And I guess I could ask for worse things. I mean, Rich is a professional photographer. Which means that he takes photos of people. Often. And so – even though he loves what he does – he doesn’t exactly come home saying, “Let’s take pictures, family! Stat!” Which, truth be told, would be kinda nice.

I think that sometimes we have to wait for the right time to ask our loved ones to offer us what they do best.

My point is, Rich works hard, and I respect that. It’s a huge part of why I decided to learn how to operate a big scary camera about 4 years ago, actually. Alana was 1 at the time, and I didn’t want to rely on his ability (or availability) to photograph our rapidly changing family. And I’m so glad that I took the time to learn. I’ve never ever regretted the somewhat time consuming process of learning how to shoot in manual on a D-SLR. One of the best skills I’ve ever developed, I’d venture to say, and one that I hope will last a lifetime. Although, I feel the need to insert that I am under no illusion – I am not anywhere near as incredible a photographer as Rich (and many others), but I enjoy capturing our life nonetheless.

But I digress.

I’m so very thankful that when I do ask Rich for a session, he sweetly obliges, even though family photography (i.e. shoots that involve crazy little creatures called children) is not his favorite form of torchure

And so, as with Mother’s Day 2012, we went on a little outing to grab some recent shots of me and the girls. I LOVE how much Sierra has changed since last year at this time. And I love these photos despite the fact that we were slightly terrorized by the wind. I’d choose “windblown” over “sweaty and melty” any day. It’s been a beautiful spring, but I’m bracing for absurd temps and unwelcome humidity throughout the summer months.

Here are some of my favorites from our session! These girls bring so much laughter and joy into our lives, and I hope that is obvious in these photos. I hope that when they look back at these photos when they’re older, they will never doubt for a second how much we love them, how valuable they are; how precious. To us, and more importantly to God. I hope that even through our flawed love they learn to embrace God’s love for them, which is perfect, and never ending, and completely overwhelming! This world is sure to hurt them, disappoint them, and confuse them, and we are praying that they find life in Jesus! Alana and I have been singing “Where I Belong” by Building 429 and I absolutely love the lyrics. “Take this world and give me Jesus, this is not where I belong!” I’m so thankful that this life is temporary, and that we have so much more to live for than this broken and hurting world.

I wanted to end with one last photo from the session, and one that I love because I came across a very similar photo from last year’s mothers day session. I guess this waist-down photo with me holding Sierra could only be a tradition as long as Sierra is small enough to hold. But a very fun comparison, for sure!

This year:

Last year

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

But then again, maybe it’s just because I’m partial to this sweet little girl and because I have a thing for Chambray. So naturally, I become giddy at the combination.

While the Pinterest world continues to re-pin my Chambray Shirt Project (thank you, Pinterest, for making me seem way cooler than I really am), I have been tossing around the idea of doing a Mini Chambray Shirt Project…one with 5 year old Alana and her little wardrobe. She loves it when we occasionally set up the photo booth and play around with outfits and see what we can come up with. It’s fun, it’s girly, and it got her out of her reading lesson on this particular day – which led to glowing accolades such as “You’re the best mom EVER” and “Thank you SO MUCH for letting us play in the photo booth instead of do my reading lesson. I’m so glad God gave me YOU as my mommy!” I do not jest. She was that excited

And so, yesterday I set up the photo booth and snapped away while Sierra napped (correction: Sierra played in her crib and avoided napping). Alana and I had a blast creating 24 outfits with her new Chambray Shirt. The thing about Chambray is, we could have just kept going. It goes with everything. Literally.

Like I stated in my blog post with my own Chambray Shirt Project, it’s the most effortless article of clothing ever! It can be worn with skirts of various lengths, shorts, skinnies, trousers, rompers, dresses, leggings, etc. The options are inexhaustible, and that’s my idea of a true closet staple – versatility at it’s finest!

I hope you enjoy these outfit ideas as we “shopped Alana’s closet,” and if you have kids, maybe you’ll find a little inspiration here! Happy Monday, friends!

Then, two weeks later (January 10th, 2012) when Sierra was just 2 weeks old, it snowed again and even more this time! This snow became affectionately referred to as “snowmageddon,” because the Tennessee Valley rarely sees that kind of snowfall. We gladly welcomed the 8 inches, knowing it was a special winter. We even took 2-week-old Sierra outside with us for some photos, since it was, after all, her very first snow! Never mind the fact that she snoozed right through it in her newborn sleep coma.

Fast forward to the last winter, the winter of 2011-2012. We experienced zero snowfall all winter, save a few flurries here and there, but absolutely no accumulation. LAME. The way I see it, if it’s going to be grey, overcast and super cold, it really just needs to cooperate and give us the gorgeous white stuff. But alas, no snow was to be had last winter. No snow photos whatsoever.

