Pumpkins and a Heart to Heart

She sure is cute, that kid of mine.

Too bad this is the only cute picture I got.

Which leads me to...

Can we talk about perfectionism for a minute?

I found the fabric on Etsy, & the pattern on another blog.

I was going to "learn to sew" so that I could make

this perfect little Halloween dress for E.

I quickly gave that up.

So, my mom graciously took the fabric & the pattern

and made the dress for me.

I emailed a picture of the dress to my sweet friend Holly,

who made the perfect hair bow for me.

I meant to take E to the pumpkin patch a lot sooner.

But I had to work.

And in my defense, I tried.

But then she got sick.

I finally dragged her to the pumpkin patch yesterday morning,

despite the fact that she still felt a little miserable

and had dark purple circles underneath her eyes.

And despite the fact that it was 85 degrees

at 9 in the morning.

Gross.

I found the perfect pumpkin patch.

The perfect morning light.

But she wasn't the perfect child.

She didn't want to sit.

She sure didn't want to sit and hold the tiny pumpkin

and smile politely into the camera...

the camera that's in her face

every. single. day.

When I do photo shoots for other people,

I feel relaxed & happy.

I see the mamas stressing out and I tell them,

"Don't worry. Just let them be.

We're getting some great shots of them just being happy & themselves."

Why, oh why, can I not take my own advice?

Instead, I was stressed.

Angry at her.

This sweet, funny, delightful, imperfect child.

The one who positively lit up when she first saw all the pumpkins.

Who wanted to walk around & explore & laugh & get dirty.

Because I had the perfect dress.

The perfect bow.

The perfect pumpkin patch.

The perfect light.

And I needed the perfect shot.

I look back at the "me" of yesterday morning

and I want to slap her.

Is that the mama I want her to remember?

The one who was cranky if she didn't get "perfect"?

Or do I want her to remember a mama who laughed,

and let her get her dress dirty?

The minute I got in the car,

I knew I'd messed up.

I snapped at her, y'all.

In the dang pumpkin patch.

For not "cooperating".

My 16 month old.

Seriously?

Luckily, Becky was in that car with me,

and as I started processing all these emotions,

she said all the things a friend should say to you.

Things like, "But now you're aware of it."

And, "You'll do better next time."

How thankful I am for that girl.

I sure could use a pumpkin patch do-over.

Is anybody else feeling that way today?

*His mercies are new every morning.*

Lamentations 3:22,23

My Latest Obsession

Several months ago I was on a website for photographers and read an article written by the insanely talented Angela of AMR Photography. Friends, if you live in Dallas, you MUST book her for a session. I fell in love with her photography the minute I laid eyes on it. I would give my left kidney for her to photograph my family. I immediately became a regular blog stalker of hers, and then discovered that she has an equally insanely talented sister, Heather, of Nicole Moore Vintage Headbands. Heather goes out and finds gorgeous vintage jewelery from the 30's, 40's, and 50's and then creates these stunning headbands with them. I immediately bought two, and if you’ve seen me in real life lately, you know that I am rarely without one.

Here are the 2 I bought:

(I am sad to say that this is a model, and not in fact, ME)

Heather released her “Holiday Line” (part 1, I am relieved to tell you) , and it was practically sold out within the hour. Insane. There were several that I missed out on, but I did manage to snap up one special little pretty for myself.

So, here’s how it works. She has a Facebook fan page. I realize that some of you are not on Facebook. Why on earth you are not, I will never understand. *ahem* So, she posts these gorgeous photos, taken OF COURSE by AMR Photography, of each headband. And it’s first come, first served. You find one you like, you COMMENT. IMMEDIATELY. You know why? You snooze, you lose. I learned this the hard way. Heather had announced that she would be posting the new Holiday Line at 8pm, and I was busy editing photos and forgot until 8:05 and my favorite 2 were GONE. Don’t you worry, friends. I got one. THIS one:

*swoon*

It's so easy. The prices are below each photo, and whether or not it's been sold yet. You just comment with something like, "I WANT THAT!" and it's yours. You give her your email address, she sends you a Paypal invoice, you pay for it, and magically it appears on your doorstep a few days later all wrapped up in paper and a little gift bag. It feels like it's your BIRTHDAY, y'all.

