Help Baby Daylon

Help Baby Daylon

I took this from my friend, Hilary's blog, and she borrowed it from a friend of hers, who borrowed it from a friend of hers, etc., etc. This is about a family from Corona, right near where I used to live who are also LDS. I read the story and couldn't help but feel sick to my stomach with all this family is having to go through... especially poor Daylon.

Here it is:

I recently heard about some friends from my youth who have a 9 month old son born with a life-threatening disease called Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa, Herlitz type, and was given less than one year to live. His skin blisters at the slightest touch and it is most often infection from the sores and blisters that cause death. Can you imagine trying to change a diaper? You can read about them HERE.... (There was more but you get the point)

Click here if you would like to make a donation. I am sure every bit will help. Thanks!

My Photography

So, as some of you may know, I've been trying to get into photography. Eventually I would like to run a side business and focus mostly on family photography. So ever since I got my new camera I started practicing taking photos and some families have even been so kind to let me practice by taking some pictures of them. So, here is just a taste of some of the work I've done over the past 6ish months...

I've posted these before... but Lyla in her high chair...

Graham Warning - 1 Year Photos

The Rice Family - Pictures for their Christmas Card

The Player Family - I do have to note that Julie (the mom/wife) came and did a lot of this editing herself to make it just how she wanted it.

The Christensen Family - Welcoming new baby Bently

Isn't Kinsey and her red hair gorgeous?

One of my favorites...

In California I was trying to get some good updated photo's of Lyla and Nate was my helper...

I LOVE this picture...

This was just a flower that I thought was pretty at the Newport Beach temple...

The Newport Beach Temple

So, I feel like I am getting better and better with each "shoot" that I do and I definitely have learned a lot as I have practiced. Here are some of the things I've learned so far...

1. Lighting (and a good camera) is KEY to getting good photos. So time of day is also very important in getting your photos to turn out the best way possible.
2. Chicago is not the best place for family photographers and here is why... the weather is SO unreliable and it is cold/cloudy for more than half the year. So your opportunities of doing photography are much more limited. When it is cold outside, the family is pretty uncomfortable when taking their pictures and you don't really get them at their best and happiest. I'm hoping to get a lot of photo shoots in over the next couple of months since the weather is finally beautiful.
3. I've found that you can get much better photo's when your (for lack of a better word...) "subjects" are just in natural and comfortable settings. Sometimes I would try to get too many "portrait" shots without trying to get some natural interaction shots. Does that make sense? I think it's important to get a good mix of both.
4. Editing takes A LONG TIME! I'm still figuring out a lot of it and how to get my photo's that I've edited on Photoshop onto a disc! Everything is different (and oh so much better) on a Mac.
5. I need to feel more comfortable taking control of situations, getting people to do what I want them to do and still make it look natural, and being confident in what I am telling them to do. And also making them feel comfortable with me. And I am getting better at that.
6. When you're the photographer, you are hardly ever photographed. Which is fine. But I would like to get more good shots of me with Lyla, me and Nate, and with me and my family. Is that so much to ask?
7. Time. You've got to allow time to get the shots you want, while at the same time, battling the time of the sun. Sheesh!

I started to take a photography class last Fall, but there were a lot of things I didn't feel good about, so I ended up dropping the class after 2 weeks, taking the text book and also purchasing a book about Photoshop and I've been teaching myself. Then I think once I am a little more proficient in everything, I would like to take a class on digital photography. I'll need to find a good school with a good teacher... or at least shadow a decent photographer.

Anyway, so that's what I've been up to, besides being a mom/wife and being pregnant. I'll post about California on another day when I have the time.

See ya!

The Easter Bunny brought us a present!!!!

And no, that does not mean there are two. It's just our 2nd child. :)
I'm 12.5 weeks, due Oct. 13th!
HAPPY EASTER!!

A great first half of Conference

I loved Conference today. I watched it with my mom, step-brother Rhett, and parts of it with Lyla. I felt like there were so many talks that spoke directly to me.

Sister Beck totally nailed me in the head in saying we women shouldn't be babies who feel the need to be stroked with love and affection all the time and she basically said we need to step-up and take charge and that we shouldn't feel "entitled" to breaks, because of all our hard work as mothers. It was such a gentle and friendly reminder that I am a mother and I have responsibilities and obligations that I have and it is in my nature to nurture my children. At least that is most of what I got out of that talk. Others could have perceived it differently :)

Anyway, the real reason for this post was because I absolutely LOVED Elder M. Russell Ballard's talk about mother's and daughter's... I was able to listen to that talk with my mom and Lyla, all together in the same room, which was an awesome experience. There were so many things said in that talk that were such tender moments for me. It really put things into perspective for me that the person I show that I am is who Lyla will become. She'll mirror my actions. She will be like me. This puts a lot of pressure on any mom, but I think the reward, if you do things right, is beyond description. I just feel so blessed that I get to have this mother/daughter relationship. And really, even at this point in my life, I feel like Lyla and I are already so close. We are just great buddies and we do have this special bond that really can only be between a mother and daughter. So, I am grateful for that. And I am grateful that I was able to listen to that talk with my mom. Even though she was physically unable to do a lot for me as I was growing up, I still am a lot like her and I feel like that is a great honor because she is a great woman.

Anyway, I love having a daughter and I hope I get to have more of them. I'll welcome sons, too :)

That's all for the blog. Goodnight!