Happy Birthday Rory!

Six years.  That's how long you've been my daughter.  You were actually my easiest pregnancy.  I remember during your delivery, when I started to push, you stretched your legs all the way out and used to your feet to push on my ribs.  You were determined to join us as fast as possible, even if it meant you had to help. 

You bonded with your big sister right from the start.  She was completely in love with you even before you were born.  It's like she was waiting for you to join her and you two have been almost inseparable since we brought you home.  

You have always been such a tiny thing.  

  

Little and delicate looking. 

But looks are deceiving.  Your tiny build somehow manages to hold an exceptionally bright and big personality.  

I have loved watching you grow up.  Watching you grow closer to your sister. 

You were always so busy even as a baby. 

You wanted to be everywhere and see everything. 

You crawled early and never really slowed down after that. 

You are so free with your emotions.  Easy to cry but also easy to laugh. 

  

Quick to temper but also quick to love.  

You have dealt with so many hard things in your short life and you have done it with joy.

I remember in the chaos that was the year between your 2nd and 3rd birthdays.  Doctors appointment after doctors appointment.  IVs and blood draws and scopes.   

And you just rolled with everything.  You brought smiles to all the doctor's and nurses faces as they did what needed to be done.  You rarely cried about any of it and you treated everything like the adventure it was.

And when we had to change everything about what you could eat you took it in stride.  

You learned quickly what you could and couldn't have and you never complained about missing out even when you couldn't eat at a birthday party.  

You have been such a wonderful example to me of how to except what we can't change and instead make our new path exciting and fun.  

I love seeing your father's eyes in your sweet face.

I love your goofy laugh and how freely you give smiles.  

I love that you love others so readily.  You see what I so often over look and you aren't afraid to tell complete strangers that they are beautiful.  

I love that you are quick to defend your siblings.  You never hesitate.  Despite your size you just jump right into the fray and give it all you have got. 

You challenge me.  I want to pretend that I am more like Cadence, and while I have always been responsible and reliable, I am actually more like you.  I too am quick to all those heady emotions I see boiling in you. You have taught me more about having patience, with you and myself, than all my other children combined. Mothering you has helped me grow into a better person.

You are my creative party girl.  You come up with such wonderful ideas and you believe I can make all of them come true.  I love that you believe in me and that you believe anything is possible. 

I love that you give your whole self to everything you do.  You would rather not do anything at all then do something halfway.  

You have taught me to appreciate surprises. 

You are an amazing big sister.  It's not an easy job, but you are always so willing to love your siblings. 

Now you are another year older.   

And my sweet little baby is growing into a beautiful girl. 

I am so proud of who you are growing into.

Happy Birthday Rory!  We love you with all our hearts!

First Day of School!

It's insane.  I have two kids in school now.  A third grader and a kindergartner.  How does this stuff happen so fast?  

Things were a little bit complicated this year with Brady still away.  Third grade lines up on the complete opposite side of the school from kindergarten. We were also running behind thanks to the two littlest people in the house so we ended up saying good day to Cadence and letting her run to the other side of the school to line up while the rest of us pretty much ran to the other end of the school to line Rory up for the first time. 

Thankfully Cadence is a pro and didn't mind in the least.  And thankfully Rory's teacher was saying hi to all the kids in line so they were late walking in and we just made it in time.    

Both girls have excellent teachers this year and I am super sad that we will only have them until the end of October. Then we will be at a new school in San Antonio doing the first day all over again.  

Beckah and Owen had a really good day at home with just me.  Beckah did ask when we could go and pick up the girls at twenty minute intervals the whole time they were gone.  But Owen only screamed at and tackled Beckah to the ground over toy rights three times.  Over all I considered the day a success. 

Pictures of my cuties...

The other kids were awesome while we took pictures of Cadence in her dress yesterday.  I managed to get a few really good pictures of them as well.  Enjoy!

Lost her first tooth!!

To say she was excited was an understatement!

Bit into an apple and POP out it came!  

I'm taking pictures again...

But just of the kids.  I didn't renew my photography website this year.  It was a big step for me to let it go.  There was a big part of me that still wanted to get a business going again and so I held on to it even though I wasn't doing anything with it for the last four years.

The loss of my iMac last year made me face somethings that I don't think I wanted to face.  I love taking photos and editing those photos.  I love the finished product and seeing people's reactions to their preserved memories.

I don't enjoy setting up backdrops and props.  It's why almost all of my kids pictures are simple portraits, even as babies.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE seeing everyone's new babies all wrapped in a basket, or bed of flowers, or hanging from a limb.  I love seeing pictures like that and admire photographers creativity in making those photos a reality.  I just don't like setting them up myself.  I don't like having to have back drops and extra lights, both of which can be very necessary.  I spent 5 years in college for an almost completed photography degree.  Believe me, I know the value of a studio set up and that studio set ups can be necessary.  But I don't like having to set them up.

I don't like negotiating price with people.  I don't like that people expect high end photos with Walmart prices.  I don't like that people don't respect the time and effort it takes to get them those high end photos.  I have been lucky.  Most of my clients in the past have been wonderful and totally understand the value of what I do (and I wasn't even close to expensive).  Most of my clients have given me memories and experiences that I wouldn't trade for anything.  I have worked for so many friends and family and I fell blessed to have the ability to give them permanent memories of those brief times in their lives.  But there have been more than a handful of clients I have turned away because they felt that my price and my time were negotiable.

I love taking pictures, but I don't the business of taking pictures.  It took until November of last year for me to admit this to myself.  It took me until January for me to admit that it was okay for me to feel this way and to let my website go.

I'm still a photographer.  I even still consider myself a professional.  For now I will be taking pictures of my kids, and maybe some of your kids if I feel like dragging my monstrosity of a professional camera around.  And I am going to fall in love with being a photographer again without any pressure, mostly from myself.