I am sad to report that she does not have much left. Go check out her page and see what you can find after the rest of us totally went nutso last night. Honestly, I was being a bit selfish (ok, a LOT selfish) and was like, "I'll wait until I get one that I want, and then I'll blog about it the next day", and y'all, that turns out NOT to have been the best idea, b/c now you've totally missed out.

NOT TO FEAR!!! I asked Heather if there could pretty please be a Holiday Line, Part 2, and she assures me it is "to be continued..." I pinky promise you, dear blog readers, that I will give you a heads up when she posts Part 2.

*edited to add*

Holiday Line, Part 2 will be posted on Thanksgiving Night at 10pm. Don't worry. I will REMIND you as it gets closer so you don't miss out. For now, be sure to "like" her page on FB!

Play-Doh

I am so excited that we are to the age where we can play with Play-Doh.

I started introducing it to E a couple weeks ago, and at first she was all like,

What the hell is this stuff?

But today we seem to have reached a new level of fascination.

And she's actually playing with it.

We don't really have anywhere for her to sit and play with it

(besides her high chair, and hey- that's for eating),

so I just let her play with it on the floor:

This is her "stop taking my picture, mom" face.

I mean, seriously, how does that not just crack you up?

What a drama queen.

Get over it, girl. Your mama's a photographer.

You've got a whole life of this coming your way.

Trey & Sarah's Encore

Remember Trey & Sarah?

They were back in front of my lens this morning and brought along

their parents, our friends Laura & John.

Introducing Brianna

Introducing Peyton (part 1)

This family is GORGEOUS. I took a few shots of Peyton's mama

a few months back. Remember Tammie?

I've been shooting babies, pregnant mamas-to-be, engagements, sweet families,

and even a wedding and a trash the dress session.

But I've never gotten to do a senior portrait session.

How incredibly lucky for me that Peyton volunteered to be my guinea pig!

We had a blast in this gorgeous field and just prayed the whole time

that we wouldn't step on a snake.

These are just a few of the great ones we got yesterday.

Part 2 is coming tomorrow!

Elizabeth Walks

Elizabeth Grace, at the age of 16 months and 2 days, you are finally WALKING. I can hardly believe it. You've been taking 2 or 3 steps by yourself for forever. You've been "cruising" around the furniture for even longer than that. But no walking. Sunday night, we were all in the living room. Daddy was watching football on TV. I was working on your tutu for your ladybug costume for halloween. You were playing on the floor. And then you just decided it was time. You took 5 steps. I was like, "RYAN! RYAN! Do you SEE your daughter right now?!" You fell down and laughed, and then got up and tried again. 10 steps. I was FREAKING out. Laughing. Crying. I was so, so proud of you. You laughed the whole time- you were pretty proud of yourself too. Then, 15 steps. I was a mess. I was screaming and running around the house trying to find the video camera. And I captured some more walking and laughing on video. What a sweet, sweet memory. How I love you, baby girl. You fill our home and our hearts with such joy and laughter. We're so grateful that you're ours.

Love,
Mama

Lunch with Waliki

I like to call this one...

"How to Eat a Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich"

Lunch at Nana & Papa's is always a treat.

Because Waliki is always right there to entertain her.

I was yelling "NO! ELIZABETH, DON'T FEED HIM THAT!"

as I was pushing the shutter button.

I love how her feet are ALWAYS in this position

when she's eating in this particular high chair at Nana & Papa's.

Waliki, would you like some milk?

Introducing Allison & Cason

Our precious friends Allison & Cason are expecting

their daughter Madeleine within the next 2 weeks!

And I am positively giddy because they're hiring me to

photograph her birth, and then her newborn shoot!

So lots of pictures over the next month of this little family!

