December already?

Today is the 3rd of December. I can honestly say that part of me cant believe it and another part feels like this was the longest year ever.

After going through fertility treatments and having to stop them midway through the year because of now needing surgery....its been a long 7 months. It doesnt help either that everyone I know has gotten pregnant in that time. I'm not even joking. My cousin has gotten pregnant twice now since i stopped treatment. she lost the first pregnancy early and now is pregnant with twins. i have 7 other friends announce their pregnancies in the last few months...and one is close to giving birth to her naturally conceived twins.

I've done my fair share of feeling pretty jealous if I'm being honest, and frustrated and angry that its not me. But I also havent dwelled on it. I'm feeling pretty proud about that. I allow myself to feel the feeling and work through it...normally takes a day or 2...and i've been able to let the anger go. I think that might be a small (large) miracle from God.

I've been pretty busy the last month mostly with my photography. I'm so blessed with so many returning clients and new clients as well! I also have alot of newborns that were born and are about to be born!

I was handling things so well too. I went and took nash to see santa already, we set up and did christmas card pictures, i got those ordered, AND sent out. My mom and I cooked the entire Thanksgiving meal and put it on this year. In November I had 30 photoshoots. I was staying up almost every night till 1 or 2 am to keep up on editing. I stopped biting my nails. Still going strong on that one. My house is decorated for Christmas and almost all of our outside lights are up. We got Christmas out of my parents basement and attic for them too.

I'M NOW SICK. Its all caught up to me. My face is broken out and I had a canker sore to start me off. Now i feel like i'm dying. I'm going to the doctor later today. Tomorrow I'm supposed to decorate a table and make a dinner salad for our Relief Society event as well. :/ I've got to learn to relax a bit during this season!

Clarke Family

Mom contacted me through Facebook for a fall mini shoot!!

She suggested Freestone Park for our location, since she takes her kids there to play and it had a bridge that she wanted to include in the photos. 

I had never been, and of course the day was very busy there! We battled kids taking pictures for a dance, a WEDDING, and the general busy-ness of a Saturday! But it was so fun!!

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this sweet and energetic family, and I felt like I had known mom Chanell for a long time! Enjoy!!

Mommy/Daughter pictures

Cecilia (mom) contacted me wanting to do a mini shoot with her sweet 5 year old daughter.

As an only girl in a family of boys, I always loved when I got to do something special with just my mom. So when a chance comes to do a mommy/daughter shoot, I jump!

We chose to do them at the Mesa Temple. The grounds were so beautiful and green, and bonus! They were setting up their Christmas light displays!!

Angela and Weston Engagements

Angela contacted me for a mini session this fall. 

She just said that her boyfriend and she had never had professional pictures done before.

When they arrived, and we talked for a little bit, I found out they were ENGAGED (wedding to be in January 2017), and they were using this as their engagement session!

They were so fun and easy to work with, and I wish them the very best of luck in their new life together!!

**funny story: I went to do ring shots and Angela stopped me. Turns out something happened to her ring and it was getting repaired!! So their engagement session had multiple shots of a fake ring. HA!

JUMPING FOR JOY!

Wilson Maternity Session

Mom to be, Aara, found me on facebook and booked a maternity mini session this past November. She and her husband arrived, and they were amazing to work with!! 

We shot at my favorite, "secret location", and we couldn't have asked for a better evening. The weather was great, the lighting was perfect, and you can see in the pictures--this family is super excited to be welcoming their first baby, a little boy.

Elisha Maternity + family

The Taft family just recently moved to Arizona from the Bay area (San Francisco) and mom is due with her second baby in the new year. Elisha really wanted to document the pregnancy with maternity pictures, but also wanted new updated family pictures in their new surroundings! 

So, easy peasy, we combined the two! I had them meet me at the Riparian preserve (just a few minutes from their house) and spent a bit in the afternoon documenting this beautiful family! Cant wait to meet your new little girl Taft family!!