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oh my poor neglected blog… for my first post in months I thought I’d try to express what my mind has been occupied with these past couple months.  kindergarten.  my baby girl is now a kindergartener.  five days a week for the majority of her day her life is influenced by others besides myself.  have I done my job as a mother to prepare her for this step?  did i take my time with her at home forgranted?  we have all adjusted… her better than I.  she has amazed me with how well she has adjusted to the too early mornings and unfamiliar environment.  she loves it… and as she tells me- now I have to make sure and play with “brother”… which apparently has been her job until now   she is thinking of his happiness in her new situation.  she makes me proud beyond words, she is kind, compassionate and sensitive but also adventurous and brave.  I love you Avery Reese Parker, I know God has amazing plans for you and this is just the beginning.

I did a “kindergarten session” with Avery in hopes that it would deter me from going too kindergarten paparazzi on her first day… but it didn’t really.

and some from her first day…

I obviously love photos… then why do I have such a hard time taking them of my own children?!?  And why is it that the ones I do take end up being trapped for eternity on my hard drive ?!? I have actually purchased some awesome frames just to have them sit with the strangers photos in them for months and months… If someone were to walk in to my house, you could never guess that I was a photographer by looking at my walls.  Oh the shame!  Well, now that I’ve confessed… here are some family images that have been hiding out on my hard drive.

It is so overwhelming to me look at how time flies… these were Weston’s three year old photos that I took of him on our trip to Colorado in November.  My baby boy isn’t a baby anymore, he wants my help so little these days… not even to get dressed and put on his shoes. tear.  I try to look on the bright side of this new independence and embrace his growing sense of humor, how he is eager to make me laugh and show off  his developing sport skills… but it is hard to let go of that baby!  So I’ll admit that my heart feels happy on the rare occasion that he asks me to carry him, or when he comes to ask me for help… I know I have to let go of him someday so that he can be a strong independent man- thankfully just not yet…

I can’t tell you how many photos I got of this face…And speaking of growing up… this is my niece Allyson, turning 15 this year!! Wow, to think I first met her when she was 4- my own daughter’s age.  In a few more years she’ll be off to college somewhere… can I go cry now?  maybe I’m just all emotional since I turn thirty this month… and feeling very grown up myself  ;)

I just wanted to thank everyone who may read this for your support this year, I feel so blessed to have the honor of photographing your loved ones.  Thank you for sharing your family and memories with me.  With my fall season fully booked and added craziness of the holidays my blog sadly takes a back seat, I plan to catch ya up these coming weeks with all the fun that was going on

I wish you a very happy holiday season and an amazing 2010!

My baby girl is growing up.  It KILLS me that she is turning four this year! But as much as I loved her baby rolls, her soft pudgy feet, watching her miraculously balance on those chunky legs and take her first steps, I have to admit that I’m enjoying this stage too.  She never fails to amaze me… the things that come out of her mouth!!!  The “mini mommy” attitude she tries to pull on her little brother, the way she has become so very convincing when she wants to stay up at night “just 3 more seconds”- I so enjoy our time together as I feel like my role in her life is changing as much as she is.  She doesn’t need me like she used to, not for diaper changes and feedings, but more for assurance and guidance.  I realized my influence on her when I picked her up from school this week and as usual she did not want to go home yet, and what was her reply when I asked her where she’d like to go??  ”Target”!!!  She knows my weakness- how can I say “no” to that!! and the funny thing is that I think she likes walking the aisle looking at all the stuff and chatting with her mommy even more than the stickers she gets to go home with.

I hope everyone has a very happy Valentine’s day!  and I’ll leave with this little piece of wisdom from the mouth of a 3 year old…

as Avery and I were in the car driving home one night, she spotted a house with Christmas lights up… yes… this happened this month.  She of course is “Look mommy!!!! They still have their Christmas lights up!!!”  then she thinks for a minute and says “they must not have gotten their presents yet.”   So Santa… PLEASE bring those poor people their presents already so they can take down their lights