You know the rest right?

Then don’t say anything at all.

It’s my goal for 2013. Seriously. NO – SERIOUSLY.

I see SO many people on FACEBOOK whining and complaining about everybody else. The latest one was an area photographer complaining about the fact that EVERYONE is a photographer. Saying that the only people that deserve to be photographers are people with the right education and training. Other people joined in and named names about who they don’t like – who they don’t think deserves to be a photographer.

I’ve learned something recently when it comes to this business. PAY ATTENTION TO YOURSELF.

There will always be more and more people popping up and creating competition. There will always be clients that leave and go to another photographer – clients you thought were VERY happy with your work. It sucks. It will continue to suck. But why are you in this business in the first place?

For me – it’s not about money. It’s great that I can supplement our income with this job – but for me it’s about connecting.

It’s about creating a beautiful memory for someone. A moment captured in time that will never happen again – not EXACTLY the same anyway. I believe that God has given me a gift – an eye for moments. Some of you might not agree – and that’s PERFECTLY fine.

It’s about creating a connection with someone – capturing your emotion with my lens.

While I need clients to make my business run and work – I also don’t need to convince everyone to choose me. If you are unhappy with the work I’ve given you – I’m truly sorry. It breaks my heart. If you are using a different photographer and you are happy – then I am happy.

In October I took the month off from FACEBOOK – it helped my work SO MUCH! I wasn’t focused on what everyone else was shooting – I was focused on what I was shooting. I wasn’t comparing myself to anyone. While I truly believe that we need to push ourselves and strive to be better – comparing ourselves does nothing but bring us down.

Instead of complaining about everyone else out there – GET OUT THERE! Push yourself. Know your strengths. Admit your weaknesses. Network with other photographers in your area – ones that you personally enjoy. I have a handful of people I refer to when I am unavailable. I would NEVER refer a client to someone I didn’t trust to do my own photos.

We are all in this together – this crazy thing called life. We can either fight and argue with each other (which believe me – I’ve done more than my fair share of) OR we can support and encourage each other. It’s YOUR choice.

I still suggest we all listen to the advice that Thumper’s dad told him in Bambi – “If you can’t say something nice – don’t say nothing at all.”

As I write this – Fitzy is 20 months! CRAZINESS!

I took these the week after thanksgiving to mark his 19th month!

I am so happy to call you mine – while God lends you to me!

We spent the week with my parents for Thanksgiving and since my parents are visiting my brother for Christmas – we opened our gifts then!

He LOVES his ornament from Samm!

He loves this puzzle too! We put it together at least 10 times a day!

He is such a little chef! We call him Remy!

I got these ornaments for my brother-in-law – Xavier. When he was little his parents told him that the mice were helpers for Santa. He would stare at them for hours – willing them to come to life. It’s one of his fondest memories! He was so excited to see them again!

I made this Simba for my nephew Judah – I LOVE IT!

I made this nesting doll for my niece Rowyn!

And a rooster for Fitzy!

This owl for my friend Stephanie and her new baby boy was the inspiration for all the little sewing projects!

I am so thankful for our amazing families! I’ll post later about our Christmas with Jared’s parents!

Fitzy has beautiful blonde hair – curly hair! Unfortunately it’s a hot mess most of the time!

Samm cut it over Thanksgiving for me – just a teeny trim!

LOOK AT THOSE FRIZZY CURLS!

I kept one little strand!

He does indeed cry – I assure you. He loves getting a bath but HATES having his hair washed!

He looks like such a little man now!

My sister is a ROCK STAR – she’s lost over 100 pounds in SEVEN MONTHS!

She was home over Thanksgiving and we took some pictures to show off her new bod!

Fitzy had to join in too!

OH MY HEART!

HANDSOME! OH SO HANDSOME!

Baby boy – you hold my heart!

Samm – I am SO proud of you!

And we can’t forget to add one of Fitzy and Gramma!

ONE HUNDRED POUNDS GONE! SO PROUD OF YOU! She’s got quite a bit more to lose to reach her goal! Pray for her with me! Encourage her! Uplift her! I’m afraid to say that she will probably be skinnier than me when she reaches her goal! I better step it up too!

I am SO behind on this blog – getting caught up slowly – but this was written a little over a month ago!

On October 28th – Fitzy officially turned a year and a half – 18 months. It’s crazy!

It’s gone SO fast overall and sometimes so slowly day by day. Looking through his month pictures – I can’t believe he was ever so tiny.

He is such a little toddler now – it’s hard to imagine that at one time he didn’t walk – didn’t babble – didn’t give kisses.

He loves farm animals. He can moo like a cow – bock bock like a chicken – cock a doo like a rooster – roar like a lion and dinosaur. He moves his head out when you ask him what an elephant says. He loves to read. He loves to cook and clean. He loves Barney and Fraggle Rock. He understands SO much but doesn’t say a whole lot of words. He babbles almost constantly – repeating himself quite a bit. He has said I LOVE YOU – 3 times – and only to my sister. He LOVES his grandpas and grandmas. He eats a TON and weighs 31 lbs. He is in 24 month to 3T clothing. He has one bottle at night about an hour before bed. I still rock him to sleep and sing Silent Night – every night. He hates socks. He loves to throw balls. He brings it up by his eye and looks at the ball and looks at you and then the ball again and aims – he’s a pretty good shot! He is beautiful and wonderful and such a miracle.

I love his little belly in that shot! I was kinda sad – it’s 18 months – that’s a big one – and I was only able to get pictures of him in his jammies – around the house in our horrible lighting. It’s been raining all day – so no handsome little man pictures today.

He LOVES his dadda!

