bun in the oven

Ha!  I gotcha....didn't I?

No, I'm not pregnant.

But Nina is and I took her pictures last weekend.

Yes I have another site to share those, but since this was my favorite shoot thus far, I had to post a sneak peek over here...

and then it's back to separating the two, I promise....because there will be many HOUSTON adventures to share soon, I'm sure.

 If you want to check out more pictures from the session,

hop on over HERE to that other little site.

take a look

at little Miss Winslow.

 I have switched over to a separate blog for my photography sessions, but I just wanted to share some of these pics from last weekend with my friends and family.

I've had so much fun getting my little business up and moving....it's an ongoing process....

but this is why I haven't gotten a chance to blog as much as I want to here.

It's been a little busy around here. 

 I'll be back soon, but in the meantime, take a look at the rest of the pictures of sweet Winslow and her family over here.

sweet life

I've been doing just fine on my weight loss until this week.

I think I ate more sweets over Valentines than the entire month of December.

Did you know that if you combine Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie mix with a heart reeses peanut butter cup, you get a disaster.  You get 24 amazing, ridiculous, take Weight Watchers hostage ...disasters.

It was worth it.

Before this week's festivities, we took a Sunday drive.  It was pretty cloudy, but still beautiful as always.

 I was excited to try to grab some pictures with my camera, but apparently legit photographers were having the same idea.  I walked down to the beach to find these people in full on camouflage gear, with backpacks, tripods and hunks of electronics that I think have to be the god of the camera world with lenses three feet long.  It was crazy.  I took my few shots and got out of there.

Then on Monday, my friend, Annie....otherwise known as amazing party planner, put together a little Valentine's party for our playgroup.  My kids didn't mess around when it came to cookie decorating....or they made a big mess but ate lots of sugar in the process.

 And I made the mistake of throwing out Addison's stash today....although I didn't admit it to her when she went looking for it today.  So baby girl, when you learn to read and you come across this post years later, yes, it was me and I take full blame. 

But I can make you a mean peanut butter cup cookie to make you forget about it real quick.

 and the random pic of the post....

Addison's recent etch a sketch art work.....she is really into drawing people lately.

This is Graham, in case you can't tell.

 And I do have to brag on my husband who totally came through on Valentine's Day.

I have stopped expecting or even really hoping for gifts on a day that Andy has always complained is way over marketed.  He surprised me this year though by booking me for the La Costa Spa on Sunday.

My massage is at 2pm, but when you get a massage there, you get access to the resort for the entire day.

They open at 8:30 and I will be there with magazines, a huge smile on my face, ready and waiting at 8:29.

One more

I promise I'm in the process of moving my little side project over to another blog, but in the meantime, here is one more really cute family.  This might have been my favorite session yet.  Annie told me about this park, and boy did she deliver!  The color was beautiful.  So San Deigo does have seasons after all!

 I've never seen so many smiles!!! 

some volunteers

I'm working on creating a separate blog to share pictures of other cute people that I happen to take.

But for now, I'm giving you a peek at a cute family who volunteered to let me practice on them....on Thanksgiving day...nonetheless.

These two girls love each other so much, they couldn't stop hugging, loving on each other, or yelling.. "best friends forever!!" when I told them to smile.  What a gift to have that kind of friendship & love built into your family.

Here goes nothing

Photography has always been something I've loved.  I love to take pictures of my kids, beautiful things, and moments that I want to make sure last a little longer.  

Taking a picture is like creating a piece of artwork.  It's beauty and appeal is subjective to whoever looks at it.  As a mom, any picture that I take of my kids is beautiful to me, albeit not a "great" picture all of the time.

Turning this hobby into something a little bit more has been something I've been wanting to do for a long time, but it's a little scary.  Or a lot scary.  It's hard putting your work out there for others to critique.....especially if they're paying for it.....oh, the pressure!!!  I like to make people happy.

So it's a good thing I'm starting out practicing on my friends.  All fun, no pressure!  Karen was kind enough to let me do just that with Baby Cooper this past weekend.  

Getting my feet wet...

I have always loved photography. I love capturing a moment that you may never get back. I love being able to stop time for that second so that it can be enjoyed and remembered for years to come.

It has always been my wish to be able to do something I love....

and have the confidence to do it for others.

My sweet neighbor, Audra, allowed me to get my feet wet by taking some pictures of her beautiful, newest addition.

It wasn't hard to capture a lot of favorites with beautiful light, gorgeous subjects....not to mention the fact that they were stationary subjects!!....much unlike my own two.

Thank you Audra for allowing me to practice something I love with your family.

I hope you enjoy them.