Choose to Focus and Commit

Lucy woke me up at 4:30 this morning needing to go to the bathroom. I tried to go back to bed, but my mind was just racing a mile a minute. I contemplated getting up and writing down my thoughts. But just thinking about the day with my two littles and how tired I'll be come 11 a.m., I forced myself to stay under my covers to try and get more sleep.

After about an hour and a half of no luck, I gave up and here I am! Now the goal is to effectively and fluidly piece together my thoughts so they make sense to you. 

I read this article yesterday by Me Ra Koh and it spoke volumes to me. 

I am that type of person who has a million ideas, but hardly any get executed. I'll start a project and then half way through it ends up on my shelf just screaming to be completed, but I just ignore its cries. Why can't I just finish something I start?!

The article I read talked all about "committing yourself to your art". I may not know what "my art" is, but I do know that I love photography and I love documenting. I really want to become better at it - I have this vision of the end product of who I want to be, the talent I want to posses, the creativity I want to cultivate. And yet, my actual commitment to photography is only subpar. 

Me Ra says,

"Choosing to focus can sometimes feel like it may threaten our freedom or possibilities, and yet this belief underestimates the creative power we each carry. Whether you recognize yourself as an artist or not, your life is still ever-evolving, ever-changing. There is a knocking that comes to your door, a sense that you feel in your spirit. do you listen and follow the trail? Do you risk shaking up all that is known and familiar to follow a gut feeling that gives no guarantees of where it will lead?"

I've been so scared for some reason to really dive in to photography. The perfectionist part of me thinks I should be good at it instantly. I'm scared I'm going to fail at it. I'm scared that once I do jump all the way in that I won't like it anymore. 

But that's the risk I take. 

Things we love take hard work. It's going to be a lot of work for me to improve and to reach that potential I see myself being at. 

But why let these fears stop me before I even really start? It's silly really. 

Okay...

So here's my goal. (and I want to tell you so it keeps me accountable) :)

Now until Easter (that's 17 weeks!) I am going to blog once a day through the work week, M-F. Posts will include anything I want, even it it's just one photograph. 

I am choosing to focus and commit to my love of photography and writing. My hope is that with this goal, I will be able to push myself to be creative, to take many photographs, and to prove to myself that I can commit to something I love.

So how about you? Want to join me?! Choose to focus and commit to something from now until Easter. Can you do it? (I hope I can!!) Or maybe you could choose something to focus on and commit to on a day-by-day basis. But be specific!

Think about it. No reason a resolution has to wait until New Years!

Hello Morning!

Sun shining, crisp air, Christmas music, chocolate milk, and sourdough toast. 

It's going to be a good day.

Lucy Look-a-like?

My aunt emailed these pictures to me the other day. I showed them to Lucy and she was convinced that these pictures were of her. She even asked "What's my cousins names?" thinking she was standing with a couple of her cousins. :)
I'd say there are definite resemblances between the two of us.

(and I'm digging Ronnie's striped suit!...and Steven's necktie...??)

Photoshoots: The Browns and Millans

If you didn't know already, I have some gorgeous sister-in-laws (or do I say sisters-in-law? I never know!) 

I got the opportunity to shoot their nothing less than gorgeous families over the Thanksgiving break. I had so much fun! Its photoshoots like these that make me want to pursue photography more and more. 

So if you're interested in a photoshoot, give me a call! :)

Thank you Allison and Lynsey for letting me spend some time with you and photograph your families. 

Love you!

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We are Grateful

We are grateful for so many wonderful things in our lives...including that amazing turkey! :) There are just so many blessings that there's no way we could name them all. But first and foremost, we are eternally grateful for the families that we belong to. We feel so much love and support from them and we love them more than they know!

We're so very grateful for our own beautiful little family. The joy that has been added to our lives because of our 2 (1/2) kids has been unmeasurable. 

And we're thankful for our friends... we love you too!

We hope your Thanksgiving was also full with much fun, family, and love!

More! More! More!

More bows, more ribbons, more ruffles, more PINK!!

We are thrilled to be having another little girl! We really didn't care what we got this time since we have one of each. But once I found out it was a girl, I was so giddy! I can't wait to pull out all of the adorable dresses and cute shoes again!

Lucy is going to be such a great little mommy to her. Todd? I'm sure he'll be a great big brother...we'll just have to keep him from poking her eyes or hitting her with his Buzz toy. 

We've been throwing around a few names, but can't decide on one. Alex is pretty set on a name, but I'm not quite there yet. I've got some other names that I think I like a little better. But for me, it's about finding the right name for this baby. 

Good thing we've got a few more months to figure it out!

Around Here

It's actually starting to get cold here in Tucson! Who would have thought?!

We made these amazing hamburgers last night which we used the inspiration from a local burger joint.
Try to imagine this...
bacon, blue cheese, green chiles, jalapenos, topped with strawberry jam. To die for!

Lucy started saying the word "stupid" out of no where. We've been teaching her that that's a bad word and that she shouldn't say it. We couldn't figure out for the longest time where she picked that up! Maybe nursery? Until this last week or two when we've kept getting corrected by Lucy to stop saying "stupid". Shoot! It was us all along!

We had a pet hamster for about a week. Lucy named him Prince Eric. He had to go back to his family though because Lucy was a little too loving to him, giving him baths and what not. I wasn't up to always supervising her whenever she was with him. I think maybe in a year or two we'll try it again

Todd can say about eight or so words. But he just will not say "Mama"! Come on! Not even after all of those 6am snuggle sessions?!

I've had a little case of the organizing bug. My crafts are officially all in one place and very accessible! Maybe this means I'll actually get back to creating or sewing things.
Now it's on to Lucy's closet. Oh help me!

We unexpectedly found out the gender of our baby recently... more to come on that later :)