A Sappy Post

Can I just say how much I love being a mom?! Maybe it was because of my trip, and getting a nice long break...but I have just enjoyed being around my kids so much the last few days. I have been so patient with Crew, and just played with him a lot. (high fives for me!) The trip definitely recharged me. 

Having kids has made me softer in a lot of ways but also more rough around the edges I think. I worry a lot about them and the future. Today in the car I had a thought about teenagers and how a lot of them think the whole world revolves around them, and that their problems are so huge. (which unfortunately I know that some can be), but the days of when I was worrying about my cheer performance that week, or the upcoming dance (I really hated those guys. I always had a pit in my stomach), or if I was going to get enough babysitting jobs that month. Oh what I would give to have those worries! Having children has made me more aware of the world and what is happening around me, and I can get so caught up in all of the negative feelings, but the world is so great too. There are so many great people around me I am learning from daily, and my Heavenly Father is always there to help me raise these munchkins'.

Anyways-I am just grateful for my kiddos and I am so grateful I need them as much as they need me. 

 I love her furrowed brow so much.

 My Crew is my favorite little boy. It's really hard to imagine having another boy in our family and sometimes I feel that Crew will be the only one, and I would be perfectly fine with that.

He refused dinner tonight...and went to bed with two pieces of bread. He is my little bread boy. 

Cancun 2015

 I felt so lucky and spoiled to be able to go on a trip alone with Al this past week! He worked so hard last summer and was able to qualify for this trip. He was so excited! So thanks sweetie! (and Vivint)

When we talked about this trip I immediately said "no I can't go...well I can, but Laney is coming with us!" He was fine with it but neither of us were super excited about it. We love her but some alone time sounded so nice too. So I asked my sil if she would watch Laney during that week and she said of course! So we made it happen. 

It was so hard for me to leave the kids...especially because Laney was still nursing. The week leading up to us leaving was complete chaos though. Every single day was so long and I caught myself thinking about Cancun and counting down the days! So I guess you could say we needed this trip...a lot. 

 The resort was nice and so pretty. I get very anxious on airplanes so on the way there we took some NyQuil (hey no judging) and we slept like babies. We even missed the custom papers we had to fill out! So we did that when we landed. It was so great. I have never ever slept on a plane before, and I guess we had some crazy turbulence...but we would never know! So yea--I give NyQuil 2 thumbs up.

I couldn't believe the water! Crystal clear, and white sand. The weather was so nice. I even got myself a fun souvenir...a gnarly sunburn! I did wear sunscreen. I promise. I just haven't seen the sun like this in a long time. We went to church on Sunday after a long morning of trying to get there, and figuring out what dang time it was in Cancun. (ha ha) I put a picture up of Alex holding my pump because my cute toddler lost the rubber pieces to it and so Alex had to cover it up while I used it. Man...that was hard it took forever to get like 2 ounces out of both sides. TMI. 

We went to the spa and got a mani/pedi in pure silence...it was awkward. I don't think we will be doing that again. The ladies took us to separate rooms but neither one of them talked to us. Awesome.

 Seriously that water was amazing and I totally miss it! We didn't have service a lot and the wifi at the hotel wasn't the greatest...but I was still able to see some pictures of my cute kiddos. Thank you to my mother in law and sister in law for taking them! I don't think we could ever repay them. I was never worried once about our kids, and knew they were perfectly taken care of. That made my trip so much more enjoyable.

 Crew and Gramma on the way to the gym! He is lucky to have such a fun, young, and active gramma who plays with him all day. He definitely misses her. 

 I loved these of Laney doo! Mariah is such a good mama and Laney obviously loved on her and was totally fine without me. 

This past week Al and I were able to have some good alone time that was so needed. It was like a never ending date! I was in heaven to say the least. 

The whole trip though we would say things like:

 "Oh Laney would look so cute in her swim suit right now!" 

"Crew would love that!"

"Take a video of the fish and show it to Crew!"

"We can't wait to bring our families on a trip."

Yea we missed our kids a lot but were filled with such gratitude for family who could allow us to spend this week alone. 

We will be going back here but next time kids are coming and family is too! 

