Day 6: What do you do?

Day 6 of Blog Every Day in May Challenge - If you couldn't answer with your job, how would you answer the question, 'what do you do'?

Everything.  No, seriously.  

I'm super mom.

I'm super wife.

I'm the boss.

I'm a social worker. 

I'm your BFF. 

I'm the photographer.

I'm the gift buyer.  

I'm the planner. 

I'm the crafter. 

I'm a blogger. 

See?  Everything.  Some days I feel like I can only "do" one of these but let's be real, I try to do it all!  The first thing that I identified as what I do was being super mom because that is the driving force in my life.  From the moment Eloise was born, everything changed about what I do and how I do things.  She influences every decision I make and keeps everything in perspective.  So, yes...while I do blog...make crafts...plan everything...buy the perfect gifts...photograph every moment possible...nurture friendships...social work...supervise & manage a program...and love on my husband.  What really matters is what I do for my baby girl: love, worry, think, play, encourage, clap, dream, wish, nurse, rock, kiss, sing, tickle, cook, puree', photograph, write, and promise.

 

Day 5: Love fest

Day 5 of the Blog Every Day in May Challenge: Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends. Why do you love them?  If you don't have blogger friends, talk about a real life friend of even a family member.

I don't think that I have any blogger friends that are friends in real life.  I have a handful of bloggers that  are my favorite and I look forward to their new posts and sometimes even stalk there pages for a chance  at new content.  Thankfully, I do have a lot of real life friends! However, in keeping with the spirit of the challenge, I will publicly profess my love and devotion for Sara over at Running from the Law.  After all, if it wasn't for her, I would have never found this challenge!  I can't even remember how I stumbled across her blog but I'm so thankful that I did.  I'm guessing that it had something to do photography but I stayed because it was so much more than that.  When you read her posts, you feel like you are reading an email from your BFF.  It got really fun to read her blog as we were pregnant at the same time and I was obsessed with reading other pregnant women's blogs my entire pregnancy.  I related to all the woes and anticipation that she blogged about up until the day she had her baby.  Her blog has turned to focus mostly on her trials and triumphs of motherhood and I couldn't love it more! One of my favorite topics is the "New Mommy Confessions" that she has hosted.  Check them out - great stuff.  Along the way, Sara has also opened up about her struggles with infertility.  So many women or couples for that matter suffer in silence when it comes to infertility.  I did for a long time.  I always applaud those who stand tall and scream from the rooftops about their reality.  I appreciate and admire her honesty.  Also, I can relate to that utter glee that she felt when she held her baby for the first time.  I'll never forget that moment in my own life.  So, there ya have it - love fest for Sara over at Running from the Law.

Day 4: Favorite Quote

Day 4 of the Blog Every Day in May Challenge asks what is your favorite quote and why do you love it.  As I'm sure many bloggers would say, there are a ton of great quotes to out there and we all have more than one that we love.  I actually have a journal that I have jotted down favorite quotes in from time to time.  I looked through all of these and came up with this one:
Is there something you are waiting for, something you are trusting God to do, to perform, to fulfill, and He hasn't done it yet? You are probably waiting longer than you thought you would have to wait. But that doesn't mean God's provision is canceled, it just means His promise is delayed.  Our timetable is different from His, and on occasion He will say, "Wait." I repeat, the delay doesn't mean He has canceled it, it simply means He's building our character through the process of waiting. 
I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1
One of my dearest friends Anita sent me this devotion while my husband and I were at a difficult point in our infertility journey.  It gave me peace of mind then and still does.  

Day 3: Things that make me uncomfortable.

Blog Every Day in May Challenge: Day 3

If you're expecting something deep here today, look elsewhere.  When I read the topic for the day - things that make you uncomfortable - one thing popped into my head. Socks. Nylons. Trouser Socks. Knee highs. Ankle socks. Sweat socks. Seriously.  Socks of any height, fabric, or thickness.  I feel constricted. I feel confined. I feel like my circulation may get cut off.  I hate socks.  I'd rather have cold feet or dirty feet than wear socks.  Sadly, I think I have passed this on to my 8 month daughter.  I was always taking off her socks when we got home so her feet can "breathe." Yes, that is cray cray.  Now, she does it herself.

