a thousand words

today.

Life (pregnancy, end of the school year, birthdays, house guests) got the best of me and this blog I love fell by the wayside.  I miss it here.  I saw this little exercise in a few other places 'round the internet and thought it would help motivate me to post!

TODAY 

Outside my window... Berk plays happily and red-faced with 3 neighborhood boys.  summer!

I am thinking... about my college girlfriends and how much I enjoyed their fine company this past weekend.  I am in withdrawal.

I am thankful for... an ocean breeze coming through that open window.

From the kitchen... its cupboards are bare.   Trader Joe and I need a quick rendezvous.

I am wearing... black comfy pants and black v-neck.  maternity clothes are a must right now.  

I am creating... life.  At 22 weeks, I am feeling baby BOY harris move all around.  It's reassuring and I am falling in love already!

I am going... to take the kids to the pool this afternoon, followed by a simple dinner and an early bedtime.

I am reading... this talk.  And this happy reminder.

I am hoping... the DVR didn't erase my SYTYCD from last week.  I still don't know the results.

I am hearing... charlotte awake and playing/singing in her room when she should be napping. 

Around the house... its picked up and clutter-free for the cleaners to come and clean. mondays are my fresh start.

One of my favorite things... summer.  have I professed my love for it lately?  I could not be happier right now with our lazy mornings, pool time, freedom from schedules, and the late setting sun.

A few plans for the rest of the week... packing, driving up I-15, eating fresh farm peaches, & giving my mom and dad a big hug.

I'd love to hear about your today! 

xxo

 

I behold beauty.

I absolutely adored photographing Morgan tonight.  (Not MY Morgan.. but a younger, much prettier, female Morgan!)  She absolutely glows from the inside out.  

Behold for yourself.

work it, girl!

my new favorite. of all.

towards the end of the shoot, morgan's mom arranged for some "favorites" to be included.  A wonderful idea and way to capture this fleeting moment in time.   I think morgan might like red velvet Sprinkles as much and I do...

a few favorite friends too...

wow.  that was fun.  have I mentioned lately how much I love this job?

xxo

 

it's no wonder...

...I have been napping three times a day.

...I crave fatburger and lemon madeleines.

...I've been neglecting my blog & my computer in fact.

...my clothes don't fit quite right.

...the neighbors wondered if I disappeared for good.

...Charlotte has developed an unhealthy relationship with the television.

...I went to the grocery store for bread and milk and forgot THE MILK.

...I've been walking around with a secret smile on my face.

I have been busy creating new life!  Morgan and I couldn't be more delighted about it.  We feel incredibly blessed to be welcoming a new child in October.

the bean @ 7 weeks

a short 5 weeks later!  @ 12 weeks.  

While the ultrasound is not that clear, there is a head and a body and hands and eyes shown there.  The transformation in such a short period of time never ceases to amaze me.  

I'm almost 16 weeks along right now and feeling much improved.   Second trimester bliss is upon me!  

xxo

 

thoughts on a fading mother's day

It's late on mother's day and I am wide awake.  My 1.5 hour guilt free (thanks morgan!) nap is to blame, I suppose.  

Today has been wonderful.  I've been showered with love, affection and service by my kids and husband.  Sleeping in until 8:30.  Crepes with strawberries and creme.  Handmade cards, little books and a poem in spanish.  After church there was more sleep and another delicious meal by chef morgan. This time salmon, roasted red potatoes, rice, & spinach salad.   I didn't touch a dish or a mess all day.  heaven!

I've felt pampered all day, but that is not all that has made today wonderful.  I have loved the introspection and examination of young motherhood.  Life with kids 7,4 & 3 is nuts.  No question and no surprise there.  The driving, the messes, the meals, the tears all blow through my life in whirlwind.  Somedays I'm not sure which way is up.   But, I honestly wouldn't choose any other life but my own.  I love my little people.  I love Berk, Stellie and Char until my heart just bursts.   The blessings that I enjoy because of motherhood are countless and priceless.  

I know these days of charlotte's little voice, stella's snuggles and berk's excitement to have me work in his classroom will someday end.   Today I resolved once again to not wish it away, but savor every last messy moment.

