March Goals

It seems like spring is right around the corner ... which means that baby is right around the corner too. Eek! I'm fully aware that an early April due date could actually mean a late March baby, but I think I'll be OK waiting until April if Baby Baldwin is content in there. :)

I've got lots of last-minute things I'd love to get done this month so I can focus 100% on my maternity leave. Here's to a productive March and some flexibility too, if needed!

March Goals

• Finish Real Happiness by Sharon Salzberg and read The Wonder by Emma Donoghue and On Becoming Baby Wise by Robert Bucknam
• De-clutter the rest of the house (living room, dining room and guest bedroom)
• Make freezer meals (as many as possible!)
• Finish nursery and photograph it!
• Clean car
• Install car seat
• Pack hospital bag
• Finish our annual photo albums so we're all caught up
• Blog ahead (so many pretty things to share!)
• Update my website galleries

What does your March look like? Will it be relaxing or full of to dos? If you all have any advice for packing a hospital bag or waiting on a baby, I'd love to hear it! :)

Baby Connor | Hudson Ohio Lifestyle Baby Photos

There are these moments as a photographer when you look around and pinch yourself because everything has come full circle. People have taken chances on you and turned into loyal clients. You can really envision what you're creating before the film comes back from the lab. It all kind of clicks into place.

I'm so thankful to those of you who ask me to photograph these fleeting moments in your family's life. Know that I don't take it lightly, and as someone who will have a baby of her own soon, I can see just how important freezing these moments will be.

This family definitely creates full-circle moments for me. Matt and Jen have turned into friends. I look forward to seeing all four (!) of them each time I get the chance to photograph big sister Lucy and her new little brother Connor. The fact that Connor looks so much like newborn Lucy is pretty wild.

February Goals

People always ask me what I do all winter since I'm not usually shooting much January through April. It's my favorite time because while I DO get to relax a bit, I also get to do stuff around the house and for my business that definitely does not get done in the summer and fall. De-cluttering my office (it's officially 25% lighter right now!), designing albums, actually writing blog posts (ha!) ... I kept pretty busy in January and I actually crossed off every one of my goals. That never happens, which maybe says something about my overly ambitious goal setting!

This month I'm looking forward to more preparation for the season we're about to walk into. I want to get things done that I might not be able to do as easily for a long time. That has me more motivated than anything else!

February Goals

• Finish Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline by Becky Bailey and read Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan and Real Happiness by Sharon Salzberg (I guess I technically didn't finish my reading goal for the month since I'm still working on the parenting book, but I did read another book in its place! Check out my Goodreads to see my recent favorites)
• Finish taxes
• De-clutter reading/guest/junk room, kitchen and our bathroom
• Pick a pediatrician
• Design two of our annual photo albums
• Finish the last travel wall in our dining room
• Send all 2016 vendor galleries
• Submit two weddings
• Order extra stationery and supplies for the business
• Update workflow chalkboard

Cinque Terre, Italy | Travel

I've had a case of wanderlust lately. It might be the foot of snow outside or the fact that I'm 30 weeks pregnant and don't have plans to travel anytime soon, but I'm still dreaming. Dreaming and remembering our trip to Italy last year. And swooning over the photos from that beautiful place.

I have to share the second leg of our Italian adventure with you all. We traveled to Cinque Terre after Venice and I think it was my most favorite part of the trip. Cinque Terre is a region made up of five towns along the Mediterranean Sea and let me tell you, it is magical. I'm already plotting a return trip here one day (maybe our 20th anniversary??). We got to hike between two of the towns, and visit the rest by train, and each one had its own charm.

We stayed in Monterosso al Mare, the westernmost town, and while it was a bit chilly when we were visiting in April, I can just imagine how many more tourists flock to the beach town in the summer months. Cinque Terre is a little hard to get to, but it's so, SO worth the effort. If you ever have the chance or find yourself in Italy, do make time to check out this little slice of heaven along the Italian Riviera.

Where we stayed: At an Airbnb in Monterosso that was clean but nothing special. If we ever go back, I'd love to stay here!
Where we ate: Cantina di Miky (loved it so much we went twice!), Moretto, Belvedere, Wonderland Bakery, Pasticceria Laura, and just about every gelato shop we could find!
What we did: Hiked between Monterosso and Vernazza (hands down the coolest thing we did on the trip!), took a train to the rest of the towns (Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore) and explored, did a couple of Rick Steves' walks in Monterosso and Manarola (evidently Steves chooses to vacation in Cinque Terre—go figure!), and explored the lemon and olive groves at Buranco