So here we are, in the winter of 2012-2013, and we finally got some snow this morning. Not a ton, and nothing that could compare to the winter that Sierra was born, but we’ll take it! We watched it from inside for a while, and then Rich announced that we were headed outside for some family snow photos! No one in this household ever argues with that kind of announcement, so out we went!

This would definitely quality as the first snow that Sierra was actually aware of, and we loved her reactions! Here are a few of our favorites from this morning.

You may remember seeing his blog post from last August when Todd proposed to Alex and he used Jimmy and Brittany as his “faux clients.”

Well, this time around, I was able to go with Rich while he surprised Jensen and Alan last week! I was excited for a few minutes to hang with my sweetie, and was excited to even get some updated “head shots” in the process! I thought I’d post a few of my favorites here, just for fun! After 5 years of having kids, it felt strange to be photographed alone!

This just happens to be my first blog post of the new year! I hope that 2013 has been good to you so far. Ah, to remember the olden days when I could post weekly, sometimes bi-weekly. Those days are long gone and have been replaced by this tired (but very fulfilled) mom of two, a constant stream of dirty dishes, reading lessons, block building, game playing, puzzle assembling, and toys on every surface of our home. I know that there will be a day that Rich and I miss the sound of little feet running all over the house and the clutter of papers, ribbons, stickers, and other miscellaneous half completed craft projects.

And so for today, we savor the sweet chaos of life as parents of young kids. And speaking of parenting, this post is not about that at all! This is another little style project that has just been bouncing around in my brain lately and Rich was kind enough to help me bring it to fruition! I can’t say it enough…he’s so, so good to me. In the most important of ways and in the most insignificant of ways.

Well, a couple of things have changed since my last style projects. First, I turned 32 last month. Also, I had bangs cut. I enjoyed turning 32 but I can’t say the same regarding the bangs. I’ve only had them for about a week, and so far, I am not their biggest fan. Maybe I’ll appreciate them more if I actually spend some time and style my hair. Like rather than just let it air dry and be the pin-straight hair that it naturally is. Maybe curling it would help; I think I’ll try that tomorrow. But for tonight, you just get the “no effort” hair and I apologize for that.

And as for my previous style projects, let me just say that I DID NOT see that coming. Um, seriously, Pinterest, you made me famous and I most certainly do not deserve that kind of credit.  What I thought just a few friends and family would see somehow got “re-pinned” 20,000 times (my chambray shirt project) and 10,000 times (my red jeans project). And when I say I am shocked by this, I do not say it with pseudo humility. I’ve never considered myself a style authority or even a particularly creative consumer when it comes to coordinating clothing. But these projects have been so fun for me because I LOVE the concept of “shopping my closet,” using one piece of new clothing to mix and match new outfit ideas. It’s inspiring to consider that we don’t always need to run out and buy new things to wear with our one new thing. But, in all fairness, there are a couple of other new items in this project, since I used some babysitting, birthday, and Christmas money to buy a couple of “Academy Blazers” at Gap that I’d had my eye on. I love a good 40% off Gap promo! I’ve already worn the white blazer (with a tee, some skinnies, and heels) on a date night with my man and I looooove it! And on date night there are no sticky little hands to dirty it up

And so, with that said, I am excited about this polka dot shirt project! My mom was in town a few months ago and she bought this polka dot button down for me at Gap (thank you again, mom!). And since I’m seeing polka dots EVERYWHERE, I thought this top would be a super versatile way to wear the trend. I was right. I stopped at 15 outfits because, truly, I could have just kept on going. What can you NOT wear with a white button down with navy polka dots? The answer is nothing.

And yes, I put polka dots on polka dots. More than once.

And if you are diggin’ the polka dot top, Gap already has another (similar) version since this one sold out. It’s in stores but sold out online. Or you could go with some polka dot skinny jeans, dress, or underwear. And I noticed they also have a new Chambray shirt if you wanna jump on that train! Apparently it’s all the rage.

One of my favorite photo walls in the house is this canvas cluster in our dining room from this mini session on the beach when Alana was 2 and we were in Fort Lauderdale for a summer vacation. I’m not necessarily saying that we plan to replace that canvas cluster with these photos in particular, but we definitely went back to that same beach in an effort to take some family photos that include Sierra, and I absolutely love the new photos!

Rich and I took turns with the camera, and the evening could not have been more beautiful. The kids were in heaven with the sand, wind, and waves. Even though the weather is so beautiful and temperate in the winter in South Florida, the ocean water is still too chilly to enjoy, so the kids are looking forward to summertime and bathing suits at the beach!

