The Navy Wife

Dallas Holiday Mini Sessions

2010-09-03T14:02:00.000-05:00

For all of you on blogger, I would like to share the news about my Mini Sessions! I'm SO excited to offer three fabulous holiday mini sessions this year. Please read the posters for details, locations, dates and pricing. Click HERE to book. If you know anyone that might be interested please pass the information along!

18 Months

2010-08-20T12:49:00.000-05:00

Don't be deceived by the blonde hair, blue eyes, pony tail and pure cuteness. This child is a MESS!!! I just took Lillian Kate in for 18 month appointment and sat there waiting for the doctor in disbelief that I was at her 18 month appointment. Wasn't I just at her 6 month appointment? It goes by so fast! I can't keep up with this girl these days. She's FAST and into EVERYTHING. I turn my head, she has a box of 96 crayons and is coloring on the walls. I go into the other room, she opens the oven that is pre-heating to a temperature of 450 degrees. I give Addison a time out, she wants to sit in time out. We're playing on the bed as a family, she takes a nosedive off the bed. We go swimming, she jumps in off the side of the pool. Are you picking up on the pattern here? FEARLESS The only thing she hasn't figured out is how to climb out of her crib. I hope she doesn't discover that one for at least another few months!

Live. Laugh. Photograph. | Pumpkin Patch Mini Sessions

2010-08-04T13:15:00.000-05:00

1) Do you live in the Dallas area?

2) Do you enjoy dressing your children up for Halloween?

3) Do you want photos and memories that will last a lifetime?

If you answered yes, yes, and yes then join Live. Laugh. Photograph. for a festive Photo Shoot!

Leave me a comment or click here for more information!

Live. Laugh. Photograph. | July Promotion

2010-07-02T12:13:00.000-05:00

Live. Laugh. Photograph. is celebrating the month of FREEdom! Book a session during the month of July (session does not have to take place in July) and you'll receive all of your best, fully edited, high resolution photos on a DVD for FREE! This is a $150 + tax value! This month ONLY!

2010-06-22T21:07:00.000-05:00

Dear Blog,

I'm sorry I've been ignoring you. :( I've been way too obsessed with my addiction to photography and pure excitement over photographing my first wedding coming up soon. Oh not to mention, its good to have my husband home and be a normal family again for now. I promise I will be back soon but until then I will be hanging out here. You know I can't leave without posting photos so here are photos of the kiddos that I took today with my new SB-900. Bouncing light off the ceiling is so much fun!

So, I guess I'll see you soon then.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella

2010-06-07T21:48:00.000-05:00

Did you hear??????!!!!! Stephenie Meyer just released a new book called The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella. :) At first I couldn't remember who Bree Tanner was... After reading Stephenie Meyer's write up on her website, it all started coming back to me. I think its brilliant that she would release this short story before the movie comes out so that we can get inside the mind of a newborn vampire and hear firsthand about her experience with Victoria and plans to attack The Cullen Family. If you've read Eclipse then you already know how her story ends. As soon as I heard this book was out, I loaded both kids in the car for a Target trip to buy my copy. If you are interested in reading it online, the entire book is available to read here for FREE from today through July 5th. Are you as excited as I am?

Live. Laugh. Photograph. | June Promotion

2010-06-01T14:06:00.000-05:00

Check out the promotion on my Photography Blog!

Flowers. Ladybugs. Rocks.

2010-05-27T20:05:00.000-05:00

We went on a 1 mile family walk to explore. I just love wildflowers this time of year! They're absolutely beautiful. Addison is obsessed with ladybugs right now. It's SO cute! I caught Lillian with some rocks in her mouth.. yuck! What can you do, she's only one! I was able to capture some fun Daddy Daughter moments as well. It's the simple things in life that make me happy.

Photography Update

2010-05-25T20:49:00.001-05:00

I wanted to write an official photography update right here where it all started. I posted my very first photos right here about a year ago and just recently set up my business. From the moment that I held my first DSLR camera I was hooked. I didn't even understand the f stops but I was determined to learn and so I did! I wanted to know all of the ins and outs! I read, I took a class, studied, practiced, you get the idea. I'm no expert but I sure am trying. Now, here I am with my own business. Anyone can start a business, right? Paying the money to set up the LLC has been the easiest part. Now I have to track every little thing in excel spreadsheets and other software. Talk about work. Logging gas mileage is not my favorite thing to do. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it appeared to be easier then it really is. Don't get me wrong. I believe 100% that I've found my passion and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to pursue my dream. I can't help but feel a little competition, pressure, and motivation to make it happen. I have had a few people e-mail me and tell me that I've inspired them to follow their dream of pursuing photography. It really brings me great joy to hear that but at the same time it makes me wonder if I'm giving off the impression that it's easy. It's not! I'm my own secretary, appointment booker, expense reporter, driver, photographer, editor, blogger, etc. I spend about 30 minutes booking each session (e-mailing back and fourth and creating an invoice), an average of 30 minutes traveling to each session, 1-2 hours shooting on location, at least 3 hours editing each individual session and then 1 hour watermarking and uploading photos to networking sites and an online gallery. That's about 7.5 hours of work per session and doesn't count any admin and excel spreadsheet tracking. With time, I'm confident that these things will become more streamlined. My workflow is already starting to pick up but that should give you a basic idea of what goes into just one session. Man on man! Running my very own business is a huge responsibility! This past year has been a year of discovery and learning. I feel like I've been locked in the batting cages practicing and I'm finally ready to step up to the plate and hit the ball right out of the park. I recently booked my first wedding! This is HUGE! It's happening a little faster then I had originally visualized but I'm calling it a blessing. I am planning and preparing the best way I know how. This past weekend I caught myself asking another photographer at the camera store for advice. Thankfully some of them are happy to give out their secrets! I hope this will be my first of many many weddings to come. I can't wait to share and document one of the biggest days in someone else's life. I'm also thankful that I found someone that is willing to take a chance on me and that trusts me. I know this is kind of a random update but now you know some of the thoughts that are going on inside of my head. If you're out there reading this and you're in the Dallas area (btw: we are no longer moving to Gulfport, MS), book a session with me today! Don't wait until Christmas! :) Here are just a few photos from my recent sessions.

Isn't she going to make a beautiful bride? July can't get here fast enough!

I ♥ Faces - Yellow

2010-05-24T18:05:00.000-05:00

This week over at i ♥ heart the theme is Yellow!

This little guy was wearing yellow in my photography session yesterday. I just LOVE the color yellow. Don't you?

Go check out more fabulous photos by clicking on the link below!

We survived our first deployment!

2010-05-20T13:55:00.000-05:00

My husband, Mark was gone from June 7, 2009 to April 13, 2010 on deployment. The longest 10 months of my entire life! I'm happy to say that we DID it! We survived our first deployment and our marriage is better then ever before. We both have a new appreciation for each other and for our country.

As you may have noticed I haven taken a little break from blogging lately. I have SO much to catch up on!

It all started with a fun little road trip from Dallas, TX to Bentonville, AR. I made the 6 hour drive by myself with the girls. Mark's Mom flew in from WA and met us at Mark's Grandma's house. They kept the girls for me so that I could go pick up my husband in Gulfport, MS by myself. We decided not to bring the girls and that it was important for us to spend time together alone. As soon as the girls were settled in with both of their Grandmas who were going to spoil them rotten, I was off to Gulfport MS. The drive was 11 long hours, blue skies, green grass, and my ipod on shuffle. Every second of that drive I thought about our reunion. How would I react? How would he react? Would it be wired seeing him after 10 months? I had so many thoughts going through my head. I finally made it to Gulfport and checked in to my room and waited. I arrived on a Saturday night and Mark's flight was supposed to arrive on Monday. He finally made it from Kuwait to Germany to the U.S. and then their plane broke down in Maine. :( So their flight was delayed a whole 24 hours. HURRY UP AND WAIT, that's how the Military rolls! I spent that first couple of days in Gulfport trying to keep myself busy. I went to the beach by myself, went shopping by myself, ate all of my meals by myself. It was weird! I'm so used to having kids to take care of all the time. After a very sleepless night, it was time. I arrived 4 hours early to the base on April 13th and hung out with other military wives and families. My heart was racing. I wanted to jump up and down out of excitement but didn't because I didn't want to look like an idiot. I stood there in my blue dress, with my camera (of course), holding an American flag waiting for my husband to step off that white bus, after 10 months of being in Kandahar, Afghanistan. I spotted his blue eyes in the sea of dessert uniforms and raced into his arms. It was one of the best days of my life. It was such a rush of emotion. Welcome home Love!

