Miscellaneous Monday
We’ll start with the obvious. Still pregnant, no baby yet. I really think she might be holding out for her Grandpa’s birthday, as he requested – in which case we won’t see her until next week. I definitely got more uncomfortable over the weekend – every movement seemed like a chore. In truth I’m not sure if that is really happening, or if I just finally gave into some of the pregnancy symptoms, or started reading more into things. We are starting to get a little impatient around here – so we are focusing on projects around the house and such to keep distracted.
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The “Best of 2012″ contest is going strong. Just one week left to vote for your favorites. You can vote once a day (per IP address). Julie & Dusty are holding the lead currently, with Emily & Dave and Ashley & Tom right on their heels. But there is lots of time for anyone to jump into the #1 spot, so get out there and ask for votes! Emails, facebooking, tweeting, classic bribery, begging – it’s all fair game in the pursuit of victory.
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For those that don’t live here – you’ve probably been picturing us in sub-zero temperatures and buried in snow. Normally, we would be. Somehow though, it’s been downright warm – barely dipping below freezing in the morning, and there hasn’t been a milimeter of snow to enjoy. From one stand-point, this is great – as I haven’t had to deal with being uber-preggo and icy sidewalks or jackets that no longer zip up. From another – you have to wonder if this means we are going to get hit with a monster storm, or a terribly cold spring like last year.
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Hubby’s been off of work the last several days for baby girl’s arrival, and for the most part this is wonderful. One big downfall though is having this occur during NFL football playoffs. I swear we watched, listened to, discussed and stressed over more football than usual this weekend, and the Packers weren’t even playing! He’s already warned baby girl that she should not come during the playoff game this coming Sunday.
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Ringo has been extra snuggly and clingy lately. We are attributing this to him finally catching on that his little world is about to change. I do still think he feels the nursery is a room we are making for him though. Oh, how I hope this transition goes well for him! If anyone has any tips for introducing a baby to a dog, we are all ears.
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That is our world right now – thoughts and preparations for baby girl and a few other small things. So, not much else to blab about this Monday. So, I’m off to make album edits, talk to new clients and keep things running around here, as we wait….
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Have a great week!
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The Best of 2011 – Vote Now!
From ski resorts to mansions on the beach, from cornfields to opulent ballrooms, 2011 had a wide variety of spectacular weddings and even more fantastic clients captured by my camera. It will forever be the year where I met my goal of shooting at least 40% of weddings outside of Milwaukee (in reality, we did just over half). I love to travel and I crave the excitement of new locations – it fuels me creatively as much as the love stories I tell do.
But, ask me which one was best, and I’ll be hard pressed to come to a decision. I loved each and every wedding I shot last year – all for different reasons. So, I figured I’d let you decide!
Which is your favorite wedding of 2011? I’ve listed them in chronological order below, each with a link on the bride & groom’s name to their blog post. Base your decision on whatever you want, but do vote. The winning wedding will receive a free 24×36 Canvas Gallery Wrap! When we have run these contests in the past, the top two are usually neck-in-neck, so we are awarding second place a prize too – a 16×24 Canvas Gallery Wrap.
Voting is at the bottom of this post. You have until January 16th at 11:45pm to vote (just 10 days!) and each person (IP Address) can vote once a day. To help your favorite win, be sure to share this blog post with your friends, and post it to facebook (there’s a handy little button for that too, at the bottom of this post).
Winners will be announced on Tuesday January 17th, here on the blog, and also on twitter and facebook.
January 8, 2011
Bessemer, Michigan – Big Powderhorn Mountain Ski Resort
April 30, 2011
Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Boerner Botanical Gardens
May 7, 2011
Chicago, IL – Holy Family Catholic Church and The Newberry Library
May 14, 2011
Door County, Wisconsin – Simon Creek Winery and Horseshoe Bay Beach Club
May 17, 2011
Corolla, North Carolina – The Hemingway
May 21, 2011
Milwaukee, WI – Bacchus Restaurant
June 4, 2011
Green Lake, Wisconsin - Heidel House Resort
June 17, 2011
Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Pier Wisconsin
June 25, 2011
Pewaukee, Wisconsin – Seven Seas Restauarant
July 15, 2011
Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Milwaukee Art Museum
July 30, 2011
Kohler, WI – Whistling Straits and The American Club
August 6, 2011
Milwaukee, WI – St. John’s Cathedral and The Pfister
August 13, 2011
Lake Geneva, WI – The Abbey Resort
August 20, 2011
Door County, Wisconsin- Woodwalk Gallery
August 28, 2011
Milwaukee, WI – Villa Terrace and Lake Park Bistro
September 3, 2011
Detroit, Michigan – St. Joseph Catholic Church and Pine Knob Mansion
September 10, 2011
Waterford, Wisconsin – Private Residence
September 17, 2011
Ames, Iowa – Collegiate Methodist Church and Iowa State Memorial Union
October 1, 2011
Fort Madison, Iowa – Private Residence
October 2, 2011
Madison, Wisconsin – Mansion Hill Inn
October 29, 2011
Milwaukee, WI - St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and Marcus Center of the Performing Arts
November 5, 2011
Chicago, Illinois – Holy Family Catholic Church and Salvage One
December 3, 2011
Milwaukee, Wisconsin – St. Jerome Parish and The Grain Exchange
Overwhelming, isn’t it? 2012 is shaping up to have so many amazing love stories of its own to be captured! We still have prime dates in May and June available, as well as the rest of the year – so don’t hesitate to contact me.
