Say Waaahhhh??!!

 $95 sessions including digitals? I know, it's hard to believe. Spring mini sessions are here!! It might be hard getting your littles up at dawn...or for some of you maybe it's not (I know I would dream of Lily waking up that late every morning 😩😩😂). But good news is, you don't have to get yourself ready, because it's just for them! Show up in your sweats if you want, please do! Just throw your little ones in those outfits you have been dying to show off, and I'll chase them around, get them playing and laughing to get some real expressions of who they really are now at their happiest...forget the props, we are going to go all natural, as is, to capture their natural personalities pure and simple.

If this sounds good to you, send me a message! Or go on my site that I have been updating with all new material, and fill out the contact me page. I'm excited!! Details below, I'll update you with a bomb location in Vacaville shortly :).

To All You Mommas Out There...Find Joy in Thankfulness

Pictures from Lily's first birthday party!!

"Joy is not based on our circumstances but is based on our ability to be thankful." 

-Finding Joy in the Ordinary, Brittany Rust.

I have to say, this first year bringing a new little one into this world has been far more challenging than could possibly be anticipated, but oh my goodness am I in awe of her each day that she breathes. The challenge of this season is definitely teething, the one year sleep regression, and one year separation anxiety all rolled into one! Who knew before having an infant that literally every month would hold new challenges to be figured out and worked through!! It's like constant problem solving.

When she wakes up twice through the night and early in the morning on those rough nights, or wakes up early from a nap screaming in pain the minute I finally sit down, or we have to cancel a flight because it just so happens to be her worst day of teething ever, I could just tear my hair straight out of my head. Yet still, when I go in to get her and she wraps her tiny arms around my neck, clinging on to me, sweet sobs slowly turning to sniffles in my ear, I feel so incredibly blessed to be her momma. I am so thankful we have gotten through this year with flying colors. We are surviving and thriving with a beautiful and healthy one year old, challenges and all. Though I must make this brief, because yet again she is just now waking from an ever so short nap, I will finish by saying I am so very grateful. To all of you mommas out there, you can do it. Through the spit up and loud screeches of the newborn months, the sleep-training or non sleep-training ;), through the nights you just don't think you can keep your eyes open and your skin feels like it will crawl right off your body you want to be in bed so badly, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Joy is found in our thankfulness of the twinkling eyes, the first smiles, the first laughs and thousands more to follow.

   

 

Life as a Musical Ballad

Life's ups and downs run like fingers on piano keys playing a classical ballad. Leading up to the climax there is anticipation, then the moment comes with strength and volume, only for the notes to quickly but softly resolve into a relaxing, quiet familiar tune like the beginning.

Stephen left for a two month deployment dipping the melodious ballad below low "C". Lily and I settled into a new rhythm, and slowly made the climb upward. Stephen came back, and we made the journey together as a family to Maggie and Neville's new beach house out in Los Barriles for a climactic fun-filled week in the sun! The melodious ballad started the downward spiral after Lily and I got sick, and Lily ended up in her Teething/Nine Month Growth Spurt/ Sleep Regression! Now, we are figuring out her new normal, her new natural rhythms as a pre-toddler (sad face), and settling back into a restful calm. Needless to say, we have been a bit preoccupied raising our little one, if it seems like I have been non-existent lately. But there is a time and a season for everything under the sun, and this season has been a season of learning life as a family of three. Honestly, it has been such a joyous ride! Full of it's challenges, for sure, but I'm finding that this mom thing has been suiting me, and I could not be more content with where we are at right now :).

Now for the newborn pics I have been promising to post for ages...they certainly are worth sharing!! Love this precious little angel, and it has been a joy watching her grow through her momma Rhiana Stephenson's updates :).