Blog Thoughts...

I'm kind of at a crossroads with my blog(s). (Did y'all know I had two?)  I have a huge jumble of thoughts floating around in my head so I'm going to use this post to try and sort it all out, and I welcome any thoughts!

1.) I don't feel that full-time photography is really my calling. I enjoy it, and I still want to learn and grow, but I think I will only take on clients when asked, versus actively pursuing sales. I'm just no good at that. Because of that, I don't feel this site needs to be a full time photography site, though that will always be a love of mine. Instead, since I already use it as a family journal of sorts, maybe I will just expand upon that a bit, posting my kid friendly activities and maybe a meal here and there when I find one we really love.

2.) I'm kind of tired about stressing about how my food looks. I mean, I haven't done this since before I found out I was pregnant, but if I go back to blogging primarily about cooking/baking on Sugar and Grace (the other blog), I fear I might fall into that habit again. Since most people reading on this site are either family or friends, if I do post a recipe, I trust you won't judge my props/lighting/presentation…right?

3.) I tend to get an inferiority complex when it comes to food blogging. There are just SO many great sites out there that I end up feeling like I can never match up to the quality of such-and-such's blog. And that's not really the point. Here, I can just share what I love, without trying to fit a niche or meet an expectation.

3.) I am doing something I never, ever thought I would get to do starting Januray, which is be a stay at home mom. Granted, it is only for the next six months, until the next school year starts back up and I go back to work, but it still means I get to take care of our daughter at home for a little while longer, and be a little more involved in Ian's school than I normally am able to be working full time. I am eternally grateful to my husband and family for being so supportive, but I still feel I need to try and contribute financially as much as I can. Since I will not be bringing home a regular paycheck, I am doing/making things to try to supplement what we are losing. That being said, I cannot really afford to spend time on two blogs, and I know I am not going to give up writing about/to my family. So this one wins. Maybe I'll even have a little "Shop!" button on here someday when I can figure out e-commerce….

So I don't really know how this is going to pan out, but I do know I want to share the things I love with the people I love, and hopefully that's what this site will be!

Thanks, as always, for listening. :)

Love,

Bree

Blog Thoughts...

I'm kind of at a crossroads with my blog(s). (Did y'all know I had two?)  I have a huge jumble of thoughts floating around in my head so I'm going to use this post to try and sort it all out, and I welcome any thoughts!

1.) I don't feel that full-time photography is really my calling. I enjoy it, and I still want to learn and grow, but I think I will only take on clients when asked, versus actively pursuing sales. I'm just no good at that. Because of that, I don't feel this site needs to be a full time photography site, though that will always be a love of mine. Instead, since I already use it as a family journal of sorts, maybe I will just expand upon that a bit, posting my kid friendly activities and maybe a meal here and there when I find one we really love.

2.) I'm kind of tired about stressing about how my food looks. I mean, I haven't done this since before I found out I was pregnant, but if I go back to blogging primarily about cooking/baking on Sugar and Grace (the other blog), I fear I might fall into that habit again. Since most people reading on this site are either family or friends, if I do post a recipe, I trust you won't judge my props/lighting/presentation…right?

3.) I tend to get an inferiority complex when it comes to food blogging. There are just SO many great sites out there that I end up feeling like I can never match up to the quality of such-and-such's blog. And that's not really the point. Here, I can just share what I love, without trying to fit a niche or meet an expectation.

3.) I am doing something I never, ever thought I would get to do starting Januray, which is be a stay at home mom. Granted, it is only for the next six months, until the next school year starts back up and I go back to work, but it still means I get to take care of our daughter at home for a little while longer, and be a little more involved in Ian's school than I normally am able to be working full time. I am eternally grateful to my husband and family for being so supportive, but I still feel I need to try and contribute financially as much as I can. Since I will not be bringing home a regular paycheck, I am doing/making things to try to supplement what we are losing. That being said, I cannot really afford to spend time on two blogs, and I know I am not going to give up writing about/to my family. So this one wins. Maybe I'll even have a little "Shop!" button on here someday when I can figure out e-commerce….

