Abby’s Saturday // One Hundred Sixty-One

Highlight of the Week

I am still happy-sighing/getting lost-in-the-clouds/day-dreaming about last Saturday. I have to confess, I was a little nervous about photographing my cousin’s wedding. ONE – no pressure, right?! TWO – would I actually be able to enjoy myself or would I view it more as “work” than my cousin‘s wedding? Well, I’m happy to report that I thoroughly enjoyed the entire day!! I loved being part of everyone getting ready, I loved the little “behind-the-scenes” moments with Zeb & Emilie before & after the ceremony. I loved putting my camera down during certain songs at the reception & dancing. And I loved picking my camera up and photographing everyone else tearing up the dance floor! I literally can not imagine the day any other way – it was amazing and wonderful and perfect and *happy sigh*.

If you missed Zeb & Emilie’s wedding day highlight post, you can go back & see it here (to see what I mean about how amazing the day was!)

Yes, This Happened

• Derrick published a new roller coaster video on his YouTube channel this week, did you see it? He writes all his own music to accompany his coaster videos, and this theme is one of my favorites yet! Check it out here!
• I had a dentist appointment this week. Since Braelynn is now 2 1/2, my dentist suggested she come along to this appointment. They’d like to see her after she turns 3, so this was a chance for her to see what the dentist is like & (hopefully) be cool in 6 months when we go back & it’s her turn to sit in the chair! She did really good! My dentist suggested someone come with me for her to sit with, and so Derrick came straight from work. He arrived a few minutes after my appointment started though, so Braelynn was super brave & sat by herself for a few minutes! I’m so proud of her! She was rewarded with stickers and a prize from the prize box, so I’m pretty sure she’ll be excited to go back!
• Wednesday morning got off to a rough start. I found a puddle of pee on the floor (potty training – it’s the worst) and while I was cleaning that up, Braelynn got into lotion I had on the bathroom counter & smeared it all over her bedroom walls. It was only 10am and I was done. I was texting my woes to Derrick & I was hoping that his response would be: “It’s okay babe, you got this, you’re a great Mom, just make it till I come home & I’ll take over & give you some time off.” Instead, he responded, “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Go make chocolate chip cookies.” So, we did. And the day turned around. We got the pool out and spent the afternoon eating chocolate chip cookies & splashing in the pool.
• Braelynn has been super into “hiding” recently – meaning, she likes it when we take all the cushions off of the couch & create a blanket tent. It’s her new favorite thing (hence this week’s Abby’s Saturday photo!)
• On Thursday afternoon, we were back out at the pool, when Derrick got home. Braelynn is always so excited to see Derrick! Every day when she hears him arrive, she runs to the door, yelling: “Daddy!! Daddy!! Daddy!!” Since we were outside, we saw him pull up, and as he opened the gate, she ran down the sidewalk, arms outstretched, calling “Daddy!!” And that’s when she got going a little too fast and tripped. We were instantly there, scooping her up – but she’d skinned up both knees. Poor kiddo!
• On Sunday, after Zeb & Emilie’s wedding, Braelynn & I were able to go over to my grandparent’s house & visit for a few hours with my Great Aunt & Great Uncle + their daughter & her hubby from Ohio! I love my Aunt Nellie & Uncle Laymon so much: they used to come visit a few times every summer & 2 summers in a row, I went home with them & spent a few weeks at their house when I was little (like 7/8 years old). It was absolutely wonderful to see them (since I was a little busy at the wedding & unable to really see or visit with any of the extended family who was here).
• We have the BEST neighbors ever. Like, seriously – the bomb. Last night, while we were out playing in our back yard, they came over & gave Braelynn a mini-keyboard (they’ve given us so many toys & clothes that their little girl has grown out of). They are seriously the most generous people & I’m so inspired by them. Braelynn is in love with her little keyboard (although, she keeps calling it “my tuba”?) and we’ve set it up next to Daddy’s big keyboard. She’s absolutely obsessed & it’s so much fun!

Feeling Blessed

Today is the first Saturday I’ve had “off” in a few weeks. Over the last 4 weeks, I’ve photographed 5 weddings, 2 newborns, a 6 month old, a 1 year old, and 3 seniors. It’s been crazy. And (somehow) I’ve completely stayed on top of everything. I have a little bit of editing left in my queue, but for the most part almost everything has been edited & delivered. WHEW. I have never been so excited for a weekend off in my life!