Hmmm.  Other things that make me uncomfortable...opening gifts or surprises.  I personally love to give gifts or plan surprises which this extra weird in some way.  It makes me uncomfortable to open gifts because I'm always worried that I won't show the right emotion that the giver was expecting.  This is related to my need to "people please" that I'm sure will come up in another blog.  Surprises make me uncomfortable for pretty much the same reason.

Blog Every Day in May: Day 2

Day 2, Thursday: Educate us on something you know alot about or are good at.

I don’t know what to write about...
I could go deep and blog about my professional expertise with suicide
I could go shallow and blog about NKOTB or Reality TV
I could go sappy and blog about mommy stuff
I could go personal and blog about IVF/Fertility
I could go crafty and blog about making baby blocks & nursery banners

Some of the consistent feedback that I get from people when they look at my photos is that they love how I capture "moments."   When I look back at the photos taken at my wedding, most of my favorites were the ones that captured "moments."  The moment that my bridesmaids saw me in my dress for the first time...the moment when I reached Brad at the altar...the moment when our first kiss went a little longer than necessary...the moment when the confetti cannon went off over Brad and I as we walked into the reception...the moment that I threw my head back and laughed during our first dance...and the moment my sister put her arms around my mom and watched my dad & I dance.  When I decided to take on photography as a hobby and a side business, I knew that this would be my "style"  and I can say with confidence that I'm good at it.  I'm good at capturing the moments in life that you want to remember or at the very least the ones that depict reality. So, how do you this?
  
Bring your camera with you whenever you can
Take photos everyday
Take photos when no one is looking
Take photos when your subjects are getting ready to pose
Get on the floor...stand on something...change your perspective
Look for inspiration from other photographers
Here are a couple examples of photos where I captured "moments"

Best moment of my life that will ever be captured in a photo - thanks to my husband

Blog Every Day in May Challenge

Oh, Sew Snappy, I didn't forget about you! I came across this "Blog Every Day in May" Challenge on one of my favorite Mommy blogs - Running from the Law - and thought it would be great. I loved doing the 365 project with photography but that seems too much to take on.  31 days...31 blog posts.  I can do 31 blog posts. 

Day 1: My Life Story in 250 words

I was born & raised on the Southside Chicago to a nurse for a mother, a banker for a father, and a special needs brother.  Just three years after I was born, my sister entered the mix.  I grew up riding bikes, playing softball, swimming, and using my imagination.  I lost my brother at age 6 and that forever changed our family. We moved to the suburbs when I was in junior high and I hated it until high school.  In high school, I swam, played softball, marched with band, got good grades, made great friends, dealt with heartbreak, and got into trouble without getting caught.  I attended the University of Illinois with the plan to become a pediatrician.  After tons of studying and tons of not studying, an amazing study abroad experience, volunteering and odd jobs, I decided to pursue social work.  While getting my MSW, I met with people that would be my forever friends.  In April 2005, one of these forever friends set me up on a blind date to “meet my future husband” and it worked.  He purposed with a sweet dog with a heart shaped spot in August 2006. In September 2007, we hosted one of the most memorable weddings.  We wanted a baby right away but had to struggle for almost 5 years before we had our miracle baby girl on August 31, 2012.  All my life all I ever wanted to be was a mom…and now I am.

Welcome to the world Wynn!!

Welcome Wynn Elliott Rowland

 

 

During the photo shoot, Becky asked me what my all time favorite picture that I've taken since I started doing this.  At the time, I couldn't think of one particular photo but said that I love when I capture a true natural moment in someone's life.  After this photo shoot,  I now have my favorite photo of all time.  This moment wasn't planned.  I asked Camm come over and kiss Wynn on the head...the rest just happened. Pure love.  This photo is what makes me think that I could do this full time.