Fall Leaves

The weather was perfect yesterday! To take advantage of it, Jax and I went hunting for fall leaves to play in. We drove around quite a bit, but I had my mind set on a certain type of "scene", and we weren't finding it. So, I called my mom since I knew there were pretty leaves up her way and she said, "The library has beautiful trees I noticed the other day!"

The library? Ok, well I never would have thought of that but I took her word for it! Beautiful red leaves covered the ground there, and Jax was slowly losing patience while waiting for me to find the "perfect spot" so the library it was!

He was certainly intrigued. It was like nothing he had ever seen before.

Besides the wet booty from sitting in the leaves, I'd say he was pretty thrilled...but not thrilled enough to crawl around and get the rest of himself wet.

Then he saw one of his most favorite people ever amidst the leaf-laden land...

It was his beloved leaf-laden land discovering Nanna! He was so thrilled he threw leaves in the air upon her arrival. =)

We sat in the leaves, stood in the leaves, threw the leaves, tasted the leaves, and played peek-a-boo in the leaves until...

...Jax decided his wet booty was getting to him and he had had enough fun in the leaf laden land.

Through the Eye of My Lense

It was 10 am. I was at the park awaiting my next clients for a photoshoot. It was quiet, crisp, and foggy. I had a lot on my mind all that week, and it was strange to sit in the quiet for a moment...something I don't take enough time to do. I looked around, and with no one in sight I picked up my camera and photographed nature. A shock I know. I love photographing people more than anything, but as I captured nature that day, I was reminded of how calming it can be. Just to stop and focus on the little things does something for me. I was reminded of where I was 6 years ago and where my passion all began.

I first fell in love with photography many years ago. Actually, I was 21 to be exact. I was going through a very hard time in my life and taking pictures was therapuetic so to speak. I wasn't necessarily very good at it. In fact, it was an old Kodak point and shoot I saved my money for. I didn't care if I was very good, I just wanted to capture beauty. Capturing nature was something that reminded me that there was a God, a magnificent God. One that was creative and detailed. I would think to myself, "A God who could create such beauty and take the time to put each detail and finishing touches on even the littlest of things must care about me at least a little. A God that could create such beauty and resurrect what would seem dull and lifeless could possibly even create beauty from the pit up ashes I am in."

Snap, snap. I would take pictures in the Fall, when everything was being transformed into a magnificent vibrance of color. Much like it is right now.

Snap, snap. I would take pictures of the winter, where it would seem cold and dark. Lifeless. I related most to that time of year back then.

Snap, snap. I would take pictures of the spring, where the earth was beckoning to come back to life. Blossoming with hope.

Snap, snap. I would take pictures in the summer...water, sun, freedom.

Therepuetic it was. I took pictures of my family and friends as well, but for some reason nature spoke a bit differently to me at that time. Seeing how the seasons came and went...I felt as though my life paralleled these seasons just the same. More or less, focusing on nature and the small things...things we don't always notice at first glance, somehow refocused my head admist all the rubel and chaos. God taught me a lot through the eye of my lense.

Over the years, my love for photography has blossomed. The progression went from photographing nature, to capturing my neice and nephews growing up, to photographing my husband's passion....music. I loved documenting every family event, every little detail I didn't want to forget. Something to hold onto that wouldn't be taken away. Even though I was a novice, I didn't care. It was healing. Snap snap.

Fast forward 3 years. I was then married. I purchased my first DSLR camera. It rocked my world. My thirst to learn more grew. That's when I had my first though, "Wouldn't it be cool to do this for a living?" Snap. Snap.

Fast forward another year and a half, and I was holding the most precious gift in my arms. My son. The most beautiful thing God could've created in my mind...especially since I was told 5 years earlier it was next to impossibe to have a child. A miracle. My camera was pretty much an attachment at this point. Think...extra limb. It followed me everywhere. I didn't want to forget my son that little, I didn't want to miss a moment. I wanted cherish every moment and hold onto it forever. My ferver to grow in my passion grew by leaps and bounds at that point. Snap. Snap.

Today, I am not only documenting my life and my family's life to remember forever, but I get the honor to photograph these moments for many other families. Capturing memories that will last a lifetime. Pictures speak a thousand words, and what a wonderful gift to give to others!

Today, photography is just as therepuetic as it was the day I picked up my little Kodak point and shoot. It doesn't matter if I'm happy or sad; God teaches me so much through the eye of my lense. It's as if the world stops and I am reminded of God's love for us through His creation.

Big Boy

It was almost as if a light bulb came on the day Jaxon turned a year old. It seemed as if he knew full well that he was a "big boy" now, and he needed to act as such. Each day he is less and less a baby and more and more a toddler. As much as I am missing the little baby ways, this stage is full of fun as well.

Nevermind the fact that our once perfect sleeper is now protesting sleep. Nevermind the fact that he is more and more set in his ways, and determined as ever to get what he wants...even if it means he needs to burst into tears and throw a fit. Nevermind the fact that first year molars, illness, and bumps and bruises have turned our once mellow, easy-going monkey into a cranky, clingy little guy. Never mind those things...cause we choose to look at the positive around here!

This age has many more exciting things up it's sleeve. Jaxon is developing quite the sense of humor. His comprehension of what we say to him has sky-rocketed. Verbally, he is spitting out new words almost daily. He is pretty darn close to walking on his own, can open doors, turn on and off anything he can get his hands on, and his newest feat...

Using a spoon by himself!

Ok, well not completely by himself, but he is getting the idea of dipping the spoon and putting it into his mouth.

He eventually came to the conclusion that using his hand was much easier...

Yes, being a toddler seems to agree with our "big boy"!

Scrub a Dub-Dub

New phrase of the week:

Mamma (from the other room): "Jaxon, it's time for your bath!"

Jaxon: "Oh yeah!" and heads right to the bathroom.

He loves his bathtime!

Someone's in the Kitchen with Mamma

Someone's in the kitchen with Mamma,

Someone's in the kitchen I know.

Someone's in the kitchen with Mamma,

Strummin' on the old banjo.

Jaxon is becoming very curious...er I mean helpful these days. From dishes to laundry, he is getting into...er I mean helping with everything. =)

Gotta love him!

Jaxon's 1st Year Video

Click HERE to view the slideshow I made for Jaxon's 1st Year.

It Was a Fall Kind of Day

It was a Fall kind of day.
We got out our hats and coats....

...and went exploring in the great outdoors.

The air was crisp...

the leaves were falling......and we were full of curiosity and excitement.

So much to see...

So many places to conquer...

...and we take this exploring thing VERY seriously.

We found leaves that crunched. We found creepies that crawled. We found flowers that blew into the wind.

With Daddy in tow...

we explored the afternoon away.

We enjoyed every minute...

...until we were tuckered out.

It was a Fall kind of day.

1!

The shirt pretty much speaks for itself...look who's one today!