He's HOME!

2010-04-29T22:13:00.000-05:00

After 8 months, my man is home from Kandahar, Afghanistan! WE just got home, it feels good to be back in the Lone Star State again! I spent the last 3 weeks in Mississippi waiting for his flight to get in and in Arkansas spending time with family! Thank You LORD for keeping him safe and for giving us strength through this deployment. I have a whole new appreciation for our marriage. Updates and photos coming soon... BTW, we are no longer moving to Gulfport, MS, total change of plans. :)

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T23:59:00.000-05:00

Happy Easter to you! This is a photo that I took of my niece Elizabeth, I just love her little bunny tail and bunny ears!

Family Update

2010-03-22T21:55:00.002-05:00

Lillian

The youngest member of our little family is now 13 months old! You know what that means... WALKING! She's all over the place. Step, step, step, fall. Get up. Step, step, step, fall... hit head. Pick up, kiss, calm her, put her back down. Step, step, step, fall. You get the idea! She really likes exploring the world on her own two feet and has become Addison's shadow following her everywhere! She's also learning new words and can finally say Mama! It really melts my heart to hear her say my name. Up until now, all I've heard is Dada... and he hasn't been home since she was 3 1/2 months old so don't even get me started on that!

Addison

The BIG girl in the family continues to make me laugh more and more everyday. She's extremely imaginative and comes up with the craziest stuff. If only I could be in her head for 1 minute! She misses her Daddy so much and talks about him all the time. She has mastered all of her letters and is currently working on her writing skills. She is so.. excited to go to pre-school in the fall and asks me to buy her homework every time we're at the store. :)

I have officially lost 18 pounds (20 if you count from this time last year) since Mark left for deployment! Wooo hooo! Bye bye baby weight and hello 125 pounds! I would shout this from a roof top if I could find one to stand on. I have worked SO hard! I started a running program and ran a half-marathon. I won't be continuing on to the full marathon just yet. My left foot needs some recovery time but as soon as it's 100% better I'm back to putting serious milage on my Saucony shoes. I've been attending dance/cardio classes as much as possible. My favorite is Hip Hop Booty Camp! LOVE it! Overall, I'm just excited to fit back into clothes that I haven't worn in 2 years. I finally feel like myself again!

Mark

It's been a while since I've given you an update on my hubby. He's now been gone 260 days. I would say that's long enough to put any marriage to a real test. The good news is.. we are passing with flying colors. If you ever need any tips on how to keep your marriage alive half a world away.. e-mail me. :) He has done such an outstanding job on this deployment and I couldn't be more proud of my Seabee. In the last update I told you about his SCWS Pin and his CAP. He's since added two big accomplishments to the list! 1) He ran a full marathon on base.. all 26.2 miles in 4 hours and 47 minutes with NO training! 2) He was awarded a NAM Navy Achievement Medal. We're very excited about this new eye candy and I'd say it was well deserved! I can't wait until we're no longer separated by oceans and war.

Moving

If you're my friend on facebook then you probably saw my post about us moving. We will be relocating to Gulfport, Mississippi due to Military orders sooner than later. I can't give any specific details right now but I can tell you that I have a million and one things to do in a very short time period before this happens. It's very bittersweet. I will miss my hometown, my family, my friends, and life as I know it now but I'm very excited about a new adventure with my husband and kids. I'm praying that we get on base Military housing and that the move is a smooth transition! Stay tuned..... If my posts are few and far between for a little while.. that's why!

And the winner is...

2010-03-14T15:37:00.005-05:00

And the winner is..... Ashley! Congrats! I'm so excited to photograph your family and meet your little guy Carson!

You have won the following:

* Session with me for up to 5 people

*My time at the location of your choice in the Dallas, TX area

*Post processing and editing of your best images

*Online password protected viewing gallery within 2-3 weeks of session.. can be e-mailed to family/friends

*CD - All of your best, fully edited, high resolution images mailed to you on a CD with print release within 2-3 weeks of session

*2 free 8 x 10 photos printed by a professional print lab with your choice of finish

Value: Up to $340.00... yours for free!

Just send me an e-mail and we'll start planning your session!

P.S. I tried to insert a screen shot of the random.org page but blogger is telling me that I've exceeded the number of photos that I can have on my blog. You've got to be kidding me!!!!!!! Even my profile picture is gone and it won't let me upload a new one. Has anyone else experienced this same problem? I will be looking into it! I can't have a blog that I can't post pictures on.

* GIVEAWAY * Free Photography Session with ME *

2010-03-08T01:15:00.000-06:00

Calling all Families, Children, Seniors, Couples and those of you who don't have any recent photos of yourself (you know who you are). :) I would like to celebrate starting my *new* photography business {Live Laugh Photograph, LLC} by giving away a free session and (2) free 8 x 10 professional prints of your choice!

Winner will receive...

* Session with me for up to 5 people

*My time at the location of your choice in the Dallas, TX area

*Post processing and editing of your best images

*Online password protected viewing gallery within 2-3 weeks of session.. can be e-mailed to family/friends

*CD - All of your best, fully edited, high resolution images mailed to you on a CD with print release within 2-3 weeks of session

*2 free 8 x 10 photos printed by a professional print lab with your choice of finish

Value: Up to $340.00... yours for free (if you win, of course)!

For more information on my photography please visit my website or e-mail me with questions.

Restriction: Session must take place within ONE month of winning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ENTER TO WIN

** Please leave individual comments for each of the following for entries. **

1. Post my website link {www.livelaughphotograph-llc.com} on your blog sidebar or in your blog list.

2. Visit my website Live. Laugh. Photograph. then comeback and leave a comment telling me which photo is your favorite.

3. Become a fan of my Live. Laugh. Photograph. facebook page.

4. Follow me on my new Live. Laugh. Photograph. Twitter account.

5. Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post, leave your twitter link in a comment.

6. Publish a post on your blog about this giveaway linking back to this post, leave a comment with post link.

7. Leave a comment explaining what style of photography session you would like to win.

8. Become a follower of this (The Navy Wife) blog or leave a comment telling me that you're already a follower.

9. Add my current (The Navy Wife) button to your blog sidebar.

10. Complete all of the above and receive 5 extra entires!

Thats up to 14 entries per person! Have fun and good luck! I can't wait to meet the lucky winner.

Giveaway will be open through Friday, March 12, 2010, at 10:00 p.m. Winner will be chosen through True Random Number Generator via random.org. Winner will be posted Saturday, March 13, 2010.

I ♥ Faces - Jump for Joy

2010-03-08T00:03:00.002-06:00

I guess, I'll eventually move my i heart faces entries over to my new photo blog... to be honest, it's hard to get used to having two blogs. When I saw that it was "Jump for JOY" week at I heart faces, this photo came to mind. It's from one of my very first sessions.... I can tell because of the flash. :) I now do NOT use my flash. I went back and added a new texture and my watermark just for fun. When I asked her if she wanted to jump, I had no idea she was going to jump that high!

Go check out other entries in this week's just for fun photo challenge!

And the winner is...

2010-03-06T16:06:00.005-06:00

The winner of a free United States flag or your choice of any Military branch flag is...

barbafamily said...

I'm a follower of your blog :-)

March 1, 2010 2:51 PM

Congrats Angela!

Please contact me with your choice of flag and address at thenavywife (at) gmail (dot) com so we can get your flag mailed to you!

Thank you CVS Flags!

