every parent should hear……

1. You are a hero for your kids. You are. You’re a go-the-distance, fight-the-dragon, face-the-challenges hero for your kids. Taking a beating makes that more true. Not less.

2. We all struggle. Every parent. Everywhere. We all second-guess ourselves. And we all want to quit sometimes. Hold the good times close, and when things are tough, remember, “this, too, shall pass.”

3. Finding the funny may not save your soul, but it will save your sanity. Or maybe it’s the other way around. Either way, look for the humor and embrace the crazy. Laughter is a lifeline.

4. Every day, you will feel like you have mishandled something. Like you’ve been impatient. Like you’ve misjudged. Like you’ve been too harsh. Like you’ve been too lenient. You may be right. Apologize if you need to and then, whatever. Seriously. Just whatever. Let it go.

5. The crazy, the crying, the cuddles. The screaming, the sacred, the scared. The minutes, the magic, the mess. It’s all part of it. And it’s all worth it.

6. Family is the best. Even when it’s not perfect. And it’s never perfect. Ever.

7. At the end of organization, at the end of patience, at the end of perfection, we die to ourselves. And then love rises from the ashes. It sucks. And then it gets better. And then it sucks again. Still, love rises.

8. You will never regret parenting. Except for the teeny, tiny tons of times when you secretly wonder if you maybe regret it just a little. But, overall, never. And overall is what counts in the end.

9. Parenting is like climbing the big mountain. Look for the base camp. That’s where you rest, meet other climbers, take in oxygen and acclimatize. Base camp is what makes summiting possible.

10. You are not alone in this strange, vast, parenting ocean. Even in the dark of night. You are not alone. You’re not.

11. Kids know the way to magical and they’ll give you a free pass to come along. Breathe in the magic as long as you can, because that same kid is going to poop his pants in just a minute.

12. There’s a very fine line between enjoying the chaos and barely surviving. Actually, there’s no line at all. It’s all mixed up together. That “fine line” thing is a lie.

13. If you pay attention, kids will teach you how to laugh loudly, how to love deeply and how to live fully. They will also ruin all your stuff.

14. Any number of kids is a lot of kids.

15. Look for joy. You’ll find it in the middle of the busy. Or under the ridiculous. Or hanging from the overwhelmed in its underpants. Joy’s like that. It’s in the middle of everything. It’s completely unpredictable. And it will surprise you when you’re not expecting it. Like vomit and diarrhea, except good.

16. You will fall apart and do it all wrong. Forgive yourself. Ask your kids to forgive you. Set an example of resilient fallibility. Set an example of practicing the art of love — both loving yourself and loving others. No one does this parenting gig right the first time. Or the last time. Or the times in between. Showing your kids how to keep going after getting it wrong is a wonderful gift to give them.

17. Kids are difficult, gross, confusing and awesome. So are you.

18. Parenting will bring you face-to-face with yourself. It may be terrifying. It may break you. But it will also rebuild you, and you will be stronger than you ever thought possible.

19. Balance is a myth. Parenting isn’t a tight-rope walk; it’s a dance. Strive for rhythm instead of balance, and trust yourself to move to the ever-changing beat.

20. Yes, you will have days where you wonder where the hell the capable and organized you went. Yes, you will sit on the floor of the main aisle at Target by the check-out area with a child who is thrashing, screaming and calling you names. Yes, you will have to tell your child that the dog is not a napkin and to put down the urinal cake. If you do not do all those things literally, then you will do them figuratively. And yes, you will also hold that child and rock back and forth and tell him you love him and tell him he’s safe and tell him you’re not leaving even though he will someday leave you. This is parenting. It is tragic and triumphant. Messy and magical. Sacred and spectacular. And it is, always, fiercely worthwhile. {huffingtonpost.com}

As laid back and fun as you try to make your wedding, there is always stress. I just LOVED setting up this photo booth for JD and Lisa’s wedding at Point Lookout in Northport. The whole thing really lightened up the mood of the guests and let the silly in!

It is so wonderful to see these girls every year….the whole family has become part of my own extended family, and seeing and photographing them is more like a special occasion than something I do for my job. It really got chilly at the end of the season, and fearing the chattering teeth and possible hypothermia of my tiniest clients made me venture inside to a rented studio. (If you are a wedding client, you know I am not quite as easy on you…we go out in any weather!) Emilie and Ayla are really the best gals for any setting, and they are both always ready to give me 110% of their personality.

It actually did end up being a fairly warm day (thank goodness) and we were able to go outside to one of my favorite spots in the Old Port.

What is even more fabulous about this session…they were able to take part in my very popular session sale so they will get every single photo on a cd, in full resolution…ready to print in any size and as many times as they like. BUT they also get something super special…CANVAS!!! I can’t wait to see one or 2 of these printed up huge!

For more information on the sale: {click.here}

It ends today!

the house as been invaded. by the flu. i frequently brag about never getting any ailment other than pregnancy (or the occasional annoying cold), but this time, i was not overlooked. we all went down like dominoes, leaving the abode only to get the basic items for the house or to restock cough drops and Motrin. Christmas, although still a treasure, was spent with Kleenex, steam showers, and scary temp spikes.

tears and sleepless nights, trips to the doctors office, followed up with threats that as soon as i have an ounce of energy, i am going to Lysol and bleach every inch of our house.

i have not touched my computer…barely picked up my phone, and this is the first picture i have taken in 10 days because i felt like my camera was a boulder too big to attempt lifting. work has waited and piled up, and honestly, i just need to let that happen right now while i get my family back on the road to health and sleep and happiness. i am hoping to return to full speed by the end of the week.

i am delieriously excited about the dawn of the new year…excited about the growth of my family (we add baby number 4 in the spring), my business, new projects, and new goals. the new website launches JANUARY 21 (Eeek!), and with it a few special deals for new customers and even better savings for returning customers.

i wish you all love, happiness, success, and enduring joy in the new year, and always. amanda.

I have been an editing mad woman these past few weeks….I was only going to share a few of these images from Josh and Caitlin’s wedding but I couldn’t resist sharing SOOOO many more.

I just love classic weddings. People often remark that I have a lot of the rustic, outdoor weddings, and I love those as well. But deep down I am a classic girl personally and those long aisles and flowing veils just really appeal to me. I have to add that Caitlin SANG at her own wedding so beautifully that there wasn’t a dry eye in the church.

The wedding party was SO much fun, and we met at one of my favorite spots for photographs!

Caitlin and Josh

The.Reception

I just LOVE these dancing pictures…such a fun group!