Christmas Plans

We're staying in Nashville this Christmas. We didn't want to travel (again) with a newborn. It will be a little lonely and much quieter than we're used to but we're looking forward to the peace.

Dan and I are both self employed and this is a slow time of year but we do our best to make Christmas special. We have plans to attend a fun Christmas Eve service, stuff our faces with homemade cinnamon rolls, watch "Elf" and "Christmas Vacation" (after the kids are in bed) and sip on wine and eggnog. I think we'll even go out to see the new Star Wars. Liam's now seen Episodes 1 - 6 and is fully obsessed with Storm Troopers. 

Ronan is getting so big, so fast. He's already bigger and smiley-er than this photo from 2 weeks ago. We are smitten with him. Liam told us this week that he's so glad we got a baby Ronan this year. Who needs presents? We are one blessed family.

Merry Christmas, friends!

Desperate

There was a time when I was desperate for my child. I was working "full time" from home as a marketing assistant. "Full time' because my hours were loose and I could go for a run mid-day or meet a friend for a long lunch if I felt like it. Liam was a foster child so the state payed for his childcare,  just a mile down the road. Nana's. She adored Liam and the other 6 or 7 kids. Liam was the baby the entire time he attended Nana's. He was doted upon daily. I spent a solid 2 - 3 hours with him each morning and I was depserate to pick him up 7 hours later. We'd eat dinner and play until bedtime. He was getting so much from me.

When we moved to Nashville we decided I'd stay home for a while. Now that I'm a wedding planner and wedding photographer, I work about 20 days a year with a few meetings a month. I'm home with my kids. A lot. A lot a lot a lot. I cherish it. I really do. I cherish it every night when I'm reflecting on my beautiful boys. Or when I'm blogging.  But when I'm in the thick of it and Ronan is cluster feeding and gassy while Liam is jumping off the dining room table and calling me "Poopy" all I want is a break. 88.6% of the reason we have a YMCA membership is not because I want to workout but because they have free childcare while I work out. 

Mama. Needs. a. Break.

I'm not afraid to admit that because most of my stay at home mom friends echo these same sentiments. I'm not saying I'm not going to cry when Liam starts kindergarten. I will. But, I will take a moment to appreciate his teachers and his classmates and I will enjoy the crap out of my freetime and excitedly pick him up every day. I'm just a better mom when I get a little help now and then. 

These boys of mine need me at my best. They need friends and family. They need a strong, attentive mother. Especially that Liam. If he's not given guidance he could quite literally bounce off the walls or set the house on fire. Parenting two has been difficult. Thankfully, for the sake of the four of us, Ronan is a sweet, happy baby. For all of you who check in with me regularly, pray for us and care for us. I'm thankful for your encouragement. We feel your love. This parenting thing is not for the faint of heart.

All you parents out there: Take a break! You'll be better for it. Afterall, it takes a village and you're robbing your village by not sharing your family with others. 

Thank You

We reached our goal to buy new camera gear. It was humbling to receive such a generous gift from people we love and others we hardly know. We have already purchased a new (used) camera body and we're shopping for a lens, bag and strap. Thank you so much, from the bottom of our hearts! 

Thanks and have a very Merry Christmas! 

Stolen Camera

photo by Allison Elfante

Ronan was born on October 10th 2015. A few days later, Dan and Liam took a little day trip to buy a new camera. I had the day to myself to sleep and feed Ronan. It was a glorious. It was a big deal to buy that camera. We're self employed, on maternity and paternity leave. It was a bit of a gamble but we knew it would bring us more business and help us create better photos for our clients.

We took that camera out to Washington/Oregon on a trip to visit family and introduce everyone to Ro. It was a great opportunity for a family photo. We got photos of us with all 3 of my siblings, my brother's wife, my sister's brand new husband and my younger sister's fiance. We took engagement photos for Karli and Sean and we took photos of my mom with her grandsons. 

With all the chaos of dragging two kids, a back pack, a diaper bag, a water bottle and a partridge in a pear tree, the camera was left in the car. We're not sure where or how but the camera was either taken Thanksgiving night or Friday morning. We were physically ill when we realized it was gone. I hate being robbed, that feeling of being violated. Someone saw something valuable in an old Subaru that had two car seats in it and they took it. 

It was probably the most expensive thing we own. I dont know how much Dan's music gear is worth. It was definitely the most expensive thing that I own. We need another camera as soon as possible and our friends have stepped up the plate. If you feel so inclined, you can donate towards a new camera, lens and case on our GoFundMe page or sending money via PayPal to lindsy@lmrphotos.com -- and we will send you a photo print for donating. 

Thank you so much and please, please, please be careful with your valuables.