Happy mid-January. I hope this crisp New Year is off to a good start for you all! 

Long ago, I used to not love the first few months of the year.  I’m a fall lover, and spring lover and holiday lover. But for some reason, the first few months of the year were not my fav. Then I shifted gears and learned to love these first few months of the new year.  It’s a slight hibernation for me, if you will, without the napping. You know – hunker down, hide out a bit, breathe deeply, rejuvenate myself after a busy fall/holiday season. As I slide further into my 40’s (I turned 41 last month), I love this month for exactly those reasons. It’s all how you look at it and I like to look at is as a “fill me up”! 

Usually, the photography part of my world slows down tremendously these first few months….but this year is different (grateful). I’ve already photographed some very special families and have a few others on the books this next month. You’ll see some of them in a few minutes….

But I’ll begin this post with me and Todd’s (aka – TG, and rad husband) pledge for the next little bit. And it perfectly falls into line with my hibernation months. Everywhere we go these days, we are connected…..by screen…by phone…by text…by everything. It distracts us, its fun, its tiring, it’s addicting, its just how we do business these days. I’m super guilty of checking my phone before I go to sleep at night and when I get up in the morning and 100 times a day probably. ENOUGH ALREADY. So, TG and I decided last week that we were going to take a break. After work hours, the computers shut down, the phones are shut off and we will see them again in the morning. Because, really, nothing is THAT serious! I also took Facebook off my phone (total time suck despite the entertainment). 

shut.it.down.you.won’t.regret.it

So, 6 days into it, I can tell you that this was looooooong overdue. I’ll speak for myself and say that I’m sleeping better and more sound, my kids get my eyes on them (not my downward or distracted gaze), and I just generally feel better and enjoy my nights more. And Todd and I are totally enjoying our chats (well, until he’s over my yapping and retreats to his book). When you shut your electronics down, it really does force you to say hi (for real) to your peeps around you. And you’d be surprised how productive you can be. 

And more that, I knew that if we were going to teach our kids to not obsess over “constantly being connected” and their iPods, or whatever – we needed to lead by example. 

****side note****  We did not give up TV…..come on…..I’m not a lunatic. 

So, if you email me or text me in the evening, you’ll hear back from me in the morning. Not because I don’t love you – just because I won’t check til’ the AM! 

NOW SHIFTING GEARS TO FUN PHOTOS

Ok – so let me share some VERY fun highlights from this month so far. We will start with McKenzie. 

CHRISTMAS BABY! 

How our family managed to have two babies on Christmas is beyond me. 

Yes, born on Christmas and SO SO SO SO SO SO squishy and delightful. 

She is very loved as you can see.