year. I'm in photography Heaven when I visit his old country towns.

While I live in my beautiful home outside of Nashville, I'd keep my Chevy truck - although, I'd probably get a bigger one with a kick-a$$ sound system and I'd blast this oldie but goodie at least once a week. Love, love, love this song.

And I'd have plenty of money to buy these:

or these:

or these:

You can find those boots at either Old Gringo Boots or Sheplers. No, I'm not getting anything for promoting those boots or those websites, but I wish I were! Do you hear that, Old Gringo? Sheplers? Feel free to send me a pair to test! ;)

My Sunday Citar quote is:
There is virtue in country houses, in gardens and orchards, in fields, streams, and groves, in rustic recreations and plain manners, that neither cities nor universities enjoy.
- Amos Bronson Alcott

If you'd like to join in the fun, visit this blog!

Sunday Citar

2010-10-31T01:26:00.000-07:00

Today I winced when I saw this:

And I could have told her to stop when I saw this:

But I didn't. I let her splash in the puddle. Make noise. Get dirty. Have 21 month old fun.

And I'm glad I did. I hope to wince a little bit less and just enjoy a little bit more each and every day.

Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once.
~Lillian Dickson

Have a quote you would like to share? Come join the fun!

God Bless Our Military

2010-10-27T21:00:00.000-07:00

I have a special place in my heart for our military. I don't know how men and women sacrifice so much for people they don't know. Sure, I do it - when I give blood, donate money outside the supermarket or volunteer my time feeding the homeless on Thanksgiving (ha, once!). BUT THAT IS NOT THE SAME. That is EASY. Serving day in and day out is hard - whether you're deployed or not.

My husband and I live close to a military base. When we frequent Golden Spoon, Subway or the old Starbucks, it was not unusual for us to pick up the tab of the military man or woman behind us in line. It was the LEAST we felt we could do. Am I tooting my own horn? I'm not trying to, I'm just trying to convey how appreciative I am. A while ago, I told my husband that I wanted to do a session for a military family - that I least I could give them something that they could treasure forever. And God winked.

I met this mom in MOMS Club. I'll never forget the first time I met her - she was so friendly and bubbly. When I found out that her husband was in the military, I had thought, "Wow, there's someone I can offer a session to!", but I didn't. I saw her again at a 4th of July get together and still didn't offer. Then I saw her on 4th of July on a naval base event that she let the moms know about and I STILL didn't offer. It just felt odd to bring it up. I don't know why I finally got over being nervous offering it to her, but I did. I let her know that I wanted to do something to give back. She enthusiastically emailed me back saying that she was about to look for someone that could take pictures for them soon. When I heard that her husband was going to be deployed again, I felt like this was not a coincidence. It was a God wink (there's a whole book about God winks, if you're interested.)! It was PERFECT timing when I sent my email. It was meant to be the way it worked out.

Anyway, this was one of my favorite sessions ever. Mom and Dad are sooooo relaxed and laid back and just let the kids BE kids. This is such a great little family and I am sooooo thankful (and honored) to have spent this time with them. I thanked Dad a few times for his service and I am so grateful for men and women like him.

I haven't been through all of the images yet, but here are a few that just made me smile. :)

God bless our military.

Halloween Time at Disneyland

2010-10-25T00:37:00.000-07:00

It's just gorgeous!!

I'm a little nervous about my little girl wearing, or should I say NOT wearing, her costume. I suppose if it doesn't happen, I'll just have to use her Snow White dress as a back up!

Have a happy Halloween!

Not being the best. Not being perfect, Learning to say no.

2010-10-18T23:39:00.000-07:00

My life seems a bit out of control lately. Not out of control where I'm losing my mind (although sometimes it might feel or seem like it) but out of control where I feel like I'm running behind on doing things I should be doing. Like picking up. Or doing all the laundry at one time. Or replying to emails or texts as soon as possible. And it stresses me out. And yes, I know you're not supposed to start a sentence with 'and'. But I'm not perfect and my grammar isn't always the best and I don't think you're supposed to start a sentence with 'but' either...but I do.

This craziness has made me a little more honest because I have to start using my time more wisely and not just give my time away to things I don't believe in or even WANT to do. I've started to say 'no'. I recently said no to taking someone's family portraits because I know I'm not the best photographer for her and I know she's not the best subject for me. She has a beautiful family that anyone would love to have in their portfolio and I hope that she'll continue to "like" me on Facebook but it's the "best" for both of us. I also tried to turn away a baby session. I am NOT a baby photographer. I don't do the whole 'baby in the basket' thing. I tried, it didn't work and I don't like it! I'm not even sure what to do with newborns sometimes. But when this person pressed on and we went back and forth about what I could do and didn't think I could do for her, we ended up with this. It's not the best newborn portrait out there and it's not perfect, but it's one of my favorite images I've ever taken.

