Toby Tuesday

I was in 8th grade the day we adopted you from the animal shelter. It was a Tuesday in September. Zach and I got ready for school, but Mommy said we didn't have to go. She let us stay home that day and play with you. You were only 3 months old. We laughed when you ate a tiny piece of cauliflower off the floor and we took turns waving a small piece of string along the carpet and in the air so you would jump at it. We cheered each time you did a sideways back flip. You looked silly when you were little because your ears were the same size as your head. But you grew into them. Zach used the video camera one night and zoomed up on you, saying, "Look at that cute face."
Then he did the same to Mommy.

You were very frisky as a kitten and I think we gave you a "T" name since you had an area of orange fur on your back in the shape of that letter. I remember Daddy being disappointed that we had already given you a name before he came home from work, since he got no say in the matter. Once you were full grown, you quickly became what Mommy called "a crotchety old man" and didn't like being held, always trying to find new places to hide to sleep. Still I tried to get you to sleep on my bed. It made me so happy one night when you stayed in my room for several hours. And I was so surprised one night when I was walking into the living room. You jumped out at me from behind the blue chair, then bit my leg and ran away. Luckily I had jeans on, but it was good seeing you run around and being frisky again.

Over the past few years it was really nice as you got used to having people in and out of the house and you wouldn't hide as much. And I loved when Mommy would send me pictures of you watching Peyton closely, then running away when you realized she had learned to crawl. I wish I had been there the day you punched Jacquie in the face because she kept meowing at you and her face was down close to yours. I bet that was hilarious. Thank you for not punching me in the face when I had conversations with you as we mewed back and forth. And we cannot forget the time when Mommy brushed so much fur off of you that we were able to make another tiny kitten. Of course I had to take pictures of it around the house- even in the litter box! Thanks for helping us laugh and have so much fun that day without even trying.

I really wish I had given you an extra hug and kiss before I drove back to Orlando on Sunday night. Thank you for the kisses that you didn't mind giving each time I have come to visit over the past year and a half. Rest in Peace Tobs. We miss you so much already. June 2000 - October 2015. 

Luke & the Flying Kitty

Before this weekend, Lindsey and I got together last month just to catch up since we hadn't seen each other in about a year and a half! We had planned to take Canon pictures of her son, Luke, who is currently 2 years and 3 months, but the scheduling times didn't work with his nap schedule. So this past Saturday, a few hours after the Color Run (which we did together along with other friends) we met up again. We weren't able to go to Dudley Farms like I wanted since they closed an hour earlier than I assumed. Luckily Lindsey knew of a farm area that was having a fall festival, so we had a fun time there & Mia (not pictured- sorry best friend) came towards the end to join us. She had not seen Luke since he was a baby and loved having conversations with him.

This post is named because of Luke's awesome imagination. When I saw him on Saturday, he was outside with Lindsey and my mom. When I greeted him he said, "We're petting the kitty", referring to our outside cat, Rollo. Then he began talking about another kitty he had (I'm pretty sure they've only had small dogs), but it flew away and he wasn't able to catch it. He kept moving his finger around while pointing to the sky. I wish he had been able to meet and pet our inside cat, Toby, who died (and flew to Heaven) today after being adopted by us from the animal shelter 17 years ago. We brought him home on a Tuesday, hence his nick name, Toby Tuesday. Rest in Peace Tobas.

Botanical Gardens ~ Weston

I don't know if you're noticing a theme here with all these baby/ little kid pictures. And I already have another shoot scheduled for this weekend with my friend Lindsey and her 2 year old, Luke. You can see his 6 month old photos that I took here. But I'm getting to that age (28) where I feel like "the time is now" without trying to rush life or stress out too much about it. I feel like all the excuses we make (as humans in general, not just me and Michael) about why we aren't ready to have a baby yet are because "there is so much I still want to do with my life first". That stuff isn't going to happen anytime soon, or it can still be done with a baby. We just want to feel free and invincible now, but still don't act on it or take enough risks while we can. Doing what you want with a baby or little kid in your arms is probably even a lot better and healthier for everyone because you're experiencing life together instead of feeling like you have to be stuck inside all day watching Blue's Clues and going crazy. I want to be that cool mom pushing a stroller around the park while wearing roller blades!! Now to convince my sweet husband (who turned 27 today!) of all the positives..

Anyway, I remembered that I hadn't posted these pictures yet of Miriam's son Wes. These were from March, a couple of weeks after he turned one. Sadly, I haven't seen Miriam since then, but we've already talked about doing an updated family shoot to include her husband Garth. And here is a flashback link to the pictures of took of Miriam when she was pregnant with Wes.

I liked that Miriam brought her camera too. She has a Canon Rebel T3i, compared to our T2i, and from what I saw, her photos were fantastic. I do think she had been using hers a lot more. Maybe by this time next year I'll be getting tons of practice of my own and be a baby photography pro!!

Peyton at the Park

A couple of months ago I made another plan to visit Grandma Belva (my dad's mom) this past weekend in Naples, and took off an extra day of work to stay with her a little longer. I told my brother and, since he hadn't seen Grandma since probably my wedding over 4 years ago and she hadn't yet met Jacquie or Peyton, they decided to come along too. It was a really good time. Here are pictures taken on the Canon T2i from when we went to the park across the street last Saturday.