P.S. If you live in the Dallas area, keep your eyes on my blog for FREE Photography session giveaway! I can't wait!!

Last chance...

2010-03-05T00:52:00.000-06:00

... to show your patriotism. We all have our own reasons for flying our country's flag. Mine would be that I'm proud to be an American and we're proud of the sacrifice we're making as a family while my husband serves in the United States Navy. For others, it might be that your Grandpa served, it reminds you of our freedom or maybe it's "United we Stand" and NEVER FORGETTING 9/11. Whatever your reason may be, click here and enter for a chance to win a United States Flag OR any Military Branch Flag of your choice. Giveaway ends tonight at 10:00 p.m. *GOOD LUCK*

{photo by me}

I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him. ~Abraham Lincoln

Photography Progress

2010-03-03T23:24:00.002-06:00

I announced my BIG plans to get my photography business set up just a couple weeks ago and today I have finally made enough progress on my new Photography BLOG and Website to share it with you! I can't even begin to tell you how much time and thought I've put into this. To some people it might not look like anything special but to me it's a HUGE deal.

*Name*

I am not exaggerating when I tell you that I spent about a month brainstorming ideas for my official business name. It's pretty much all that I talked about. I think everyone around me was starting to think I was a little crazy.. or maybe I was thought I was going crazy. It's very difficult naming an LLC in Texas because there are SO many photography LLCs already and it has to be unique. It can't even sound like anyone else's name. I did a great deal of research on names and decided that I didn't want my photography business to be "Ashley Swallow Photography" or something generic like "Photos by Ashley". I wanted something that was a little different and was a reflection of my personality. I finally decided on a number one and number two. My first pick was, Peace Love Photography and my second pick was, Live Laugh Photograph. It turns out my first option was already legally filed (or a name similar) with the state so I went with my second option. Then, I got an e-mail from my lawyer stating that he had completed filing my name as Live Laugh Photography... with a "y" on the end instead of just Photograph. It was a misunderstanding on his part when looking over my paperwork and he said that he thought I had inadvertently left off the "y". I was a little bummed out to say the least because I think that Live Laugh Photograph has more of a "ring" to it. :) He e-mailed back and saved the day! He covered the cost associated with his mistake and filed a name change with the state. The whole name thing has taken a little longer then I would have liked but in the end I'm really excited about my new photography business name, Live Laugh Photograph, LLC!

*NEW Website and Blog*

I am really HAPPY with my website and blog choices. My website is super user friendly and I love that the company offers over 70 different templates. If I get sick of the one I have and want to spice things up I can change it with one click. Which won't be for a while because I spent hours changing all of the color codes on both my blog and website so that they would match perfectly. I don't really want to do that again anytime soon. The Blog set up I chose is actually a WordPress platform. I'm so used to using Blogger for this blog so I'm thinking it's going to take me a little while to really learn the ins and outs of a completely different set up. It's going to be worth it though because the design is created specifically for photographers that want to show off LARGE images in different formats. I'll be able to create light box galleries or slide shows with about two clicks! I'm so excited about all the new features I get to play with! I still have little tweaks to make though, I had another photographer from {i heart faces} tell me that my logo was cut off on the top of her computer screen. On my screen it looks like this...

I have a 24 inch iMac, I guess that's a larger screen then what most people might have so if she had not told me that, I now would not have the opportunity to correct it. If you have any feedback of suggestions for me please let me know! Any input you have would be greatly appreciated!

Website: www.livelaughphotograph-llc.com

Blog: www.livelaughphotograph-blog.com

P.S. In case you're wondering I will still be blogging here at The Navy Wife about both photography and everyday things. In addition to this blog home, I have just added a new special home for my photography work. :)

*Facebook*

I set up a new fb account for Live. Laugh. Photograph. so if you're interested you can become a fan here.

That's it for now! Please let me know what you think and feel free to contact me if you're interested in booking a session and we'll start talking about details and ideas!

Also, don't forget to enter my first giveaway here!

GIVEAWAYGIVEAWAYGIVEAWAYGIVEAWAYGIVEAWAY

2010-03-01T14:05:00.002-06:00

I'm hosting my very *first* giveaway ever!

Enter to win a United States flag or your choice of a Military branch flag courtesy of CVS Flags. CVS Flags is a wholesale flag distributor that has been around for over 30 years. In addition to great customer service, all of the flags are made right here in the USA. Every household should at least have a flag, especially if you're apart of a military family! Wouldn't you agree? Why not enter to win one for FREE!

**********************************************************************

ENTER TO WIN

Please leave an individual comment per entry!

1. Visit CVS Flags then comeback and tell me which flag you would like to win from either the US Flag (outdoor) or Military Flag section.

2. Become a follower of my blog or leave a comment telling me that you're already a follower.

3. Publish a post on your blog about this giveaway linking back to this post, leave a comment with post link.

4. Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post, leave your twitter link in a comment. You may tweet about giveaway once per day for up to 5 entries but must come back and leave me a comment for each tweet.

5. Leave a comment explaining why you want this flag!

6. Leave a comment explaining why you think it's important to support our troops!

That's 10 entries per person! Have fun and good luck!

Giveaway will be open through Friday, March 5, 2010, at 10:00 p.m. CST. Winner will be chosen through True Random Number Generator via random.org. Winner will be posted Saturday, March 6, 2010. Your flag will be shipped directly from CVS Flags to you! :)

I ♥ Museums

2010-02-27T16:07:00.001-06:00

I decided to take my BIG girl and my little girl to the Museum of Nature and science this week. The best part about not having and 9:00 - 5:00 job is that we can go on family field trips to the museum on a random Tuesday and not have to fight Saturday crowds and lines. There was NO one there. It was greatness. I pretty much just let Addison lead the way through the Children's Museum on the lower level. We visited the town where she played builder and danced on the stage, we climbed on the fire truck, played at the water table, planted some seeds and rode a John Deer tractor, played in the backyard where we met new animal friends, got stuck in the spider web and climbed through the tunnel. Addison made us lunch in the pretend kitchen... it was oh so yummy. Lillian got to actually get out of her stroller for once and climb all over the mats in the "baby" area.... she is officially standing up all by herself! After that, we went back up stairs to the main part of the museum. Addison went digging for dinosaur fossils, played with giant bubbles, learned about tornados and one of the best parts is that Mommy got to play with her new camera! :) Somehow I got sucked into spending $10.00 on rocks in the gift store. Apparently, Addison has a rock collection now. I'm really looking forward to the weather warming up so that we can start enjoying outdoor activities again! I can't wait!

Museums are so much fun!

i ♥ faces - Hands-On Fun

2010-02-23T19:48:00.000-06:00

This week at i heart faces the theme is "Hands-On Fun". I took this photo of Addison playing at the Children's Museum today. I just love the colors and the sharp focus on the blender. Wasn't it sweet of her to make Mommy lunch today?!

Go check out tons more "Hands-On Fun" photos by clicking on the link below!

i ♥ faces - Amy and Angie's Favorite

2010-02-20T10:23:00.002-06:00

My photo entry over at i heart faces this week was chosen as one of Amy and Angie's favorites! I'm honored!!

Out with the OLD - In with the NEW

2010-02-18T23:42:00.002-06:00

Meet my new baby.... the Nikon D700!

*If you aren't interested in cameras then you probably won't be interested in reading this one!

After taking a leap of faith, my BIG plans to upgrade my camera gear and jump start my photography business are officially in the works. For the past few months, I've done tons of research on DSLR cameras and have read just about every review on the internet. My favorite photography review site is here. I started with a Nikon D40 (photo on left side), it was a great starter camera but it is at the bottom of the Nikon DSLR camera food chain. I bought that camera knowing that I was interested in photography but at the time I didn't know just how serious I was. I had never owned a DSLR camera before and I quickly learned a lot. :) Also thanks to some amazing online tutorials and photography bloggers. After taking at least 20,000 photos with it I started to call it the little engine that could. It just wasn't cutting it for me anymore. I wanted a faster, sharper, and more serious camera. Another huge downfall with the Nikon D40 is that some of the lenses I really wanted don't autofocus on the camera body. While I found focusing my Nikon FILM camera fun, I have no interest in taking the time to focus a Nikon DSLR camera lens in a photography session or for my everyday photos. I have two bouncing little kids so I need lenses that can keep up with them! After taking a photography class and really learning about what cameras were capable of, I knew an upgrade would be in my future.