Which goes to show, I need to stand up for myself and what I believe - and more importantly, what I know, more often. It's the best for everyone involved and sometimes it yields the perfect result.

Happy 21 Months, Baby Girl!

2010-10-11T00:55:00.000-07:00

Dear Riley Grace,

I know I said it last month, but I seriously cannot believe you are almost 2! Wow.

We are finally in the size 4 diapers! They are a little baggy in the bottom but the size 3 were getting a tad too tight around your belly. I think you are more comfortable in the baggy ones. :) Some 18 month clothes, some 24 month, but those are baggy on you as well. I had to take you to the doctor a couple of weeks ago for a cold that just lingered and you weighed in at a big 24 1/2, I think. You are a little one as far as weight goes. Some 1 year olds are at the 20 pound mark!

Well, I told you that I loved, loved, loved 19 months...maybe something was preparing me for month 20. Holy goodness, did your little spice show this month! Lots of temper tantrums, but from reading up on the internet, it's about that time. In fact, some moms have dealt with major tantrums sooner, so I guess we should consider ourselves lucky that it really only kicked in this last month. I won't lie baby girl, it's been tough sometimes...to the point where I've just had to leave the room and cry. Just thinking about those times makes me tear up, but I'm also blessed with good times. The times where I prepare you for the day and what's going to happen and when I do that, the start of a tantrum (if any) might be just a smidgen and we continue. I might not do everything right, but I am trying my best. When I have failed (and believe me, I have failed) I have always apologized to you and asked if you forgive me. I'm not sure if you even know what I mean, but you do say, "Ya!" :) When Daddy and I discipline you we always talk about what happened, tell you we love you and then ask for hugs. Daddy and I were talking about how hard it is sometimes at this stage but we know we are lucky compared to what some parents have to deal with on a day to day basis. Daddy also mentioned about you being a 13 year old and the discipline that is going to come along with that stage and oh goodness, I shudder even thinking about that age. Ugh.

There are lots and lots of good things and good times, though. You are starting to learn when to say, "Please", "Thank you" and "Sorry". You can communicate fairly well in asking (or telling!) us what you want. The biggest news is that you can count to 13!! Daddy posted a clip on Facebook and it's so funny because you are mostly interested in watching yourself in the camera - but you did count to 13 twice on video! You do it almost every day. I sing the alphabet song to you and you know "A", "B", "C" and then "G", "K", "P", "S" and sometimes "V" and "Z". You basically know when the song falls on those parts. :) You also like to sing the library "Hello" song and when I sing it and finish, you always say, "Again! Again!"

The last couple of weeks you have been fighting the 'brushing your teeth' bedtime routine. Daddy is in charge of that time so he's been the one taking the brunt of that. I'm not sure what the problem is (but you better believe I'll be google'ing it!), but I'm hoping it's just another little phase. Other than that, you sleep through the night, are usually always healthy and enjoy the world around you. I know I have NOTHING to complain about and I never take for granted that we are sooooo blessed with such a healthy, sweet little girl.

A recap of the month:

You love to wear hats now!

Library story time:

Disneyland, of course!!

Even in the rain!

Pumpkin Patch - just you, me and Daddy:

Then a pumpkin patch with Grammy and Papa (as you now call him):

I love, love, love you, baby girl.

Love,
Mommy

Pumpkin pickin' at Tanaka Farms!

2010-10-07T21:16:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday we headed out to a REAL pumpkin patch to pick our pumpkins. My husband grew up in the country so when we went to a pumpkin "patch" last year to get our pumpkin, he thought it was kinda funny. A place where pumpkins were brought in for picking did not quite make a pumpkin "patch" in his mind. That was all I was used to growing up so I really didn't know any different. Until this year.

I've heard about Tanaka Farms but mostly for strawberry and watermelon picking. I checked out their site to see if they also had pumpkins and they did. We had such a fantastic time! Not only did they have a REAL patch of pumpkins (you take the pumpkin off the vine yourself!), they also had a tractor ride, little hay maze, corn maze, pumpkin cannon(!) and a petting zoo. It was such a neat experience and when I told my husband we would NEVER visit one of those other pumpkin "patch"es again for our picked pumpkin (but I might for fun with the baby girl!), he actually gave me a high five! Ha!

Riley loved the little maze - she wanted to do it twice!

We also rode the wagon/tractor twice!