I’m so thankful to have an (extremely gifted) husband who shares my passion for documenting family memories. It means so much to me.

Usually I don’t have a chance to post a blog while still in Fort Lauderdale…it typically has to wait until we get back in town. But today, mom and Alana are running some errands, Rich, Sierra, and Amber are napping, Shawn is in the keys with friends, Dad is working, and I am sitting in a completely quiet house. I am savoring these quiet moments, because even though I ADORE the laughter and commotion from a full house of loved ones, I’m also excited about this time to post photos from a mini photo shoot from yesterday at a nearby park!

I have a series of photos in my hallway at home from a photo shoot that Rich did for my family back in 2008. They were in town for Alana’s first birthday the week of Thanksgiving.We had gone downtown and Rich, behind the camera, captured me and little Alana with my family: my mom, dad, sister, and brother. That was four years ago.

Fast forward to this Christmas holiday in Fort Lauderdale, and it was at the top of my Christmas wish-list to have an updated family photo shoot while we are here. I asked Rich to bring his tripod so that he could be IN the photos this time, rather than only taking them. I’m so thankful that he’s willing to grant me my photo related requests, because this is the stuff I care the most about. Christmas presents are wonderful, special, and many of them stand the test of time. But for me, nothing really compares to freezing these moments in time when we are all together, laughing and enjoying each other like we always do.

There’s so much love in this family; so much genuine enjoyment of one another. I do not take this for granted, and I’m aware that not every family is blessed with this kind of harmony. I relish our times together, and I am so thankful for the time that God has blessed me with my family. And I am deeply grateful for the times my kids enjoy with their Nana and Papa. Truly, our girls are blessed beyond measure with their two sets of grandparents who love them and want the best for them. They are safe, secure, and loved. What could be more valuable?

It has been an extra special Christmas because we haven’t seen my beautiful sister Amber (Aunt Pixie) in an entire year since she lives in South Dakota, and my brother Shawn has just spent his first semester away at Taylor University in Indiana. So this past Fall, after 31 years, my parents became empty nesters and my brother is officially a college student. And last week I turned 32 and tomorrow Sierra turns 2! Lots of birthdays and holidays all squished in together!

And so I bring you our little session from yesterday afternoon at the park. It was crazy windy so we are windblown in some of the photos, but I love them all the same.

Representin’ for the Taylor Trojans! Go #27! Seriously cannot wait to go to one of his games – we weren’t able to make it up for a game for his freshman year season

Say what?!?

This is an appropriate time to repeat all of the things that parents say when their child turns another year older. These sayings are cliche because they’re true, and they’re the best way to describe how we feel. Things like, “time flies” and “I can’t believe my baby is 5″ and “where has the time gone” and maybe even “it feels like yesterday that we were coming home with her from the hospital.” Well, now I’ve said all of those things without really acting like I was saying them. See how that works? I’m clever.

But I say those things because they’re real, albeit redundant. Time is a gift, and I’m coming to view it as precious but scary. It goes by without us really noticing, without our permission, and without fail.

I am so thankful for the time that God has already blessed me with my family!

Out sweet Alana is 5, and it’s hard to believe. I remember posting a blog when she was just two weeks old, and since she was our first child, I was overwhelmed, anxious, and emotional. I remember friends coming to my rescue and saying things like “don’t worry, it’ll get easier.” And I remember thinking, “well, it had better get easier, or this baby will be an only child!” 

But now I know what they meant when they said “A baby changes everything, but you’ll fall into a new normal.” Our “new normal” is so normal now that we can hardly remember life without these two precious girls. They have doubled our laughter and joy (and the mess in our house).

So as we wish our oldest a happy 5th birthday, we are thinking about her amazing qualities, her sweet nature, her desire to serve, her ability to happily share, her kindness, her silliness, and her incredible love for her baby sister (who is turning out to be not such a baby these days). Sierra will say a new word and Alana will look at me as if she is a peer of mine, and say “Oh, my goodness! I’m not ready for our baby to grow up! I love her just the way she is!” No, I am not kidding, Alana regularly says this without any prompting from me. She truly adores having Sierra as her little sister, and she is the most amazing sister we could have dreamt up for Sierra.

