Thursday, December 30, 2010

Reflection

2010 is coming to the end.  It's been quite a year.  Mostly it has been the most amazing, life-changing year of my life.  Clearly the biggest thing that has happened is that I have become a mother.  It has changed me in ways I never thought imaginable.  It has changed my life, my marriage, my relationships in ways I never thought possible.    It is amazing to me that this little butterball of pink skin can shake my world to its core.  To watch the world come alive through his eyes and to experience the little things of life all over again.  I knew I would love him.  Adore him even.  What I didn't understand is that my love for him would change me.  That it would bring out my best and expose my worst.

Loving Jackson has brought out a gentler side in me.  It's funny because I never thought I was the housewife type until I got married and then I turned into my version of June Cleaver.  I always knew I wanted to be a mom but the mom I envisioned myself as was not the mom I think I am.  I feel better at this then I thought I would be.  I worried it I would have trouble fitting into the role but from the first moment I held him we belonged to each other and I could figure out what he needed.

That isn't to say there hasn't been plenty of cringe-worthy, I-just-lost-mommy-of-the-year award moments.  There has.  Some that I'm very, very glad have been just between him and I and no one was around.  But even in those moments when I know I have behaved my worst he turns and he smiles at me and I know all is forgiven.  And let me tell you, no one can forgive you like a child.  If only we adults could learn to let it go like they do.

Being a mother has also brought out or at least reminded me that there are definitely areas in my life I need to focus on.  Things about myself that I need to learn to love, learn to let go of and finally learn how to deal with. There are things I have pushed down and pushed aside because I just didn't want to deal with it, but I have come to realize that just isn't acceptable anymore.  I'm a mother.  I'm someone's example.  I'm someone who is guiding another's life.  What I do, say and behave like will forever impact who he will become.  How can I possibly instill self esteem in my son if I lack it?  How can I give him confidence if I don't show it?  The old saying of "do what I say, not what I do" is so false.  While kids do pay attention to what we say, more than anything they follow the examples of our behavior.  I know I can't and won't be perfect but I want to be the best version of me I can be.

So with 2010 in my rearview mirror and all the highs and lows that came with it I'm walking towards 2011 with high expectations.  This coming year is about me.  And that sounds incredibly selfish.  But frankly I CAN'T care about that.  These days are going fast.  I don't want to waste them worrying about damage I've done.  I want to use them to be the very best version of myself.  And not just for the boy, but for ME, for my husband.  We all deserve the very best of Bree.  I deserve to feel worthy DESPITE my age, weight, life choices or anything else I allow people to judge me by.  My husband deserves to have a woman by his side that helps him, stands beside him, lifts him up and makes him someone to be proud of.  My boy deserves a mom that can back up the confidence, can teach him love, loyalty and forgiveness.  2011 is about me becoming the woman I should be so I can teach my son how to be the man he can be.

Friday, December 24, 2010

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!!!

From our family to yours we hope your Christmas is a wonderful day full of family, food, and all your favorite things!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Three Years


Happy anniversary babe.  No matter comes our way I always know the best decision I've made is marrying you.  You are such a wonderful husband and an amazing father.  I love you so much!


Saturday, November 13, 2010

Kinda a Big Deal

I love taking pictures.  Love it.  Someday I hope to make my living from it.  Working on that.  So it was pretty cool last month when the pictures I took of NJ's Wee were posted on a local wedding magazine blog.  I, of course, sent it out immediately to everyone I knew.  Guess I can cross that off the bucket list!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Happy Birthday Nina!

Happy birthday to my Momma!  My baby's Nina.  We love you so much and are so grateful for all your do and are to us.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Life's Little Blessings

Many, many, many, many, many months ago.  Before I had mommy brain and my time wasn't spent covered in snot and drool my pal and I got together and decided it was time to pursue our passion.  And so began Life's Little Blessings.  And what a blessing it has been.

We were both nervous about it.  We wanted to do it right.  We wanted to not just be successful but we wanted people to walk away happy.  We didn't want to hurt our friendship.  Most of all we just wanted to learn and share our joy with others.