For updates on who’s in the lead, be sure to follow m three studio on facebook and twitter!
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Sweet Anticipation
I was meeting with a new client couple recently and they said, rather enthusiastically, “those pictures of the anticipation of the day – those are our favorites!”. I was shocked, because….me too! So often those moments are my favorites of a wedding day. It’s a sweet and overlooked time – most are focused on the point of the day – getting married. But in those preparation hours are some of the sweetest expressions, feelings and minutes.
I feel the same about life’s other big moments. Like where Hubby and I are at right now. These last moments of pregnancy are the sweetest time. We will never, ever again be just a couple waiting for our first child to arrive. We will never be this naive, this expectant, this excited. Sure, children still to come will cause much of the same anticipation, but it will never be quite like this first time.
Right now there are only possibilities. Wonderment. Speculation.
Will she look like me or him? Will she be stubborn or easy-going? What will her cry sound like? Will Ringo like her? When will she arrive? What name will we choose for her?
Of course there are fears and worries too.
Will we be able to figure it all out? How will we ever raise a proper little lady? Who will watch her when we both have to work? How will her presence change our marriage? Will we miss being just us, or will we never look back?
But even those more worrisome thoughts are somehow sweet right now.
This is why when people say to me “oh, you must be so anxious to get your pregnancy over with!”, I shake my head no and smile. I’m not itching to be done. I’m savoring it. It could all end any moment, and I won’t have the joy of feeling her kick or roll, the surprise of her weight as I turn over at night, or the wonderment of a growing belly anymore. These are all things I love, among many other things about being pregnant. I’m grateful for this child, not annoyed by it. I’m going to be sad to loose those things, though I’m sure they will be replaced by many other joys. But still – this time of preparation is unique and won’t be repeated.
So for today, I’m rubbing that little foot that just poked out on my belly and smiling. Soon enough we’ll have answers to so many of these questions. I’ve got my eye on the goal of all of this, sure. But in the meantime, I’m quite content to look around and soak it all in.
For now, there is only sweet anticipation.
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Miscellaneous Monday – New Year’s Edition
Welcome 2012! I have to admit, I’m a little giddy over all that this year might hold for us. 2011 was great on many fronts, but it was also a rough and turbulent year in many ways. At this point 2012 only holds promise, and there is something beautiful about that. This is the year we will become parents, and that alone makes this an incredible year already.
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So on that baby subject – yep, still pregnant. Hubby was a bit disappointed we missed out on the tax deduction, but I’m glad she is taking her time. Holiday birthdays are no fun, and the longer she waits, the better on that front. The baby isn’t technically due for just under two weeks, but of course she could come any day now. We’ve been hard at work getting things ready for her – painting a dresser, organizing her things, washing little clothes, etc. I’m still feeling pretty great, all things considered, and I’m thankful for that.
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I had a number of meetings with new clients over the holidays – so many awesome 2012 and 2013 weddings coming up! Something like 30% of couples get engaged over the holidays, so it will be interesting to see what comes in as inquiries in the coming weeks. We still have great dates in May and June open for this year, and many other months as well. It’s always exciting to see how the year takes shape – what destinations I’ll be called to, what stories will be told.
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Big game today – the Badgers take on the Rose Bowl. Ringo is already running around the house in his little Badgers sweater in anticipation.
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Our Holidays were great. Busy, hectic even at times, but great. The nephews were a joy to watch – especially Ethan, who is old enough now to participate in a way and really be fun. I think Hubby was more excited to give that gift, than any other. I couldn’t help but think that next year we will have three toddlers running around at Christmas – including baby girl. Wow, how things change quickly!
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I understood why every retailer bombarded my inbox with sale emails pretty much every day in December. But now that the holidays are over – they can stop. I’ve been unsubscribing from lists for days it seems. Goodness. Sometimes it’s just all too much “shop, shop, shop!”.
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Stay tuned next week for our “Best of 2011″ contest – you don’t want to miss it!
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It seems like there should be more to write about, but my days really have been consumed by finishing up 2011 work, booking new clients, the holidays and getting ready for the baby. I guess that’s enough really. I hope your holidays were stellar and that 2012 looks especially bright for you.
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Dear Molly, beautiful post!
Already forming your “momma’s” heart for your sweet little girl. What a blessed little one she will be with parents like the two of you awaiting her arrival. So glad your are soaking in the moments before her arrival. But oh the elation when you both get to hold her, smell how sweet this little baby girl is and then moments marveling at her every breath and move in life… Those moments to be celebrated all the days of her life, which you have so beautifully done for many of us with your gift of photography; a life-giving gift. So, blessings on all these sweet moments-celebrate! Can’t wait to hear your good news:)”Children are a gift from God”
Blessings; Miki Keil (Emily’s Mom)
This is such a sweet post, Molly. I hope you share it with Baby Girl one day when she is expecting her own little lady.
It has been a delight to witness your contentment in this season of anticipation. I trust it will be even more wonderful to see you grow as a mother.
Personally, I can hardly wait!