It may seem a bit random to post family photos on Alana’s 5th birthday blog, but I’ll explain. Last month, in mid-October, Rich told me that he wanted to make a little family trip down to Rome, Georgia to the campus of Berry College to take a few photos in the gorgeous fall foliage. I am never one to turn this opportunity down, so I agreed, excited to experience a new place. Rich had photographed an engagement session there last fall and had wanted to show us around the beautiful campus this fall. But as soon as we planned our outing, I came down with a sinus infection that lasted, well, until now. Since I was finally feeling better, we made the trip last week but were saddened when we realized that most of the striking color was gone and the evening was overcast. We’d definitely missed peak season, but we made the best of it anyway. We chose just one location on the campus and took the following photos, having a great time together. I LOVE my family.

And because I love these images of Alana SO MUCH, I wanted them to represent her 5th birthday until I have a chance to edit and post her birthday party photos.

Sweet Alana, if you read this blog post when you are older, I want you to know that mom and dad love you more than our words could explain. We are humbled that God allowed us to be your parents, and we pray that we are someday as much a blessing to you as you are to us! Happy 5th birthday baby! What a milestone!

Fun story, actually. Two years ago Rich was in a vineyard in Franklin, TN (about two hours north of here), shooting this gorgeous engagement session, when he bumped into some other photographers, PJ and Leah, who were shooting a family session. Rich introduced himself and they chatted for a bit, realized they had some friends in common, exchanged contact info, and went their separate ways. Fast forward a year or so, and it ends up that PJ and Leah moved just 30 minutes away from us! I thoroughly enjoyed the chance to meet them (and their precious 15 month old, Sarah) when we swapped family sessions a couple of weeks ago!

Thank you so much to the Slowiak’s for the following photos – we can’t wait to spend more time with you guys! We love these images and are so excited to enjoy them for years to come!

It’s amazing how much the girls have changed since last October, when the wonderful Soli Photography documented us in this post! I love fall, and Thanksgiving, and I love having our annual family photo shoot during this time of year as we think about all of our blessings! My family, definitely, is what I am MOST thankful for!

We have an awesome lawn guy, Mark, and we never know exactly when he’s going to show up and mow…and this time of year, when he’ll arrive to blow/bag the leaves. So since the leaves were beckoning us, and we knew they might be gone if we waited, we took advantage! We ate some lunch, put Rich and Sierra down for a nap, and headed out into the cold, overcast fall day.

I knew I wanted to bring the “real” camera, because I love capturing her motion and energy when she plays. If my iPhone had manual settings for shutter speed, I’d be in much better shape for all the times I don’t have our good camera handy

I was also eager to get outside because I spent all of last week cooped up inside, feeling awful, fighting a sinus infection. I think I conquered it, but I don’t want to speak too soon! Probiotics, vitamin C, echinacea tea, apple cider vinegar, Netti Pot, kale smoothies, etc, that was my week. This week is looking up. Doesn’t feeling absolutely miserable make you so thankful for the days that you feel good? Man! I feel like a massive percentage of my year has been swallowed up by sinus headaches…time I wish I could get back! So ridiculously thankful for days with no headaches!

Alana has taken to posing this way lately…not sure where it comes from, and I don’t think she knows, either. She cracks me up and I have to kinda humor her as she does this because I want to capture moments that are a bit more natural. But alas, this is the material she gave me at first, so I went with it It’s definitely part of her four year old persona, and for that reason, I embrace it! I remember my sister went through a phase where she’d always pose for the camera by holding both of her arms out wide, as if to say, “Look at me, world! I’m amazing!” Mentioning this makes me realize that I really need to find/post some of those photos sometime. Maybe I’ll add a “throwback thursday” category to my blog and humiliate myself. And my sister. I think I’m on to something here.

With the girly pose out of her system, she got right to playing and I enjoyed just being there with her. Fall and winter are my favorite seasons to be outside and photograph, so I tend to be a little shutter-happy this time of year. My blog is seasonally lopsided. I think spring and summer feel left out.

Then we went inside to check on Sierra and realized that she was playing in her crib, rather than napping. This has happened a ton lately. She tends to either a) not fall asleep at all, or b) nap for 3 hours and wake up way later than I want her to. Then she’s not ready for bed at a decent time. So honestly, I’ve started to prefer the days when she plays happily in her crib for an hour while Alana and I do a reading lesson, and then we get Sierra up. Those days she is ready for bed at 7:30 like I need her to be!

She was soooo happy to come outside and hang with us, even though it was cold, and even though she should have been asleep. And I was happy to have two sweeties playing in the backyard rather than one!

I’m just going to let the sister photos speak for themselves. I love their relationship so much, and I can’t get enough of it. I’m likely posting too many of these photos, but they’re my favorites. The way Alana takes care of Sierra, the way that Sierra looks up to her big sister. The way that they play together. How thankful Alana is to have a baby sister. Ack. I’m so in love with them. Hopefully I did justice to their sweet moments!