Happy Ninth Birthday to my Daughter

It's hard to believe she will be nine in just a few days (I would have posted on her birthday, but I just could not wait!). And, like every other parent, I just cannot believe how fast she has grown up on me! There are just way to many memories. From her first few days (which included me moving into my first apartment of my own, just Emma and myself.....) to where we are today.... a happy family of three with crazy chaotic schedules and a shared addiction to technology (video games for them, all things on the computer for me). Looking back I see not only how much she has grown up, but how much I have as well. Many of you might know that I started out as a brand new mom at the very young age of twenty. I had no clue what I was doing, but I was determined to do it with no help, until she started crying. Then I relied on my own mother to assure me that no matter what, I was still doing a pretty good job. Here we are nine years later and I am still relying on that same assurance from my own mother that I have not ruined Emma's life yet (though, Emma has made the claim several times in the past year that I have, or at least ruined her day....).

 As it seems, so much has happened over the years, but moments like these just stick out in my head..... Changing my very first diaper ever.... yes, it was Emma's. Bringing her home from the hospital. And having her meet Bronson (who was insanely jealous, but learned to share me....) Being so tired that after I dressed her when she was only a few days old it was very clear that I put both legs into one pant leg. Poor Emma..... Throwing caution to the wind and leaving her with her very loving uncle who was brave enough to watch her while I ran to the store to pick up diapers because I suddenly realized we were out.... or so I thought ;) Watching her spit up as my brother held her like and airplane over his own head..... if I wasn't laughing so hard I may have felt the need to vomit myself..... Taking her with me to work at J & M and then never finding a sitter for her (best 7 years.... can't thank them enough for allowing me to be with her every day even though I was not a stay at home mother....) Her first words, steps, and stair climb...... Getting out of the shower to find that she had learned how to open the refrigerator (with the lock on it) and had discovered what fun lies in a carton of eggs. The day she met Aaron.... and her sand filled shorts. A day he says he will never EVER forget. Her first day of kindergarten (a day of highs and lows for me........ I was so that mom that was crying..... I don't even think I went to work that day.....). Kindergarten graduation. Her first entrance into an art show. Crying on the last day of first grade (her, and then me). Singing the Emma song to her every night for almost a year. The many times she has taken care of me when I have been sick (which is usually because she was sick first, but still...) Her true laugh.... And very recently..... her log-roll style tumble into the trench in our field. Though she wasn't injured (which I so would have broken something if I had been the one to fall) she admitted that was her most embarrassing moment ever. Swooping in to make her feel better I shared MANY stories of my own "oops" moments that surely topped that one. No, I'm not going to share those here ;) Happy birthay Emma! Thanks for all the fantastic memories you have taken part in over the past nine years. I am looking forward to so many more!

Sweet Lainey

At the beginning of last winter I photographed a fantastic group of siblings. We did a couple of Christmas photo shots and then some free play. At the time Lainey was just a few months and while we did a few individuals of her we focused on some playing shots with the boys (Lainey has three older, well mannered, handsome brothers to look after her....... a blessing and a curse I suppose!). Mom really wanted to make sure we captured some of Lainey during babyhood and so we met up for a few shots of Miss Lainey around 8 months. Check out her super cuteness and little baby girl feet! This hat belonged to her grandfather and was something very special. Thanks again for allowing me to photograph these special moments for you!

