The Amazing Way Life Changes

On November 27, 2013November 28, 2013 By AngeliaIn Into the Blender we go- Wee!, Timeless Treasures19 Comments

I’m sure you can guess what is at the top of my Thankful list. The very top of a very long list (more on that below). I am thrilled to have so much to be thankful for this year. And being surrounded by the love of family. Many included as family are part of extended families and ex-families and almost families.

And that is not weird to me at all.

I grew up loving a Grandma that was not related to me by blood …I never knew until I fully grasped family trees….and she wasn’t on my branch or even my tree.

I had no clue.

She never acted like she wasn’t my Grandma. And you know what? She was. She was my Grandma. Blood relation or not. That is who I called Grandma and always will. I think of her most at this time of year. As children we made the trek from Oklahoma to Colorado to visit her every Thanksgiving. Most times it took the entire day to get there. She would cook and serve the big feast, then send us packing up the mountain to ski Monarch the next day. That was her Christmas present to us, always the same, a day together of snow, ski, and fun paid for by Grandma.

I will always treasure those Thanksgivings. I wrote about it on this blog in December of 2009 Timeless Treasures. She is my most special Grandma (that wasn’t my Grandma) who made our holidays joyful and bright. And she is who I look up to as a role model. Now that I am a grandma, I hope I can live up to her highest of standards.

I appreciate her these days more than I ever have. I hope I can give as much as my heart to my grandchildren as she did.

My most precious gift this year is my very own grandchild. She is growing so fast. Faster than I ever thought possible. I had no idea how much love a grandmothers soul could hold.

Oh man, is it a lot!

This little angel just turned three months old.

Three months in the blink of an eye. She now recognizes my face and voice. She smiles instantly when she sees me. She stares at me with those grey/blue eyes full of curiosity.

We talk and play and take lots and lots of pictures. She started cooing recently. It is not like the coo I have heard other babies say. Hers is like a musical note. It is so pretty! I swear it is not ooooo. This coo is like a note Snow White sings in the forest to all the wild animals that flock to her side. This music she strains to do by pursing her mouth just so and looking around with her big eyes (like…did I just do that?). Then, she smiles real big and kicks her legs because she knows she just did and it was awesome.

I wonder if she has inherited my mother and father’s musical talent. My mom toured singing Sound of Music as a teenager. She, also, won the crown of Miss Ada (the same Ada Blake Shelton is from). Her talent? Singing. My Dad toured with a 60’s garage band, they were invited to open for the Beach Boys. Musical talent gone wild in that pairing.

I didn’t get a smidge of musical talent. Sydney might have got just that, a smidge. But Averey. Wow. Looks like she may have got the full dose. I guess time will tell if she can carry a tune as a well as a coo. But dang if she isn’t cute doing it.

Excited face!

Smile…

What she looks like talking…

Thinks Grammy is telling a story face…

Three months.

Newborn Averey

I am so thankful.

Newborn Averey

To have this squishy little person as my musical serenader.

Life.

The way it changes?

Amazing…

Happy, HAPPY Thanksgiving to each and every one. May you be blessed beyond measure and treasured beyond time. And be so completely enamored by the life and love of a wonderful family (blood relations or not).

And thank-you for most for being part of my journey.

Nice to Meet You

On October 8, 2013October 8, 2013 By AngeliaIn Angelia's Photography, Life..Camera...Action!29 Comments

Six weeks. This precious little baby is six weeks old.

This is one of her newborn photographs that I am (still!) working on. Why? Why? Why?

Why can’t there be enough hours in the day for all I want to do? Why do I have to get soooo distracted by dogs, walks, the store, TV, my husband, zumba class and workworkworkworkwork?

I mean those are not allll my excuses. At first, I couldn’t choose which photos I liked best and wanted to edit. Then…..I thought…..might as well wait to post any until the announcements go out. Well, guess what? I mailed the announcements today!

Accomplishments – 1. Excuses – 0.

But honestly, look at this face. This itty bitty witty face. I get absolutely zero editing done when I get to visit with her. The dogs are completely ignored. I almost forget to eat, because I can’t put her down. Can’t! The other grandparents think I spoil her to death and I do. I fully admit it. I am powerless.

So I put off editing to hold her. To look at her. And to wonder how she is even possibly my grandbaby. Then I pinch myself.

This weekend I enjoyed a slew of baby Averey time. More than 24 hours since Brandon and Sydney let her overnight with me. A weekend with Grammy! I loved it so. I had to stock up on Averey time since I will be traveling to Milwaukee next week. It’s quite possible a WHOLE week or more will go by before I see her again (cry!). I hope she doesn’t change too much.

As for my lovely blog. It’s not near over. I completed an upgrade today and will be posting more. Truth is, I want to post all the time. About her. About life. About everything. But a thought turns into a day, a day turns into a week, and the next thing I know….six weeks have passed.

Finally, I understand how being a grandparent ages you so quickly.

But, I didn’t just want to post about Averey and how happy I am to meet her and her to meet me. I also wanted you to meet a dear blogger friend of mine.