I got him this little cow on a shopping trip. He dances and does a split. Within 30 seconds of having his chubby little fingers on him – he now ONLY does splits.

ROAR – like a lion!

I got this picture in the attic and planned on giving it to my friend Belinda. Fitzy took one look at it and has been carrying it around mooing. He is so cute about it – it’s his new favorite.

Fitzy – I love you SO much. You’ve changed our lives and our hearts. Happy half birthday baby boy!

I put our Christmas tree up REALLY early – before Thanksgiving – I just had to!

LOOK AT THAT HAPPY FACE!

Fitzy is doing so awesome! He LOVES to play with his little kitchen! He loves to carry balls of yarn around and unroll them – much to my dismay! He carries around Jared’s striped shirt and says – daddy’s shirt! He points to himself and says – Fitzy’s shirt – but he says his name like – Itzy! SO CUTE!

He isn’t really running – just walking really fast. He LOVES cheese and marshmallows – the two words he says ALL DAY!

I cannot WAIT to experience Christmas with him!

For the month of December – we are doing a 25 days of kindness for Christmas!

Share on INSTAGRAM when you participate with us – #ADVENT #SHAREADVENT #25DAYSOFKINDNESS #25DAYSOFCHRISTMAS

1. CHRISTMAS CARDS TO SOLDIERS

2. FOOD TO LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER – PLAY WITH ANIMALS

3. DONATE ITEMS TO PREGNANCY CENTERS

4. ANGEL TREE

5. DONATE CRAYONS AND COLORING BOOKS TO CHILDRENS HOSPITAL

6. DONATE ITEMS TO GOODWILL

7. DONATE ITEMS TO HOMELESS SHELTER

8. HOT CHOCOLATE TO BELL RINGERS

9. CHRISTMAS CARDS TO STRANGERS WITH $ IN THEM

10. HOT CHOCOLATE TO CROSSING GUARDS

11. COOKIES AND COFFEE TO POST OFFICE

12. COOKIES AND COFFEE TO MAIL DELIVERY

13. COOKIES TO GARBAGE MEN

14. PAY FOR SOMEONES MEAL

15. QUARTERS AT LAUNDROMAT

16. QUARTERS AT GUMBALL MACHINES

17. FOOD PANTRY

18. COUPONS AT GAS PUMPS

19. COOKIES FOR NEIGHBORS

20. DONUTS TO POLICE OFFICERS

21. VOLUNTEER AT NURSING HOME

22. LEAVE A TIP THAT EQUALS THE BILL

23. COOKIES TO LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT

24. LEAVE QUARTERS AT CAR WASH

25. $ AT GAS PUMPS

I am SO excited to start this tradition and waive gifts for Jared and I (which we normally do anyway) in place of sharing the LOVE and JOY of Jesus during the month of December!

I can’t wait to see the excitement on Fitzy’s face as he gets older and can really understand the season of giving and love!

Jared’s cousin Alyssa is a photographer in Florida! She was up visiting in October and took Fitzy out for some pictures!

(ALL the pictures in this blog post are taken by Alyssa Northcutt Photography)

I am so in love with ALL these pictures – but these three especially!

OH MY HEART! He is just the sweetest boy EVER!

I couldn’t pick between color and black and white – so you’ll get both!

Alyssa – thank you SO much!

It was so great to spend time with you and restore our friendship!

The weather here was HORRIBLE the week of Fitzy’s 18 month birthday so I didn’t get out to take any “real” pictures of him that day. I’m SO thankful you got these shots to mark that milestone for us!

These photos are so beautiful and precious to us! Thank you again! We love you!

I have to tell you something. When I found out we were having a boy – I was a little sad. For one main reason. Boys aren’t as fun to dress.

I was wrong.

I added the black and white shots because our lighting in this house is HORRID.

OH MY WORD! I am having SO MUCH FUN dressing Fitzy!

I found that the key is to not worry about anything matching! So many people told me he looks a like a little guy going off to college in this!

While I know that will happen much sooner than I’d like – he does look pretty handsome!

When I was in college – I saw a poster for a Student Activities trip – to the Renaissance Faire. I thought – my dad would LOVE that! I wonder how much it costs. I checked – $5 for me and $10 for my dad. SERIOUSLY?! That covered the fee into the Faire and the bus ride down!

That was 10 years ago! TEN YEARS! We went with the college up until they changed the policy on who could go. Then we made our own trip!

It’s kind of like Christmas for my dad. He saves all year and makes a suit of armor. We watch glass blowing – eat giant turkey legs and soup in a bread bowl – get cinnamon almonds for the trip home – bid at the pirate auction. The first year we went – it was just the two of us. We watched the glass blowing demonstration – they made a pumpkin. I’ve always wanted one and since this year was our anniversary – I got TWO!

We were hesitant about bringing Fitzy – but he did FANTASTIC! He slept a little on the way down and chatted with grandpa. Walked around the park or caught a ride on shoulders. Posed for pictures and roared like the dragon he was! He took a nap in the afternoon and met a little friend who shared her goldfish and some kisses. He slept almost the whole ride home – we tired him out!

Belinda let me borrow her dragon costume!

Make up artist – I am NOT. But it worked – till it got warm anad melted off!

The dragon and the knight he defeated!

It got REALLY warm – so the dragon turned into a pirate!

He was too little to ride the elephant – maybe in a few years!

Fitzy met this little girl on our trek around the park. He loved her.

I love these pictures! It’s just a mango Slush Puppie people!

We switched to the dragon costume I had originally bought because it was a little lighter and I would have felt horrible if he got the one from Belinda all sticky!

On our way out of the Faire – we had SO much fun!

He is TOO big!

The dragon and the knight – friends after all!