Anel + Hector's Wedding

 

San Francisco weddings always end up in my favorites category. That city can't take a bad picture.

Ceremony took place at St. Ignatius Church. Then we took off to the Palace of Fine Arts and surrounding areas. The Galleria at the San Francisco Design Center was the location for the reception..which was a great venue.

Big huge gigantic thanks to Jackie (http://thejumpsite.com)  for assisting me that day. You were a life saver!

And an even bigger thanks to Nellie and Hector for having me be a part of their wedding day. I loved our bonding time in the limo. Lots of love to both of you.

6 Months

 (my apologies if the color and quality are off with these images...computer on the outs...new one on its way!..tip: looks better viewing on a desktop rather than a laptop) You are 6 months old.

Feels weird to say that.

It's been the longest and slowest 6 months of my entire life.

Big news!!!! You are crawling!!

..I guess you are still "army" crawling, dragging your belly along but you can get anywhere you want. If there is an iphone on the ground you will find a way to get it in your mouth.

You seem to be more deliberate about everything.

You remember if I take something away from you  and sometimes cry if you are mad about it!!

You have gone up another size in diapers. Size 2 thank you very much.

You officially weigh 14.7lbs. Still a small thing but growing.

I can't believe I did SO much cloth diaper research and here you are wearing disposables. I should have started with cloth the moment you were born.

You are close to sitting on your own but don't care about that very much. You would rather be on your belly inching along or jumping.

Speaking of jumping we bought you one of those excersaucers because you loved to stand so much. Every time you get in it you get the silliest grin on your face like you've tricked us into giving you what you want.

Your hand control is crazy good now.

You constantly pinch, pull and grab your dear ole' Mom.

My hair fascinates you. Especially my bangs.

You have been giggling when I swish my bangs in your face and sing, " check baby, check baby, one two..."

I think you might be into fashion. If I have a new article of clothing on, you notice. Makeup on, you notice.

If a towel is on my head it's almost more than you can handle. It might be the most intriguing thing you have ever seen.

When you wake up in the morning you just crawl all over us. This morning you pulled at my bangs and grabbed my checks until I sang you your morning song. "In the leafy treetops the birds sing good morning...".

You are still sporting the swaddle although we are trying to get you to nap with one arm out. You fight being wrapped but refuse to nod off to sleep without it. Sigh. Some babies fall asleep on a blanket mid play right? Tell me it isn't so!

You only want your binky as you are falling asleep. Never when you are awake. And once you are asleep out it pops.

Eating + biting. You know what I'm talking about and it's not funny.

You kind of thrash around when you sleep and are rubbing a lot of your hair off. Dad likes to constantly point out your bald strip in the back.

Your favorite things to play with: Anything that is not toys.

Anything we put near our mouths you want. Water bottles, cups, chapstick. Remotes, phones, computers, the fuzzy carpet we don't want you to eat, boxes, books...

I actually think your two main sources of food groups are; breastmilk and print. You love eating paper. You actually just love putting everything in your mouth and paper just happens to dissolve.

We have tried feeding you solids. Mostly you just make icky faces and act like we're gagging you. I can understand that reaction to the brown rice I made you but sweet potatoes? bananas? apples? Sorry to break it to you honey but food doesn't get much sweeter than that. Maybe we will just breastfeed until you are 18. YES!!!!

You do have a couple favorite "toy" toys, the dolly Aunt Amy gave you and the duckie Grandma Thurston gave you. Thank you!

Papa saw a license plate holder last week that said, " Only the best Dads are called Papa". That's why we call him big Papa!!!

You have outgrown your puj tub for the sink. Well..size wise you still fit but you were too active. And you figured out how to turn the water on and off. We are now giving you baths in the tub w one of us.

You always jump when we pull the shower curtain back. Always.

Bedtime still consists of the L-O-V-E song, jammies, recapping our day, swaddle and feed to sleep. You are almost always asleep by 7 and don't wake up to play until 6:30am.

That isn't to say you don't wake up.