At first, I was thinking about upgrading to the D90, I know someone with this camera and they love it! Then I moved onto the D300.. and finally decided on buying the D700. Can you tell I've been thinking about this for a looonnng time?! It's a big investment for me! The D700 is compared to Canon's 5D Mark II (for those of you who speak Canon language.. obviously I'm a Nikon girl), has an interior FX build that is similar to the $8,000 Nikon D3 and a smaller body like that of the Nikon D300. I found the best price on amazon and have been tracking the shipping for past 48 hours. Yes, I'm that person. I also watched out the window for the UPS man all morning! The wait was worth it! I was so excited to open the brown amazon box and see everything that I ordered packaged so beautifully. I got the D700 body, extended battery grip, extra battery, Nikon 50mm f 1.4 lens, filter, new camera bag, and of course a new memory card. I have software to download and a whole manual to read! *FUN*

I was so excited I quickly assembled everything, charged the battery, and took the girls to the park so that I could play with my new toy! The difference between my old Nikon D40 and my new Nikon D700 is night and day! So far, I'm very happy.. I'm just going to have to get used to a much heaver and larger camera!

Keep your eyes on my blog... once I get my website up (in about 2 weeks) I will be giving away 1 free session to celebrate! Dallas Blooms is coming up... great photo opportunity for all!

Super shallow depth of field on the photo above... I wanted to see what it looked like when I let in lots of light at f1.4.. I might need to stick with f2. :) Still looks kind of cool!

My Addison Jane is growing up so fast!

Leap of Faith

2010-02-16T17:48:00.001-06:00

Today I took a leap of faith. After giving it lots of serious thought and talking it over with my very supportive husband, Mark. I decided to invest in setting up an official photography business. Up until now I've done free sessions, photos of family and friends, and have charged very little for my work and time. Photography is my creative passion and I'm so excited to follow my dream. I just got home from dropping off my paperwork to set up an LLC ... now I'm just hoping and praying that I will continue to learn, grow, and will have business! After everything is legally set up, I'll be upgrading my camera, investing in a new lens, creating a logo/watermark, and setting up a website. BIG plans!

I ♥ Faces - I Wanna Dance

2010-02-16T00:19:00.000-06:00

This week's theme over at i heart faces is "I Wanna Dance". I took this photo of my friends during one of my "test" sessions in the urban heart of Dallas also known as Deep Ellum. When I asked them to bust out a crazy dance move on the side of the street their faces lit up with laughter. :) I'm thankful for friends who are willing to try anything.

Be sure and check out other entries of people shaking it, bouncing it, spinning it, kicking it, and dropping it like it's hot! You just never know what you're going to get.

Rainbow Cake

2010-02-15T23:31:00.000-06:00

It's no secret that cooking and baking are two areas in my life that need some improvement. As of right now, I don't take the time to meal plan or prepare large meals with Mark being on deployment. I mostly live off of salads and sandwiches these days. Cooking and even baking have just never been an interest of mine... until today. I can also honestly say that I have never baked a cake from start to finish until today. You think I'm kidding. Just ask my Mom! I started to brainstorm ideas for Lillian's first birthday and was inspired to bake this cake. I thought to myself, why can't I do that? Looks easy, right? Well, it actually was easy with the help of my awesome stepmom Krista. Her knowledge of all things food network and catering really came in handy! With her help and support, I'm confident that I can now bake this cake for my girls again and again! It was really fun and feels so good to try something new. Did I mention how good it was? So much better then store bought cakes! I'm glad I stepped out of my box and got my bake on. Here's how it turned out...

I'd say, it was a smashing success. :)

A Picture of a Picture

2010-02-15T00:51:00.000-06:00

I really missed my Valentine today. I can't wait for him to come home from deployment. I'm counting down the days, well kind of.. I still don't know exactly when he'll be home! Security reasons. I took this picture on my imac of me holding a picture of our very first Valentine's Day together. I thought it would be fun to e-mail to him. A little walk down memory lane... that little picture was taken by Mark's Mom before a high school dance 6 years ago. Don't you just love how we match? I was a Junior and he was a Senior. Oh how time flies. Seems like yesterday!

Happy Birthday Lillian Kate

2010-02-15T00:38:00.000-06:00

One year ago today, Mark and I got the best Valentine's Day gift in the whole world. Her name is Lillian Kate! After an unforgettable and very LONG night of being in labor, she was born on February 14, 2009.... 1 week early! We were not expecting that surprise! She is truly a gift from God. She has such a fun personality and brings a smile to my face every single day. I feel so blessed that she has had a very happy and healthy first year of life. She has hit all of her milestones perfectly and is so close to walking! She does not say Mama but she does however point at photos of Mark and say Dada. As you know, Mark has been deployed since she was just 4 months old. I know she will not remember the separation but it has been very difficult on us as her parents. It saddens both of us to know that he has missed out on all of those little firsts. First foods, first words, first tooth, first time crawling, etc. I hope that she looks back at our photos when she is grown and realizes that her Daddy is missing in the photos for a very honorable reason, he was serving our country and I hope that it makes her feel proud. Thanks to technology I've been able to share every moment with Mark over the phone, e-mail, and facebook chat. I can't wait for him to come home and see how she's grown! Back to Lillian, she is a fireball of laughter, my little ray of sunshine, and studies her big sister's every move. She is loving and sweet but way too busy to cuddle. She prefers to be naked and hates wearing shoes and socks. She likes to point at noses. She crawls super duper fast. She almost always looks like she's up to something. She likes to hang her feet out of her crib when she sleeps and also enjoys jumping up and down as high as she can on her mattress when she should be sleeping. She kisses with her mouth wide open. She dances and claps to ellen when her show comes on at 3:00. She thinks it's funny when I smell her feet. She likes for me to spin her around in circles and hang her upside down. She pulls her sister's hair every time she gets a chance. Her nicknames are Silly Lilly, Stinker Winker, and Monkey Toes. We just love her to pieces! Here are a few of my favs from Lillian's first year!

Happy Birthday Lillian Kate!

First Snowman

2010-02-11T00:17:00.000-06:00

Addison and Lillian built their very first snowman with the help of their Aunt and Uncle in Bentonville, AR this past weekend. I just adore the following three photos so much! I just had to share them!

Excuse me while I go print and frame those RIGHT NOW!

Clint and Michelle

2010-02-04T16:36:00.001-06:00

Meet Clint and Michelle, a young couple in love. He just graduated from Marine Boot Camp and left a day after our photo session for training and she's currently in school. I will always have a special place in my heart for military couples and families, especially young ones! I wish them the best of luck. Aren't they so cute?

Last but not least... one of my favorites..

Energy, Emotion, and Adrenaline

2010-01-31T22:01:00.001-06:00

Imagine: running 13.1 miles, 8:00 a.m., outside, 30 degrees, 11 mph winds, chill factor of 21 degrees, 4 hours of sleep due to excitement, small breakfast, plus a 5 hour energy shot. Yesterday, I ran my first official half marathon under those conditions! YAY! I joined in with couple friends at the Texas Half Marathon. The weather conditions were horrible but that didn't stop us! I really enjoyed running with them. At 12 miles I felt a burst of energy, emotion, and adrenaline. I have read both sides of runner's high. I believe I felt it. A very euphoric feeling! I'm still ahead of my marathon training program. My long run this week was only supposed to be 7-8 miles. What can I say? I like to run and am really enjoying training for such a BIG GOAL. Next week I'm going to get back on schedule though. This was a great milestone! Here are a few point and shoot photos:

That's me on the left!

Can you believe the finish line was UP hill? I couldn't!!

