I can’t believe it’s 2010 already.  For me, the new year is going to bring a lot of changes.  A new work schedule and a new baby are at the top of the list!  I’m going part time at the hospital on February 14th, and I will also be switching to day shift.  I feel so blessed to be able to afford to work less and spend more time with my family!  And in just a few short weeks, we will find out if this baby is a boy or a girl.  I can’t wait to meet this new little one, to have and hold, to nurse, to swaddle, and of course, to photograph!

I hope you all have a happy and healthy 2010.  May God richly bless you this year and always!

It’s been an awful first trimester. I can’t sleep very well, especially on my days off when I want to be sleeping at night. It’s hard for my body to go from one schedule to another with only two days to make the switch. Hopefully I am going to transfer off of night shift very soon, because I really miss spending time with my family, having a clean house, and sleeping at night. I keep waking up between 3 and 4am wanting to eat because I eat at work in the middle of the night. I eat nonstop now. Last night I woke up at 4am and finally dragged myself downstairs at 5am to make crab scrambled eggs. Yum! Tonight I woke up at 2:30am and finally got up about 4:30am (after tossing and turning for 2 hours!), and I started working on some editing and ate some green beans and pears. I’m exhausted, but I can’t sleep!

Here are a couple of pictures of Noah to go with my complaints…

I love how his eyes match his jacket. Yes, if I had to describe them, I would say his eyes are “Denim-Jacket Blue.”

I’m currently on Photography Hiatus until the exhaustion and sickness from my first trimester goes away, but I had a long weekend off working at the hospital, so I got together with my sister’s family on Friday for a Christmasy session. I really enjoyed working with the seven of them. It was really challenging with so many kids, and it was freezing cold outside, but I had a blast! We met at Franklin Park Conservatory, which has a lot of beautiful places to shoot. Here’s a shot of the main building with all of her family sitting on the steps.

I’m not going to post The Christmas Card Photo, because I want it to be a surprise when she sends them out to friends and family, but I will post more from this session soon, and I promise there will be close-ups!

Okay, I have trimmed the hair over his ears before, so technically this is his second haircut, but today I used the buzzers, and big chunks of his blond hair fell to the bathroom floor. It made me very sad. I swept up a few locks of hair and put them into a baggie to save, as only a sentimental neurotic mother would do. He was really good during the haircut, too. He just sat on daddy’s lap and giggled while I buzzed away on his head.

From the back it looks about the same.

But from the front… I think he looks all grown up now without those scraggly bangs hanging down to his eyebrows. Not to mention his “don’t mess with me” face.

Noah has been making a lot of weird faces at my camera lately. This shot was taken on the balcony of the bed and breakfast where we stayed in Tennessee for Jess and Tex’s wedding. This was the perfect lighting and scenery for a portrait, but he didn’t give me one single “portrait” expression. No smiles, no moody serious faces. He just bared his clenched teeth in every photo!

Oh, funny face. You get this from daddy, right?

Fall foliage? Check.

Navy vest? Check.

Weird face? Errr, check.

This little boy just keeps getting better and better with each passing day. Today I was upset about something, and he crawled up and laid his head down on my belly and started patting me on the side, the same way I pat his back gently when he bumps his head or has trouble falling asleep. As if to say, “It’s okay, Mama.” He was so sensitive to my emotions today, and it made me feel better.

Noah gives hugs and kisses, plays peek-a-boo (he covers his cheeks instead of his eyes), and understands simple words and phrases now, such as “upstairs,” “bye-bye,” and “nap.” The other day he ran headlong into the bathroom and jumped into the tub fully clothed simply because I asked if he wanted to take a bath. He hasn’t attempted to nurse in about two weeks now, so we’re all done. He’s growing up! Like a little funny-faced weed.

Noah, we love you, and we are so proud of you.

I promise I’m working on Tex and Jess’ wedding! Here are two more faves from what I worked on today.

Wedding par-tay!

Love this one…

Jess and Tex tied the knot yesterday in a ceremony that was completely them. Although it was a very crisp October afternoon, the outdoor ceremony was beautiful and heartwarming. I had so much fun photographing their wedding that I couldn’t wait to post a sneak peek. I promise there are lots more photos where these came from!

Congratulations, Jess and Tex! You made my job easy and fun. Enjoy your sneak peek!

Noah is fourteen months old, and I’ve skipped quite a few monthly updates. I’ve been really busy the past few months, but I wanted to quickly type a few things up so I will remember them!

Isn’t it funny how we teach our children tricks? Noah’s current arsenal of tricks includes:

clap
point
high five
blow kiss
wave bye bye
point out my nose if I ask, “Where’s my nose?”
walk and run
get up from the ground without pulling up on furniture
go up and down stairs
climb on furniture and tables
stab food and eat with a fork
fold his hands to pray when we say grace (although he’s been very stubborn about this lately because when he’s hungry, food is more important than anything else… kinda like his daddy, haha)

Words that he says, and their translations:

“Dah!” – said after ducking his head down and then popping up. It means “Boo!”

“Fffsssh” – said while pointing at his night light that makes ocean creatures circle around on the ceiling. It means “fish,” but he says it with no vowel sound.

“Taco/Tago/Tackle” – this one sounds different every time. Said while wiggling his fingers on my belly. Translation: “tickle tickle tickle.”

“Huh?/Ho?/Ha?” – said while holding my cell phone or his toy phone up to his shoulder – he hasn’t quite mastered holding it to his ear. It means, “Hello?”

“Dada” obviously means Daddy.

“Mamamamama” usually means “I’m sleepy! I want to nurse and take a nap right now!”

Miss A was such a good sleeper, and I just adored her dark curls and perfect little mouth.

I love how strong she looks in this one because of her flexed arms. Big yawn!

Even when she woke up, she was so content and very alert for a newborn.

K, it was so nice meeting you and your beautiful little girl.