Terran at 9 Months | Vermont, Family Portraits

Here we are, another blog post about another fantastic family! I feel as though my posts have all too often been introduced with the same phrase "I had the pleasure of meeting...." and well, it is so true. I have yet to photograph a family that I didn't want to be sure I kept in touch with because they were just plain awesome and today's post is no exception. Allison contacted me through a mutual friend that I did some photos for back in December. When I met Allison in March I could totally see how the two were able to make a connection, they are both awesome amazing ladies and they have the cutest kiddos right about the same age. Terran was right about nine months at the time we were able to meet up for some photos and he was just too much fun. Though a bit chilly we spent the morning outside (always ok by me, I love the fresh air!). I spent some time chatting with Mom while we hung out for a nice casual session. She explained to me about a baby blessing they had recently attended for a friend and it sounded really interesting (and like something I would totally want to photograph.... hint, hint to anyone that may be doing something along those lines.....). We swapped stories of life as mom's and stories as professionals in the medical world (she's in OT), and it reminded me that the world I left behind was not one that I didn't like, but just one that wasn't quite right for me. Yes, I do miss it. I'm always impressed by those that were made to be in that world though, and those that truly love it. Go Allison! Always impressed by people who manage to rock lives as professionals and amazing parents....... and she just ADORES her son beyond my abilities to describe it. Which is easy to do because he is way too cute and curious. I had a great time meeting, chatting, and photographing (and of course, playing peek-a-boo with Terran!) you both. Many thanks to another awesome family! Oh! We can't forget about Smiles, the intensely ferocious pup.... well, ok..... more like loud until you get out of your car kind of pup :) Hey, he looks like a dog I know pretty well, don't you think so Renee?

Bristol Fire Department | A Day With the C Shift

As many of you know, my husband is a full time career firefighter in Bristol, New Hampshire. He was promoted last year to captain and has been bugging me to take some shift photos for him and his shift partner as a way to commemorate the year (in Bristol each firefighter is with each captain for one year and then they go through shift rotation). When he first came to me with this idea we originally planned for a few simple photos of the guys together, nothing special. As time went on from the time he actually asked me to do it to the time I was finally able to do so, I had something else in mind. Photojournalism is very near and dear to my heart as is understanding my husband. I decided I wanted to document what a day looks like for my husband when he is away.

Anyone who is involved in the world of fire and EMS can understand that it is a special world of it's own. As a FF wife I find it difficult to find people who can relate to us and the life that we have chosen to live (and love, regardless of how bizarre it may seem, we just wouldn't have it any other way). It is a life without schedule and certainty and often lacks organization, intimacy, communication, and sanity. In our household it is not at all unlikely to find itself in complete chaos. I have a terribly messy schedule myself that I try to set around my husband's known time away (what we know for certain, the twenty-fours and trainings). I am working part time outside of the home as well as attempting to begin and run a business of my own right in our living room/dining room/office. Aaron works in a twenty-four on forty-eight off cycle and in New Hampshire they have "Kelly" days every third week (I think I stated that right......). On top of that he is often late coming home pending shift communications, any calls that require him to stay, or just paperwork he is catching up on. He has training every Tuesday evening and if for some reason they don't he most likely has it in our home town where he is also a captain. When he's home he has two pagers open and will respond to both. If his Bristol pager goes off and it seems like they will be out long enough to require him to go back for station coverage (we live about 20 minutes away, so it isn't always worth while) off he goes. If the other pager goes off, he goes. He spends a few hours each week (most weeks) doing some sort of paperwork, truck check, or assignment at our local station as well.

Life for us is stressful. We never know when we'll have an uninterrupted meal, a quiet night, a full 24 hours together - heck, a full 12 hours together, or time to discuss anything important. If he isn't running out the door, I am.

Then there are the times where it all seems to happen at once. This past week was a perfect example. My husband went in for a 36 after a weekend of hardly seeing each other. He went in on a Sunday night and starting Monday morning had (what is for them) a very busy shift of around 9 calls by the time he left Tuesday morning. One incident required the DHART helicopter and another was a devastating car wreck that took the lives of three and a huge toll on all the EMS/fire/police and medical personnel involved. My husband had not slept in over 24 hours and came home to do just so around 1100. I woke him up around 1600 to make sure he would be able to sleep at night. We sat down together and had dinner and in spite of all he had been through he still managed to make jokes about marmalade (and later asked me what the hell marmalade actually is). Just after dinner we began hearing tones for two separate structure fires, one third alarm and one four alarm (I think..... or it was two and three...... they all sort of blend in my brain after a while). He left again and returned home somewhere around midnight. I don't remember him coming in at all, but I do know he was there when I woke up. Good thing he didn't give me a heart attack this time, it has come close to happening before (ok, perhaps I am a bit dramatic, but he has scared the daylights out of me before) and I lose all sleep for the rest of the evening. I went off to work and the rest of our week sort of continued the same. It has been very dry lately and there have been fires everywhere (so it seems). We finally sat down tonight with our daughter and enjoyed dinner, a movie, and ice cream. Holy cow, we survived.

