Beauty.....

A lot of photographers have really taken notice of this video, and I am one of them. I first saw it about a week ago. It really moved me, being a woman. A woman, who as most women always finds flaws in herself. Always feels as though there is something wrong, something to improve. From blemishes to the baby fat, from clothing choices to boobs. Yep, I said boobs. I think we love to hate ourselves. Well, maybe not. If only I could be have great skin...If only I had bigger boobs...If only this baby fat would go (yes I know I am expecting again, but you get the picture). I am a smaller framed girl, and have plenty of people who say what do you have to worry about? But the bottom line is that we will always find fault in who we are. In what we look like. We could all look different, dress better, and have perfect boobs. But would we be happy? And what determines beauty? At the end of the day, we are all beautiful. Our perseption of beauty is heavily influenced by society. And sadly, what we see is not reality. What we now consider "beautiful" is actually fake. Society has shown us what they want us to see, making our standards of beauty the unobtainable. Here is a video, that is part of the Dove Campaign . It really puts into perspective how far lost we are as to what is beautiful. I am thankful for my flaws, they remind me I am real and just a girl who is far from perfect. They give me something to work for. A better me, maybe the physical won't change...but the heart can only improve with self love and appreciation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U

Prayers and Praises

It's Friday! That is good news since it's been such a long 2 weeks. First bit of great news...we went yesterday for our 3rd ultrasound to see if baby was going to make it. And as the dr. finds the baby I see something familiar and something I know. It was a sign. A sign of life, and prayers answered. Ultrasounds are so confusing to me, half the time I have no clue what I am looking at. But yesterday, I knew as soon as I saw it that all was well. God is good and prayers for my tiny unborn child were answered. There in the screen of the ultrasound machine was a very stong, and very visible HEARTBEAT. I couldn't have asked for a better sign or better way of knowing my "dot" was ok. It was relief. And immediately a smile was on every face in that room. My dr. said to me your baby is doing wonderful, I could tell he too was relieved. As we were leaving he told me that I was ironically one of three women who had pregnancies that they were unsure of. He said he didn't know if those three babies would make it to the next visit. Want more great news? I was the last of the three to get the wonderful outcome that our unborn babies are well! Perhaps this was nothing more than just the way my body always works but we have just never seen it, but for us it was God's work. It was a little miracle. I am again SO thankful for all of you who have emailed, called, and followed my blog. I cannot even begin to tell you how many people pulled together for us. From amazing emails, calls, hugs, even meals offered. I am blessed. And forever thankful. And RSVPing for those meals when the baby arrives. lol, ok only kidding. :)

I had the wonderful priviledge of going to one of my friends/client's house last weekend to photograph her family in their environment. She has brought her 2 girls to my studio for pics before but for family I went to them. Young children just like their own environment. But this family is special to me. Their oldest child, Chase has autism. So, going to his environment was the best option for their family. We had SOOOO much fun. It was pretty hilarious watching a family giggle and laugh and fall all over the place. And lucky me to be on the other side of it with a camera. We got some great and fun pictures, and best of all her kids didn't even realize we were actually having a session. But yesterday I got an email with a request for some prayers for her dear friend. Here is the email:

I don't know if you have a prayer chain or can put in for prayer request with someone, but a friend of mine in CA just had her littlest guy diagnosed with autism. "N" is 19 months old. She has 3 boys. Her oldest "A" was diagnosed with autism 5 years ago. He is 7 now. This has been a huge blow for her and her family. Every prayer helps. I'm sure that about now she is really questioning everything. She is extremely upset because they thought they did everything right with a completely organic diet and lifestyle and N was not immunized at all! Anyway, they are getting ready to face some huge issues and will also have to face fighting the california school districts for services. Not a fun thing to do.
Anyway, any prayers offered up will be a huge help and a comfort for their family.

