4:30 am wake-up
chatting it up with Felipe while waiting in the cold (for me- you know I'm a lightweight when it comes to anything below 80)
warning fireworks?
a shot of Juarez while I was at it (a bit to the left)...they were watching too.
and most of our watch party- on top of the EL Paso Rescue Mission. Thank you, Blake!
Have a great weekend...love, sara
OH, And, as always, you can click on the photo to see the large version!
She's still a cutie, huh?
Isn't it great to see someone other than the WhippoorWill on the blog?! The best news ever is that her three month photos were taken by Kristin Anderson and I'll finally have some of the two of us! As soon as she works her editing magic, I'll blog them...you have no idea how excited I am! Happy belated Easter- no photos of the boys and the egg hunt this year since I spent the entire day fighting a stomach virus and watching a NCIS marathon (I'm not big on changing the channel and will put up with even infomercials just to avoid operating the remote control). Yep. Have a great week. Love, sara
Apparently, I was insane for thinking I could get photos taken and posted the day of or day after returning home from the hospital. Recovering from childbirth and launching into nursing at 35 is Definitely different/more difficult than it was at 28 And I really did forget how these first few months? go. I can get about one thing accomplished a day, maybe two. And thing includes shower, nap, laundry, any cooking... To clarify, I'm not complaining, just singing an ode to the powers of selective memory and the aging process.
This Willa-ren is a sweetheart though. WIth Auden & Matti (I think because I always thought we'd have more babies), I wasn't the kind of mom who just wanted to watch them sleep. She's likely our last and so I find myself doing just that. I'm a little nervous about going back to work so soon- ok, a lot. Not just because of sleep deprivation and the still-undetermined childcare situation, but because I'm afraid I won't be soaking in enough of her while she's this little. And I'm crying. I'm going to pretend it's the hormones and not actual sadness. It doesn't even bother me a Whole lot that this place is a mess and laundry needs to be done and I'm not getting much accomplished each day. I just want to hold her.
I do worry that the boys are being ignored a little at her expense. I've decided (and we'll see if this lasts knowing my personality) that I'm giving up any hobbies/non-essential housework for a good while to focus on being the best mom I can to all three. I think I've been too intent on accomplishing things (whether that's a clean house, a knit blanket, working, or whatever) before I let myself take the time to enjoy my family like I should. So that's my new year's resolution: more family, more mess.
Lastly, I really want to thank my Dad and Mom for driving all the way here to help us with these first few days. Chris left Sunday morning (for at least two weeks) and I don't know how I'd make it without the extra help. I love you both, sara
Proof that a bride's favorite part of her wedding day is the photoshoot: my friend, Veronica! Isn't she beautiful? Bernardino, you've done well :).
Congratulations, you two! Love, Sara
Ok, I wasn't finished editing when I posted these (and I'm still not, but getting so close), and I Had to add this one- just because:
Also, Kalissa is responsible for some of the images, but I haven't had time to sort out which ones! I'll do that soon. Love (again), s
Kalissa
Kalissa
Kalissa! I love this one :).
OK, I'm still not finished with the editing (will be regardless of what life throws at me by Friday as I have Veronica's wedding next Saturday!), but I had to get these up on the blog...didn't Cordie do an amazing job Without a wedding coordinator? Not only were the details gorgeous, but David and Cordie are pretty easy on the camera too. The icing on the wedding cake was having Kalissa shooting with me- couldn't have done it without her- I've labeled her photos with her name beneath. I love, love, love weddings, and if you El Paso photographers don't have me along to second shoot every once in awhile, I'll probably have to start crashing just to get my fix. Thanks Cordie and David for the beautiful experience. Have a great week all. Love, Sara
Got to go out with Dad this morning to shoot an amazing rock barn and a little house- both in Early. The barn would be perfect for just about anything...I'd totally live there after a bit of work. The house is a tear-down...and I never think anything is a tear down.
News: the latest ultrasound eased our minds a little as there were no other signs of Trisomy 18 (so the original odds of 1/100-1/400 stand). She's still a girl, and I'm finally beginning to look pregnant instead of just thick (I think).
