Saturday, September 28, 2013

Lu is two!

 
I can't believe how big this sweet girl is now. It makes me sad but so happy that I've been able to follow her and watch her grow and change. she's absolutely adorable, is she not?
 
 
 


 


 
her mama picks out the best outfits! (swoon)
 
 




Thanks Chris & Kendra!
xoxo
 
 
all images © My Three Peas Photography 2013


Friday, September 13, 2013

hi there

 
My name is Dean and I am huge.
 


we have reached three months already! he's found his voice, he scoots, he rolls over..
(no, I'm not kidding)

 
he wants to stand on your lap or sit in his Bumbo. he loves to play and is so content entertaining himself if I have things to do around the house.
 

I've said it before, we have been so blessed with three easy babies. never fussy, always playful and great sleepers (better than me some nights). he gave me a rough nine months but his first 3 have made up for it. he's the sweetest boy and oh, so handsome. I couldn't ask for anything more, I really couldn't.


better days

I have found it.
 
for three years I've tried so hard, too hard and it's now that I've reached this point in life of complete happiness that I find more than just clarity- I find myself. I knew when I became a mother the direction I would be going with my camera, it took time for me to have the courage to venture off the beaten path and go after it. life is real and it's beautiful. these days are precious and they only happen once- documenting them is crucial.



another discovery would be my processing technique. ahh how lovely it is to find the tools and tweaking needed to give your images the look and feel you picture in your mind. it's a work in progress, but I'm on the right path.
 
 
 
 
  
 

 
I have found it- my style, my technique and my perspective.
 
 
this is life and this is love.
 
 
I have arrived. 


Saturday, May 4, 2013

our final month


the day we're reunited with papa bear will be 7 months that it's been since we said "see you later". for the most part this time has gone by fast, it took a while to get to that but once we got the hang of things time seemed to fly. we've tried our best to stay busy and make plans for the future, exciting things to look forward to and before we knew it we were counting down the final days (27 as of today!) I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this last month doesn't drag. I've been told the first month and the last are the worst. we have a house to get clean and perfect, signs to make, groceries to stock up on, sweet tea to chill, goodies to make, and for me a few sessions to do before we make that long awaited drive to the air port. this is probably THE most exciting time of my life. I've never had a feeling in my heart like the one I get when I think about seeing his face again. ahh! I get so giddy!

I wanted to share a little bit of our last few months. both kids have grown and changed so much. daddy has a lot of adjusting to do! there are some feisty attitudes waiting for him when he gets home. haha!

we've never encountered splinters, until now. she had two while daddy's been gone and both have been very traumatic. I learned a little trick after the first time so when we found one in her finger we made it as fun as we could and let it soak in my tub for a while before I tried removing it (worked like a charm! it came out with no problem at all)

 
I love the seriousness in her face as she sits in the water staring at this terrible little thing in her finger

  

  
 
 
after living in apartments as long as we have, being able to let the kids play outside is SO nice. as soon as the weather warmed up we were out as much as we could be, they absolutely love it
 



 

sweet flower child. 

 
scanning the yard for fire ants to destroy haha!

 
their Grandmama has introduced them to Nutella and of course they love it. we had a little snack with it one afternoon that went from Nutella on crackers to Nutella on a spoon. They learned THAT from Grandmama!
 

 
Nutella or no Nutella, that face is pure sweetness.
 
 
 
I had originally planned to have our maternity pictures taken after Jake returned. the more I thought about it the more I knew I needed to have them done before then. June was already going to be a busy month and he was going to be coming home less than 2 weeks before my due date. I didn't want to take any chances. we talked about it and decided it would be best I had them done as soon as possible. this pregnancy it was just me, lily and troy. so it was important for me to always remember that. I had my sweet friend Rachel go out with us one evening to our favorite spot and take them. we talked a lot beforehand and she knew exactly what I wanted. they turned out so perfect! I have a love/hate relationship with the end of pregnancy. I love how it's almost over, you're so close to being able to just breathe again. then at the same time I hate the last few weeks because you gain the most, you're uncomfortable, you feel disgusting, but still you're so close! haha! love/hate, I'm serious.
 
here are a few of my favorite shots. I have yet to decide which ones I'll print for baby's room..
 
© Rachel Smith Photography
 

 

 
 
I've also had preparing the baby's room to keep me busy. it's still a work in progress but we're getting there! after hanging curtains and a few maternity prints I think we'll be finished. We've always stuck with gender neutral since we keep the sex a surprise until birth. I think we did pretty good! I have another sheet to switch out if we have a girl but as positive as I am that we're having another boy I went ahead and put the grey sheet on
 
(custom pallet sign: Home by Ally)
 


 
 
 
after spending a few days in the back yard with nothing to do I took the kids shopping for a few little things to hold them over until daddy got home. he has a ton of outdoor activities and toys he plans to get them so I couldn't do a whole lot. bubbles, chalk, water guns and bouncy balls was what we ended up with and still they just wanted to run or dig in the dirt. I guess I tried.. 
 
 


 

 

we're down to less than 4 weeks and still a lot to do. I cannot wait. Lily tells me every day the list of things she's doing with her daddy when he gets home (sometimes it's the same list, sometimes she throws in new things) these two will be stuck to him that's for sure, never letting him out of their sight.
 
we've come such a long way but we're so happy to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel

Thursday, March 21, 2013

a new direction

 
 during these few months I've been away from things, taking time to care for my family, I have found so much inspiration, clarity and drive. I know exactly where I want to go from here out, what I want for Three Peas and what I want for myself. up to this point I've worked on all subjects whether it be weddings, boudoir, families, children- everything, and I've enjoyed them all. They have each taught me different things. I have a special love, a passion for a few certain ones and I really feel those are what I need to put my focus on. the first one being birth- oh how I love the incredible magic, overwhelming power and emotion in the miracle of a child's birth. no matter how many different birth photos by others I go through I get the same feeling in my heart each time and I know that's where I need to be. newborn- documenting the product of such an amazing process that one goes through just seems to me as a given. sweet babies, pure, simple and perfect. the intimacy of the moments learning their parents, and vice versa. discovering this new world. I love it. and lastly, lifestyle- the real, natural honesty behind capturing a family either in the comfort of their home just enjoying life and each other or at a beautiful location away from the bustle of the world. I love photos that are real, that speak the truth of the moment. those three subjects and styles I'm so drawn to and I know that's what I want to photograph. something I have so much desire for. knowing where your love is and going after it is empowering and I feel so happy and excited for my future as an artist and as an individual. things will be much different but change is a good thing. I'm blessed by all of you and your encouragement means everything.


I have my own birth photographer lined up in June. this will be our last baby and we want to remember everything. a close friend of mine will be with us in the hospital and then spending time with us at home while we get settled. my husband & I are so excited about having her there to document this and give us the memory of this precious time in our lives. we have about 10 weeks to go (probably more like 11 with my track record) we're getting there!

below is our sweet babe at 29 weeks

 
I'm so overwhelmed at times knowing our God has entrusted us with yet another innocent soul. we can't wait to watch him/her grow in His love- this is the final piece to our family! I could never ask for more in my life, being a mama is what my heart desires and I know it's what has led me in the direction I'm going.
 
thank you, every single one of you for everything
 
xoxo
 
 
 
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