I'm starting to think your nighttime wake-ups are a product of co-sleeping and not much else. I am there, you stir, decide you want a drink and 5-10mins later you are knocked out and we both fall asleep again. Is my sleep interupted, yes. Is yours? Not sure. Can I imagine you in another room at nights yet, no. Both of us think it seems more natural to have you with us and so we do.

I think for most intents and purposes you don't need a book to care for a baby. You just do what feels natural and usually that's the best thing for everyone involved. I know this doesn't always work but for the most part this is how we have gone about it and have been happy. Yes, I own tons of books on the subject but am learning instinct is my best tool.

You are starting to recognize your name...although we fear you think your name is "nutty". What if you grow up and people call you Nutty, or Nutzies or Do Do? Nutty Porter...I guess it works.

I think you are starting to finally gain some weight and you are wearing 3-6mos clothing. Although some of your long onesies are still 0-3.

You and I do this thing where either one of us will start making little cooing noises and the other one will intimidate the other. You definitely are on to the game. It's so fun..like we are singing a duet together.

You went to Hawaii this last month. You lucky baby.

You sucked on a strange lady's hand on a plane once (she said she had just washed and didn't mind).

Also a crazy french flight attendant begged to hold you so I let her and she proceeded to greet everyone entering the plane with you..Saying you were Delta's youngest flight attendant.

So many people in airports reach out for you like I am just going to hand you over. Umm, I don't think so! Every once in a blue moon...but is that normal? Hi I am a stranger and you have no idea if I am a nice person..please hand me your baby so I can breath on her and possibly kidnap her. Thanks but no thanks.

Lately I am getting worried that you are bored. I know I am crazy. It's me getting use to the simple interaction that a baby needs. We play on the floor, go for walks, read books, dip our toes in the pool, sing songs, bounce in your bouncer, practice sitting up, you get independent play time, attack each other like we are eating the other one for dinner, snuggle, kiss....and yet sometime I find myself asking your Papa when he leaves for work what we should do while he's gone. Unless he's home to help I can only really work when you are asleep which is on and off for about 3hrs a day. Otherwise I feel guilty doing anything but tend to you while you are awake. I live for you and care more about your and Papa's well being above anything else but the truth is..sometimes the days feel long. Being a Mom is full time.

I'm always a little sleep deprived. My sense of style has flown out the window. Doing my hair is the last thing I have time for. A stack of papers grows in the office. I catch you licking our cement floors and I don't always stop you. I am on my iphone too much. I should be productive when you go to sleep and instead I want to watch the John Adams HBO series with your dad.

I'm far from perfect..but my  love for you is.

Lately after you fall asleep on me eating, before bedtime..I will roll you into the crook of my arm and just look at you. I get really close so I can smell you and feel your breath and I am filled with shooting star exploding kind of love. My eyes get kind of misty and I try to decide if the size of your head is really as big as it seems to me. When did you grow so big? You are not my newborn anymore...but in the dim light of our bedroom with you in the crook of my arm and my eyes kind of squinted I can see the same face I saw February 18th 2011 at 10:27pm. I see those cheeks and those eyes. I see you. And then I try to decide if I should just stay awake all night staring at you because you might not fall asleep in my arms for very much longer. Surely staying up all night staring at you and wondering at the wonder you are would be a good idea?...It's a dilemma every night.

Shooting star exploding kind of love for my Nova. My Super Nova.

Travel Schedule

As of now this is a list of the travel we will be doing between now and the end of the year:

  • Boston- Oct 7-11th
  • New Orleans- Oct 20-24th
  • Salt Lake City- Nov 3-5th
  • Sydney, Australia- Nov 10-13th
  • Byron Bay, Australia- Nov 14th
  • Christchurch/South Island, New Zealand- Nov 15-23rd
  • New York City- Dec 1-5th

Of course I already have some shooting days booked but have a few free days open if anyone is interested.

Email me at info@rachelthurston.com with inquiries.

Melissa + Doug's Wedding

Not only did two people get married this day but two kiddos got a new dad. How awesome is that? Kids just add something to a wedding day that is missing without them.

