Crib Transition

I remember the days when I'd listen for Jackson to cry from his crib. I'd go and unswaddle him and get him up.

Then came the days when he'd unwrap himself by pushing his arms and kicking his feet.

Next came the days of turning to his stomach and getting up on all fours.

Gone are those days. I've taken down the mobile. Because now, even after just one peep from this little one, I find this instead.

But oh, how I love those smiles he shares when I walk in the room!

Jackson

Usually I think that Jackson is still just my little baby. Today I looked over at him as he was using a box to stand up that he really is getting so big. 8 months. Everyone says it goes by so quickly, and it really does. I've enjoyed it all, though...except that one phase where putting him to down for a nap was an ABSOLUTE PAIN!

I figured Jackson would be an early walker since he has always loved being on his feet. When I would go to burp him over my shoulder, he wouldn't just lay against me, he'd push on his feet to stand instead. Later he would just enjoy standing on our laps. Then he would rock back and forth while standing on our laps. We'd call him our little sumo wrestler. "Finally", at 7 1/2 months, he decided to take off. Fairly unsteady at first, only making it a couple of feet, but now he moves so well. He turns and pivots. When he falls down he has figured out how to catch himself so he doesn't bang his head/face on the floor.



I'm trying hard to keep up.

I've played around at Gardner Village, but never officially taken pictures there. I like it. I like it a lot.

Anyway, this is my brother and his wife. Their youngest daughter was born a month before Jackson. My mom has wanted a current family photo of them since then. They only come to visit every so often, so we worked hard to plan some time to take new pictures. So glad it worked out. This was one of those sessions where we got exactly what we wanted in just a little bit of time. Love when that happens!

Jackson's New Teeth

Jackson got teeth last week. After MONTHS of putting things in his mouth and chewing on everything, they are finally here. My little boy is growing up.

And here are some more just because he's so cute!

This is his Michael Jordan look.

Tiffanie

Tiffanie is Jeremy's niece. Well, that makes her my niece too by marriage. It still seems weird to call these them nieces and nephews when they were around long before I came into the Knowlden picture. Anyway, back to Tiffanie.

She is a senior this year. She knows what she wants.

She wants to have fun.

She wants to look vintage.

She wants to play her music.

She wants to be western.

She wants to rock the big belt buckle. And she does.

And she wants to remember all of that about her senior year.

The Wedding Adventure

Jeremy has a sister named Tammy. Tammy's husband died five years ago. A couple of years ago, Tammy decided to start dating again. She joined the older single scene and went at it with vigor! Fast forward to a few months ago when Jeremy saw his sister post something on Facebook about what an incredible time she had on a date with an incredible man. Being the sleuth that he is, Jeremy read every comment accompanying this post to find a first name of this incredible man. Mark. Then he looked at her friend list and found all her friends name Mark. There were three. And then he called his sister because he suspected which Mark it was, and we already knew him!
Mark and his family moved into my ward/neighborhood ages ago. They had many children (13). They were a wonderful addition to the area. I was friends with many of their children. With time, they decided to move to another area of the valley. Coincidentally, they moved to the area where I had just received a job to teach school. I taught their youngest daughter in 6th grade. Years after that Mark's wife passed away. Mark joined the dating scene too.

Mark and Tammy met. I believe they first met in March of 2011, but didn't date until October. It didn't take long after that. They were soon engaged, date to be married set for March, then changed for January. They didn't need or want a lavish event, but they both wanted it to be fun. And they wanted to document the event. They asked many of their family members and friends who owned cameras to bring them and take pictures all night long. They asked me too, and also wanted a few pictures of just them.

After we were finished eating at the luncheon, which in part consisted of Jeremy's FAVORITE wedding food,

Tammy and Mark told me they were ready for pictures when I was.

But we didn't go anywhere. They wanted pictures with the decorations set up in the church gym. They were cute decorations, but I'm not an indoor flash photographer. I prefer photographing with natural light. Sometimes that means indoors if there is a good light source, but there isn't inside a gym.

After a few pictures inside, I convinced them to go outside for a few. But it was cold outside and they had things to do and people to talk to, so it lasted maybe ten minutes. And then we were done.

And I was left somewhat frustrated. Not frustrated with them, but frustrated that I didn't get to take the best pictures I know how to because I didn't have the right setting or enough time to do it. Frustrated that my camera, though wonderful as it is, isn't better and frustrated with the lack of accessories that I don't have. Did you read that part Jeremy, sweet husband? :) (A note to you: Sometimes it doesn't take a lot of time to get good pictures, but if you're going to have your pictures taken, and it's more than just a snapshot to you, set aside enough time to make it worth it.)

The day was wonderful. Tammy and Mark now have someone they can love here on this earth until they return to their spouses in heaven. We loved visited with family and friends. I'm now a "step-aunt" to 13 kids that I was once "just" friends with. There was great food. We danced the night away. Congratulations Tammy and Mark!

Temple Photos Market?

Someone suggested to me that I could sell images of the temple that I have photographed on etsy. I'm not an "etsy person." I don't know how things like that really work. I don't know if there's a market out there for these photos.  Could I sell just the file and the customer could print it themselves? How do you ensure copyright after something like that?

I'm not asking if you would buy my photos, I'm asking what you know about this stuff. Extra cash flow earned for doing something I love could always be nice. :)