Introducing Jemma's Family

If you are a long-time reader of this blog,

you should recognize this baby.

Here is Elizabeth's best friend, Jemma, and her extended family:

You totally get why Jemma is such an

extraordinarily beautiful baby now, huh? ;)

Jemma & her Gigi

3 of my favorite people in the history of all time

Grandaddy & Gigi are so in love with Jemma

Introducing Laura & Michael

Friends, it does NOT have to be a special occasion

to schedule a photo shoot!

Laura & Michael have been married almost 3 years,

and just wanted to get some fun pictures together!

*shot with my lensbaby composer*

Remember my love of Lensbaby?

The Hubs always asks me if I use it on photo shoots,

and the answer is always no, because it just never really dawns on me

to do so during the actual shoot. But I'm going to start being intentional

about pulling it out and using it for a few shots during every shoot.

Because I LOVE it.

So, if I pull out the Lensbaby at YOUR shoot, just indulge me. ;)

I'm loving the results so far.

Introducing Emmalyn

Well, hello there friends! It's been a while, huh?

That little blogging break was a bit longer than I anticipated,

but no worries, I am BACK!

(Were you really worried?)

I had FOUR photo shoots this weekend,

so get ready!

Here is the first of the 4,

sweet Emmalyn and her ridiculously gorgeous parents.

Happy Friday, Y'all

I might be a little biased, but is my daughter not the best thing ever?

I am totally disconnecting this weekend for a much needed break.

In a few hours I'm headed to check into a honest-to-goodness HOTEL

with my best girlfriends and we are all leaving the husbands and children

AT HOME!

We're spending the next 24 hours at our church's women's retreat.

I love my life, but I feel like I've been going 90 miles an hour.

So, no photo shoots this weekend. No blogging.

No reading other people's blogs. No Facebook. No email.

This wife & mama seriously needs a chance to recharge.

The Hubs doesn't have work on Monday, so we're spending the day

together and taking our little family to the zoo.

So, I'll see ya again on Tuesday!

I also just wanted to take a quick opportunity to thank you

for reading my blog on a regular basis.

There are a whole LOT of blogs & photographers out there,

and the fact that you take a couple minutes out of your day

to stop by mine means a lot to me.

Thanks for booking photo sessions with me,

recommending me to your friends,

encouraging me,

sending me sweet emails to confess your blog stalking

(yes, I'm talking to you Meredith C.),

and commenting & participating on this little blog.

Y'all really make my life so much more fun,

and give me the opportunity to do what I love.

I love ya more than my luggage!

xoxo,

Sarah

Even MORE Wedding Pics!

My Favorite Little Pumpkins in the Patch

I loved shooting the wedding this weekend. What could top it? Coming back to shoot these 17 little pumpkins. As many of you know, we are extremely close to our Veritas Sunday School class at Houston's First Baptist Church. Sunday mornings, small group meetings during the week, accountability groups, playdates with other mommies, kids' birthday parties, MOPS- through all of these events and countless others, deep friendships have been formed. This is our community, the people the Craigs choose to do life with.

I love shooting different things- weddings, families, trash the dress, seniors, engagement sessions... but my heart is always here. In portrait work with babies and children. And what a special day. To shoot my best friends' kids. Who already know me. I love how Aubrey remembered that I told her Elmo lived inside my camera. And that Archer remembered that he loved to play peek-a-boo with me hiding behind the camera. And how when Micah saw me, he told me he loved me THIS MUCH, stretching his arms as wide as they would go. What a privilege to photograph so many members of my family today. These are the kids that Elizabeth will grow up with... slumber parties & late night giggles, youth group mission trips, first crushes. Lord, we are so thankful.

Will

Aubrey

Archer

Hannah

Micah & Laurel

Jake

Lyla & Emilee

Luke

Avery & Luke

Jemma

Hudson

Karis

Graham

Ashton

Where's Elizabeth, you ask?

Well, the trip to and from Austin for the wedding just wore her out,

so she enjoyed a relaxing morning, and a super awesome nap,

at home with her grandma.