34 Weeks...

34 Weeks, and this is how I feel:
* Like I could actually deliver a baby any day now. We've been to the pre-natal class and learned all about labour. I know the signs to watch for. I know the pain to expect. My bag is (kinda-sorta) packed for the hospital. I'm getting keen to DO this baby thing! Bring on the contractions!
* But at the same time I feel like I should relish in every last movie watched, every last meal eaten with two hands, every night that I sleep many hours in a row. I feel like as much as I am excited to see my baby's face and look into his eyes... I shouldn't rush it. Now is the time to relax, to be patient and to let nature take it's course.
* Some moments I feel like "Oh my god- what have we done?!" Are we crazy?! HOW are we going to handle this?! Is there ANY way we can turn back time about 9 months and re-think some things?! :)
* Literally I feel my stomach churning multiple times on a daily basis. The baby has gotten bigger and there are no more little pokes here and there. When he moves my entire stomach moves and shudders and shakes. Sometimes it's quite uncomfortable... most mostly it makes me happy that he is in there practicing his moves and growing stronger.
* I feel like I'm almost a Mom. And that is the most astonishing feeling of all.

Beach Baby...

What can I say? She's adorable!

This little chicken and her parents met me down at Coogee Beach for a family photo session this afternoon.

All it took was a pink stuffed cow to get Miss P to smile for the camera. She is the happiest baby I have photographed in quite some time!

(click on images for a larger view)

Two little girls and another on the way...

How fun was it getting to help this family document the current stage of their family?! Two little girls and another on the way! (That's a lot of painted finger-nails and frilly skirts!) Mum & Dad informed me that they hadn't had a nice photograph taken of the two of them together in years... so we had to remedy that! And how cute is the bump?! Due to arrive in September- just one week before our little bump! xo

When you love someone...

I heard some song lyrics today that struck a chord with me:

When you love someone
you'll do anything
you'll do all the crazy things
that you can't explain

you'll shoot the moon
put out the sun...
when you love someone.

We are going through some crazy-stressful times these days. Chris and I. Others. People around us who we care about. Things have been falling apart and we've all been working in different ways to put them back together. It is taking time and patience... and lots of love.

I'm finding that sometimes circumstances that seem so big and so difficult can turn out just fine in the end... as long as people are loving each other and acting out of love.

The concept of "putting out the sun" is huge. But I've seen some pretty amazing people pulling off some pretty amazing feats lately in times of pain & grief. They are doing it for the people they love- and it's inspiring.

To all those who have been affected by the helicopter crash in Afghanistan- those who lost their lives, those who were injured, those who got out safely, those who helped them come home, those who lost them, and those who continue to help them heal. xo

Family Photography...

They laugh together- they cry together- they hang out together. They are families! They are fun to photograph for all of their quirks, their dramas and their love. I really enjoy capturing the essence of each family I photograph. I've met some very friendly and interesting people during the photo sessions that I've done. It's fantastic to see the pride that they all take in their families and the lives that they have created together!

Ants in their pants...

That's what these two little guys had during our family shoot together this past weekend. Mom & Dad came up with the fantastic idea to stick them up in a tree. So we did. They couldn't go anywhere and for a few minutes they were actually quite amused at the novelty of being up high. I was beginning to wonder if I was going to get any shots of their faces- let alone their smiling faces.

So there's your photography tip for the day folks... if your kids won't sit/stand still for a decent photo you may have to trap them up in a tree! :)

You're Gonna Miss This...

I was listening to a great song today on my ipod. This is the chorus:

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days
hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now...
But you're gonna miss this.

I've been thinking a lot about the stages of my life lately. Periods in time (months or years) where I was living in certain places, or working certain jobs, or in certain relationships.

My life is made up of a long string of these stages. And each stage got me one step closer to where I am right now. I am very happy to be here, although, sometimes I would love to go back a stage or two or three. Just for a few days- for another taste of that time. Sometimes I miss the past stages in my life.

I miss the highschool stage: All that cafeteria banter- surrounded by the friends I rarely get to see now. I miss a time when the only things I seemed to worry about were passing the weekly math test and how to afford the outfits I saw in Teen magazine.

I miss the university stage: That sudden freedom. The crazy residence I lived in where nobody ever slept and everybody seemed to know everybody else's business. I miss my room-mate and that cute boy down the hall who looked a lot like Patrick Swayze circa Dirty Dancing. I dropped out after first year because I decided that my program was not for me. But oh the freedom! I miss the freedom.

I miss the next massively confusing stage of my life: My early twenties mid-life-crisis. When I cried to my Mom on the phone every other night because I didn't know what to do with my life. When I couldn't recognize what I was good at. I couldn't figure out what to do next. I was stuck. It was horrible... but it was necessary. I know that now. I miss not knowing where my life would take me next. The un-known was exciting.

I miss my 4 years in London: Living with one of my best girlfriends. I miss spending hours in our living-room together talking about life. I miss dating. I miss all those first kisses and walks through the park and great get-to-know-you coffees. I miss the moments that made my heart flutter. I even miss the moments that made my heart break. I miss patio bars on Richmond Street.

I miss my first year in Australia: Meeting Chris again after nearly 5 years of emailing back and forth. I miss realizing that he was going to be my future husband. Travelling around a country I wanted to see since I was 9 years-old. Petting kangaroos and going on long road trips. I miss my engagement night. I miss all those happy tears.

I miss my recent journey in Melbourne to get through photography school. I miss all the frustrating moments where I doubted myself. And all the wonderful moments where I succeeded. I miss all my crazy class-mates who each have their own style and strength. I miss long sessions in the studio and the dark-room.

At the moment- I am working to identify all of the wonderful things about this current stage in my life. Sydney- starting a photography career- enjoying time with Chris and the dogs. I want to enjoy these things for all that they're worth. Because in another 3 months or so we will be heading into the next stage. We'll have a baby. We'll be parents. There will be amazing new aspects in life to embrace. But there will no doubt, be things I will miss. xo