Mar 29, 2015

Wish List for Baby #2

{See Zianne's nursery here}

In just a few months I will have two children under two. Z is most definitely a toddler now, running around and talking like crazy, but when it comes down to logistics, we are basically going to have two BABIES living with us for awhile. I have surrendered the idea of getting Z potty trained or into a real bed before the baby arrives, since she'll only be 21 months old. I figure we might have a year with two in diapers and cribs and that's okay.

Thankfully, we won't need a lot to keep this second baby of ours alive. Car seat... check. Bibs, bottles, and Boppy... check, check, check. But we do need a few items to keep things rolling smoothly in our household as toddler and newborn worlds collide. In my mind, the most important items are...

double stroller
extra sound machine
extra video monitor
soft baby carrier
another crib

Here is my very small Amazon registry and my even smaller Target registry in case you are wondering how to plan for two under two yourself!

Mar 28, 2015

Saturday Snippets

{via}



Be careful about labeling staying at home with the kids as a luxury...

Why children need chores...

The shocking truth about marriage...

Fascinating ways people are using Instagram...

Looking for a new one-piece swimsuit {Options A // B // C // D}

These boots are on sale. Just sayin'...

How to die with dignity...

And questioning the ethics of family-assisted suicide...

A list of funny picture books for kids...

How kids crash our towers...

How to read the Bible for yourself...

Love this little list of ways to strengthen your marriage...

Caught up on my favorite fashion blog this week, so... cute dress, cute flats, cute cardigan...

I need another coat like I need the stomach flu, but I really, really love this one...

I'm obsessed with these marble shelves...

Loving all the gold decor for Baby #2's nursery including this sea urchin and this coral...

Mar 21, 2015

Saturday Snippets

{via}

Useless words and phrases you should strike from your writing. Read the comments for genius and hilarity...

A word of caution about Jesus Calling...

Gorgeous images of women working all over the world...

Buy this bed and breakfast for $125 and 200 words...

This might come in handy for my postpartum days this summer...

Nine houseplants that are nearly impossible to kill? Try me... :)

If it's not too late for long sleeves where you live, this dress is super cute!

These shoes!

How to love an unrepentant child...

On why I don't read my Bible...

Mar 17, 2015

That time I was a wedding photographer...

Back in December Micah's best friend, Justin, got married. Micah was his best man. The wedding took place at a gorgeous evergreen-covered park on the Washington State peninsula. Everything about it was perfect.

Here is the funny part. About two months before the wedding, Justin called me and left me this cryptic voice mail about how he and Ashley had something to ask me. I was puzzled. I thought maybe they were going to ask Zianne to be the flower girl. It was the only logical thing I could come up. You can imagine my surprise when I called him back and our conversation went something like this:

Justin: So Ashley and I have a question for you... We're wondering if you would be our wedding photographer?

Jen: Umm.... what?

Justin: Yes, we want you to be our photographer. We are trying to save some money in our budget and we would love it if  you could take our pictures.

Jen: But I'm not really a photographer. I am not even that good at taking pictures.

Justin: Well, I really like your pictures. I think you will do a great job.

Jen: Has Ashley ever seen any of my photos?

Justin: No... but she trusts you.

Jen: Congratulations on having the most laid-back bride ever...

Eventually, we got to the point where I said something like... "I'm honored you would ask me. I 'm overwhelmed. I feel completely under-qualified, but I will do it." Then I went on a two month-long journey to become the best photographer I could be. I finally finished the Photography Concentrate Extremely Essential Camera Skills course I bought forever ago {highly recommend!} and played around with my new fixed lens. A couple days before the wedding I did a practice shoot with my brother and sister in law.

Finally, the big day arrived. I carefully picked an outfit that would allow me to run around in the woods all day but still look appropriate as a semi-wedding guest in the evening. I took the ferry over to the venue in the morning and began shooting pictures just as the wedding party finished decorating the reception hall.

Here are my thoughts:

1) Being a wedding photographer is tiring, y'all. I started shooting around 10am and by the time the ceremony started at 4pm I was physically aching. It probably didn't help that I was 13 weeks pregnant. Thankfully, the reception ended around 7pm since it was a Sunday wedding. If it had gone until midnight I might have passed out and missed the departure pictures.

2) It is really hard to get good pictures of the rings. All you wedding photographers out there... how do you get gorgeous close-ups of the wedding rings in books or perched on flowers? It literally took me at least 30 minutes to get decent pictures of the rings and Micah had to assist me.

3) Being a wedding photographer is really fun. I would never do it as a career, but I can see why some people do. It's so exciting to capture the joy and love of a wedding celebration and try to tell the story of a couple's day.

So without further adieu, here are a few pictures that tell the story of Justin and Ashley's happy day...
































 



















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