A quote to sum it up (thanks Jen!!!) by Erma Bombeck (1969):  

A young mother writes:  "I know you've written before about the empty nest syndrome, that lonely period after the children are grown and gone. Right now I'm up to my eyeballs in laundry and muddy boots.  The baby is teething; the boys are fighting.  My husband just called and said to eat without him, and I fell off my diet.  Lay it on me again, will you?"

OK.  One of these days, you'll shout, "Why don't you kids grow up and act your age?"  And they will.  Or, "You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do... and don't slam the door!"  And they won't.

You'll straighten up the boys' bedroom neat and tidy:  bumper stickers discarded, bedspread tucked and smooth, toys displayed on the shelves.  Hangers in the closet.  Animals caged.  And you'll say out loud, "Now I want it to stay this way." And it will.

You'll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn't been picked to death and a cake with no finger traces on the icing, and you'll say, "Now, there's a meal for company."  And you'll eat it alone.

You'll say, "I want complete privacy on the phone.  No dancing around.  No demolition crews. Silence!  Do you hear me?"  And you'll have it.

No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti.  No more bedspreads to protect the sofa from damp bottoms.  No more gates to stumble over at the top of the basement steps.  No more clothespins under the sofa.  No more playpens to arrange a room around.

No more anxious nights under a vaporizer tent.  No more sand on the sheets or Popeye movies in the bathroom.  No more iron-on patches, rubber bands for ponytails, tight boots or wet knotted shoestrings.

Imagine.  A lipstick with a point on it.  No baby-sitter for New Year's Eve. Washing only once a week.  Seeing a steak that isn't ground.  Having your teeth cleaned without a baby on your lap.

No PTA meetings.  No more car pools.  No blaring radios.  No one washing her hair at 11 o'clock at night.  Having your own roll of Scotch tape.

Think about it.  No more Christmas presents out of toothpicks and library paste. No more sloppy oatmeal kisses. No more tooth fairy. No giggles in the dark. No knees to heal, no responsibility.

Only a voice crying, "Why don't you grow up?" and the silence echoing, "I did."

I'm glad to have days of reflection like today.  Naturally, I reflected on my own mother.  I often think of her when I am at my wit's end.  She had 6 kids in 13 years!  She made it through gracefully and somehow I have only happy memories of my mother as a child.  I once ask her how she did it... (especially when her third and fourth boys came 13 months apart) her reply?  "I can't remember!"  Maybe selective amnesia is the key to my sanity?  ;)

Happy Mom's Day.

xxo

our lucky charm

They say the third time's the charm.  We felt quite lucky to have Charlotte Blair come to our family on May 3, 2006.  Now, three years later, we feel even luckier.  

I interviewed the family today asking, "Tell me three reasons you love Charlotte?"

Stella (older sister, by 19 months)

1. Because we jump on the trampoline together.

2. Because she's pretty!

3. Because when we watch a show together, she is quiet and doesn't bother me. :D

Berk (big brother)

1. She's really funny and I like her laugh.

2. I like how she sings ring around the rosie and then "cows are in the meadow, eading buddewcups, falers, falers we all stand UP!"

3. I love Charlotte when she snuggles me in my bed.

Mom

1.  I love her sweet voice.  I've mentioned before, it melts me!  (Lately, Charlotte has taken to singing the Hymns at church very LOUDLY.  She knows no words and I bust up laughing every week.)

2.  I love how agreeable she is.  I often hear "ok mommy!" or "great idea!"  when I ask her to do something.  Crossing my fingers that this lasts.

3.  I love that she's a girly girl.  Dress ups and dolls are her favorites.  Stella was never much for those things, so all of the hand-me-downs are getting some use. 

Dad

1. I love how easily she goes to sleep.

2. When I come home from work, Charlotte is always the first one to run to me and say "Daaaaady's Hoooommme!"

3. I love lately watching Stella and Charlotte play together.  It's really cool to watch. 

We love you Charby!    Happy third birthday, sweet girl.

edited to add video:  charlotte in living color.  caught on camera phone and posted by my sis- traci.  Charlotte Whistles

{senior} sneak peek

I had the great chance to meet kelsey (and her mom, dad, best friend & dog!  hi guys!) this week for my twist on the senior portrait.  Kelsey had seen & liked my work about a year ago, then wasn't happy with the cookie cutter school portraits... that's when I was called in.  I love a girl who knows what she wants!   

meet kelsey...