While not every week is like that, most are pretty similar. When I say it is an world you have to be in to understand, I truly mean it. We catch a lot of grief for not having normal schedules, almost NEVER being seen together, and never doing anything, but our friends and family on this side of it seem to get it.

I suppose I could write about our life forever, but for the sake of my readers not falling asleep at the computer, I will share with you the actual intent of this assignment. My husband works in a small town, they don't always have crazy busy days and every now and then have shifts with nothing at all.

I arrived around 1000 and they were doing truck checks. Around 1100 they were called out at which point I left to do some errands and came back just as they were returning. I spent some time photographing and proving to them that they were free to be themselves because however my husband usually acted there he was just as awful at home (jokes, comments, and/or/otherwise..... they are men and it is a firehouse........ enough said). They carried on and I joined them for lunch before heading out to do their actual shift photos and to see them off as they left for another call.

Above: My husband performing truck checks. Below: They head out for their first call. Heading back in to do some paperwork..... a photo of my husband and I...... Above: my husband and FF Baldassare. Below: They get ready to take some photos in their gear. The senior FF student joins us for a few as well.... I have to say, that typically when I think firefighter photos, I instantly think black and white (old Chicago)..... However, my husband loved this in color so I had to share it that way. I owe a very huge thanks to the Bristol Fire Department and all those that allowed me to hang out and photograph throughout the day. It was very enlightening to see what a typical day is, even if we did take a short time out for some shots. I had a blast and hope to do it again, perhaps with another department all together........ Many thanks to my husband for encouraging me to go for my dreams and then asking me to do what I love most for him.

Gracie at One!

At the end of last summer I had the pleasure of meeting a wonderful family. I recall how at ease I felt photographing them and how easy it was to see how much they just adored each other. I was able to hang out and talk with them, being behind the camera didn't seem like much work at all. Not much longer after that I was invited back to do some extended family photos and met one of the former BFD Chiefs. The group was wonderful, easy to work with, and didn't mind me shouting out the shirt they were wearing in place of their names (because, well, I stink with names in groups like that). This February, I was invited once more into their home to document Gracie at one year. We had a great time hanging out playing and reading (she really loved the photo book from our first session and kept looking through it). It is funny what a difference just a few months can make. Gracie was just about walking, had many words in her vocabulary, and quite the outstanding personality. I really took a liking to her friend "Jean Luke" (who's name I have surely misspelled), the tiny bear who finds himself thrown out of the crib in Gracie's attempt to rally Mom and Dad. Above all, it was so nice to see everyone again and be reminded that there is nothing better than being home together. Many thanks to this wonderful family!

April Blog Party | Earth Day

Happy Earth Day!

In celebration of our favorite planet, the one we all call home, this month's blog party theme is "Earth Day". We have all put our own take on it and mine is simply, things I love about this planet. I brainstormed for days thinking of projects I could do with my daughter that I could document. Unfortunately, much like our weather lately, there was nothing. No storms came. Instead, Friday morning I took advantage of my entrapment at home (I was waiting for a delivery) and headed out in the fields to photograph the very things that I adore about the Earth. Being an artist it is so easy to appreciate all of the natural patterns and textures of this planet and all it has to offer.

Along the brook......

Please be sure to head on over to see what Thea of Authentic Eye Photography did to make meaning of this month's theme!