I would have loved to do a few more outdoor shoots with this little one... With ANY newborn, really. I have some fun ideas. But April was a little iffy, weather-wise, and I often photographed Lucy during Noah's nap and without any assistance from Joe or anyone, so even if I DID bring Noah along, it would have been tough to get out on location with a bunch of props.

So. This one is really the only "formal" setup that takes place outside. In a few future shots, you'll see we were outside, but they were "snapshot days", nothing too special or "pro"... 

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A "10" List: Ten Daily Moments I Live For These Days

1. Any lounging time outside, relaxing with baby while Noah plays

2. The moment Joe gets home from work

3. Singing/prayers with Noah, just he and I

4. When I'm rocking Lucy and I see her eyes drift closed

5. The short pockets of "cute awake" Lucy gives me

6. Crawling into my bed at the end of the day, not on baby duty, knowing I get to sleep for around 3 hours in one chunk.

7. When the mail comes-- if something fun is in it. 

8. Sitting with Joe (and baby) at the end of the day and unwinding with a TV show or part of a movie.

9. Any time I am guiltlessly able to type with two hands (like right now)

10. Hot showers

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My friend Molly and I were reflecting on these insane, kinda rough early days of having a new baby, and while she and I were able to recall many of the "war stories" and such, there were many "everyday moments" that slip through the cracks as times goes on. So I want to jot down some "NOW" moments here and there so that when the details are long gone, the words are still here for me to read and remember. I'd like to write "Our Usual Day" posts now and again, like I did once or twice in the past... (no time now to go hunt them down. I might add a link later)... So that's a goal of mine. 

That's all. Baby's  cryin' and Joe's been handling it. My turn, now.

Day 18 Was April 29. No One Ever Accused Me of Being TOO Prompt. Heh.

On day 18 I wanted to try some strong black-background shots of the bebe. We started with a swaddle... The "insurance shot", ya know...

(The swaddle is "default setting" for Lucy: she is swaddled for nearly every nap, and all night. So during these first 30 days, anticipating a mini-photo session, I'd get her down to her diaper and then get her all swaddled and ready for lunch/nap. Then when she was good and asleep, she'd already be ready for her session!)

After the "insurance shot", a few of the ones I was envisioning-- Just baby and black:

I love the "almost waking up" squishy face!

But then my good girl went back to sleep:

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And having accomplished my photo goal for the day, and my good sleeper still sleeping, and Noah not napping himself and pestering me to take pictures of him, too... I scrambled for a second setup. Reswaddled the bebe, in cream this time, added a wee bow, and grabbed the cool shag rug that is destined for Lucy's nursery eventually. 

Then I cajoled and teased Noah into giving me the photos *I* wanted, not just the ones HE wanted. 

Sibling Shots? Checked OFF the checklist! Woo hoo!!

Thanks, Noah!

(If I remember correctly, this was one of the few days I did Lucy's photos before Noah's nap time, so he was around and underfoot. He'd pass the time going in and out of the screen door of our sun room/makeshift studio room, trying to sneak sticks past me into the house [family rule: you can keep sticks, but they stay OUTSIDE.]... He'd come check on my progress, sing along to the Primary songs I was usually singing to keep Lucy and myself chilled out.... He'd whisper his questions to me in a sweet attempt to help me keep her asleep... He'd try to get me to agree to all kinds of things he wanted to do, probably detecting I was distracted... And for the most part he was pesky, but in the sweetest possible way. I kind of really enjoyed having him around on those few days.)

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(I am so sorry this 30-day thing is dragging out so long! Blah! I promise I'm working to get them all done and posted so we can move forward. Y'all are probably sick of the little lady, eh?)