family photo hilarity {and Merry Christmas to you!}

Because this is Charlie's first Christmas, we decided that, yep, it was time to start sending out Christmas cards. {we put it off for a long time, because, you see, we are in denial of our adulthood. ironically, we have a baby now. denial doesn't fly anymore.}

And of course, if you send out cards, you should probably send a picture. And since I'm a photographer, a picture shouldn't really be a problem.

{You can see where this is going...}

First of all, I picked a bad day for a family photo. Charlie was coming down with what we'd later find out was a nasty virus--the poor kid had a fever, and has been all zoned out and pale for most of the morning. But, being the type-A, schedule-oriented planner that I am, I told Marty that Today. Was. The. Day. We pumped Charlie with tylenol and forged ahead.

Second of all, I know several talented photographers who I'm happy to call my friends. I could have {should have?} asked one of them to help us out. But, nope, we resorted to the old stack-of-books-on-top-of-the-vase trick. Which meant lots of ridiculous test shots, which took a crazy amount of time, and used up lots of "happy baby" minutes {if you're a parent, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about}.

Here's one of those awesome shots. Notice that the boys are out of focus, and Charles is starting to look testy...


We get it all set up. And then, I thought it would be a good idea to hold a sign that said, "Merry Christmas." Turns out that foam signs are excellent chew toys for 10-month-olds. Which is super... except when you're trying to get a decent picture.


For a few shots, we tossed the sign. In the process, the camera got knocked off...


Back on track. Oh wait...


Then we covered up the baby's face on accident...

Then the baby puked all over my silly sign, and started screaming.

I'll interpret our faces for you.
Me: "Perfect family picture dreams = ruined."
Marty: "This is epic."
Charlie: "CRUEL WORLD."

We coerced Charlie into a better mood, and got this happy-looking picture... except C looks like he's wearing a wig from Star Trek... and his socks don't match his shirt...


And then we were all done, and my ever-cheerful husband decided to take more pictures. And I gave him the look.


And so, because we didn't end up with one perfectly-perfect picture, we threw a bunch together, and titled this year's Christmas card photo, "Reality."


...because, well, we're all about honesty over here at our house. Perfection? Pfffsh. Give me real life, any day. Baby-puke-on-Christmas-signs and all.

Merry Christmas, from our family to yours :)

home sweet home

I've been doing a lot of reflecting lately. Thoughts like this have been running through my mind:

"At this time last year, I was as big as a whale and painted our entire house."

"At this time last year, I didn't know where I packed those darn Christmas stockings."
"At this time last year, I was working at a desk, in an office, at an actual company."

"At this time last year, I could sleep in on the weekends."

"At this time last year..."

There's lots of good found in looking back, remembering how things were and how things have changed. (i.e., "Still can't find those darn Christmas stockings, but at least I have a fireplace to hang them on, if I did know where they were...")

There's also lots of value in looking to the future. Looking forward. Hope.

And finally, there's the here and now. The moment-by-moment blessings that I take for granted all the time.

Hugs.

Phone calls.
Baby drool.

Gifts.

Music.

Clean water.

Colors.

Sight.

Coffee {and someone to drink it with}.

***

Not sure what any of that has to do with anything. I'm a bit rusty at this whole blogging thing, but here I go again... it's my week of a vacation of sorts, and I'm planning on doing a whole bunch of things that sometimes get pushed off to the side for practicality's sake.

Chicagoland {and lots of other places} got a bunch of snow last night. I've been so busy, I've barely pulled my camera out of its little drawer to take pictures. So last night, I took pictures.

Happy vacation to me. And merry Christmas to you :)

grateful {remix}

dear Charlie,

Exactly one year ago today, I wrote this little letter to you. I didn't really know anything about you {besides the fact that you liked to kick me in the ribs}. We weren't even sure what your name was going to be. I wrote last year's Thanksgiving-eve blog post sitting on a bed in your grandparent's house, because our own house wasn't quite finished.

Now, a year later, here you are. And life is unbelievably, incredibly different with you around.

Last year, I went to bed knowing that I'd wake up when I wanted to. This year, your daddy rocked you to sleep while I ran out for some last-minute groceries, and tomorrow morning, I'll be waking up to your little voice, singing {er, yelling?} from down the hall.

Last year, I had an outfit planned for Thanksgiving dinner. This year, I have your outfit planned for Thanksgiving dinner {and haven't given a single thought to what I'll be wearing}.

Last year, I didn't have a kitchen. This year, not only do I have a kitchen, but I'm baking two apple pies and a pumpkin cheesecake in it. {YUM!!!!}

Last year, you were rolling around inside me. This year, you're crawling, and standing, and wishing you could walk. You're waddling, and climbing, and scooting. You're yodeling, and yelling, and--yep, just like I thought--gurgling.

Last year, I thought I knew what we were getting ourselves into with this whole "baby thing." This year, I know full well that one year ago today, I had no clue what we were in for.

Last year, silly cars were the last thing on my mind. This year, we're actually looking for another silly car. Imagine that.

I've got my own predictions for what next year might look like. But this year, I'm keeping them locked inside my head. Because for now, I'm content with the incredible, unbelievable blessings that God has showered on us, over and over again. I spend much too much time looking at what I don't have.

Right now, I'm so. very. thankful. for the things I do have.

This year, you sat on your daddy's shoulders, and looked down at me, and I snorted like a piggy, and daddy looked at me like I was crazy,

and you laughed, and laughed, and laughed.

And my heart burst with happiness. For the billionth time...

i love you.

p.s. happy first Thanksgiving. you can have as much turkey as you want, but forget about the cheesecake.