Quite a week...

Tonight I went to the Portland Photographer's Group Meeting that I've just recently got involved with, thanks to my friend Missy (a photographer who will be moving to the Portland area this summer). It was held at a photo album manufacturer and I got to see a lot of great albums for weddings, h.s. seniors, babies, etc. I don't offer albums in my business because I like to keep things simple, and I love giving clients a CD of all their proofs, so they don't have to "buy prints". That way they can enjoy all of their photos for the years to come. The one problem, though, is that most clients never get around to printing their photos... hmmm... so I'm open to ideas and will possibly look into a happy-medium solution this coming summer/fall...

I'm gearing up to photograph a h.s. senior photo rep or two in the coming weeks to help promote h.s. senior photo sessions for this fall. If you know a good student at a Portland, Lake Oswego, Tigard, Tualatin school that would be interested in getting a complimentary photo session this month, then hand out their favorite photo and my info to 50 classmates and then receive kickbacks in the form of ca$h for referrals I receive from them, send them my way! My contact info is on my website: www.bethanyf.com.

Jude has been fighting a terrible flu virus all week long and will have to go to the doctor again tomorrow. He's hardly eaten any food since Saturday night, so I'm concerned, naturally. Say a little prayer for him. Due to the extra cuddling and lovies my little one has needed this week, I haven't had an opportunity to get out there and snap any photos! Maybe all of this extra stored up creativity will explode out of me into the form of some new pictures this weekend!

Here are two tulip photos from last week. Our backyard tulips aged beautifully.

Cheeky

Jude came down with an icky virus Easter Sunday and was sick all day today. After going to the doctor for a check up and a couple shots, we stopped by Costco on the way home, where Jude ended up throwing up all over the floor (and my shoes) in the book section! I was horrified!

We came home, gave him a bath and then let him have a little naked time while he played. You would never be able to tell he's sick by the smiles on his face in these photos! He is such a trooper. I saved my favorite photo for last... Jude makes this "scrunch face" all the time and it's one of my favorite things he does.

This airplane was one of his birthday presents from his Gramma Jill and he's really been having fun riding it.

Here he's looking at his daddy in the kitchen who was making silly faces at him.

Ten Little Piggies

Ah, I love the site of my little one's toes. Yippie for spring and summer! Now those little piggies can be seen!

p.s. Chubby knuckles are pretty adorable too!!

Curl Up with a Good Book

I couldn't resist taking these yesterday while at Annie's. Her son, Cade, laid down on the ottoman by the window and looked at a book. All I could see was a cozy feeling photograph.
By the way, isn't he a handsome child?

Birthday Boy Jude

Happy 1st Birthday Jude! You are a light in your parents' life!

We see these amazing qualities in you already:
. patience .
. flexibility .
. joyfulness .
. a deep thinker .
. extremely lovable .

After breakfast this morning, Josh and I videotaped Jude in his "Birthday Boy" onesie (that I got to make for him yesterday) and we sang Happy Birthday to him. It was cute when he clapped at the end of the song. :) Then we went outside on our front walkway to snap a few photos marking his Big Day!

After Jude's early morning nap, we went to our weekly Mom's Group and Annie and Katie, Cade and Johanna greeted Jude with a birthday song and had a balloon for him! Jude loves balloons! What a sweet and thoughtful gift from Annie.

We had a wonderful morning with friends, and Katie, Annie & I reminisced over the past year and how far we'd come as moms. :) And we talked about the future and our aspirations. I drove home thinking about how blessed I am by their friendship (& the other moms who weren't there today, of course). Annie & Katie are really fun sisters who easily have me laughing and enjoying whatever we're doing, and they both have amazing hearts. It's a treat to have other moms you can share this time in life with. Their little ones will be celebrating their 1st birthdays within a month too! Yay for Callum & Johanna!

Happy Birthday Baby Jude! Mommy and Daddy love you more than you could know!! You truly are a miracle and gift from God!

Soon to be married

More photos of Hollie + Tommy from last week. It's been a busy week, but I finally got a few more posted. :)

Tomorrow is Jude's first birthday, so I'm sure that I'll have some fun pictures tomorrow or Friday!

The Beauty of Spring

I love seeing our blooming patch of tulips out the living room window. They have opened now and are so colorful! I snipped a few to put on my kitchen table and of course attached some photos of them.

I've tried a new "painting" technique on the second photo. I like the effect and will probably try it on some other things in the future.