{green eyes to match the green grass}

{a gorgeous profile}

You worked it, supermodel!  It was a pleasure spending time with you.

There's much more to come...

xxo

a birthday to remember

April 19th is Camille's Birthday.  Sunday we celebrated 2 years since she came into our lives.  What a treasure she was to have on the earth, and what an inspiration she is to us now in heaven.   We chose to remember Camille's sweet life with a small celebration.

We ate our traditional Sunday night meal in the dining room, surrounded by blue balloons. Camille's eyes were an incredible shade of blue-- so they inspired our color choice.  

We all took a moment to write a thought on a piece of paper and attach it to a balloon.  I wrote a memory I had of Camille, and a small act of service I intend to do in her honor.  Morgan did the same.  The kids drew pictures of themselves with Camille and wrote things like "When my friends ask to play with me, I will smile and let them" (Berk) and "I will give my brother and sister a hug" (Stella).  Nothing extraordinary, just small things to make other's lives a little happier.

After dinner we went outside to release the balloons in our backyard.  It was a gorgeous night.  75 degrees and a slight ocean breeze.  The kids played happily, shooting hoops and jumping on the trampoline until we were ready to let our balloons fly.

{my good man}

{almost ready...}

While letting go, we all said "Happy Birthday Camille!" & "We love you Camille!"

We laid in the grass and watched the balloons twist and float away.  I felt a great peace in that moment.

We ended our little celebration with cupcakes-- because what's a birthday without cupcakes. More specifically, Sprinkles Cupcakes (those were for YOU steph)!  

We miss Camille's happy face.  I had a moment of sadness sunday thinking of all the fun Charlotte and Camille would have had growing up together (they were 11 months apart).  The kids adore their cousins.  All of them.   Though the tears still fall from time to time, I can always find peace in the knowledge that we WILL be with Camille again someday.  Until then, there will be balloons and cupcakes every April 19th!

xxo

 

notice anything new?

Finally.  Finally I have thrown off the shackles of procrastination and my website is live!!!

So, grab a cup of whatever you fancy and browse away.

I hope you enjoy.

{fancy dancy, spanking new elizabeth harris photography website}  

xxo!

 

lylalous

Morgan kicked me off (well, I agreed) the couch in the middle of American Idol (well, it IS two hours long) to get his Lost fix.  So, I am left to blog.  You can thank my husband.  ;)  

I had a different opportunity to do some commercial shooting.  My great friend Lizzie makes very hip and comfortable(!) headbands/clips for girls-- LylaLous.  So, we gathered our "models" and set out to create some fun images for the new (and not quite released) LylaLou website.  This was a new adventure for me, and I was surprised at how much I  absolutely LOVED it.

Just about the cutest group of girls ever.

the raw materials.

perfect features on this little one.

the hair!  the skin!  the eyes!  oh my!

my favorite.

Thanks for the opportunity, Lizzie and Chelsea!  

xxo

crunchy.

this blog has gone stale!  i've lost my blogging mo jo!  It's shameful, I tell you.  Shameful!

So....I'm jumping back in today.  Breaking the seal.  rehydrating.  warming up the 'ol fingers again on my keyboard.   I think I'll go back to the basics today, by trying to capture a moment in time with one of my favorite little people on planet earth.  

Charlotte.

She is talking up a storm and her little voice is irresistable.  I overheard a bit of this conversation last night over a wahoo's chicken bowl, but Morgan wrote it all down.  His words...

Charby is growing up so fast.  At Wahoos tonight, Charby turned to me and said, “Daddy, how was work today?”  then, “Daddy, what did you do at work today?” then I asked her what she did today and she said, “I went school, I played outside, I ate food.  All the things that I love to do.” 

I had to stop myself and say, “holy cow – did I just have a full blown conversation with her?  Initiated by her?  Where have I been?” 

I sure love you, miss char char.

xo

-mom