365 challenge.

I have recently discovered how much I love newborn photography, and it is so fun to be able to practice and play every day with my very own newborn. Today we had a really fun little photo shoot, and he is proving to be a fantastic little model, just like his big sister! I can't wait until I get to do this full time (*sigh, one day....). I started a 365 for Jack, just like I did with Lilly (a photo a day for a year). It's challenging, and I have to admit, there are many days that I want to quit. BUT, it is really worth it. I love the challenge of coming up with something new every day, and I get so much practice- giving me more confidence. AAAhhhh, photography. I love it!

Our new family.

Wow, it has been a long time since my last post! I found out I was pregnant a few weeks after my last post, and had a wonderful pregnancy. It was a stressful time- the end of the school year, weddings, trips back to New Jersey, and then my father passed away a month before I was due. Jack Martin was born exactly one month after that, and it was bittersweet for me.
Lilly has become a wonderful big sister, giving kisses and helping out when we ask. She is still only two, so we aren't expecting her to suddenly become a "mommy" to Jack... she is still very much our baby. Jack is a sweet baby who eats a LOT!

icicles.

First, a little background. Our darling daughter truly enjoys thinking that she is a grown up. She isn't even two yet, which makes me really worry about what her teen years will be like. Ha Ha, I think we are in for it. Whatever she does, she will always try to do it by herself. She enjoys trying to drink her daddy's coffee, or whatever we are drinking. (Which reminds me of when I was little- I used to steal my dad's drink so often that it is still a running joke between us, and now I tell my daughter to steal from him too. He loves it.)
When we sit down to eat at a restaurant, one of the ways we can actually keep her sitting is by offering her the ice in one of our drinks. "Ice" is now one of her top words.

Now that you have the background, on to our story. We have been snowed in for two days now. it was a little fun and exciting at first, but we are all starting to go a little stir crazy. Remember "The Shining?" Ok, nothing that bad, LOL. So last night, we busied ourselves by making a fire while eating dinner. My husband, Matt had the brilliant idea to open the door, break off a gigantic icicle, and give it to our little ice-lover. She totally went to town on that thing, and we finally had to break it into a smaller chunk so she wouldn't freeze to death eating the thing. Her little hands and cheeks were bright red. Such a perfect way to end the evening!

snow day(s?)

I copied this post from weather.com about the snowfall here in the southern CA mountains.
"2:26 pm ET
It's snowing...hard: The reports we're receiving from Southern California paint a picture that the snow falling over the mountains of Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Bernardino counties is coming down fast and furious.

In Crestline (San Bernardino County): A foot or more of snow has fallen in a short time resulting in hazardous travel. Two semis are jack-knifed on highway 138 between highway 18 and the city of Crestline. Numerous disabled vehicles on Highway 18.

The snowfall rate in Running Springs, California is running at 1 foot of snow per hour! That is a sight to be seen...or maybe not...as you can imagine visibility is close to zero.

What's that you ask? Do I feel guilty for taking the day off? And NOT risking the life of my daughter? nope. not at all. I love my second graders. I think they will be fine without me for today. And maybe tomorrow... and the next day.... Ugh.

playdates are fun.

My girl and I got to meet up with a friend I met on Flickr at the Wild Animal Park in San Diego. The girls had so much fun together, and I felt like I had known my flickr friend forever, although it was the first time we had met in real life. Unfortunately, my girl was overtired and suffering from an early onset of the "terrible two's". She was grateful to be able to run around with her new friend. It was a fabulous day, and I am thrilled to have met these two wonderful people!

For once, I can touch what my heart used to dream of

For once in my life I have someone who needs me
Someone I've needed so long
For once, unafraid, I can go where life leads me
Somehow I know I'll be strong

For once I can touch what my heart used to dream of
Long before I knew
Oooh Someone warm like you
Would make my dream come true

For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me
Not like it hurt me before
For once, I have something I know won't desert me
I'm not alone anymore

For once, I can say, this is mine, you can't take it
As long as I know I have love, I can make it
For once in my life, I have someone who needs me

For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me
Not like it hurt me before
For once, I have something I know won't desert me
I'm not alone anymore

For once, I can say, this is mine, you can't take it
Long as I know I have love, I can make it
For once in my life, I have someone who needs me

Riley's Farm

We hung out in Oak Glen, CA a few weekends ago. It was a gorgeous day for hanging out with a nice hot cup of apple cider. I love family days.