Best news of the week: I Don't have gestational diabetes- the nurse had me full-on scared with the phrasing of her call last week (I swear she made it sound like there was almost no chance I'd pass the following test and then I was hitting the bathroom like crazy and I Know I didn't do that with the boys, so...). But nope, I get to go back to my one Coke a day- it's all about the small triumphs/joys these days.
Rock bottom: We just pulled out of our second house contract after the termite inspection Friday. The fence had a live termite infestation and the technician quoted $2,500 for remediation and then the fence would need to be replaced on top of that. We asked the seller to modify the price to reflect the additional work, but she wouldn't budge a penny...so we'll let her deal with the bugs. There was also a bit of a kerfluffle about the paint job she agreed to in the contract. The folks she hired weren't exactly skilled at painting. Back to square one there, only a lot more battle worn.
No job and that's super bad...and the search isn't made any easier with our current location.
Random: I actually began running again when we landed back in Priddy (mental health demanded it). Jogging would really be more accurate. I wore Lara's running shoes at first, but then she left for awhile, I caved and bought a new pair: New Balance Trail minimals and I love them (my favorite minimals so far, including the five fingers, since the NB look like normal shoes). They completely tore up my heels, but I'm toughing it out and I can now wear them 2 miles without drama. And now, 2 miles is just about as far as I can go and still walk like a normal person the next day. The three miles last week did me in.
That's about it, I guess. Hope you have a great week. Love, Sara
My very first wedding on my own! Thanks Sarah & Adam for choosing me as your photographer & thank you Cristina, Stephane, Brittni, & Kristen for showing me the ropes! Love, Sara
p.s. Potatoes seem to have something against me- I cook them forever & ever & still they're not all thoroughly cooked. I know that's random, but two potato failures in a row will get to a woman.
Oh, & the Australian flag on the limo is in honor of Adam's Australian roots.
I had the pleasure of working with DataXport while we were still in El Paso (actually still editing a few of the photos I took the week we moved), and thought I'd post a bit of the commercial photography I've done for them part time since November (you may have seen some of it if you checked out their website [ www.dataxport.net ] once it was pretty much reworked).
This is mama Beatriz, kinda because she reminds me of my own mother in so many ways, and partially because even if she didn't she's got maternal down. I really enjoyed sharing her office with her when I made office visits. You may remember the photos of her daughters a couple of months back (amazing kids).
This is Emma, my lunch buddy. Lunch isn't the same at all without you. Jorge, Beatriz' husband, is above. He's pretty fab too (but eats lunch Way too late for me).
This I took right after the bar exam (the last day & last section)...or really during it- while everyone else was still writing fantastic essays, I was taking the 45mm perspective for a walk. That's why I thought I failed. I didn't have anything else to write about whatever it was re:Texas law I was supposed to be writing & left half way (not exagerating) through the alloted three hour session (leaving behind the shortest ever essays in bar exam history). Before anyone else. I'm pretty sure the proctors, as I was walking out, gave me an "I'm so sorry you've failed look" for leaving that early. But, I figured, no sense in sitting around (in a windowless room with frantic scribblers) torturing myself- I had my camera with me.
That's not all, but I think 13's a lucky number on which to end. Baby update: still hanging in there- I'll hit 13 weeks on Thursday & the nausea isn't so vicious these days...still a bit of a vegetarian (as in I can eat a little meat before the thought of more repulses me). House update: still homeless & I shouldn't write that since we are blessed enough to have family to live with while the hunt continues and continues. I really am ready to settle & so I try to counter that by counting blessings because we are definitely blessed. So far we've put an offer in on one house (Thursday night) but the seller's agent won't respond to calls. The only other option is really too small, even if it is gorgeous. If this keeps up (as in no suitable home in our price range listed by a Professional agent hits the market), we'll be Chris Farley & the Rogers St. house will be our little coat. The guest room would have to be a sleeper couch in the living room.
Mostly, I'm impatient because the boys & I drive A Lot with all this back & forth to Waxahachie. I feel like that mom who locks the kid(s) in the dark closet for long periods of time. Only I lock them in their booster seats & I'm in there with them & it may or may not be dark. ...and it costs me $10 an hour. That's about all that's going on these days- next post up: wedding photos :)! Hope your respective summers are going well. Love, Sara