A great family. I couldn't be happier for them.

Thank you so much for inviting me to document your day and thank you for all the delicious desserts at your wedding!!

(how amazing is that backyard for a reception?!)

32,400 Minutes

(some of my favorite feeding photos since birth. Taken by Grant, myself and the 1st one by my sister Anna.)

3 hours a day

21 hours a week

90 hours a month

540 hours in 6 months

22 1/2 days of strait breastfeeding since birth.

I have almost spent an entire month since she has been born just feeding her.

If you've ever wondered why new moms talk about breastfeeding so much, the numbers above are why.

Everyone's experience with breastfeeding is different. For us, once we made it past the first 3 weeks we were golden. So convenient. So comforting. Keeps us close. We love it. It is a lot of work and time (see numbers above) so part of me is glad 6 months of feeding is behind us but a larger part of me is kind of sad that so many months have already past.

Transitioning into motherhood is not nearly as strange as some may imagine it to be. I had always hoped breastfeeding would feel normal and it has.

Bodies are just knocking my socks off this year.

And while I'm crunching numbers.. if breastfeeding is suppose to burn and extra 500 calories a day that's 11,000 calories that should be missing from my bod. Somehow the baby's home has managed to hang on for dear life. Sometimes when we are rolling around on the ground together and she comes upon her old home (ie: belly mush) she will start rooting around and sucking like it's another body part altogether. I can't decide if the joke is on her or me.

Today my little munchkin is 6months old. I have single single-handedly kept her alive with my body for 16 entire months. I think that deserves a huge prize!!..Maybe the prize is a baby that has survived for 16 entire months.

6month photos and thoughts coming soon. Just had to rely those numbers since today is a landmark day.

What are your thoughts on breastfeeding? Did it work for you and your babes?

The Cripe Family

One of my very favorite families of all time.

When Whitney and I were emailing back and forth about our 30min shoot she wrote, ".. being cute and tanned and blonde is their adaptive survival strategy.." referring to her adorable sons.

I would say things seem to be working in their favor.

Love all four of you!

Caitlin + Adam, 30min Photoshoot

My super hot cousin Caitlin is marrying this awesome dude come November. When I was in SLC I had an extra 30mins of time to fit in some engagement photos. 30 minutes was the perfect amount of time. We were able to shoot everything and then some without me feeling like I was rushed or giving them the short end of the stick. I will definitely be taking this in to account when scheduling future shoots. If I can shoot what I need too in less time then it means more time with my family. I always say yes to more time with my family.

(My two favorite shots are the 5th image, with her peaking out from behind his shoulder and the 5th BW one, a close up. Both super simple with pretty light. What are you favorite shots?)

Jen & Dylan's Wedding

Those photos of Jen on the beach, I LOVE. This is proof that you can shoot at the beach midday.

What a fun wedding. There's something that always gets me about big beefy grooms and itty bitty brides. It's just so adorable.

A big thanks to my sister Anna for assisting and an even bigger thanks to Jen and Dylan for having me come along for the ride.

LA Temple ceremony and reception at Tesoro Del Valle recreation center in Valencia.

Days Shorter

"A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights

longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier,

the past forgotten, and the future worth living for."

- Author Unknown

Maui Babe

Our native Hawaiian princess

Papa gathering plumeria for his girls

Buttermilk banana pancakes with macadamian nuts and coconut syrup

Loco moco, fried rice and 2 eggs over medium (w/ hot sauce)

Road side grilled fish sandwich with pineapple!

Anything we put near our mouths you want in yours

Yes those are boy shorts, no we don't care

You thought you liked it....

..but then you didn't. I'm sure me smothering you with kisses totally helped.

Piggys on a sleeping babe

Thanks Harper for the swimsuit hand-me-down!!! We love it!

Your 1st Hawaii friend, Ella. Born 2 days after you.

If you haven't noticed, we kiss her A LOT.

Jr. IP (island princess).