Also, everyone from the front check in to the wagon ride operator to the driver to the cannon patrol guy to the check out guy was soooo nice and friendly. LOVE this place!

Pumpkins still on the vine!

Riley walking out with her pumpkin after I picked it off the vine.

Riley's first 'picked' pumpkin:

Daddy choosing a pumpkin:

Our family of pumpkins! We're going to paint them this weekend and then carve them later in the month!

Such an amazing experience for this city girl! Ha!

We love you, Tanaka Farms! We'll be back for all your 'picking' seasons!

Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails?

2010-09-29T23:32:00.000-07:00

That's what little boys are made of?? No way, not this little love. He's made of lots and lots of yummy goodness - look at that sweet face and adorable little rolls. Such a little cutie!!

Multi-Tasking

2010-09-20T22:26:00.000-07:00

A maternity session...

and a baby session...

to be blogged soon! P.S. I now have a kymberli q. photography page on Facebook...please come "like" me over there (especially you that "follow" my blog!) :)

Have a great week!

Happy 20 Months, Baby Girl!

2010-09-11T21:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Riley Grace,

Wow. I cannot believe you are only four months away from being 2 years old. These past few months have flown by.

Everything is still about the same...size 3 diapers, although we did try some size 4 but they are a bit too big. 18 month clothes, some 24 month, but today you wore a 12 month dress.

You are talking so much. Lots and lots of words. I know it's just a matter of time where I'm going to be able to recognize everything you are saying and not just some of it. I can honestly say I'm kinda sad. Some parents seem to wish their kid to get older to do this or that, I'm trying to take each month (and year) for what it is. I loved your personality at 19 months. It was sweet (with a bit of spice thrown in here and there for good measure!). I loved doing little things with you because you're not really a baby, but you're not "too big" (in your own mind) yet. It's hard to explain. I just really loved month 19.

A recap of the month:

This was our last beach day.

A fun time at the park with your pettiskirt:

The blocked out summer at Disneyland is now over so we've been to Disneyland a LOT in the past three weeks...at least three times a week! You LOVE It's a Small World and now the teacups and Dumbo. Grammy took you on Dumbo and you are not scared anymore! Mickey was happy to see you back.

We had playdates with Richie and Chloe (you are so cute when you say their name), Dominic, the English clan and Max. Here you are with some of the English's.

Grammy and Papa got you a new trike. Well, used for $3. You don't really ride it yet, but I'm sure that is around the corner too!

Mommy and Daddy went to Jimmy Kimmel Live for a Blake Shelton concert and I decided to trade hats with you before we left. It didn't fit, though.

And here you are on your 20 month birthday.

I'm sure more has happened but I can't remember right now. I need to start writing things down each day. Oh, Daddy taught you a new little trick. You now know how to drum on the diaper pail and yell, "Helllloooo Loooonnnngggg Beeeaacchhhh!" in your little words. Too funny!

I love, love, love you, baby girl.

Love,
Mommy

Do I need to buy a dress for this?!

2010-09-08T23:12:00.001-07:00

I joke about that because I've been "nominated". Wow! A 3rd place photo in the O.C. Fair and now an Best Photography Blog in the O.C. nomination. Does this secure me a walk on role for Real Housewives of Orange County? Because seriously, I'm legit O.C. now! ;)

I'm not sure who nominated me, but thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm flattered because I follow some of the bloggers that are in my category. I know it's just a fun little contest, but it's still nice that someone thought about me and my little blog.

So...if you'd like to vote for Life via Pixels, please go here. And again, thank you for following/reading/stopping by my blog. I appreciate you!

A Reminder (for myself).

2010-09-04T22:56:00.000-07:00

Childhood is a short season.
~Helen Hayes

Country Girl at Heart

2010-08-30T16:29:00.000-07:00

I'm a country girl. Well, I was born and raised in the city, have been on a horse just a handful of times, have never had to get up in the early morning to milk the cows, but I still consider myself a country girl.

I love when we go back and visit my husband's hometown. It's full of fields, two lane roads, barns, horses and cows. Lots and lots of cows. I'm in Heaven. He thinks it's crazy that I just want to spend hours driving around and looking at cows and taking pictures of barns and deserted houses. It's just a different life that I've never know and it makes my heart happy. Here's one of my favorite images from our last trip:

Country music also makes my heart happy. Don't get me wrong, I love my Eminem, Nickelback and Timbaland during treadmill sessions at the gym, but I love, love, love country music. I've pretty much seen every artist in concert - probably a few times. I also love a good country bar and line dancing, which brings me to Christian Simmons and Miss Jessica.

