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One sweet year

8/24/2012

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As I moaned and groaned my way into the hospital one year ago, I wondered if I'd ever be able to love another child as much as I did Salem.  Then, at 1:11 in the afternoon, that silly question flew out of the window as I met my Blair.  She is sweet, observant, silly, and cuddly.  I'm so thankful to have been with her every day of her first year and I am so excited to continue to watch her grow.

I am sometimes envious of the photos my clients get of their families and growing children; I can put 100% of myself into their photos, but am often grabbing the camera between sorting the laundry and stirring the beans when it comes to my own children.  So I scheduled a one-year shoot for Blair.  I actually put it on the "work" calendar, bought an outfit, and hauled everybody (and everything!) to the park.  Here is the end result!


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She was so rotten with that headband!!  We tried giving her this favorite bear, and while that made her smile, it did NOT distract her from tearing the headband off in an instant!
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After asking Salem to hold Blair's hand, she quickly grabbed her by the arm and started trying to drag her through the field.  Bo said "no thanks."
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But we managed a few of the Smith Sisters!
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The entourage it took to get this accomplished.  Special thanks to Daddy, Mimi, and Pappy!
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Laughing at sister :)
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I love how this silhouette shows the roundness of her head
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I truly can not believe how quickly a year can fly by.  I still remember the smell of her new baby skin and the sound of those little baby noises she made in the night. Here's to a very happy first birthday to you Bo Bo!
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Here's a peak from her fun watermelon party - more from that soon!
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Time to be a Turkey

2/1/2012

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My days consist of time: time to feed the baby, time to get Salem ready for school, time to clean, time to work (ha!), time to eat, time to plan tomorrow's time...

Recently I put all that aside and just let time pass.  It's in the mid-60s here in Georgia this week (it is still winter, right?) and my girls and I spent the better of one day at the park.  I let the cleaning, laundry, emails, editing, and planning wait another day while I spent time relishing in the fresh air, watching Salem try a new slide at the playground, and memorizing the way Blair feels sleeping in my arms.

This comes on the heals of a wake-up call from my friend and photography mentor, Lindsey.  She did a Valentine's session with the girls over the weekend.  During our few minutes of chatting, I asked if she was enjoying working in her new studio.  She replied that she only does sessions there, and continues to do all her other work from home, enjoying as much time as possible with her small children.  

The more I thought about what she said, the more sheepish I felt about my desires for my own uninterrupted time and space to just work.   I want to build my sprouting photography business, I want to accurately document my children's early years, I want to coupon more diligently, I want to be a better vegetable gardener,  I want to sanitize the house each week, I want to cook healthy meals each day, but during the time I'm wishing FOR those things, am I wishing AWAY my babies being babies?

I recently saw a special on PBS titled My Life as a Turkey in which a man raises wild turkeys from eggs, and so becomes their turkey mother.  He spends 18 months with no other human interaction, even learning a few "turkey words" along the way.  He made one comment regarding his experience that sticks with me: he came to envy the Turkeys' ability to live only in the present.  They did not dwell on the events of yesterday, or plan out tomorrow's doings, they hunted for grasshoppers and played with squirrels today, completely involved in the present.

And so Tuesday (for a few hours anyway), I tried to just be a turkey, enjoying the sunshine and giggles NOW.  Thanks, Lindsey, for inadvertently reminding that Salem and Blair only have this day once and for inspiring me to take time to enjoy it.  The quest for balance among a work-from-home mom's many many duties continues. 
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I was being a turkey so well that I didn't even take any pictures, so this is one from a few weeks ago :)
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    From Shannon:

    Please enjoy session previews, silly stories about my children,  and other random thoughts I feel compelled to share!

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