The view from our hotel room

The view from the hotel bed..

Can you guess which one we liked better?

Maui was great and we always love spending time in the islands...but this trip there was only one sight we cared much about.

At Home

We haven't been at home much lately..so lounging lazy on our bed is few and far between.

The nutty takes her 7th plane ride since birth today.

Travel with a baby can be exhausting and we're all looking forward to spending some time at home after a long weekend of shooting.

I kind of wish I could spend 8hrs a day rolling around on this bed with her, don't you?

Auntie Anna

My sister came to stay with us for a month. She was majorly helpful. I think one of the hardest tasks of new parents is finding time to prep food, eat food and clean up the mess. She cooked for us, shopped for us and cleaned for us!! I was in heaven.

Nova is pretty much obsessed with her. They had dance parties and played together while we went out for the 1st time on a date. Every time Anna walked into the room she got huge gummy smiles.

We celebrated her last night here by having a surf and turf dinner and taking a walk to our nearby park.

I loved having her around because it felt like home. The days when I lived in the same house with all my sisters and brothers....seems so long ago.

We love you Ann-Banan! Miss you already!

5 Months

You turned 5 months old on the 18th.

This months photo shoot was not super fancy. Dad was at work, you gave me 5mins and wanted to MOVE the entire time.

You love to shake and bake.

You can't crawl yet but inch around on the floor.

I'm not sure how you do it but you can get to anything you want with a series of back arches, worm crawls and constant rolling.

Sitting on my legs use to be plenty of space but now I feel like you are expanding and our house is getting smaller.

You can sit on your own for a few seconds at a time.

Your hair looks so RED in these photos! How fun!!! PLEASE be a redhead.

This was the month of wanting to put everything in your mouth.

Grab, pull, put in mouth, slobber...in that order.

One word: teething.

Two words: no sleep

You were such a dreamy sleeper 0-3mos but then 4mos hit and we could finally relate to sleep deprived parents. So this month was a tiny bit more rough than others..but we still live for your happiness.

We felt a tooth that had squirmed it's way through your gums but then it disappeared!

At 4months you only weighed 11lbs. and at your 5mos appt 12.7lbs. You are on track developmentally so the consensus is You're petite. Who would have thought!?

Some said I should start solids but it didn't feel right so we didn't.

You giggle when we kiss your belly.

You smile non-stop. Except when you have to go to sleep.

At first when Gma T said you were "high-maintenance" it was hard to hear...because to me you were so easy..but the truth is you are high-maintenance but only when it comes to comfort. You rarely fall asleep in our arms. You ask to be swaddled and binkied before you slumber. And the white noise still reigns supreme. It's work..and makes it hard for us to be out and about during nap time but if it's what you still need then we will give it to you.

You did wean yourself from the swing this month. Yay!

Now time to ditch the swaddle & binky. Do we rip like a band-aid or gently pull?

You move around so much while you bathe, I don't think it will work to wash you in your puj tub for much longer.

We didn't take as many photos this month (photographer and Mom fail). I was just too tired.

Love that huge gummy smile!

Since I worked more this month you had more time with papa.

You started going on fun adventures in our yard with him. He lets you touch all the plants and you smile.

When I am away and he feeds you pumped bottles you now want to hold the bottle with both your hands.

Feet in your mouth! Feet in your mouth!

Changing your diapers is hard because I have to pry your toes out of your mouth in order to do it..and you are determined to keep them in.

You tell us when you are getting tired now by rub rub rubbing your eyes and getting chatty. The sound level of your chatter increases as you get more tired.

I love that you TELL us what you want. You know what you need and when you need it. We don't have to guess very often.

Your Aunt Anna came to stay for a whole month. It was awesome.

Your dad and I went on our 1st outing together and without you. Anna was your first babysitter. We saw Harry Potter and I checked my phone every 30secs.

I think you're starting to recognize your name.

You are starting to remember things...like what certain toys can do or games we play together. I love the look of anticipation that comes across your face.

Fun game we just started, "If I am your mama give me a kiss...if I am your mama give me a hug..."

