A White Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving on Friday and in our home for the first time.

With a few Fall touches set up around the house early in the week,
I actually had time to enjoy a piece of a season that generally flies by.

My plan this year started with white and kraft paper and shaped itself from there thanks to a few borrowed pieces from my cousin and a husband who let me spend the night shaping the table as my mood struck.
This was the end result:

The table cost me a total of $20 in new purchases:
Tablecloth: $10
White Pumpkins: $5
White roll of paper: $2
Place Tags: $3
My favorite piece ended up being my make-shift white paper table runner!
With the Martha Stewart Lace paper punch, I took a standard white roll of paper typically used for children's art and punched away until it fit the length of the table.
The natural look of the table ended up feeling relaxed yet special.
Exactly what I wanted.

While the wine cork place card holders didn't seem appropriate for the kiddos;) clothespins worked & kept the look cohesive.
With a few nuts in a glass container & some crayons, the munchkins were good to go at their own table!

With the loving words of my husband,
"Thank you for making this so special. Things like this are easy to just let go by. I'm thankful you did this,"
It was worth it and so fun!

To my honey,
Thank you for encouraging me to do what I needed to make Thanksgiving special and loving through my "too much to do" spasms! ;)
You make my world right.
I love you.

*please do not use any photos without permission & appropriate credits.

Pictures ARE My Thousand Words

In the past 72 hours, I have experienced a heart that has shifted gears through love, aching, and glory.

I feel completely hungover by the adrenaline and I am hydrating with more thankful prayer than water.

On Wednesday, the Hus and I were asked to fill in as "models" for a photography workshop that THE Jeff Newsom was holding.
While I panicked about the clothes
(Thanks Jenn & Em for your support ;)
I was looking forward to a mid afternoon date with my husband
(and 9 strangers with cameras ;)

One of the workshop attendees captured Jeff in action:

and Jeff captured a little moment of love with my husband that I needed to see as much as feel.

Thursday came around and my heart was heavy.
I was stretching through some growing pains and I needed to be outside of myself.
I had an incredible moment of opportunity to spend an hour with my dear friends Corey & Melanie who found out they would be welcoming their son by C-section on Friday morning.
I asked them if they wanted to have a quiet moment together and celebrate their last day of pregnancy.
After work, I got in the car and listened to their excitement, their nervousness, and their love as I shot away.

Then came Friday.
I surprised even myself when I offered to be available to them if they wanted the delivery to be captured on film on Thursday.
Thirty minutes before Go-Time on Friday, Corey called me and asked if I could be there with them to photograph the birth.
I instantly broke down in tears, prayed, and headed over.

I am still coming down from the high...

As I told one friend, I was an actual fly on a miracle's wall...

Jackson Gregory was born on January 29, 2010 to two amazing parents!
Welcome to the world sweet baby boy.
I can't believe what meeting you has done to my heart!I am rendered relatively speechless by the unfolding events of the past few days.
I'm sure I will unravel a little more later....

baby j

On Friday, my day off from my prescribed 9-5, I went out and had a baby shoot.
While the October weather had me sweating in 92 degree heat, baby J was all cool and calm.

I have to say, the nerves that piled up in me over this shoot were unreal.
I laid up the night before doubting myself--what if I didn't get the parents what they wanted?
what if I would have an off day?
what if I couldn't do this?!

None of it really made sense to me.
My Hus encouraged me. My soul sister prayed for me (have one of those? they're key! :)
The two people that knew how nervous I was were totally on my side.
THIS is what happens when I let fear get in the way:
I crumble.

The thing is, I love photographing babies.
It is so pure, so unfiltered, so raw.
There is so self conscious anxiety of the double chin, the wrinkles, the wind...
it's just love.
It's what we were all meant to be.

There is something in me that is frightened by being paid to do something I love--like take pictures of babies!
And while you all must be thinking, "Woah! Don't hire her!"
The thing is, once I was there, once I was with baby J and his 'rents...I was so OKAY.
The camera melted into my hands and the play began.
Not a moment of awkward doubt--not a second of fear when I was in action.
What a perfect little subject.
Only one baby J and I was trusted to commemorate his 6 months of life!

Baby Love

My friend came over on Friday for a little maternity shoot...I'm so happy she did.
The song, Capri by Colbie Caillat will always remind me of being pregnant with my son.
Her entire first album reminds me of his birth and singing him to sleep.
I will always cherish this song and the memories of carrying his life within me...even if it was 99.9% difficult for me, I have this one very fond memory.
Enjoy listening :)

4th Anniversary Photo Shoot

"I’m still learning what love is
Everyday I wake up in your arms
I’m still trying to figure out what works
How to set off all your alarms

I’m still learning what love is
When I’m walking close to you
The best way to hold your hand in mine
The best way to comfort you

Guess it may
It may always be this way

I’m still learning what love is
Every time you look at me that way
I’m still trying to figure out just how
You can still look at me the same

Even though I may not get it right
All the time I will always try
And I will always stand right by your side

I’m still learning what love is
Everyday I wake up in your arms
I’m still trying to figure out what works"

~Rosie Thomas, Guess It May