So I don't really know how this is going to pan out, but I do know I want to share the things I love with the people I love, and hopefully that's what this site will be!

Thanks, as always, for listening. :)

Love,

Bree

Two Months | A Letter to My Daughter

Adalyn,

I know eventually we will begin to measure your birthdays in years instead of months, but I can see now why each month is a milestone in the life of babies….they change so much. YOU have changed so much. I have SO loved this newborn stage, and I understand totally how people say it flies by. You are my first newborn (I married your dad and adopted your brother when he was two) and probably my last, and I just want to freeze time and enjoy this a little bit longer! No amount of lost sleep can compare to getting to experience this with you. Your sweet smell and warm cuddles and wide eyes just bring me so much joy. I often look at you and marvel at how God used me to create something so perfect.

During your second month...

• you started to wear clothes everyday! Feeding you was such a struggle at first because your on again-off again jaundice made you so sleepy, and being warm only compounded it! So when you would be snuggled up next to me you would almost immediately fall asleep. We kept you unclothed most of the time, and even had to wake you with cool washcloths often! Now that you are wearing all these cute outfits you've been given, I am trying to photograph you in each one because I know you won't be able to fit in them very long (you've already grown out of some of your newborn clothes!).
• You wore socks for the first time (same reason as above) and I just thought it was the cutest thing ever.
• Grandma came back for a couple days to help/see you/do a thousand loads of laundry 
• you started to be more expressive, and it is so fun. Your first smile-one where I really felt like you were doing it intentionally-came right on your 2 mo. birthday….followed by many many more

This is pretty much how you look at all times when you are being held by your dad. He's really good at waking you up and you always look so wide-eyed and aware.

Baby gowns and tiny ankle bows...

Bedhead like your mom...

And you've really started liking baths!

This was on your 2 mo. birthday; the day after your first round of shots…5 total. You don't cry too often; at least not loudly (you are more of a squealer/grunter) so hearing you wail during the shots was pretty heartbreaking, to say the least. And you were knocked out for most of the next 24 hours.

So the next group of pictures is from my iPhone. While I wish I remembered to take more photos with my good camera, I am immensely grateful for camera phones, for they let me document little moments that I wouldn't have otherwise.

Playing around with FaceTime…who would've thought, as anti-electronics as I am, that I would be holding a phone up to my infants face. But you seem to really like looking at people, and your grandparents REALLY like seeing you!

For the whole last trimester that I carried you, we lived near the university campus and took walks just about every day. We made great memories as a family, and it has been fun to take you on your first few walks there while we still live nearby.

Your Aunt Donna came to visit and got to meet you for the first time. This was my favorite picture because you are making such a silly face. You love that tongue.

My mom told me that many first time mommies cut their hair, and I can see why. You love to grab a fistful and hold on tight.

Back to the no clothing thing…for this same reason we never put you in pajamas. We would just swaddle you at bed time. But we got our first taste of cooler weather this month so I got to dress you in your sweet little baby gowns.  You seem to really like them once they're on, but you HATE getting them pulled over your head.

More expressiveness...

The second picture here is my doctors checkup, and it was so surreal having you there, when every other visit in the past you had been in my belly and we had been waiting to meet you!

I love having you meet friends and family (even if you are asleep through most of it). I've realized through all this what an amazing support group of friends and family we have surrounding us.

Grandpa came to visit again to see you. Next we'll take you to see him and you can visit my hometown!

Your first football game! You slept through every bit of it, but you sure did look cute.

And again, more expressiveness...

Those last two pictures are of your very first road trip. We went to Houston for your soon to be aunt Rachel's bridal shower. If you're awake, you pretty much despise being in a carseat, so I am so grateful that you slept most of the way! You were such a trooper, and it was so fun having you there. Everything is better with you around :)

I love you sweet girl. Happy 2 months.

Love, your mom.