Saturday, December 31, 2011

365 days later

Wow.

It's New Year's Eve.

I am so proud that I finished this project. By my calculations I did miss a few days - about 4 or 5 total, but with a move, vacations, and a toddler, I'd call that a success.

There were definitely days that it felt like a chore to snap a not-so-great photo of something (and you can tell which those were!), but overall, I have grown a lot in my photography over the year.

I got a wonderful new camera this fall, flash, two new lenses, am and still learning to use them all together.

It's been a great year with big changes. William went from a toddling little one year old to a running, jumping, chatterbox of a two year old delight. We moved to a new town, Esch started law school, and my business exceeded our goals by quite a bit.

Can't wait to see what the next year brings for our friends and families.

And finally, no drumroll required for this one, just a food shot to round out the year. I tried a VERY yummy black bean and jalapeno hummus today to take to our friends' house for New Year's Eve tonight.

I may be seen later this evening snapping shots of bubbling champagne, or our little guy playing with his friends, but I wanted to be able to make the final post on the actual, final day.

2011, you were a great year.

2012, looking forward to meeting you tonight!



Taken 12/31

31!


Happy birthday, Esch!

We had a yummy dinner (garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, marinated and grilled lemon pepper shrimp) and Daddy blew out the candles... William's favorite activity.

Taken 12/30

Choo Choo!


Taken 12/28

Playing with Pop-Pop's train.

Friday, December 30, 2011

2nd Christmas!



Taken 12/27

Sparkly



taken 12/26

Christmas boys



My guys on Christmas morning.

Taken 12/25

Christmas Eve Tradition


My grandfather read my brothers and I "The Night Before Christmas" every Christmas Eve when we were little, and this year William was treated to the same. He was absolutely rapt while his great-grandparents read him the poem. I will never forget this moment!

Taken 12/24

New lens!


Santa came early this year! My very, very generous parents bought me the lens I have been dreaming about (Tamron 28-75 mm f/2.8) and it is SO great.

Unfortunately my new camera is having focus issues, so I will be sending it in to Canon for repair, but it has still be so fun to play with the new "baby!"

Here is W at my parents' 2 days before Christmas.

Taken 12/23

:)


This is not a great photo, but it makes me very, very happy. I only get to see my best friend, Johanna, once a year lately (she is in FL!) and we got to have her overnight a few days before Christmas. Lucky William even got to have a mini Christmas morning with "Aunt GoNanna"

Taken 12/22

Thursday, December 29, 2011

First haircut



Taken 12/21

What a good Daddy


Since Esch is on break from law school, he was able to come to our Mom's Group Christmas party. He was the only Daddy there, but I think he had fun seeing William with his little friends. Santa even came!

Taken 12/20

Tradition


My brother Andrew, 26, still comes home to my Mom's kitchen to bake Christmas cookies :)

Taken 12/18

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

7 Days New



So tiny and peaceful. Loved his blond hair!

Taken 12/17

More DeeDee


This time on a tire swing. William liked this one!

Taken 12/16

IPhone ad?


This little outtake from a Christmas session makes me laugh. Kaitlyn was not thrilled about having her picture taken for an hour straight, and though we got some cute ones, we did take a break to let her play with her Mom's new toy. It certainly stopped the tears!

Taken 12/15

Good sport


Taken 12/14

Tunnel vision



Taken 12/13

William having a ball at a cute local farm that has a very cool, creative play area set up for the the holidays.

Holiday Bedtime


I can't get enough of two things: cute PJs for William, and watching him enjoying all the magic of Christmas.

Taken 12/11
(in the pitch dark! love the ISO capablities on my new D60!)

DeeDee (the Elf on the Shelf)



Taken 12/9

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Concentration


Working so hard this morning.

My little artist!

Taken Thursday, 12/8

Love and joy come to you...

and to you your wassail too!

My Mom makes THE BEST "spiced tea" at Christmastime, and she gave me a little jug of it this week. It made for some very happy editing sessions during William's naps!

Thanks, Mom.

Mmm.

Taken 12/7

Elf on the Shelf Day 6


"DeeDee" was spotted on Tuesday, perched on our kitchen door, checking out the growing display of our friends & family's Christmas cards.

Taken Tuesday 12/6

With visions of sugar plums...


Had two Christmas sessions on Monday and especially liked this one. Such memories of William's first Christmas... he was almost the same exact age (6 weeks). Sob!

Taken Monday. 12/5


Sunday, December 4, 2011

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Elf on the Shelf Day 3


I don't want to ONLY post elf pictures, but we are really having fun with this every day, so here is our elf from this morning. Such a sneaky guy! He "decorated" the dining room windows with snowman decals. William was amazed.


Be still my heart


Taken 12/3

Friday, December 2, 2011

Day Two


We are having a lot of fun with a new "tradition" this year - the Elf on the Shelf. Every morning, our little elf (who William named DeeDee... not sure why!) appears in a different spot in the house! Sometimes he's just hanging out (like on the first day, peeking out of William's stocking) and some days it looks like he might be getting into mischief.

This morning, much to William's delight, he was in the middle of the kitchen when we came downstairs.

Taken 12/2


Playdate!


We had SIX kids in the house on Thursday morning! These cute little guys are the 10 month old twin sons of one of Esch's law school classmates.

Taken 12/1

The next morning...


Lights up - check. Now, time for the ornaments!

Taken 11/28

Santa's helper

















In this case, Daddy's helper.

Taken 11/27