21 weeks, no chicken yet

Crazy week: I self-hypnotized myself through a root canal while Dan did all kinds of tree science and preparations for classes starting next week at OU. Tonight was the first night we could do my 20ish week portrait. Before dinner, we went to uptown Athens, and Dan got some cool photos of me. I am 20 weeks, 5 days; OVER halfway there!!!

what's going on with the baby. During our ultrasound this week, we discovered our baby is still a boy. Dan loved seeing him squirm and kick and jump. His spine, leg bones and skull are visible. He has BIG feet and his nose is still large. He has great lips that look like my moms. Which is good, because she has beautiful lips. He weighs 10 oz which is perfect. According to my doc, I am too perfect with all my numbers. He kicks me and I can feel his hiccups (which is just the COOLEST, weirdest feeling, and tends to only happen at 3 am). I feel like my whole life is shifting and i am more concerned with what to find/buy for the baby than I am for myself.

Next portrait? So, I really wanted to incorporate a chicken into my 20 week portrait last week. My vision was me looking quite artsy and maybe a bit odd. But last Friday was rainy and cold and I just wasn't in the mood to go to my friends farm and pose with some poultry. I still love the idea, so my 24 week portrait will absolutely incorporate some farm animals. I promise.

Books: I am loving searching/picking out books for the baby. Our favorites are vintage books, like we read when we were small (36 years ago...) and we look on Etsy and Ebay and Amazon for cool retro books ALL THE TIME. Dan snuck these photos of me reading a Dr. Suess book I have never seen. I am going to put these photos in the baby book (i have yet to construct) so our boy can know that I loved him even before he was born.

Photography: I have seven shoots in the next 10 days. EEKS. And an incredibly full April. I am so happy to be working again, the winter and all of the snow really slowed me down. Tomorrow I get to shoot two high school seniors (who are sweethearts, which of course, I love). Yay for good warm weather and daylight til 7:30. Happy spring!

book design

soooooo excited to show this sneak peak of my newest press-printed baby book. This is Miss Kysa. And because she and her parents are awesome, I picked a whimsical, hip design for her one-of-a-kind memory book from our fall 2010 family portrait session.

LOVE

LOVE

LOVE.

reading & playing portraits

Miss G is my kind of girl. She is an avid reader who prefers to share stories with friends (like her Raggedy Ann or her lucky giraffe doll who was sitting in my lap while this photo was taken).She likes her bedroom and all play spaces to be tidy and neat (which her mom and dad appreciate!). AND, she loves her dog Barkley. Which might be the best dog name ever (although in my head I called him Bugsly).

My future (photography & the book)

I have found the coolest thing to help me refocus my photography business: the right-brain business plan. It is perfect for artsy types like me. The e-book has an audio guided visualizations, which I completed TWICE last night!

First, I focused on my work in 2 years. I saw a red barn behind my new imaginary house in Ohio. The interior featured several 'stalls' with studio lights dropping from the ceiling and one closed off room with a huge computer monitor where I sold portrait prints. The front area was open and light with a row of large photographs on the wall. there were 2 colorful couches and a variety of tea and biscotti in a clever barlike area. The yard had beautiful gardens with benches and two little bridges going over a stream and pond - all perfect for portraits. AND bamboo. Does bamboo even grow in Ohio?

Next, I guided myself through the 'business' of the book that I have been writing since April (mine and Dan's 20 year reconnected love story). I picked next spring as my timeframe; just after the book has been published (which in hindsight is optimistic and naive). When visualizing my perfect working environment, I saw a skinnier version of myself writing in a cozy nook off of the master bedroom. I am working on book 2 in a wingback lit by a vintage lamp. There is one  row of books and a window behind me. On the other side of the door there is a built-in desk with a laptop and a small fridge. The master was big and bright and had a tall bed decked out in fluffy white - so high we would have to climb into it.

To recap, In a little over a year, I dream of being:

published
writing in a comfy reading room
in my new house
with a gigantic bedroom
and a red barn
and evidently every room will have refreshments

So tell me, what does YOUR dream work environment look like?

The next part of the business plan provides exercises to help me map out how to get to my dream future! I will keep you informed of my progress (and may even show you the drawn, colored, stickered plan once it is complete! If you want to try it for yourself, here is the link to the 6 week online course and the E-Book I purchased: www.rightbrainbusinessplan.com