I'm ba-ack.....

I'm ba-ack. 
And where have I been, you might ask?
Chasing my son.
Up the stairs, back down the stairs, around the backyard, away from the toilet bowl, past the hot oven, out of the kitchen and into his bed!  And that was just TODAY!
Since I wrote my last blog entry- my sweet baby has turned into a toddler.  (Oh, and also we spent 8 months in Canada and are now back in Australia).
Photography has taken a back seat lately to mommy-hood.  It has had it's ups and downs.  Finding a balance between being a photographer and being a Mom has been difficult.  I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself to do everything.  Someone needed to keep reminding me that being a Mom IS a job- and an important one (thanks honey).  For the time being my main priority will be my little guy.  Photography will be an outlet for creativity that I will jump at when the opportunity presents itself.   
The last few months have taught me to slow down and let life lead the way a bit.  In other words... play with my son, spend time in our new house getting un-packed, learn some new recipes, scope out the local sights.  And stop.freaking.out.  :)
Funnily enough- the moment I started embracing a break from photography... a photographic opportunity presented itself.  A friend and her daughter were in town recently and I had a chance to capture them together one morning before they headed home. 
It felt so good to be doing my 'thing' again.  You may not hear from me quite as often as before- but I will still be around.  And photography will always be a welcomed diversion from running after my gorgeous little monster! 
Here are a few images from the day:   

           

Splish-splash...

Most children end up a bit wet by the end of a photo shoot at the beach. These kids ended up SO soaked by the end of our hour together at Maroubra Beach that they walked back to the car in their undies! I hope they had half as much fun as they looked to be having! (..Mom & Dad got a little wet as well!)

Back at it...

It feels really good to be back to photographing! As much as I am loving Mommy-hood... I like to know that I can go off and do a shoot once in awhile for a change of pace.
Today I photographed a lovely family from the play-group I attend. We headed down to Maroubra Beach for some fun by the ocean! For one whole hour I forgot all about changing diapers and feeding and fussing.
And I remembered how bouncy little boys can be!

Don't Blink...

"Don't Blink" by Kenny Chesney

(chorus)

Don't blink

Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you

Wake up and you're 25 and your highschool sweet-heart becomes your wife

Don't blink

You just might miss your babies growing like mine did

Turning into Moms and Dads, next thing you know your 'better half'

Of fifty years is there in bed

And you're praying God takes you instead

Trust me friend, a hundred years goes faster than you think

So don't blink.

Logan is growing. Where has the time gone?! Diaper changes, feedings, sleeps and lullaby-singing sessions have strung together to make up the last 3 1/2 weeks of my life with him. The days have sort of melted together into a bit of a blur. It's been tiring but also wonderful.

At some point I'll have to take on a few more things again- not just my gorgeous son. Right now I could just stare into those deep baby blue eyes forever. But I'm already missing Chris in a way that I hear many new parents say they miss their spouse when a baby comes along. We need to start making more time for each other. And I'm getting keen to do some more photography again as well. I still need to get on top of baby announcement/thank-you cards. So many people have been so generous with their gifts and their well-wishes. They deserve to be thanked.

How will I fit everything in?! How will I find balance in my life? How will I do it all while still enjoying every moment and not having the years pass me by so quickly?

This is going to be the greatest challenge of my life. I'm just starting to ponder it now...

It's been 3 weeks...

Tiny socks in the laundry.
Living in 3 hour intervals.
Showering quickly.
Baby cuddles.
Up at 4 a.m.
Phone is always out of reach. So is coffee.
Big blue eyes.

Things have changed at our house.

He's Finally Here...

Logan Thomas Jackson finally entered the world on Wednesday, September 22nd at 3:31am. He weighed 9.6 lbs at birth and looked just perfect from the moment we saw him.
Logan was 10 days overdue when I was induced in hospital. My labour was long... so I chose to have an epidural half way through. The pain I experienced once my contractions fully set in was not something I could imagine enduring for any serious length of time. And things were moving along slowly. Having the intense pain taken away made my labour a much more enjoyable and positive experience. Once the epidural was given- I laboured for 7 more hours.
In the end, Logan entered the world in grand-finale style. After 2 full hours of pushing and lack of progress, the doctor & the forceps appeared. Things got a little too dramatic for my liking at this stage. Giving birth was a horrific, beautiful & amazing experience. I can't really explain how something can fall under all of those descriptive words... but it did.
Once the doctor set Logan on my chest and he began to cry- any pain and confusion that was involved in my labour ended. Everything made sense again. And my heart swelled 10 times bigger than I feel it has ever been. I fell in love with my son at that moment.
I could finally see his face. And let his tiny fingers curl around one of mine. I could see him moving and hear his little noises. I could witness him hiccuping- not just feel it in my belly.
Logan is nearly 2 weeks old now. He is becoming more alert and loveable each day. Chris and I are learning how to be parents- a lesson that will go on for years and years to come. It is still early days- but things are good.
Part of me doesn't want Logan to grow or change- not even an inch. And part of me can't help but wonder what is in store for him in the future. What will he look like as a toddler? When will he smile? Will he be a good runner? Where will his dreams take him one day?
And how did we ever exist without him?
Thanks to the powers above for our little blessing.
xoxo

I am a photographer! (exclamation mark)

Wow. What a way to come in such a short time. If you look at my first post (back in May) it was titled "I am a photographer? (Question mark)"
I feel quite confident these days using the new and updated version of the title. I started working for Israel in August- last month- for pay. I got through all the training and I've done five freelance shoots for his company. And wouldn't you know it- I made the guy some big sales! Hooray! At this point there really isn't any reason I can't call myself a "photographer".
It feels good.
The families I have worked with through Israel Smith Photographers have been very friendly, fun and positive. As I've grown bigger and bigger this past month they have offered to carry my camera gear (I always decline), to drive me home so I don't have to take the bus, and to help me down hills, up onto rocks, etc. Doing shoots has become more difficult so by mid-August I had to tell Israel that I needed a break until after the baby comes. I am missing the work and the opportunities to learn more through experience. But I'll pick it back up again soon enough.
So there you have it- I am a working photographer. Exclamation mark!