You are 100% our Nutty. We are pretty sure this nickname will last. You are also my sweetsies, my precious, Nov's and the Do-Do's

Feeding is so much fun.

You have started to touch my face while you eat. I couldn't call it a stroke...more like a grab, scratch or pinch...but it melts me.

Sometimes you want your fingers in my mouth while you eat and I get to nibble on the tips of your fingers.

Sometimes you want your fingers in YOUR mouth at the same time you are eating. Hard to make that one work.

Spent a night away from you shooting a wedding in SF. It was hard.

Shot quite a bit this month so we spent more time away from each other. It was hard.

I had someone tell me in not so many words that "most" Moms don't have such hard time being away from their babies (like I needed help!). I was shocked, offended and then laughed it off. I am SOOOOOOO glad that I have the problem of wanting to be close to my child than the opposite. SO glad. I need breaks like everyone else and I take them but having you as close to me as possible feels the most natural. I need it and so do you. Maybe it has to do with us breastfeeding but whatever it is I love it and hope we always want to be close to each other. Always.

We still look at you with such wonder. How could anything be this beautiful...this perfect?

I thought I would miss all of your ages so much once they passed but I love who you are, in the moment, so much that I can't imagine you ever loving you more before or after....but it seems my love grows. Is that even possible?! When you were born I was completely 100% devoted and in love with you. I'm starting to think a parents love can't be quantified. I even think the word "love" doesn't do the description justice.

Until I discover a new word to describe the all consuming way I feel, just know, I love you my sweet daughter. More than anything.

Amanda + Tommy's Wedding

Wedding season is upon us...or at least my household..and this was my first wedding back post baby!! Can I just tell you how good it felt to get my wedding day on? With my trusty camera in hand and daylight in abundance I was back. The babe hung with her favorite pops and I kicked it with Amanda and Tommy.

These two are pretty great. They were so laid back and "go with the flow". Amanda was the opposite of bridezilla and Tommy's true self showed itself on the dance floor.

When I tweeted a week or so ago about leaving weddings feeling like a cousin, this was the wedding I was thinking about. Love these families. LOVE.

I should also mention that these two were moving to NYC right after the honeymoon. I am pouting at home. Wish I could come with. No offense Long Beach but New York City is probably the best city in the world.

Wishing Amanda and Tommy the happiest marriage in the universe!

Michelle & Film

I love how forgiving film is with highlights. I can overexpose almost any film 2 stops...not so with digital my friends.

All shot with the hasselblad 501cm, 80mm lens, ilford 3200 and portra 400. (Thanks to Richards Photo Lab for the processing and scans. I didn't do any adjustments or crops..they did all the post work for me!)

...but who really cares how I shot this and with what camera? I think what matters most was the pretty light and the red curls.

Digital Memorys

[vimeo 26415684 w=800 h=450] I photographed Amanda and Tommy's wedding a few weeks ago....Digital Memorys did a great job on their video!

I find it so intriguing watching them in motion as I photographed them in stills. So great to see the laughing.

It's fun to shoot weddings.

Posting favorites from their wedding soon.

Balance

(Some of my favorite stills from our shoot with Josh)

Balance seems to be #1 thing on our minds these days. Balancing time as a couple, as a mother, as a business owner & as an individual is no easy thing.

I often find myself feeling guilty for feeling like I am only able to 50% of what I would like to give in any given area. I'm sure sleep deprivation doesn't help...

Time to deep clean my life. I don't have time to give attention to things that don't matter long term. I need to outsource more, ask for help and not be afraid to LET GO of tasks that are taking me away from feeling my best.

What have you "let go" so you could prioritize the things that mattered most to you? Do tell.

Our Nutty

Toes are the most delicious right now.

All is well for our little family. I am prepping for a wedding I am shooting these weekend in SF. I will be away from the wee one for 24hrs...my first night away! So needless to say I am a "pumping' maniac storing up the goods for her and Papa.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer. It seems to be happening so fast, right?