Photo Shoot of Andrea and Travis

How fun!!!!

This is one of my favorites :)

Tricky lighting makes neat photos.

Photography has always been a hobby of mine. I took classes in high school. That was back in the good old days of 35 mm film. I even learned how to process and develop my own film. That was many, many, years ago. Now photography has moved into the digital age and the art has changed quit a bit. There are ways to create images and change existing images that just wasn't around back then. The basics of good pictures is still the same, but the technology has changed a great deal.

Now I'm beginning to take it what I've learned in the good old days to another level. Since moving to Williamston, I have purchased a DSLR camera, a Rebel XT. I love this camera, and the many things I can do with it.

I have also found the encouragement of a fellow pastor's wife, Andrea. Andrea has a natural eye for things of beauty and has taught me a lot about the technical side of photography. She has also taught me to think outside of the box when it comes to backgrounds. It's what I like to call "ugly pretty." (I totally stole that from Trya Banks, from the Next Top Model)

For instance, my favorite photo from above was taken in the ugly overgrown field across the street from our house. But the backdrop looks beautiful. Andrea's editing is also a key to making these photos look so good. She has a talent for editing as well. That is another thing I need to learn. The other pictures are from a church member's barn. The barn has lots of neat features, but it also has a pig and goat stalls that you have to watch out for.

Larry asked me how I thought things went. I said it was nerve wracking and fun. Andrea pushes me to learn how to use my camera. Most of these were taken in manual mode and I purposely underexposed them because the light was so harsh. They turn out great. I probably wouldn't have tried that if it wasn't for Andrea's encouragement. I would have left the camera on one of it's auto settings and been done with it. The pictures wouldn't have looked so good, and I wouldn't have learned anything new. So we both got something out of this shoot. She loves the pictures and I learned to try new things and some of the technical aspects of my camera.

The other difficult thing is that I'm 37 weeks pregnant and feeling HUGE!!! I teased Andrea and Travis about going into labor with all the squatting and awkward positions I was getting into. I said it might trigger my water to break. I was litterly laying in the street in to get the Black and White photo above. But I loved every minute of it :)

You can see more of the pictures we took on Andrea's flicker account here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/finadrea/

or her blog here:

http://dreawd.blogspot.com/

Andrea, I'm glad you liked them. Thanks for teaching me more technical stuff and giving me a great opportunity to think outside of the box. :)

Happy New Year!

There is just less than an hour left in the first day of the New Year, and today seems to have past by as quickly as last year did. During dinner, my parents and Larry were talking about how fast 2008 past by. My Mom said, "you just wait, Before you know it, it'll be 2010!"

In reflecting on how much our life has changed this past year, Larry said, "well think about all that has changed in the past 3 years." He's right. our life has been a busy blessing of life, love and change.

We we're just getting engaged in January of 2006, We were married in May 2006 and pregnant with Eden in October 2006. We were blessed with Eden in June of 2007. Larry was in school full time and working full time and finally graduated in December of 2007. Then began the search for a church. God's lead us to Williamston, NC where we know without a doubt, we were called to and love. We moved here in April of 2008 and got pregnant with Josiah in May. Major changes over just a short amount of time.

Larry pulled out the video camera and hooked it up to the TV. We watched life through Eden's life. Our first Christmas married (pregnant with her) Her birth, first few months of life, eating her first foods, her first Christmas and birthday, and this Christmas. I am so amazed at how much she has grown and changed in the past 18 months. She is becoming such an awesome little girl.

2009 will bring the birth of our son and who knows whatever else God will bring. We are blessed beyond all expectations. God has been so good to us!!! So as I sit here reflecting on how life has changed so much and knowing this year will bring challenges, joys and trials, and fun. I'm looking forward to 2009. I hope you are as well :)

****These pictures were taken back in October by my friend Andrea. We used them for our Christmas gifts for our parents and Christmas cards. Our family loved them, so do I. Thanks Andrea!*****

50mm

My 50mm lens came yesterday and I was able to take Eden out and get some great pictures of her this afternoon. She was all to willing to go outside to play. It was such a beautiful afternoon. Who would of thought it would be 70 degrees 3 days after Christmas?

I love this lens. It wasn't expensive, but it takes great pictures. I'm so glad I got it :) I need to practice with it some more. It's not as fast as Eden is, but few lenses in my price range are :) I look forward to the pictures of Eden and Josiah I'm going to be able to take with this lens.

Mom, the last picture is just for you :) I knew you would love her expression and her tongue.

Piano Girl

Uncle Timmy gave Eden a keyboard for Christmas. She loves playing the piano at church, so I'm sure it's just a matter of time before this will be her favorite toy. Thanks Uncle Timmy!

kitty kitty

Delilah

Sampson

Our kittens are getting big. They've past the awkward teenage looking stage and have grown into sweet cats (that are also great mice killers :)

Friday Funny

Yesterday, I looked at Eden and realized just how much she has grown in the past year. All traces of babyhood are gone. Now she seems like such a big girl. So independent!!! Larry and I talk about it and he laughed as I got choked up imagining our little girl as a teenager.

A few minutes later, Eden was playing in her room and shut the door. Then she locked herself in. I heard the door lock and thought Oh No!!! I went and pulled on the door to no avail. So I ran into our room and got Larry. He's the smart and ration one of the two of us.

So there we sat in the hallway, taking the lock off the door. Laughing and talking to her. She thought it was just so funny, an extended version of hind and seek. A few minutes later with the lock on the floor we ran in her room. She had the biggest smile on her face. She danced she was so excited that we made it in her room. I know she was thinking, hey Mom what took you and Daddy so long! I checked her over and she was fine. She ran into the living room and played with her toys. Never thinking or realizing the panic she put Mommy and Daddy in. Larry said she was just practicing for when she's a teenager.

Needless to say, The lock on her room and Josiah's room have been turned lock side out. We're still deciding if we need to turn the bathroom lock around or not. It would be bad if Eden locked us in while we (or a guest) was using the bathroom. We will have to keep screwdriver near the door.

Oh the joys of parenthood!!! :)

Christmas Day

Gift overload!
Eden liked the bag more than what was in it.

Eden wanted to climb this big gift from Uncle Timmy.

This is a baby doll stroller that Eden decided that she wanted to sit in and open her gifts.

Christmas morning was overwhelming for Eden. She received so many gifts from our church members and family. We didn't give her all of them so she could have more to open later today and enjoy each gift. Christmas through a child's eyes seems so special.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Daddy watching over Eden as she checks out the Christmas Tree at Church
Eden thought, this looks like a neat ornament, I'll think I'll take it :)

A Christmas picture

Grandma and Granddaddy with Eden

Last night we had our First Christmas Eve service at Reddicks Grove. We had a nice turnout and a great service. Everyone loved playing with Eden. She so much fun at this age. She not real sure of what the holiday means, but has enjoyed the Christmas Trees and gifts.