balance

What is that anyway? Everyone these days is looking for balance. Especially working moms. The most common question that people ask me is "How do you balance it all?" The answer? "I don't."

Finding balance is a weekly struggle for me. A daily struggle for me. A minute by minute struggle for me. Now more than ever I am trying to change the way that I operate my business so that balance is not such a far fetched idea. Some days I feel like I am headed in the right direction. Others...not so much.

For a few weeks I gave myself a 10:30pm limit for working. I made more time to exercise, I got more sleep, I told myself over and over not to stress out over work, I focused more on Marlie and less on everything else. It was nice. However, now I feel behind. And today I felt so so very close to having a melt down. I hate that feeling.

So, I am up late. And my butt hurts from sitting here editing. And I'm thinking about my new website that I keep leaving to work on in my "free time". Yeah, there isn't any of that these days.

Today I am not feeling balanced. I'm behind on editing. My house is so very dirty. I seriously can't remember the last time I cleaned the bathroom. There are dust bunnies the size of tumbleweeds rollin around here. I'm almost out of Marlie's milk. I haven't worked out all week.

I think as women we look at other women and think "She has it all together. I want to be like her and have things balanced." What I've learned is that those ladies probably have huge tumbleweed dust bunnies rollin around too.

So, we may not find balance every day. But we should find grace. Grace for ourselves.

Back to work. Tomorrow is a new day.

senior photography

Last weekend I met up with three gorgeous girls for a session here in Lafayette Square. Dani, Laurel, and Courtney were sweet enough to be my models for some senior photography advertising I am working on.



These are just some of my favorites.



















Seriously, how could you take a bad photo of those girls? So beautiful.

If you are thinking about a senior photography session I highly recommend doing it with a friend. Its so much fun having someone there with you.

Thank you Dani, Laurel, and Courtney! It was fun!

You are the best daddy..

Because you somehow still make time for Marlie amongst your crazy schedule.

Because you are the hardest worker I know and really deserve a massage.



Because you deserve a huge stack of cinnamon bun pancakes every day, but forgive me for pretty much never making breakfast.



Because you don't mind it when Monkey Pants is a total breakfast pirate and then smears syrup all over your pillow.



Because you just are. You're the best.



Happy Father's Day Shane. Love you!

miss McKinley

My friends Lauren and Kevin, who you might remember from their maternity shoot came over last Friday to introduce me to little McKinley. Oh my word is she cute!





There are so many great shots it was hard to pick.

We tried out a new little hat...





This one is sure to be one of my favorites of the year. Love that expression on her face!







Welcome to the world McKinley. You have two wonderful parents! And congratulations Lauren and Kevin. She really is adorable!

Wow! Thanks for all of the comments guys! I was starting to wonder if people really were reading this thing. Come out from behind your Google reader folks! It is a wonderful thing, don't get me wrong. But, comments make bloggers keep blogging I think. And don't worry, I will get myself a new pair of designer jeans. I think that is going to be my reward when I reach my 20lb goal and for my 30th b-day coming up. Nordstroms here I come!

Now for the winner! Monkey Pants is fast asleep so I used random.org to pick a winner for me this time. And the winner is #32!

Amanda congrats to you! Shoot me an email and tell me what name you want and your mailing address and that collage is yours! And everyone else should check out her blog and her cute etsy store! This lady is talented.

Now for some cute photos! Graham and his parents came over last week for a shoot. This little guy was not super excited about having his picture taken in the studio...



Except when his dad was tossing him up in the air that is.



But, he loves to be outside so we headed out and he had a great time.







Thanks guys! It was great to meet you and your little monkey!

blogiversary giveaway

In all the mayhem that has been Spring around here I managed to totally miss my blogiversary. Sniff..sniff. I'm kinda sad about it really. If it wasn't a totally nutsy thing to do I would send myself a card, probably with a silly monkey dressed up in people clothes on it, that said "I went bananas and forgot your blogiversary. Hope it was as fun as a barrel of monkeys!" I would also include $100 bill as a gift to buy a new pair of designer jeans.

But lets face it, that would be nutsy, they don't make blogiversary cards anyways and I don't have $100 to spare. So instead lets just have a moment to celebrate. Here are some of favorite post from my first year of blogging. I don't know why, they just are. Click if you care to reminisce..

Bridget Jonesness

One on one with Mista Nug

Luxotica

Dearest Monkey Pants..

We had to have a talk

the scenic route

And to celebrate leave me a comment and you will be put in a drawing to win a free name collage! I am headed off to the country with my mom and monkey pants for the next two days. When I get back on Wednesday night I will choose a winner. So, come on out of the woodwork you blog stalkers :). Seriously, 121 views yesterday and no comments?! Leave some comment love.

Last weekend I met up with Jon and Claire for their engagement session. I knew I liked these two from the first time we met, but when they showed up with a bottle of wine as a gift for me...then I knew I really liked them. It had been a really long week and it was such a thoughtful thing to do.



Its clear when you are with these two how much they love each other.



Jon is always making Claire laugh. Its pretty cute.





Thanks for a fun time guys! Looking forward to your wedding in December!