Friends crossing the finish!

My FIRST Commercial Photography Job!

2010-01-31T00:29:00.000-06:00

I'm thrilled to share with you my FIRST ever commercial photography job! I had the opportunity to work with W*llow Bend F*tness Club, an upscale gym in Plano, TX. They have truly set themselves apart from the gyms you see on every street corner! I was asked to photograph the gym and 30 personal trainers for their new website. Here are just some of hundreds of my final images. I would love to take on more of this type of work in the future.

Do these photos make you want to go get a membership and train with one of their fabulous trainers? I sure hope so!

I ♥ Faces - Texture

2010-01-26T20:10:00.002-06:00

This week at i heart faces the contest theme is texture. I've become obsessed with textures! There are so many amazing collections out there that I would love to get my hands on! I used 3 textures in this photo from two different designers and converted it to black and white to give it an older look.

If you're interested in photography, I highly recommend this site for fun giveaways, contests, and tutorials. I just can't get enough!

Recent Photography Work..

2010-01-26T13:21:00.001-06:00

This is just one photo from my recent photog project. Can you guess what it is? I can't wait to share more!

Marathon Training Mommy

2010-01-26T13:11:00.002-06:00

After giving birth to my second child, Lillian, almost one year ago, (February 14, 2009) I've struggled with my weight and body image. If you've had a child, then you know what I'm talking about! Loose skin, muffin top, flat boobs, stretch marks, just blame it all on motherhood. Before getting pregnant with Addison I weighed 112 pounds. I was 18 and skinny, weight had never been an issue for me. I gained 40 pounds during my first pregnancy and lost 23 leaving me at 129. I then got pregnant with Lillian and gained another 40 pounds during my second pregnancy. You do the math! I decided to do something about it! Today, I'm happy to be just one pound away from my pre-pregnancy weight with Lilly, weighing in at 130. Since Mark left for deployment over 8 months ago I've worked super hard in the gym and have lost a total of 14 pounds! I'm excited for him to come home to a new me! I'm starting to feel like myself again! I want to live a healthy lifestyle, feel good about myself, and be a good example to my girls.

Spending all that time in the gym really inspired me to do something that I never dreamed I would actually have the guts to do. Not because of weight but because I want to challenge myself while getting into the best shape of my life. The goal I made for 2010 is to run a Marathon. 26.2 miles! I kicked my training off the first full week of January and am now entering the 4th week of training. I'm not going to lie to you... it's hard! There are times I want to quit and make excuses but I just keep pushing myself. I'm happy to report that I'm ahead of my training schedule. Last Sunday I ran 10 miles! It's amazing what your body can do when you focus, train and have a "can do" attitude. I'm also lucky to have a brother and friend that are willing to train with me! At first I didn't want to blog about this. It honestly makes me nervous talking about my personal goal. I don't want to let myself down by not following through but I decided that I NEED some accountability. Does that make any sense at all? Any advice, tips, help you have to offer me would be greatly appreciated. Even if you're not a marathon runner, what motivates you? What are your goals? How are you doing on your New Year's Resolutions? This is a huge commitment on my end. For the last 3 weeks my life has revolved around training and it's only going to get more intense. Okay, that's not all my life revolves around but you get the idea!

I'm doing the Rookie Marathon Training Program from Runner's World. So far, I'm ahead on the long runs. Instead of doing 6-7 miles in the third week I did 10! YAY!

My brother took these pics on his iphone during our 10 mile run! :) Too bad my dslr camera is too big to carry on a run...

Sevyn

2010-01-26T01:59:00.001-06:00

Remember this awesome family? Come to find out, Trog's Dad is married to my Great Aunt. Small world! I had fun doing a Mommy/Daughter session with Mendi and Sevyn on a beautiful Texas day. Look how much she's grown! What a big girl! :) I really enjoy capturing moments between Moms and their children because normally the Moms are the ones on the other side of the camera.

A Look Back: 2009

2010-01-13T14:21:00.003-06:00

Wow, I can't believe another year has come and gone. For our family 2009 was a year of learning, growth and love. We've entered 2010 with high hopes and anticipation. But first, I want to reflect on last year.

This time last year I was very pregnant with Lillian Kate!

Don't you just love the elastic waistband? I had all things baby on my mind ALL the time. Nesting to say the least, and preparing for maternity leave at my old job.

I wrote about what's important to me as a parent. I still refer to the list from time to time, just to hold myself accountable for things I said so I can back them up with things I do from day to day.

The unexpected, Mark received orders for his current deployment. This changed so much in our lives but I continue to have faith and am thankful for him and everything he's doing for our family and our country.

Addison prepared to become a BIG sister!

Our second daughter, Lillian Kate was born healthy with no complications on Saturday, February 14, 2009. She's perfect just the way God made her! What a Valentine's Day sweetheart! :)

We spent lots of time with Daddy before his deployment.

I was laid off from my job while on Maternity Leave. Little did I know, another door really would open.

I learned that Easter Egg Hunts can be a bit chaotic!

I celebrated my 22nd birthday and Mark celebrated his 23rd birthday!

I went to the CIRCUS.

Lillian and Addison were dedicated to the Lord at our church.

We had family photos taken through an organization called Operation: Love Reunited.

We soaked up lots of fun at SeaWorld. Thanks to Here's to the Heros.

Mark officially left for combat training/deployment.

Got to visit Mark twice during his training, once in July and once in September. Both trips were really fun but didn't last long enough.

A new door opened for me, we bought a DSLR camera and I discovered the art of photography. It brings me so much joy. I jumped right in and started offering photography sessions to family, friends, and referrals. I've learned so much (flash ruins photos, the importance of lighting, how to actually use my camera, etc.)! Here are just some of my favorite Photography photos of 2009 taken by yours truly:

I love my hobby! :)

The girls and I took a 10 day trip to the north-west corner of the United States to visit family. This was my first time flying with both girls alone. Talk about WORK and a LONG FLIGHT! We enjoyed our stay with Grami and Papa, The Swallow Family Reunion Day 1 & 2, and a day touring the wet city of Seattle.

I read all of these books!

I learned how to make Tutus!

I took a semester of classes at school including film photography. I learned how to use this camera and realized that I don't have the patience for film or a darkroom and now have a whole new appreciation for digital photography. However, I did learn some technical stuff that comes in handy! I won't be returning to school this semester due to the fact that we there's a possibility that we could be moving out of state upon Mark's return from deployment. It's all so up in the air and is all so out of my hands.

Mark surprised me and his entire family at his brother's wedding!

Baby E was born!

We officially became Aunt Ashley and Uncle Mark! They had the cutest shower.

Addison was a rock star at her first Gymnastics Meet!

I saw Oprah at The State Fair of Texas.

I wrote about Mark's accomplishments thus far on his deployment.

Mark was missed during Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas but the season was still filled with joy as we spent the holidays with family.

Addison Jane turned 4 is now a BIG girl with a BIG attitude (more on that later). :)

That wraps up just some of our highlights from 2009. I'm thankful that we have so much to look forward to this year in 2010 and I'm praying that my husband returns home safe.

Happy New Year

Christmas 2009

2010-01-01T21:37:00.000-06:00

... was merry, bright, and white!

Somewhere on the other side of the world...

2009-12-29T18:31:00.002-06:00

they are waking up to a war so that we can wake up to peace.

Please continue to pray for our family, our troops, and for Mark's safety.

Proud Navy Wife

2009-12-21T21:32:00.006-06:00

I've recently received comments and e-mails asking about how Mark is doing. I really do appreciate the outreach and thought I would give you guys an update. Mark, my wonderful husband and best friend is currently on his first deployment and is stationed in a combat zone far far away from home. He has now been gone from home for 197 days and that's not counting the 2 weeks here and there of pre-deployment training before he left. I honestly can't believe it's been 197 days. The days go by fast but the weeks seem to drag by. He was able to purchase a cell phone but the downside is that the minutes are terribly expensive so I buy calling cards online in order to communicate with him. It really helps me sleep better at night knowing that he's just a phone call or text away. My Grandpa was in the Navy and when he was gone on deployment the only method of communication was a telegram. I'm counting my lucky stars and I'm very thankful for the technology we have today. We purchased a laptop for him before deployment and had hopes of using Skype, ichat, etc., but to my disappointment he doesn't have internet access in his tent. Yes, I said tent. For the first month and a half he was in a 200 man tent and has since been moved to a 40 man tent. The tents have generators, no bathrooms, and they sleep on tiny bunk beds. When he first arrived he got viruses, pink eye, and was overall sick, sick, sick in those new living conditions. I won't go into detail about exactly what he's doing but I will tell you about a couple of accomplishments that are worth writing about.

SCWS

When Mark got his orders last year, he knew he wanted to make the most of this deployment. He set a goal to earn his SCWS (Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist) pin. He ordered tons of books and study materials to get a solid jump start months before he left. Mark is a Seabee and unless your familiar with the Military you probably don't know what a Seabee is. Seabees make up the Construction Battalion of the United States Navy. The Seabees have a famous motto, "We Build, We Fight". They have a history of building bases, roadways, airstrips, and completing a variety of construction projects dating back to WWII. If your up to date on the current war situation then you know that President Obama called for 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. The Seabees are the ones building the bases and performing multiple projects in order to support the current and incoming troops. Within the Seabees there are many jobs but I won't go that far into detail. You get the idea! Now, back to the SCWS pin.. A SCWS pin represents expertise in subjects that include weapons, military tactics, Seabee history, equipment, communications, convoys, etc. The SCWS pin also represents completing a very difficult process that can take months/years to complete. In October, my husband was pinned by the Commanding Officer and awarded the Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist pin and was the first Seabee to be awarded this honor in country (meaning, over there... not over here). This is a huge accomplishment for Mark especially considering the vigorous training he went through in Gulfport, MS. Now, he's considered an expert in skills Seabees possess and is helping others earn their SCWS pin as well.

Outstanding job Love! I'm so proud of you!
Isn't he so cute in his uniform? :)

CAP

I've heard this Navy acronym spelled out a couple ways now, Command Approved Promotion and/or Command Advancement Program. I'm not sure which one is right but I do know that Mark got "CAP'ed" just last week. This is a huge highlight in a military career. This program is in place to recognize those who are at sea or deployed. If you're eligible for the next pay grade, you can be deservingly elected and awarded immediate advanced to the next pay grade versus waiting for the next exam cycle. Mark met all of the requirements and was the only one advanced from an E-3 to an E-4. He is now Petty Officer Swallow (PO3)!

Basically, his overachieving qualities are shining on this deployment! Now, if I can get him to treat laundry and household tasks the same way when he returns we'll be golden! :) Just kidding!

Extension

Now for the not so exciting news, his deployment was just extended for 1 month. This is extremely common so I wasn't shocked when he told me the news. Actually, I won't be surprised if the extension goes beyond that. I might as well start preparing myself now.

That's the update for now! I'm so proud of him and think that the CAP came at a perfect time. It really gave him a positive boost during the most difficult month to be away from home. I'm normally more festive but his year I'm looking forward to getting through the holidays. The reality is, it's not quite as "Merry" when you're separated from the one you love by war.

The Shields Family

2009-12-21T16:41:00.000-06:00

Meet the Shields Family! We go way back. :) Cory, Nikki and I all went to high school together. Was that really over 4 years ago already? It seems like just yesterday we were at football games, themed parties, and just hanging out in the cafeteria. Well, I guess it kind of was yesterday.. I'm only 22! Cory is in the Army and is currently stationed in Germany. I think it would be so fun to get stationed in another country for a few years! They're just in town for the holidays visiting family and friends. It was so nice to see them and to meet little Savannah. She is such a doll and was so happy throughout our session. Love you guys!

New Domain Name

2009-12-20T23:11:00.001-06:00

Hello to all my blogger friends! I would like to announce that I got a domain name for my blog. I'm so excited and shocked by how easy it was! My new site name is now..... thenavywife.com.

Pretty cool, huh?

If you're interested in switching your blogspot blog name to a custom domain name, follow these simple steps:

1) Go to your main blogger Dashboard

2) Click on Settings

3) Click on Publishing

4) Click on Custom Domain

5) Follow the simple forms, pay a small $10.00 fee and your on your way to a new customized domain name!

The cool thing, is that all of you (my followers) will simply be redirected from www.theswallownest.blogspot.com to www.thenavywife.com so you don't have to worry about updating my site name in your reading lists and/or sidebar links. Unless of course, it just makes you feel better. :)

Out with the old and in with the new!

Fabulous Photography Giveaway

2009-12-20T17:52:00.001-06:00

Last day to enter to win MUST HAVE photography software: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 (click here: http://www.mycharmingkids.net/2009/12/po
wer-of-two.html) and Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 (click here: http://grammiemommy.blogspot.com/2009/12
/power-of-two.html)! Just fabulous! I've been dying to get my hands on a little Lightroom action. Crossing my fingers. :)

Santa

2009-12-20T00:20:00.001-06:00

This week I decked the girls out in gorgeous Christmas dresses and off we went to see Santa. Addison was elated and had her whole Santa speech all planned out in the car. Guess what she told Santa that she wanted? Just guess? You got it, what every 3 year old wants... a little, girl, white, puppy dog with curly hair. Nice, huh? See, I'm not much for animals... at all! Go ahead gasp! I can do diapers but I can't do dogs. She is going to have to settle for her dollhouse! I'm hoping she'll be so excited that she'll forget about the whole puppy thing. If not, I'm going to have to make up some story about how there just weren't enough puppies born for Santa to give out this year. Any ideas? Lilly didn't scream like the 10 month old in front of us so I guess that was an accomplishment! However, she was not at all amused by the guy trying to make her smile with the crazy looking puppet. In the photo you'll notice that she's staring off to the side at him with an expression that says, "What's wrong with this guy?" Maybe next year she'll smile at the guy with the puppet telling them to say "cheese". While waiting in line, I took lots of photos! The girls were entertained by the Polar Express themed snow globes, train engine, and fake snow! Lilly loved the fake snow so much that she shoved as much as she could in her mouth and ate it.

After the photo with Santa, we checked out the new play area, ate lunch, and shopped for Christmas gifts. I just LOVE days out with my girls and am so happy I'm not stuck working in an office this year!

The MaCarty Family

2009-12-16T14:31:00.000-06:00

Another new and wonderful family, the MaCarty Family! I felt like I was fighting with the sun during their session because it was a VERY sunny day which creates issues for me! I either like direct sun flare because it looks "artsy" or no sun at all. Anyway, enough about me here are a few of my favorite images of them.

The Jolliffe Family

2009-12-16T14:13:00.001-06:00

Oh man, I'm falling behind on blogging. Here are a few pictures of The Jolliffe Family. I really enjoy getting to meet new families! Guess how long it had been since they did family pictures? 10ish years! I'm glad I was able to help them by taking some updated photos.

The Kittelson Family

2009-12-09T14:08:00.001-06:00

Recently, I did 3 sessions for 3 different families whom all wanted the same location. This location really gave me a good splash of fall color to work with. If you know me then you know that I LOVE color. First up, a family that I'm actually apart of, but this time, I was the one taking the pictures! My Dad and my Stepmom (KK) aren't empty nesters just yet, my little sister Micah is just entering her teenage years. Lord help them! Just kidding, Micah is a really good young women teenager and I'm very proud of her!

Photography on Facebook

2009-12-08T23:03:00.000-06:00

As my photography work grows, I plan on keeping everyone updated on my *new* facebook fan page as well as posting on my blog. Please be my fan! Click HERE!

Oh how I miss him...

2009-12-06T22:31:00.002-06:00

Looking at these photos brings a smile to my face and tears to my eyes. It brings back the feeling of his presence, his smile, and his ability to spot a jelly fish from a mile away! It brings back the feeling of love and laughter. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Only 3 - 4 more months until my husband comes home from deployment!!! I know it still sounds like a long time but 3 - 4 is a lot better then 9! (p.s. This is before the day of my DSLR camera... I don't ever want to look at another point and shoot again!)

