Okay, seriously - could I have a better job? I looooove shooting gorgeous people.

I had a session with Kathleen last night, this girl is unbelievably beautiful. And really, really, GENUINELY nice. Which makes everyone hate her, I’m sure. Only joking! (well, half joking…) I’m posting a quick one before church - I’m definitely gonna have a hard time picking a fave here!

Snapped this one of my baby before I went to work yesterday morning… when I uploaded, I thought to myself…. “WOW, she looks so much older in this picture!” - but just chalked it up to not wanting my baby girl to grow up. Then Jackson walked by the computer and says, “Mama, is that what Cassidy’s gonna look like when she’s older?” Guess it’s not just me. =)

P.S. - I’m back to working on my new website, so you’ll be seeing lots of changes ’round here soon =D

Carter just turned one. Carter has big, beeeeautiful blue eyes. Gotta love that!

This little guy wasn’t in the mood for sitting still…

…so his mom & sitter employed torture techniques. After all, this is your PHOTO SHOOT!!! And you *WILL* act accordingly…

Soon after he straightened up & was blowing kisses…

Ok, ok, so I’m lying, but it does look like some crazy limb-from-limb-pulling-freaky-torture technique, doesn’t it? Ha! They were just helping the little guy up. DISCLAIMER: No babies were harmed during this photo shoot.

I’m in love with these pictures… for reasons that I’m certain everyone else doesn’t see. No, the composition isn’t perfect, the lighting is bad, and I’m confessing to the world that I use - *GASP* - paper cups & plates for parties! Good thing I had already resigned to lose the Hostess of the Year award.

This is my Mom & Mamaw. You don’t see them much, because they both hold firm beliefs that the camera is an evil torture device, and if you pause for a picture, you’ll surely have your eyes burned right out of your sockets. Or something along those lines.

I love these two women *SO* much… and I love to see them laughing together. I admire their strength, their courage, and their love for each other and their family. Unfortunately I inherited ALOT of their little quirks (crunch ice around me & I’ll punch your lights out… NO, seriously!) … and a few of their physical traits (thanks for the green eyes, but you can have this BUTT back!) … but when all is said & done, I can only hope to be as great a role model for my family as they both have been to mine.

She held it together nicely - I wouldn’t have expected anything different - but I know it must have been difficult.

I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose a child, and I hope I never, ever have to find out. Sometimes I get upset just thinking about everything my mom has gone through in her life - it doesn’t seem fair that a person so kind and tender-hearted should have to go through so many heartaches & trials in one lifetime.

I wish I could fix it. But I can’t. And that stinks.

I love you, Mom.

Isn’t she puuuuurty???!!!! I’m still not done with her senior portraits, partly because of my vacation. Can’t say I regret doing that though, EVERYONE knows I needed it.

Now, totally unrelated, but just on my mind this morning… Warning - rant ahead.

Why is it that you can bend over backwards for some people, go allll out of your way… and then what do you get in return? Nuttin. Nada. Zilch. I take that back - sometimes they’ll even go to the trouble to say some snide remark, which is basically just a slap in the face. I can’t tell you the times in my life this has happened - and every.single.time. it shocks me. I wish I could be the kind of person that could just let things go… that could say “you know what - you aren’t gracious, you don’t appreciate me, and you don’t DESERVE what I’m doing here…” but I can’t. I can’t bring myself to say it, because it’s MEAN. I just keep on doing, doing, doing - apologizing, trying harder… because when it comes down to it, I think that their actions are just proof that I’m not doing *quite* enough.

Seriously?? Who am I kidding? Why spend energy on people who could care less? Yet here I sit, feeling guilty…

I think it’s time for a change. Time to expend my energy on people who care, on people who recognize it, appreciate it, and express it. Time to kick the people off my priority list that haven’t put me on theirs, and time to move myself up on my own list.

/rant

Happy Monday!