2012 is off to a beautiful start, wouldn’t you agree?

I’m excited to be 30. But I’m a little sad about what getting older means. The older I get, the older my kids get. I wish I could keep them in a perpetual state of babyhood. Jacob is a big first grader in a first / second grade combo class no less. And Abby will be starting her transition to kindergarten class next week and will be away from me four days a week. They are getting older and it seems like the days go by faster and faster. I blink and they are doing homework instead of playing with tinker toys. I turn away for a second and they are using words like, “awesome” and “lame” instead of learning to say things like “mama” and “doggie”. Each day I grow older they grow even more so and I don’t want to miss a moment of it.

Along with all of this growing, my business has been growing, too, and I feel so blessed by it. I love my mentor me, baby!™ sessions and have enjoyed meeting and becoming friends with so many new photographers. And as always I find so much joy in photographing brand newborns, babies, and school age children. These ages have always been my passion. That’s why starting September I will be focusing on these ages and will take on less family sessions, high school seniors (I have several local photographer friends that seriously rock the senior sessions, so if you need a referral, please contact me), and couples. With Jacob in school full time now and Abby gone four days a week, my schedule is very conducive to newborn and young child photography. I will be booking the majority of my sessions for Monday-Thursday during the day and occasionally on Friday with only a few weekends available. I will still photograph family sessions that include young children and will offer family sessions again this year for the holidays. I am so excited about this new schedule and these new changes because it means that while I get to photograph the growth of your little one, I also get to be there for the growth of my own two kiddos.

Sounds like a win-win to me, wouldn’t you agree?

Beautiful Izzy from a Mentor Me, Baby!™ earlier this month

The sand and saltwater between their toes.

The golden sunset streaming through her golden strands.

His giddy squeals as the ocean races up to meet him on the shore.

My own little bit of heaven.

So since your tasks might be considered my goals, your goals are what I call dreams. And I have had and realized a few dreams so far in my life. A huge one was opening an actual studio last August. And still, every time I unlock the door to my studio and am greeted by the gorgeous light streaming in the windows, I realize how blessed I am to be doing what I do and have a physical space to call my own.

This past month I realized another dream of mine–to officially launch my mentoring sessions available for the baby photographer. After many inquiries and conducting several mentorships I decided to officially take the plunge and announce my one on one mentoring sessions on facebook. And the response has been so encouraging–I can’t wait to meet the ladies that have signed up for their Mentor Me, Baby!™ sessions later this summer. I’ve also been so encouraged by the vendors who want to be sponsors and provide products for my goodie bags–seriously they are going to be awesome and full of items perfect for the baby photographer, including my Tea Party Action Set and newborn pocket posing guide (if you have a product and are interested in learning about becoming a sponsor, just click here for the details).

I figure that since I am so terrible at completing the daily tasks in life that I might as well make up for it by dreaming big. That’s the only way to do it, right? And if you’re interested in learning more about my one on one mentorship opportunities, check out my Mentor Me, Baby!™ page!

I remember pulling it up over my head one day when I was in fourth grade. The stomach flu. I was miserable. But rubbing the soft, worn edges next to my cheek seemed to comfort me, seemed to soothe me. I would sleep on his side of the bed. That big valley that he had created in the mattress formed around me and I felt safe. I felt loved.

That last week there were so many visitors. He had something for everyone. “I can’t take it with me.” He knew that he had his treasures stored up in Heaven. So they came; some were coworkers, some were lifelong friends, some were family members. But my Dad had meticulously made a list in his head of his things that he wanted to give away. He always wanted others to enjoy the things that were his.

And he wanted her to have his quilt. He wanted his only granddaughter to cherish this heirloom that his grandmother had made him when he turned eighteen. She was only a year at the time, but he knew that it was something she would love. Something that she would remember him by. Something she would be able to wrap herself up in and feel the warmth of her Papa’s love.

In just a little over a week it will have been three years. Three years since I have touched his hand. Three years since I have heard his voice. Three years since I rested my head on his chest and just sat on the couch with him, not wanting to let go, knowing that it might be the last time he would ever hold me in his arms.

Three years and my baby has turned into a little girl. A beautiful little girl. And a little girl that is old enough to understand just what a wonderfully special gift her Papa gave her. These images mean so much to me and my precious little children know it. You can see it in their eyes and I could feel it in their love during our shoot tonight. When I’m grieving or missing him, they know how to comfort me with their hugs, kisses, and I-Love-You, Mommy-’s.

Just like being wrapped up in a cozy, handmade quilt.

Well, this past March it was Abby’s turn. She mentioned to me that she wanted a Fancy Nancy tea party and boy did I take that and run with it! Maybe it’s because those books are some of the cutest children’s stories I’ve ever read, maybe it’s because little Nancy and all of her overboard emotions and drama remind me (just a bit) of myself as a little girl, maybe because the illustrations are adorable, or maybe just because having a party as an excuse to be fancy is just plain fun!

We ended up having different “stations” based on several of the Fancy Nancy books at the party. We had butterfly decorating at the “Bonjour Butterfly” table, puppy painting at the “Posh Puppy” station, nails and hair at the “Ooh La La–It’s Beauty Day” spa, and dress up at the “Fabulous Fashion Boutique”. All of Abby’s friends came in their fanciest attire and we enjoyed story time, crafts galore, and the most amazing cupcakes I have ever seen. My friend, Shanel, is a cupcake queen! I found these fantastic tea cup molds but I am seriously a terrible baker. So when she offered to make them, I was over the moon. And when I saw and tasted them I was in heaven–pure sugary goodness!

Yes, baby girl, you are four already.

Four short years and it feels like I love you in four million different ways. You are everything I hoped for and everything I never knew I needed in a daughter.

I love that you and I are so different–that you take after Daddy in so many ways. That you have his beautiful blue puppy dog eyes that I am powerless to resist. You get your way way too much with those!

I love that you held it together this week when our pet fish died and Jacob fell apart. I know that you were biting your lip to hold in the tears because you were so much more concerned about your brother than your own sadness. I adore this about you–that you always put others first. That you even suffered through two rides of Soarin’ at California Adventure before you told me how terrified you were of it. That when I asked why you went on it twice that you responded, “Because it’s your favorite ride, Mommy.” There is so much I can learn from you and your selfless heart.

You are beautiful inside and out. Sometimes I find myself watching you when you play and am just stunned by your beauty. In your big brother Jacob’s words, “Abby, you are astounding!” And you really are. Daddy’s going to have to invest in a rifle to scare off the boys when you’re in high school–they’re going to be knocking down our doors.

I could never fit into a simple blog post the ways I love you. It was instant and it is forever. Your truly are a gift from God, my sweet girl.