 (Distracted by shiny jewelry, her favorite. She almost ripped Grandma's earlobes off!)

She is 10 months and 1 week old in these pictures. I cried on the way home Monday because I missed and love Peyton so much. I can't wait for Michael and I to have a baby, but hopefully a lot sooner than 4 years, which was the outrageous time frame I kept using. Actually I need to wait a little bit. My patience has been in short supply lately. Michael says I seem to be rushing through life. And I agree. I get so frazzled and worried about everything from 2 years ago to 52 years in the future, but just need to breeeeathe and take life slowly, one day at a time. Yesterday when I was riding my bike (10.5 miles ~ wooo!) I kept repeating, "Today is a good day. Today is a good day." It was.

Fitness Shoot ~ Danielle

This week Danielle and her family are vacationing in Kissimmee, FL (about 40 minutes South of Downtown Orlando) from Birmingham, AL. I met Danielle when we worked together at Massage Envy last year. She texted me on Monday and we set plans to hang out today for a photoshoot and power walk. Since I have been in a great exercise mode since Tuesday (prepping for the Glitter Run next month) -by riding bikes 9 miles with Michael before work, and 10.7 miles by myself yesterday- and knowing Danielle had been working on her health as well, I suggested a fitness photoshoot. Another style to add to my "photography resume"! Tonight I was able to navigate around Photoshop enough to edit the photos just slightly, to make them pop.

Danielle says she has weighed around 274 for the past few years and has lost 40 pounds since this spring. (She gave me permission to post her progress numbers.) She began working out on and off since early this year, but started exercising seriously on June 1st in order to be fit and healthy. She hired a trainer who inspires her with outside running and weight lifting using 30 pound dumbbells. Danielle and her mom began their diet with Shakeology breakfast meal replacements, but it was pricey, and now she keeps her meals balanced to include, salad with grilled chicken, fish, yogurt, wheat bread, and a lot of veggies and water. Danielle is going to keep up the great work, by participating in the 8k Battle Frog obstacle race (a 5 mile mud run) in November in Atlanta, and another run in January which takes place in New Orleans. Once she reaches her goal weight of 200 pounds, which is better for her height of 5'10", she will continue to exercise and eat healthy to maintain this new lifestyle change. She wants to encourage and inspire others, and show them that if she can lose weight, they can too.

Of course we had to take a few model-y and silly pictures too. Danielle is very fun to work with and I loved that she let me throw cold water on her during our walk, after I doused myself. A walk is so much more enjoyable that way! I also laughed really loud when she showed me "before" pictures on her phone from the past few years and exclaimed, "I was so fat! Why didn't anyone tell me I was so fat?!" Laughing is all part of the heart pumping side effects. Getting our energy up by walking the 3 miles around the lake gave us epiphanies about how beneficial exercising is and how the word "diet" shouldn't exist because when someone is on a diet, they are simply eating healthy and exercising and taking care of themselves-- which is what we are supposed to do all of the time anyway. There should be a word for everyone who is not dieting. I was proud of her though. She told me this would be her "2-A-Day", meaning it was her second work out for the day since she ran this morning near where her family is staying. I'm proud of her for making it too, and gave her my granola bar and raisins to refuel. But the best part was right by where these pictures were taken. A bunch of kids were playing and for some reason, when we walked by, half of them began clapping. I believe it was all for her, so I clapped too.

Here is a link to the post for the first photoshoot I did for Danielle in July 2014: http://rachel-wildphotography.blogspot.com/2014/07/portraits-danielle.html. She loves having her own personal photographer! Michael and I are celebrating early Christmas in Birmingham mid December and I'll probably meet up with Danielle one of those days for a further progress shoot. Stay tuned! ;)

Fountain of Youth

Yesterday while I was visiting my family in Gainesville, I went to St. Augustine with my mom, sister in law (Jacquie) and her almost 10- month old daughter (Peyton). I'd like to go back with Michael another weekend and take pictures around the historic sites, including the oldest wooden schoolhouse in the United States! After walking around the town with our cartoon map, getting lunch and ice cream, we went to the beach. I wanted to be there for her first trip to the beach. Last time she was "at the beach", Jacquie was 5 months pregnant with her. So she needed to really see it and feel it with her little body. My laptop has gotten older since the last time I blogged, and my computer skills have not grown, so here are six cute horizontal pictures. The program I used to edit and combine vertical pictures will no longer let me access it without Flash Player, which I have not yet figured out how to download..

St. Augustine Beach, 9/19/15.
Love from, Peyton's Aunt Rachee, future cousin birther! (TBD.)

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Update from Aunt Rachee on 10/21/20 ~ 

Spoiler, Peyton! I birthed you a cousin.. over three years ago. Too bad you still haven't been able to meet her yet. Also, what the heck, 2015 Rachel. Why does it matter if the pictures are in portait or landscape format as long as they are nice photos? Post them anyway and don't waste time putting them together as a "collage" in Photoshop. Just lemme see these dang cute baby pics!.. Look at that- you took almost 200 pictures and you only posted SIX?! My goodness.. Here are my other faves: