The case for family photos

My mom was so good at making sure we had family photos every year. So, regardless of what happened within that year, we at least had one good picture. 

I'm sure some years didn't turn out so great. I remember (during my awkward middle school phase) we went in for a sitting one year and I could NOT stop blinking at the flash. Then I was so self conscious that it became this mental thing. I think we got one picture with my eyes open, and even then they were red from rubbing them and my smile was forced because I was so stressed. Then come to find out I forgot to take my bright orange hair tie off my wrist. ha! Awkward as I was, I'm glad we took that family picture. I think of our extended family pictures that were used at my cousin Shelby's funeral this past year. We all have pictures of her that we can cherish forever.

Now that we have Rory, I've tried to take a leaf from my mom's book and do family pictures at least once a year. Actual family pictures too. Because when you have too many moving parts (aka a baby and a puppy), even if you have a tripod and decent photography skills you can only run back and forth and reset the camera so many times before you lose all focus and patience. You can certainly get a picture (and it's better than nothing), but for us those photos have never been more than mediocre.

It's just so stressful being the photographer and the subject.  And if you're like us and have a baby that won't sit still or stop being grumpy for more than a half-second, it's nearly impossible to catch anything but tears by yourself. Honestly, it's worth a couple hundred dollars of your budget to get some family photos one time per year. And if you follow photographers on instagram or Facebook, lots of times they will have deals or mini sessions that you can take advantage of! If you can't do that, dress up and go for a sitting at JcPenney at least. (I prefer a professional photographer obviously- there's just so much more emotion and interaction that can be documented in a full session!) Anyways, I'm not trying to endorse anything specific aside from the fact that though your budget could pull you a million different directions, this is something that has been worth it to us to make a priority.  

I've been to three family funerals this year, and in each case any high quality photo was a treasure that could never be replaced. I'm a big fan of memories. Taking them, keeping them, posting them. So here's ours for this year. We've been good at the taking of family pictures thus far (lol. two years, I know), but getting the cards out on time hasn't exactly been my strong suit. For this year, there are at least 50 extras that never got sent out sitting on my desk, hopefully next year will be better. (comment if you want one or they're going in the trash!)

Baby steps in this adulting thing, you know?

Summer magic & one year plus some

The months are flying! I've been reminiscing a lot on how far we've come this past year. From the work we've put into our fixer-upper home (which is an entirely different set of posts in itself) and watching our baby grow it has really been something.

Rory is so fun right now. She's got the best sense of humor and loves making people laugh. And she laughs easily, which she comes by naturally.

She crawls EVERYwhere, sometimes in the downward dog position because she still prefers using her feet over using her knees. She can stand for long periods of time and took her first step on the 4th of July, but doesn't regularly walk without a finger or couch to hold on to. She does crawl up the stairs like a champ, and is getting pretty good at going down as well. Her favorite thing to do is crawl over to the bottom of the stairs and laugh and squeal preemptively because she knows I'll come get her any second.

She finally decided that she likes the water! So our favorite thing to do right now is go to the gym the moment she wakes up from her morning nap, then spend an hour or so at the rec center pool after I'm done. She stands waist high in the kiddie pool water and happily splashes and watches the other kids. It's so so magical.

She eats more than I do, and that's not a joke. Some days I run out of ideas of things to feed her. Anybody else have this issue? We've mostly weaned. I still nurse her once every couple of days if she will nurse, though I know that can't go on forever as I'm sure I eventually won't have anything left to give. Thank heavens for Boo the vacuum cleaner who eats all her crumbs off the floor as self-feeding is a beautiful, messy thing. Rory has also been known to feed Boo on purpose from her chair the little rascal.

Puppy and baby become more and more mutually obsessed as the days go by. Rory easily gives Boo ten kisses in the space of 5 minutes and giggles at her so hard that she gives herself hiccups at least once a day. Boo is done with the bulk of her shedding for summer, but even still the constant vacuuming is worth it for how much these two love each other.

Our neighbor has the most magical apricot tree in her backyard. It's so full of apricots that she and I had to go out and brace the limbs to keep them from breaking, as several of the others already had. She has no family here and is so sweet to let us play on the lawn and steal an apricot here and there. (she sent me home with 3 full bags last week) Speaking of lawns, we are finally going to have a yard! We've been doing everything ourselves, so it's been quite the process. But we are almost there! My friend said I will just roll around in it I'll be so happy, and I quite agree. Anyways, I knew the moment I saw those limbs full of apricots that I needed to get a picture or two of Rory there. So I did, and Rory picked an apricot right off the tree and ate it mid-photo. Sometimes there's magic in our backyards. Really.

I did include a crying picture to bring us all back to reality. Homegirl is breaking 4 of her top teeth at the same time right now. So much drool, so many chewed fingers, and a good bit of fussing depending on the day.

Outtakes (I'm in love)

Christmas season is over and the last card has been sent (yeah, so maybe some of them were just barely sent...)

but I couldn't not post the rest of our family pictures. 

I didn't realize what a fun blessing it would be to be so close to Chloe!

Not only is she a great friend (she came over after we moved in bearing cupcakes and diet coke...I mean....)

But she is also a talented photographer who I love and trust and am totally comfortable with.

As I knew I would, I loved the pictures she took of our little family.

She didn't only capture posed pictures, 

but pictures that remind me of what life is like right now. 

There's a lot of cuddles and squishing Rory's cheeks, 

Boo being overly excited to be a part of the family in the living room, 

teething toys and pacifiers constantly in Rory's hands, 

and big group hugs when Jay gets home from work.

I love our little life- and I love these pictures that remind me of how it is right now. 

p.s. excuse my excessive use of italics, I just really love these pictures. 

If you're interested/have a need for any kind of pictures soon I'll leave these here.  

(Chloe's website. Facebook. instagram.)