To learn more about autism, please visit http://www.autism-society.org/ . Please keep this family in your prayers. I cannot begin to imagine what they feel, but know we have a God that can get us through anything. If the family reads this, please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your angels. It reminds me of a post on Eliot's blog. Many have heard the story but it talks about how you are going on vacation to Italy and you end up in Holland. How you were so set on Italy and the food and culture, everything. You get to Holland mad, sad, and disappointed. But you step out of the plane and realize how beautiful Holland is. You realize you love Holland. And are thankful for it. I have faith that Holland is not where you intended to go, life takes us to many places like Holland. But once we get there we see God's beauty in it. I hope you find your Holland to be amazing. To read Eliot's Holland story, go to http://mattandginny.blogspot.com/2006_09_01_mattandginny_archive.html and scroll down to the post titled Holland.

And Holland has done well for the Hoyt's. I cry everytime I watch this video. I know that while this dad carries his son over finish lines, so does our Father carry us over ours. For anyone who did not see the post on the Hoyt's, another inspiration in my life, here is their video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4B-r8KJhlE

If you've read this far THANK YOU for listening to me ramble!

Here they are!!!

Finally let's me post the rest. Here are the rest of my Cuties!!! Everyone was soooo cute and it was loads of fun. Thanks again to everyone that helped make this first annual event a huge success. I have 2 more sessions on Monday, so there will be a couple more to share. Have a great weekend!!!

Costume Cuties!!! Part 2

I got fussed at since I had not posted round 2 of costume cuties. SO, I better get on it. My last 2 days of events sent my life into a tailspin. Here are the last of my adorable Costume Cuties!!!

And to update everyone, we went for another sonogram yesterday and saw a baby!!! 2 days before there was just a sac and yesterday there was a tiny baby forming. My progesterone levels are low, which is a bit alarming but the blessing in all this is that we caught it early and can supplement if needed. I will find out today if my levels from yesterday were still too low. And I go in next Thursday for our next sono to make sure things are progressing properly. We are still not out of danger, but things are looking good for now. Thank you all for the wonderful emails of support! I appreciate the continued kindness from my wonderful friends.

Ok....it wont let me post pics...darn it. I will be back later and try to repost.

What IS that thing???

I went to post about this yesterday, and my emotions were far too raw to post so I deleted it. I have had a night to sit on news of what "that thing" is and decided to post. I went for my annual "girl doctor" appointment on Monday (oh joy). I was late, but pregnancy tests were coming back negative. So, they did my annual and decided to do a sonogram to see if there was a problem. Well, they found several. To start they found what "could" be a pregnancy but next to it was an additional sac that was filled with fluid. They also found a good amount of fluid behind my uterus, and what appears to be several cysts on my uterus. It was all a little mysterious. My dr. ordered a blood test to make sure there was not a pregnancy so that we could start action to relieve whatever it is that is going on in there. Well, guess what?!?! That thing that "could" be a pregnancy IS!!! Yep, a Baby Menchaca...#3 to be exact. WOW, 3 is so many. lol So, now this is where we are....my hormone levels look great, right on track. But they feel as though they should have seen more of baby than they did. Now that they know what they are looking at, they are doing another sono today and more blood tests to determine if the baby is "viable". We are still unsure why there is extra fluid behind my uterus and why there is an extra sac of fluid. Hopefully we are only seeing a pregnancy in the early stages, and there is nothing wrong with the development of our little surprise. We are happy, and very, very scared. We have lost a baby once before and know how that feels. So, we are praying for a healthy baby. And while we are praying we may as well ask nicely for a girl. hehe So, that's my news. It's a baby. A surprise baby, but a baby we love already.

Costume Cuties!!! Part 1

Hi everyone!!! It's been a few since I posted, so I thought I better get to it. I have been crazy busy, but it's been a fun busy. Costume Cuties was a HUGE success on Saturday. We had a great time. Awesome costumes, goodie bags for the kids. Everything was wonderful (well, except for the fact that my neighbors teenage son rearended one of my client's parked cars. gotta love that)! So, I thought I would pop in and share a few of the images from the event.