Six Months

Laney is now a whole S I X months old! We love having her around so so much. She has the cutest smile and we are loving her personality. She recently learned how to sit up and we are loving that. Crew thinks it's the coolest thing. She is a pretty good eater and sleeper. I need to start her back up on solids again...we were really good about that but for some reason stopped. We love it when we go to her crib after she has woken up because she greets us with the biggest smile or shriek and then kicks her legs so hard. She is the happiest girl. 

 Just some sibling love. Man alive do I love these two! 

 I love her straight posture as she sits...along with her scrunched toesies. 

 We love all of her funny expressions

Crew was playing lion and Laney was his prey...hence the reason he is biting her shirt.

We love this girl.

xoxo Laney Kate

New Adventure

I can honestly say that this weekend was the busiest I have ever been...in my married life. 

Is that sad or awesome? 

There is so much to write about this weekend but it's so hard to put it all into words. 

I have wanted to become a photographer for a long time, well...since high school. I would use my sister for a model, but there was one time a family had me shoot their Christmas pictures. 

I loved every second of it!

Heidi, my husband's aunt, is a photographer and she texted me one day out of the blue asking if I was interested in being a second shooter for one of her weddings. 

That happened to be the week I was emailing photographers left and right trying to find someone to mentor me. 

Heidi thought it would be fun to come down to AZ and mentor me instead! 

I had to book all the shoots and find some locations, and then it was a go! But I was so so so nervous. 

Heidi and I have always clicked so her staying with us was just so fun. A new friend to have around all day...plus all we talked about was photography...and how much we loved cheeseburgers and milkshakes! 

She is a fantastic teacher and helped me feel more confident about my work. 

I am pretty happy with how these turned out. It is overwhelming taking all these pictures and then realizing that you have to edit them and hope for the best! Hope that the person is happy with the photos.

I didn't realize how physically fit you have to be for this job--seriously, jumping over rocks, and walking through ditches...hoping you don't step on a cactus or a something else...(btw I did step on a cactus and it did go through my shoes)

I am so grateful to have this experience and I have fallen in love with taking pictures even more! I know that mothers love to have them done and so I just hope I can deliver pictures that they will be proud to hang on their walls and send in the mail to loved ones. 

Keep posted for a website coming soon. Follow @abbiemartinsenphoto on Instagram! Email: abbiemartinsenphoto@gmail.com for pricing information and to see if I would be a good fit for you!

Far from Perfection...but Real.

This is too good not to share. 

I love everything about this.

Motherhood to me is far from perfect...but it is real. 

Real emotion. 

I am grateful that children are so forgiving

Pictures

I take a lot of pictures of my kids. That's the reason I wanted my camera! 

Problem is that I take a few hundred weekly...

gotta back these babies up!

(anyone else think how weird it is that we post pictures of our children on the internet? Our faces weren't everywhere when we were growing up. It totally bothers me but I can't help it.)

 We have a full blown roller over here! Crew thinks it's so cool that she can do that. Just you wait buddy...wait till she is chasin' after you!

Park Day

The park was eventful! Crew went on this spin chair and before I could get to him he spun out of control and landed on his head. I got there and he was frozen and terrified to say the least. It was so sad! Luckily no concussion for him. (that I know of)

 This weather is so nice.

 He thought it would be a good idea to eat sand...

She loves being outside...and I love taking pictures of her. She has so many expressions. She reminds me of E.T. with the blanket on. Hilarious.
In other news I shattered my phone today..well the screen. That was super fun and super sad since that's never happened to me before! 

Dear Laney

Dear Laney, 

How in the world are you almost 6 months old? 

This makes me so excited for so many milestones to come but so sad that time is slipping away. 

Some favorite things about you at this age:

-the way to wrap your whole body around me when nursing. It's your favorite thing and mine too. [I'm going to miss it so much when we are done]

-you suck your binky like it's going to vanish! It's hilarious. 

-you hold your breath when we play peek-a-boo and then you squeal in excitement when you see our faces.

-your "owl" noises. 

-the way you yell when your not getting attention. 

 -the way you grab your toys...now you roll over, but before you would stretch your body out as far as it could go

 the way you grab your toesies

 we love your belly chub around here

 the way you do your crunches. you will not lay down!

we love you sweet girl. We can't wait to watch you grow up!