What I didn't expect to get out of it was the joy that others brought to me.  Capturing THAT look.  Your little one's perfect smile.  Love in the eyes.  Your blessings.  It's been so awesome.  I'm grateful for every shoot and every client that has put their faith in us and let us to your lives.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

NJ

NJ got married in January.  Less than a month later I had Jackson.    The week we came home she kept pestering me to come over one day and I kept telling her no because I was having a really bad new mommy day.

A few days later I finally let her in and she showed up with a bag in hand.  Inside the bag was the test results from the hospital confirming she was pregnant.  I cried.

She's my one of my nearest and dearest, my favorite margarita maker and my business partner.  And now she's a mommy.  But before that she was a really cute pregnant girl.  Thanks for letting me capture it.





Saturday, October 16, 2010

This Is Your Life

I saw this on someone else's blog and I just had to show it to you.  I LOVE this.  I want to blow it up and put it right on my wall where I would see it every single day.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Hourglass - Mindy Gledhill

I heard this first on Nienie Dialogues.  This perfectly describes how I am feeling.







Hourglass by Mindy Gledhill

Little boy, when you speak
I can’t help but kiss your cheeks
I love the way you grab my hands
And tell me all about your plans

Rocket high, comets fly
You and I could take a ride
And fly away to Neverland
And give our best to Peter Pan

When you reach for the stars
Don’t forget who you are
And please don’t turn around and grow up way too fast
See the sand in my grasp
From the first to the last
Every grain becomes a memory of the past
Oh, life’s an hourglass
Life’s an hourglass

Story’s read, prayer is said
Close your eyes sleepyhead
While angels linger in your dreams
And hold you in their feathered wings
Just like you, I was small
Not that long ago at all
I wish you all the happiness
That God gives freely if you ask 

Saturday, September 11, 2010

9

I can't believe it has been 9 years.  And while I think the shock and horror of that day has worn off I really, really hope we never forget.  God Bless America.



Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Jackson Dewey - 6 Months

I'm baaaaaaacckkkkkk!  I feel ready to come back and write and tell you about my wonderful summer.  So some of these posts may be from a while ago but I have to catch you up right?




A few weeks ago my business partner (more to come on that!) was nice enough to come hang out with me and my little family of three.  I wanted pictures of the three of us, plus Jackson was six months old.  I take pictures of him everyday so I wanted someone else's perspective.


She nailed it.  I mean look at that face!  I just adore him and everything about him.


 He is such a happy boy.  If everyone had a firstborn like this boy we would all have lots and lots of kids.  He sleeps like a champ, plays well by himself and with others.  I mean, he's just PERFECT.  And I'm totally not biased.


He is certainly loved.  I don't think there was ever a boy more adored by his parents then this particular boy.  He makes us laugh constantly and when we laugh he giggles at us.  When he looks at you with that two-teeth grin you can't help but smile.

He's crawling now.  Pulling himself up on EVERYTHING.  And it's going too fast.  I know I say that every month but I really mean it this time.  I only get this time once and I just want it to slow down.




I love my boy more than I ever thought possible.  What in the world did I do before without him?

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Dancing

I saw this video on Dooce today and I just loved it so much I had to share it with you!

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Orange

Jackson woke up at 6:15 yesterday.  Which is actually an okay time for him to wake up.  It's the 5:15 wake-up call that I don't appreciate so much.  Anyway I walked into my front room, headed towards his room and I noticed that my living room was orange.  Like someone had filled the room with orange lightbulbs.  It was the weirdest thing.  I couldn't figure out why the room was orange.  Then I looked outside and I saw this:


The most gorgeous morning sky I have ever seen.  It was pink and orange and it lit up my entire front room.


Sometimes I don't mind that the boy wakes me up so early in the morning.


Friday, August 20, 2010

Blogger Silence

I had no intention of taking a blogging break.  But I have and I am.  I'm enjoying this summer of mine and find myself busier than I ever imagined hanging out with family and friends, playing in the pool, taking little mini vacations.  Plus I felt so stagnant in my writing.  Boring, boring, boring.  But I promise to be back soon.  Right after I get done hanging out with this kid.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Butterbean's View


My oldest niece got a hold of the camera.  She had a grand 'ol time.  I love that she was so into it.  I think I'm going to have to buy her a camera.




The girls head back to school in just a week.  I can't believe my oldest niece is going to be in first grade and my youngest in kindergarten.  It's going way to fast.  Slow down little ladies.  Tia loves you just the way you are.