We go way back in blogspast and she is doing a meet the blogger series. I am her second blogger featured. Me! On her blog (of course, I had to share!). I am sooooo very honored. Especially since I have been such a crappy blogger of late.

Please pop over and give her a shout out from me. She is a talented Mom, photographer, videographer, business owner, and shopper – Jean at Jean Has Been Shopping. She does it all. Go meet her and meet me. Uhhh, again.Heh.

Here’s Your Sign

On June 13, 2011 By AngeliaIn Angelia's Photography, Angels among Us, Beautiful Life18 Comments

I’m still here.

I’m still blogging.

I’m still desperately trying to follow my dream that shifts through the clutches of my hands.

Because of time.

Because of lack of know-how.

Because when it all comes down to it, I get insecure about my work.

Perfection is my enemy.

The dream of a photography business taking off. The dream of a photography business flowing smooth and operating productively – part-time mind you – while I still have time to spend with family and work 42hrs a week at my ‘other job (sha!).

And I wonder…….am I pouring all this time, and energy into the right thing? Do I really have what it takes? What does it take, exactly? Talent, drive, and fearlessness?

I imagined my photography classes I started this January would boost my self-confidence. I imagined my talent would take off. I thought the instruction would confirm my path. In fact, my heart jumped out of my chest and raced ahead of me on this, shouting, “Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!”.

Is that my problem? My heart?

Because, really?

It seems like I am just more aware of how little I know about this business. More aware of how much farther I have to go. More, more, and more aware of how much I still ~~have~~ need to learn.

And I still love it – the process, the learning, the people. I do.

I am just a little overwhelmed.

At this point, I am committed to classes through the end of August. My last class is geared towards product photography. Yet, another aspect to swirl my fingers into and see what comes out.

A lot of friends tell me that people are my thing. I’m good with them; families, children, couples, and babies. Some days, I am not so sure. If one of my last sessions was any indication……well, maybe it’s a sign?

Meet my latest newborn (14 days old) and my second newborn portrait session and my first CS5 processing (that’s Photoshop).

She is precious, isn’t it?

There is such a delicate sweetness to newborns and their families. The wonder of a tiny miracle and how they meld into their circle of love.

I did my best to capture the pureness, but when the talent is done? Well, the talent is done.

Here’s your sign.

Is that my take a final bow sign? Like, hey lady, take a hike and go point that thing at someone your own size. Or is it a message to her mom? I’m the third. I’m the last and we go by my schedule. HA! What a stinker. This picture really cracked me up.

So there are days when processing is hard, when time is my enemy, and when I think I am not cut out for this. That’s when I think I should lock myself inside a product tent, taking photos of wine glasses, and bottles (empty?).

And there are other days when I wouldn’t miss these moments for the world.

What is in store for me down this road? I don’t know. I guess I have to keep going to find out.

Newborn Photography Love

On March 6, 2011March 6, 2011 By AngeliaIn Angel Lia's Photography, Angels among Us, Beautiful Life25 Comments

I promised my cousin Tiffany I would come take photographs of her baby after she was born. She lives about three hours away. It wasn’t a question of would I, actually I ~~begged~~ offered to do it. It was a chance to see family, to hold a tiny baby, and to practice another piece of portrait photography.

Photography is like anything else with a wide range of possibilities. It has many styles to choose from. You might be better at one over another. You could be still photographer – great at commercial products. Landscapes could be your thing – nailing that perfect waterfall, field, or mountain. Wildlife might make you roar (heh) – as you stalk the wild and hike the great beyond for your shot. It could be you love weddings – the thrill and romance. Studio portraits could be your art – capturing family, and children, generation after generation. What about maternity photos? A growing life, a glowing mom – the excitement, the joy. Then, newborn photography – the miracle. The wonder. A tiny form never to be that small again.

Every one of these might seem the same….but they are all so very, very different. It’s not just holding a camera. It’s choosing what you see, and choosing what you do with what you see. Finding where your passion lies. Art? People? Places? Things?

I have some idea…..custom photography is basically what I do. It is where a photographer comes to your home or place of choice. It is unique to you and your time. You capture moments in motion. A glimpse of the raw. I don’t think I realized the benefit and importance of custom photography until Aria.

Don’t get me wrong I am not boxing myself in. I am eager to experience all aspects of photography. To try all aspects of photography. Right now, it’s experience that matters the most. Maybe, I am just finding my wings, so I know which direction to fly.

Photographing a newborn? Hard work. They don’t just go into the perfect pose. You have to mold, and hold. They wake up and cry. Then you have to sooth and comfort (the baby and the parents – ha).

I am fascinated by the process. It reminds me of holding newborns in the NICU at Cook Childrens when I was a volunteer. It truly is a guilty pleasure. It truly is a passion.

Photographs within 10 days of birth………..simply amazing.

Introducing the precious Aria Rose four days old……

Congratulations Codye and Tiffany. When I say she is beautiful, I mean it. What joy and promise a new life brings. May you experience every soaring moment with great pleasure and wonder.