Joy

2009-12-03T21:37:00.000-06:00

My little 3 almost 4 year old all bundled up in the cold.

Nothing is going to stop her from playing in the leaves, hanging Christmas lights, and seeing her breath in the cold air. She brings me pure joy every single day.

Laughs, mud, and tears!

2009-12-03T14:50:00.002-06:00

Meet Jake, he's got a cute personality, gorgeous blue eyes, and just turned one! What a big boy! Jake was very interested in his outdoor surroundings during our photo session so it was a little difficult to get his attention because he was very distracted. I was practically standing on my head to make him laugh. That's okay, I'm used to entertaining a 3 year old and a nine month old so it comes natural to me. :) After getting lots of laughs out of him, he made his way over to a nice patch of mud and was then covered! I even captured him trying to eat the dirt! Love it! We then had to clean him up, hold him down to wipe him off and he DID NOT like that. This led to tears. Lots of them. Since I love capturing natural expressions, the photos I took of him crying are actually some of my favorite. Even if there are a few tears, natural expressions make the photo very real versus the photo being all "cheese" smiles. I don't like to say "cheese"! So bring on the tears! After all, he was celebrating his one year birthday so he can cry if he wants to.

Before & After

2009-12-02T12:09:00.001-06:00

My photography class is really helping me master those tricky camera techniques (ISO, f stops aperture priority, shutter speed, etc) but as far as editing goes, I've picked up a few new tricks and techniques on my own. It just goes to show that if you want to learn how to do something, the information is out there, you just have to go looking for it! I really wanted to capture a dreamy look in this picture, give it a burst of color, depth and wonder. Now, I don't have time to spend 30 minutes editing every single picture but when I do it's worth it! With a little more practice I can only get faster and better. I took this photo of my little sister Micah, here's the Before and After.

BEFORE

AFTER - COLOR BURST

AFTER - BLACK AND WHITE

I think these new techniques really take this picture to the next level. :) Can you tell I'm just a little excited about the things I'm learning?

I ♥ Faces - Tooshies

2009-11-30T00:38:00.000-06:00

This week at I ♥ Faces the contest theme is "Tooshies". I took this photo of my husband's "Tooshie" along with other brave Seabee "Tooshies" as they were preparing for deployment. Click on the button above to check out some other Tooshies!

Celebrating Angie's Accomplishments

2009-11-29T14:28:00.001-06:00

I had the opportunity to meet up with a friend I went to high school with for a fun photo session! We were in the same kindergarten class and were on all the same dance teams. Oh, how time flies! She wanted new pictures so that she could include a couple to send in her graduation announcements. Congratulations to Angie on an amazing accomplishment! We met at her downtown apartment and drove to a very neat location. It was so COLD and WINDY but she did great! You would never know it from looking at these photos...

I really enjoyed getting the opportunity to take these photos for Angie and being apart of her celebration. If you know anyone in the Dallas area that will be graduating this year please send them my way! {thenavywife@gmail.com}

Black Friday

2009-11-28T00:32:00.000-06:00

Last year, I was one of those crazy people shopping at midnight to kickoff Black Friday and to take advantage of the good deals. I was so excited until I reached the SUPER long lines. One store was so hot and crowded one lady completely passed out! Not joking! So, this year my husband and I came up with a different, more organized plan. I window shopped all the advertisements for "wants", created a private wish list for myself on the Toys R Us website based on what was going to be on sale, e-mailed it to Mark to get his feedback and waited for the prices to drop at midnight! I kicked off my Christmas shopping for the girls from the chair I'm sitting in now. I normally don't shop online but this year I think it's the best option for me. With Mark being gone, I would have to get a babysitter just to get out and go shopping on my own. At exactly 12:00 A.M. I pulled up my wish list and added my items to my cart. I then went to finalize the items in my cart and 3 of them were gone. At first I thought it was some sort of internet error or that maybe I was crazy. Then I went to re-add the items and to my surprise the items were "temporarily unavailable". I was shocked! I guess that's the downside to shopping online. The items were sold out just minutes after they went on sale. So that set me back but I still got some AWESOME toys for my girls. Here's what we got them so far:

Imaginarium Cozy Country Dollhouse - From Santa

Disney Princess Bike - This will be a 4th Birthday present for Addison. Poor thing, her birthday is the day after Christmas.

Lilly wanted a house too... :)

Lilly loves anything that talks and sings!

Leap Frog Leapster Learning Game - I think this will be great for the car and when we're out and about.

Of course, I had to get a princess themed game to go along with it!

Melissa & Doug Building Blocks - I remember playing with these exact blocks in my kindergarden class! I loved them and think that Addie will too, she LOVES to build stuff! I really hope the "Cardboard" holds up though. I don't want to be throwing them away in January.

Little Tikes Obstacle Play Center - From Santa - I bought this more with Lilly in mind. I think Addison might be getting a little too big for something like this even though the age recommendation says 3-5. We'll see! This should be a great item to pull out on a rainy day.

I can't wait!!!! My girls really needed a toy update. Just posting this and thinking about wrapping these presents when they arrive is making me feel very Merry and Bright! Christmas shopping is so much fun especially since I planned ahead and got everything on sale. YAY!

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-27T23:54:00.000-06:00

First holiday without Mark, just three more holidays and two birthdays to go. Despite missing my husband a TON we still had a fabulous time and ate yummy food at my Dad and Krista's house. I'm so thankful for my wonderful family and all the supportive, uplifting people in my life. In 2009 there were four beautiful babies born in our family. I wasn't sure which kid was crying! Baby 1 - My Lillian, Baby 2 & 3 - cousins, Case and Stetson, Baby 4 - niece, Elizabeth. Here are just a few pictures from our family feast!

Happy Veterans Day

2009-11-11T06:00:00.001-06:00

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War." Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars. -History.com

Today, I am thinking about the millions of military veterans that have served our amazing country. Months from now my husband will complete his first deployment and will be considered a veteran of war. I am honored to stand by his side in support of his service to our country. It's because of our veterans that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today.

Thank YOU veterans! This is YOUR day.

This is the only photo I have received thus far from my husband's deployment. Mark is the second Seabee from the left side. He's the one not looking at the camera!

Happy Veterans Day!

She eats like her Daddy...

2009-11-10T22:03:00.000-06:00

.. a little on the messy side!

Addison's First Gymnastics Meet

2009-11-08T22:27:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, was a huge day for Miss. Addison Jane! She competed in her very first gymnastics meet. Okay, well I wouldn't really call it a competition. Maybe, more like a bunch of 3 year olds jumping up and down, following the coaches instruction. :) Although, I was very impressed with the organization of the meet. They split the girls, all ages 3 - 5, up into 6 different groups so that there were 6 events going on simultaneously.

Mark and I put Addison in gymnastics when she was just 18 months old and I just can't believe how far she has come. She's not doing back handsprings or anything but I can see major improvements in her skills and more importantly her attitude! The coaches at her new gym do an awesome job promoting a "CAN DO" attitude. We ALWAYS say I WILL TRY and never (well ALMOST NEVER) say I CAN'T. I'm so proud of Addison and know that her Daddy would have been is extremely proud of her as well. I wish he could have been there!

Here are some good old FLASH BACK photos (gotta love the point and shoot camera) of Addison in Gymnastics:

And now look at her at her very first Gymnastics Meet:

Lillian can clapping for Addison! YAY!

Awesome job Addison! I will always be your number one fan!

Fort Hood Shooting

2009-11-05T23:23:00.001-06:00

My heart and prayers go out to all of the families and friends that lost a loved one in the Fort Hood Shooting today. As I was with a family celebrating and photographing the miracle of life, I couldn't help but think about what others are going through after today's tragic events took place. As you know my husband is currently serving in a combat zone overseas off of american soil. It truly saddens me to see something so tragic happen on american soil. Coincidentally, I took this photograph today before I had even heard the news of the shooting and would now like to dedicate it to those who lost their lives today.

