Auntie Shai meets Emerson

Yesterday I met my sweet little nephew Emerson for the first time.  My brother and his girlfriend Shawntel made the long journey from northern Alberta down to southern BC with their little bundle.  Chris, my mum and dad and I drove up to Osoyoos and met them for a visit in the afternoon.  

I am smitten.  For sure.  

Little Emerson is just 9 days old in these pictures.  

 He even had some cuddles with Uncle Chris! 

I was looking forward to meeting Shawntel for the first time too.  We had a really nice visit and it makes me happy to see how in love with my brother Micah she is.  

Little yawn faces are the best.  He would also make the sweetest little squeak noises.  Kind of like a little baby chick.  Too cute. 

They are such a cute little family. 

I am so glad that I got to meet this little one as a newborn.  It just made my month.  I can't wait to watch him grow up and develop his own little personality.  Micah has promised me Skype dates with him.  That will make me happy since we're like 20 hours apart.  I am so excited to be an Auntie!!  

Now, what are the best little baby boy gifts??  I'm so new at this!  I don't know what to get them! :D 

OLW: flourish

My one little word for 2012 is flourish.  This is my second year picking a 'one little word' to guide and mold my life in the year to come.  Last year was full of changes and big beginnings...this year will be about settling into my new routines and choices and thriving within them.

Flourish --  verb:  

1. to be in a vigorous state; to thrive
2. to be in it's or in one's prime; to be at the height of excellence
3. to be successful; to prosper
4. to grow luxuriantly, or to thrive in growth
5. to make dramatic sweeping gestures
6. to decorate or add embellishment

synonyms: exist in abundance, overflow, thrive, accomplish, increase, intensify, garnish, display, swish, curlicue.  

 I have had a couple weeks sitting with my word now in this new year.  I knew this was my word as soon as it hit me, but I have struggled a bit with writing about it.  It is important to me to document this journey and to see what good things this word may bring into my life.  To delve into the ways I can be effected and affected by choosing this word.  So I've been sitting with it and collecting my thoughts, but today I want to share.  I want to put a voice to my intentions, to claim and to invite this word.  

A favorite quote I have discovered is from Barbara Smith. 

"Where trust is, love can flourish." 

I hope that this word has a powerful impact on my relationships.  With my husband especially.  This year we will celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary and my love for this man just keeps on growing.  And I want that to continue... I want our love to flourish here in our new home, in the life we have made for ourselves.  I also want to be more present within my friendships.  To make real connections and accept and love and encourage those around me.

I also want to flourish spiritually... I feel that this is a process that I began last year with getting back into the pioneer work and I want to continue to set and reach my spiritual goals.  Being active in the ministry work makes me feel like my life means something, like the work I do is worthwhile.  The greatest gift I can give is of myself and my time.  I want to give my best to Jehovah.  I want to grow and thrive in this area of my life.

There is also great opportunity for adding flourish within my home.  Being a new homeowner is so exciting and I am eager to continue to decorate and make our house a home we are proud of.  I have plans to turn our guest room into a bit of a music studio space for Chris, and ideas for utilizing that big wall in our living/dining room.  I can literally "add flourish" here.

I am also on a bit of a journey with my health (another post about this coming sometime soon) and I want to invite the thought of flourishing into this space as well.  Its been a difficult battle with figuring out what is wrong and exactly how my body works in relation to the foods I eat.  I have not been making the best choices, but this is changing.  And I can already feel my body changing.  I want to flourish physically and be healthy.  I want my eyes to shine again.

Throughout the year I plan on collecting things that relate to my word on a Pinterest board I've created just for it.  I am excited to see it morph and change and collect things, maybe even unexpected things.  You're welcome to follow me there and watch the journey unfold.

I chose this word because it just took hearing it one time to know it was the right word.  I think it chose me. My mind started spinning with all the ways it could present in my life, and I am glad to have some of my intentions and goals written down in this space.  I'm sure I will share throughout the year little ways that I am flourishing.  I am glad to be on this journey.

Did you pick a One Little Word this year?  

What are you inviting into your life? 

Project Three Sixty Five

Its been a few weeks since I shared my Project 365 pictures, but we have been taking them.  I can't believe we've been keeping up with this project for 6 whole months now.  I am so proud of us!! 

I won't share all the weeks that didn't get posted, but the last couple would be fun to share. :) 

This week was full of: new candles from overnight guests we had, free 6" sub from Subway cuz I had enough points, Chris got his eyes checked and picked out glasses, then he strained his eyes some more playing Assassin's Creed, my cousin Hannah's new business card at her new salon, magnet poetry for our fridge, and 28 degree weather but still no snow. 

This week was full of:  before and afters of new hair, eating lots of grapes, chocolate gifts from Chris' customers, my camera collection unpacked, fresh baked banana bread, reading Jasmine* 's Exposed magazine, and Chris' glasses came in (he looks so handsome, and he can see now!!) 