I got divorced about eight years ago and it was a very difficult time in my life. I'm not sure what made me do it, but one day I wanted to wrap myself in things that made me happy so I decided to head on out to a country bar. Alone.

Over the years I've learned how to line dance, cowboy cha cha and two step, but I've also made some great friends. Some of my best friends are those that I met through country bars. It was hard to go alone and meet people, but I'm so glad I did.

I met Christian Simmons and Jessica at Cowboy Country. I loved his voice and some of his original songs. I introduced myself one night and the rest was history. I've helped them sell merchandise at a festival, at Cowboy Country and almost went on a little tour with them to help sell merchandise when they opened for artists such as Reba, Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins and Toby Keith. He's also been featured in Country Weekly magazine - my husband took the photo!

I've joked many a time telling him to remember the little people when he makes it big - I expect a seat in one of the first five rows! I know that one day I'm going to be driving down a crowded freeway and hear this Broken Arrow, Oklahoma country boy come over the radio. I'll probably scream. Then I'll say, "Wow...I knew him in the Cowboy Country days."

Best of luck my friends!!

Happy 19 Months, Baby Girl!

2010-08-11T22:15:00.001-07:00

Dear Riley Grace,

Wow! 19 months already?! Where does the time go????

I love, love, love you baby girl. This was one of my favorite months yet. Sometimes I wished you could stay 18 months forever...well, maybe not forever, but you are so fun and so sweet at this age. I've had so many great times with you lately (not that I didn't before, but it's just been different)!

It's summer so we've had a lot of beach days, we've had some fun fair days, and just general nothing-special-but-still-great-days.

There's so many things you do and say now, I really need to start writing them down as they happen during the month.

It's getting late and we had a fun day at the fair with friends so we're both exhausted, so this post will be somewhat short and sweet, but here are the stats:

STILL size 3 diapers
mostly 18 month clothes
size 5 shoes!
you say tons of words now and do a lot of repeating

Some memories from the past month:

Grammy got this swimsuit for you at a garage sale for practically nothing. Love this pic of you:

You know how to swipe through pictures on my iPod Touch. I can't believe you'll grow up with all this kind of technology in your life. I think it's great but I also feel that the world is moving way too fast.

Another beach day with Max. I have pictures of you two when you were just little babies. I can't wait to see how you two grow up together with play dates and such.

Fun at the fair with Ginger. You two are two days apart but this was the first time the mommy's could get their schedules together (after lots of cancellations because of this or that) so this is the first time you met! Hopefully, we'll have more frequent play dates.

One of my favorite pictures of you. This picture already makes me tear up sometimes when I look at it. You are not going to be this little much longer and it already makes me sad. :(

And here you are today at 19 months. Wow, 19 months seems so old. :/ We had a fantastic day with great friends at the fair. I hope that you grow to love this family as much as I do. I'm sure you will.

I've also downloaded an app on my iPod Touch. You are saying some of the names of foods/animals here. I love when you say bell pepper. :)

Love you, love you, love you, love you, love you more than I ever have baby girl. Who knew that was possible?! :)

Love,
Mommy

"W" Family

2010-08-09T19:42:00.001-07:00

I love this family. They are so relaxed and fun! Some of my favorite images:

Beach'ing instead of blogging

2010-07-30T22:19:00.000-07:00

I'm soooo behind blogging, but a lot of you are friends on Facebook now so I just assume you see all my stuff over there.

I used to spend summers at the beach lathered in baby oil with no sunscreen in sight. :/ The nice wrinkles around my eyes are proof of that now. I thought my beach days were over - I'm not sure I even went to the beach during the last decade. Well, I now have a little girl and it's a whole different, beachy world. We don't leave the house without sand toys, snacks, towels and sunscreen. I SLATHER my little girl in sunscreen. So crazy how 1) maturity and 2) a life that you've created can change your outlook on so many things. I now worry about sun damage and it's long term effect on my 1 1/2 year old...life is funny sometimes. :)

Anywho, for those of you who aren't friends on Facebook but are following this blog (thank you, again!), here is a sneak peek of a family that I love, at where else, the beach!

...and one of my own Little Miss at, where else, the beach!

Happy weekend!

Little Miss "E"

2010-07-23T00:34:00.000-07:00

From this cute little belly:

...comes this little sweet thing:

She's just precious...

With little bubbly toes...

...and a handsome big brother who loves her to pieces...

Truly sugar and spice and everything nice...

Thank Heaven for little girls.

In 3's...

2010-07-18T00:26:00.000-07:00

What's the saying, "bad news/things come in 3's"? Is that it? Not sure, but it's something like that. Well, I have three GOOD news items to share. Most of my Facebook friends and fans know all of this, but for those of you who follow (or stalk ;)), here's news for you!