Birth Documentation Session

2009-11-05T23:09:00.000-06:00

Today was an extremely exciting day for me. Remember this couple that I took maternity pictures of just a few weeks ago? I was so honored when they asked me to actually come to the hospital and photograph the very first moments of their newborn daughter's life. I'd never done a birth documentation shoot so I was a little nervous about it. However, I have looked at other photographer's birth documentation sessions displayed on websites, not to mention, I've given birth twice myself.

I photographed before shots of the couple in the hospital room, the grandparents, and of the hospital. When it was time, I simply stood outside the door as the Mommy to be pushed. As soon as I heard the cries of their sweet newborn baby I entered the room and focused my attention 100% on the baby. The nurse helped me by telling me where it was okay to stand and even positioned the baby so it would be easier to photograph her. After baby was all clean I then turned my attention to the new Mommy and Daddy as Mommy held her against her chest. There was so much love in the room.

I would just like to say what an amazing experience it was to... 1) not be the one in labor for a change (;)) 2) be able to witness the miracle of life 3) be on the outside capturing precious moments, so that the family could be in the moment and not have to worry about taking photos. It brought tears to my eyes while I was taking photos of a beautiful and healthy newborn little girl and very proud parents. What an honor it was to be there and what a blessing life is.

I agreed that I would not share any of the photos I took of sweet Lily Faith on my blog so that the new parents can be the ones to share the photos with their family and friends first.

Congratulations to Julie and Carter!

I wish I was smart like them and had hired someone to take photos of my girls after birth in the hospital! Maybe with the next baby...

I ♥ my HOBBY!

2009-11-02T00:04:00.000-06:00

Meet Kelly and Aiden! Kelly is friend that I met while working at KBIC. I was delighted to meet up with her in Deep Ellum (one of my favorite spots) to capture some special moments between her and her son Aiden. He was an absolute delight and had me laughing the whole time. I let him pick the spots where he wanted his pictures taken. He climbed on everything, hung upside down, and was all boy! Looking at their photos inspires me and really makes me realize how much I truly love my hobby.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T13:49:00.000-05:00

My Minnie Mouse

2009-10-27T13:02:00.000-05:00

We were shopping at The Disney Store last week for costumes and I said, "This way Addie, we have to buy some ears for Lilly!" She looked at me with a very confused look and said, "Mom, Lilly already has ears... " It made me laugh!

Here she is wearing her adorable Minnie Mouse costume and new ears!

Funny Halloween Costumes

2009-10-26T23:21:00.001-05:00

Pause my music at the bottom and guess which one is my favorite?

The Balloon Boy!!!

I mean really, who does something like that? It's fun to laugh about it now!

Once upon a time...

2009-10-25T23:39:00.000-05:00

There was a beautiful fairy that liked to fly to new places, she had a strong curiosity to explore the world around her.

She was not your normal fairy.

No other pixie fairy that could glow as bright as her.

She had a free spirit and didn't care what others thought of her.

She lived in a world where magic exists and anything is possible with a little pixie dust.

She loves fairy-fabulous green and has a sassy, feisty, fun loving personality.

She's incredibly brave and outspoken.

She knows no limits when living her life.

She lived happily ever after making her dreams come true!

The end.

Wait a minute! Am I describing Tinker Bell or my three year old daughter Addison Jane? It seems they have a lot in common!

The Morgan Family

2009-10-20T21:35:00.000-05:00

Meet Julia, a future track star of the Olympic Games! She had her Mommy, Daddy, and I chasing her around the whole pumpkin patch at The Dallas Arboretum. I don't think I've ever seen an 18 month old run so fast! :) Despite the rain and the mini workout we still got some fun pictures! She is a blue eyed beauty!

Carter + Julie + 1 on the way = A Beautiful Family!

2009-10-20T17:49:00.000-05:00

It was such a JOY to meet Carter and Julie! It's always fun to read someone's blog and then get to know them in person. She is currently 37 weeks pregnant with their first daughter named Lily Faith. Love the name! I can't wait to meet her.

The Coleman Family

2009-10-20T17:24:00.000-05:00

The Coleman family is very near and dear to my heart. Steph and Terry used to watch Addison during the day when I worked full time. I'm so thankful that they were able to help me out during that time period. Addie and Riley are very close in age and had lots of fun playing together. Addison still talks about the days at Mrs. Stephanie's house. I had so much fun taking their family pictures and catching up.

Stress

2009-10-20T15:33:00.000-05:00

I feel so bad. I've been soo... behind on everything! Behind on school work, photography, and even putting together Mark's care package. Maybe I'm putting too much pressure on myself?

In the past week we've made a trip to Children's Medical Center, placed multiple calls to the pediatrician along with an in office visit. This season my girls have had the flu, an upper respiratory infection, 3 infected ears, and a severe cough. Now, Lillian is developing some weird form of pink eye. It's just one thing after another.

Maybe this would help me?

Just kidding! Today I will be focusing on catching up so keep your eyes open for some of my recent work!

Notice anything different?

2009-10-18T22:06:00.000-05:00

New blonde highlights! That's me on the left with my friend Jackie after a charity event this weekend. This Mama needed a night OUT! :)

The State Fair of Texas

2009-10-14T23:52:00.000-05:00

Ali Wentworth

2009-10-14T00:05:00.001-05:00

After all the excitement of seeing Oprah, we went to meet up with family and enjoy The State Fair of Texas. We were walking to the Children's Barnyard and saw Ali Wentworth testing out some fried food and filming a clip for The Oprah Winfrey Show! Of course I acted as paparazzi with my camera and even asked if I could get a quick picture with her. She didn't seem to mind at all. :) How cool is that?

The Navy Wife

Dallas Holiday Mini Sessions

18 Months

Live. Laugh. Photograph. | Pumpkin Patch Mini Sessions

Live. Laugh. Photograph. | July Promotion

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella

Live. Laugh. Photograph. | June Promotion

Flowers. Ladybugs. Rocks.

Photography Update

I ♥ Faces - Yellow

We survived our first deployment!

He's HOME!

Happy Easter!

Family Update

And the winner is...

* GIVEAWAY * Free Photography Session with ME *

I ♥ Faces - Jump for Joy

And the winner is...

Last chance...

Photography Progress

*GIVEAWAY*GIVEAWAY*GIVEAWAY*GIVEAWAY*GIVEAWAY*

I ♥ Museums

i ♥ faces - Hands-On Fun

i ♥ faces - Amy and Angie's Favorite

Out with the OLD - In with the NEW

Leap of Faith

I ♥ Faces - I Wanna Dance

Rainbow Cake

A Picture of a Picture

Happy Birthday Lillian Kate

First Snowman

Clint and Michelle

Energy, Emotion, and Adrenaline

My FIRST Commercial Photography Job!

I ♥ Faces - Texture

Recent Photography Work..

Marathon Training Mommy

Sevyn

A Look Back: 2009

Christmas 2009

Somewhere on the other side of the world...

Proud Navy Wife

The Shields Family

New Domain Name

Fabulous Photography Giveaway

Santa

The MaCarty Family

The Jolliffe Family

The Kittelson Family

Photography on Facebook

Oh how I miss him...

Joy

Laughs, mud, and tears!

Before & After

I ♥ Faces - Tooshies

Celebrating Angie's Accomplishments

Black Friday

Thanksgiving 2009

Happy Veterans Day

She eats like her Daddy...

Addison's First Gymnastics Meet

Fort Hood Shooting

Birth Documentation Session

I ♥ my HOBBY!

Happy Halloween!

My Minnie Mouse

Funny Halloween Costumes

Once upon a time...

The Morgan Family

Carter + Julie + 1 on the way = A Beautiful Family!

The Coleman Family

Stress

Notice anything different?

The State Fair of Texas

Ali Wentworth

GIVEAWAYGIVEAWAYGIVEAWAYGIVEAWAYGIVEAWAY