This week was full of:  trying to catch the stupid mouse, my favorite place to get coffee (and what turned out to be my last cup of coffee ever), brand new babies, the longest Chris' facial hair has ever been, rodeo bulls back in town on "winter vacation", the offer for the month and walking around the block in the cold crisp day. 

My favorite day:  becoming Auntie Shai for sure!!  

Baby Emerson is here

Yesterday at 2:44 pm my little nephew Emerson Bradley Andre Fricke was born.  He weighed 8lb 6oz and was 21 inches tall.  I am so happy for my little brother Micah and his girl Shawntel.  Micah kept me posted via text as things were happening and all is well with both baby and mama.  I hope I get to see them soon and hold that sweet little one in my arms.  Just call me Auntie Shai.  I'm pretty excited!! :)  

Thanks to the friends who were there to take pictures.  I am treasuring these today.

This is the New Year

Welcome 2012.

begin and end

Begin:  my One Little Word for 2011.  

This word is a verb meaning: 1) to perform the first or earliest part of some action; commence; start 2) to come into existence; arise; originate 3) to be the originator of.  its synonyms include such words as: inaugurate, actualize, establish, instigate, introduce, generate, impel, open, prepare, produce, undertake, become functional. 

At the beginning of the year I introduced my word and shared my thoughts on why I had picked "begin" as my word (or why I thought it picked me).  I love how this year really has come full circle.  This is what I said in January:   

this is how i am approaching the year 2011... with the intention of opening myself up to the possibility held by this word.  i want to begin so many things, and also finish what i start.  i want to savor the beginnings of things and recognize the change they bring.  i want to "be the originator" of action and progress and movement.
i want to begin to live.

And looking back through these last 12 months I feel fulfilled in what I wanted to accomplish and even surprised in what my word brought into my life.

The Facts:  I literally began many things this year, including regular auxiliary pioneering, being a homeowner, handling stress differently, online courses to help me find my way, keeping a check register, actively encouraging others, making our house a home, learning more about my husband, designing (wedding invitations and logos this year) traveling and going on adventures, trying out recipes, doing blog makeovers again, experimenting with my hair style, collecting things on Pinterest and created my "Stop Pinning // Start Doing" posts, figuring out my photography and editing style, a 365 project with Chris for our 5th year of marriage, new friendships, rekindle old friendships, read book after book after book, and really live!

The Feelings:  I feel like this word really had a huge impact in my life.  Many things I intentionally decided and began, which let to new goals and fresh outlooks on life.  I know that being back the pioneer work has made me feel more like myself again.  I am so glad to have found my purpose in life again...to have real joy.  I have become more purposeful in my relationships, especially with my husband.  I want to be actively in love, not just married, and I feel like we have begun a new chapter as a couple.  There are also some things that I began and finished, like my 52weeks book.  That was such a precious project to me, and by selling my book throughout the year I was able to carry it with me.  And then there was the month I gave up Diet Coke; that was an undertaking that I followed through with.  Our 365 project is still alive and going strong.  I am so proud of deciding to begin that project and can't wait to finish it and hold the book in my hands.  That feeling of accomplishment is something that only comes when first you begin.

As I say goodbye to my word this year I want to remember how I feel today: refreshed, eager, ready, happy.  And that's not to say that everything is perfect right now... I'm just savoring the little things that make me happy.  I want to remember there is fear in beginning, but also a chance to learn and grow.  I want to remember to finish the things I begin and continue to incite in myself and others action, and progress and forward motion.

What a year it has been.... from beginning to end. 

SHADYlane Photography: year end

As the year comes to a close we all find that it is a time of reflection.  And I wanted to compile all of the sessions I did this year and share my favorite images.  I did this last year and it was one of my favorite posts, so I wanted to make sure and do it again for 2011.  

I really feel like I have developed and defined my style as a photographer this year.  I am so grateful to those who hired me and let me take their pictures this year.  I have grown so much, and its only through practice that I'll continue to get better and hone my skills behind the lens.  

And on to my shoots from 2011: 

Bennett Family
(largest group I've ever shot!!)  

Katie and Cody Legere wedding in Halifax, Nova Scotia 

Dear family friends, Tracy and Lisa and their sweet daughters. 

My sister Megan and her husband Siyani 

Senior Shoot 1: Rebekah

Senior Shoot 2:  Ri

Engagement shoot for Rob and Kirsten
(I shot their family pictures in 2010 too!) 

Schwartz family.  Oh what a fun shoot.  See more here. 

Jimmy and Marla Weed

Thank you for all your support throughout the year as my ever dreams of photography keep expanding.  I'd love to shoot you and your family in 2012!  Click on the SHADYlane Photography link at the top for more information.