1. I am now going out on my own...kymberli q. photography (www.kymberliqphotography.com) is up and running and here's to new ventures! Hubby helped with the logo and I love it. Here is a little shot from a session:

2. We visited the fair to see our images in the Professional Photography Competition and were shocked to see that Al took 1st place in the Children's/Families category and I took 3rd place in the People category. We were sooooo excited and humbled - there were so many great images!

3. I crossed another item off my Bucket List. I completed my first 3.8 mile mud run! I participated in the Irvine Lake Mud Run and it had a steep, long incline, paths full of rocks and fish bones, 3 1/2 foot hurdles, a 6 foot cargo net climb, a 5 foot ramp to scale, car wash bubbles, mud belly crawls, mud knee crawls and mud pools! It was crazy, exhausting, but so much fun! I'll definitely do it again!

Before and after:

Hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend!

Shuffle off to Buffalo...

2010-07-12T22:55:00.001-07:00

So sad. My friend Stephanie moved back to New York. I got so lucky with this girl...when I wanted to practice shooting and add to my portfolio, she responded to my 'ad' on a site. I've done four shoots with her and she's just so awesome to work with. One of the images I've taken of her even made it to the O.C. Fair this year. She was game to do a laundromat session with me (you can read that story here) and this was the image that made it's way into the competition:

I asked Stephanie if she wanted to do one more session before she left and if her boyfriend would tag along and bring his guitar. They were game. Here are a few...

Stephanie, you were such a great find. So glad the internet connected us. Thank you for being such a great sport for anything and everything. I hope to see you again down the road. :)

Happy 18 Months, Baby Girl!

2010-07-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

Dear Riley Grace,

You are eighteen months old today! I cannot believe you are a year and a half!

You are saying even more words than last month. One of my new favorites is when we ask you your name, you'll say, "Rirey".

You are STILL wearing a size 3 diaper, size 4 shoes but are growing out of those and are wearing one pair of size 5's, still some 12 month outfits but mostly 18 months.

You had your 2nd dentist appointment. Although this picture doesn't seem like it, your dentist is great!!

You're still a good eater. You love lots of grown up food like Rachael Ray's Tomato Basil pasta and spanish rice. LOL

We have another doctor appt on Tuesday so we'll see your new height/weight stats then.

You've made new friends:

...and visited with some old ones:

You participated in your first Disneyland parade:

You love Minnie:

and Snow White:

but not Cinderella:

I think you're going to have Mommy's curly hair:

Love you, love you, love you baby girl!!

Love,
Mommy

Happy 3rd of July!

2010-07-03T21:32:00.000-07:00

As Rachael would say, "Yum-O"!

2010-06-30T16:57:00.000-07:00

This dish is so tasty that I've made it three weeks in a row - so I figured it deserved a blog post!

I found this little gem of a meal out a book I borrowed from the library. Rachael Ray's Book of 10 was sitting on the "New Arrivals" shelf and I decided if there was a book devoted to 10 best dishes in certain categories, I should try at least one or two. Well, I only made it to this one since I checked out a BUNCH of books. But...this is a winner, in my opinion!

Here are the real ingredients, but I kinda cheat, I'll tell you where with the pictures:

1 lb angel hair pasta
3 tablespoons olive oil
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
black pepper
20 fresh basil leaves, shredded
3 tablespoons pesto sauce, prepared and refrigerated
1 cup parmigiano-reggiano cheese or romano cheese, grated (optional, or serve on side)

Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Salt the water and cook the pasta al dente, with a bite to it.

I also love this little guy that keeps me company:

While the water is heating, begin the sauce by heating a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil, garlic, and onions. Saute for 8 to 10 minutes; reduce the heat a bit if the onions begin to brown. You want them to become sweet and soft, but not to caramelize. Stir in the tomatoes and heat through. I use crushed tomatoes with basil. Season the sauce with salt and pepper. This is when things start smelling gooooood!

Stir in pesto sauce. I use the pesto Buitoni sauce with basil (kept with the refrigerated pasta items).

Drain the pasta and add to the sauce. Toss in the pan to distribute. Sprinkle in the cheese, tossing to combine (or leave out and serve at table).

Grab a meat fork. Stick the fork into the pasta and bring up a heaping forkful. Turn and twist the pasta, using your palm to guide the pasta a bit, to form a nest. Serve! Makes 8 nests, 4 inches wide and 5-6 inches long. (I made the nests this time around, but there's really no need for them - just a cutesy touch...so now I just serve it like regular pasta!)

Delish!