Meadows Moments

Happy Father's Day!

When Ham was born I knew I wanted to do something special with him each year wearing the tie my husband wore on our wedding day.

I decided Father's Day would be the best holiday to take the yearly photo for a few reasons.  When I taught elementary school the Dad's would always complain that they got shafted in the gifts department since their children weren't in school the week before Father's Day making gifts under the teacher's direction.  

For Mother's Day  I would spend a week making crafts and writing stories and poems for the Mom's.  So, I knew I wanted to send something to all the hard working Dad's I knew and ties are usually symbolic with Father's day.

The first year I gathered up the tie and my drooly, upchucking (he spit up all over the tie), almost 3 month old and figure out how to tie the tie then snap the first photo. (with the brand new digital slr camera I had received for Mother's day :) 

I made a little card and sent it off to a bunch of Dad's including my own and my husband- and my chubby little guy was a hit.  Each year I followed the same tradition always adding the photos from the previous years on to the top of the cards.

Now 4 years later here we are...

and something fun for the back...

 

Now some people think G should have his own tie too.  I gave it some thought and G is so chill that a tie would be way to stuffy for him.  He prefers the simple sport coat and button down any way- I'm going to try to keep him in a childs navy jacket until he gets a little closer to fitting into the navy one his Dad wore on our wedding day. 

I hope all the Dad's had a relaxing Father's Day.

5 on Friday- Stacy Meadows Baby Photography

My first batch of baby planners are growing up!  I have three babies turning 1 this summer including my own baby.  I just sent G's birthday invites off to the lab.  I'm getting itchy for some newborns which makes my hubby very nervous.  Please e-mail me if you would like more information about the baby plan.  It makes a great shower gift... you can even register on my proofing site for it!  My husband will thank you later!

Since we're getting ready for a trip I'm sharing 5 of my favorites from my 3-4 month baby plan session with Miss B then I've got to get back to packing...

 

My favorite of the day...

10 on Tuesday...

1.  Ham was in the car alone with me last Thursday when out of the blue he asked when we were planning on taking baby brother back to the hospital.  He told me he was "done with him and didn't need him any more."  It took about a 10 minute talk for him to realize G was here to stay.

2.  Note- Poop discussion is involved in this next one- skip if you have a weak stomach...

We've been really working with Ham to get potty trained now that school is out.  On Sat. I hear him in the bathroom on the little potty when he was supposed to be taking a nap- then he's yelling "Mom!  I pooped rocks!"  I go in to see and make a big deal and I hear G crawling down the hallway as fast as he can go... he wants to come "see" too-

I quick grab the little potty before G can grab the "rocks" - I hold it over the toilet (a little too high) and drop the "rocks" in with that a HUGE splash of toilet water splashes up- soaking me including my FACE!  YUUUUCK!  Ham and G thought it was hilarious with Captain Obvious stating- "Hey Mom, you're all wet!"

3.  Ham is really into "being big" right now - Many of his sentences start with "when I get big I can..."  On Sat. we were on our way home from a celebrating poopy on the potty at Chuckie Cheese dinner and we have the following conversation...

Ham: "Hey Mom, when I get big I can do lots of things." 

Me:"Yep, you sure can buddy." 

Ham: "Mom, when I get big I am going to work at the snowball stand, and drive a firetruck, and drive the mail lady car- Mom, that would be fun to gib out all the mail, and Mom I can sleep with my kids!"  "Mom, I am going to do lots of stuff when I get big."Mom do the giwls at the snowball stand sleep with their kids?"

Me: "No buddy, those girls don't have kids yet they are still in school and they live with their Mom's and Dad's."

Ham: "Oh, when those giwls get big they are going to sleep with their kids?"  (I don't answer hoping the conversation will end) He waits about 10 seconds and says "Mom, pwetend you're the mail lady and stop at all the mailboxes and pwetend you're gibing out the mail."  Then not coming up for air..."Mom, I want to be a mail lady when I get big."

Me: "You will be a mail man because you are a boy."

Ham: "Yeah, but I will still drive the mail lady car and gib out all the mail." "And when I'm the mail lady I'm going to sleep with my kids."

Me: "Sure, Buddy."

4.  Yesterday Ham had the following conversation with my Dad while he was working in the backyard.

Ham: "Pop-Pop why are you moving all that moolch (mulch)?"

My Dad: "Because Grandma told me too and she's the boss."

Ham: "No she's not Pop-Pop- Barack Obama is the boss."

5.  Just a little preview to our annual Father's Day card...

6.  This morning Ham got right into G's face when I was changing G's diaper and told him..."You better start peein'and poopin' on the potty Mister!"

7.  Ham had his first swimming lesson this morning- after the novelty of new flippers and goggles wore off he proceeded to swim back and forth crying , I want my Mommy!"    I was hiding behind G's stroller amazed that he was actually swimming!

8.  I triple watermarked the next shot because I was worried it would become one of those chain e-mails people send you with the title : Why Boys need Mothers...

9.  He landed...

10. Wow- coming up with 10 things was hard- it took me three days!  I think I'll stick to my random 5 on Friday's.  This was a little Ham heavy so I stuck in a few shots of G getting his first hair cut (a month ago).  He did great!  Good ole cartoon cuts in Marley Station Mall and and old toy was all he needed. 

Celebrating Summer! Maryland family photographer

I am sooo excited!  Today was my last day of school until August something.  I haven't looked at a calendar yet to see when we go back.  My Dad helped celebrate by taking us out to the ball game tonight.  My dad didn't even flinch when Hubby told him he had to work and it would just be the boys and me joining him.

My Dad saw 5 innings of a great game while watching our stuff.  I saw the bathroom, pretzel stand, soda stand, main store, dippin dots stand, moonbounce (twice), swingset, bar (for bottled water for G) and three foul balls that scared me enough to cover G with my whole body while I let my Dad figure out how to catch them, or deflect them as long as they didn't hit us. 

Ham is totally brainwashed- all night he would hold up his finger and yell at the top of his lungs... LETS GO RAVENS!  The crowd around us thought it was totally cute.

Apparently G liked it too...

I finally figured out the best way to keep them sitting still and happy is to feed them... all three of 'um.

 

Happy Summer Everyone!

Matt and Pam- Hitched at the Centerville Courthouse (Maryland Courthouse Wedding Photographer)

The Centerville Courthouse was a beautiful backdrop last Friday for Matt and Pam's wedding.  It POURED all day and finally started to drizzle around 4:00.  Pam said lets go for it and we braved the elements out under a huge oak tree for shelter.  By the time they said "I do"  the sun was out!

Happy 1 week Anniversary Matt and Pam!  Here is a sneak peek...

This first one screamed black and white to me for some reason-

Cold feet? Naaah- we were just foolin around:)

 

 

 

 

 

So, yes I'm LOVING weddings! (Small ones- remember I'm partial- there were only 27 people at my wedding!)  Small weddings are still a big deal! (Hey my new slogan)

If you know of someone who is having a small wedding - (like under 75 people - 30 is a good number:) have them call me - I'll get together a package just for them!

 

RIU Ochos Rios Destination Wedding Photographer

 As most of you know my family and I were away last week in Ochos Rios, Jamaica to celebrate the marriage of our good friends - Stephen and Nicki.

I was so excited to practice my wedding photography skills that I actually think I've caught the wedding photo bug.  I really enjoyed photographing their special day- I can't believe I had it in me.  I'm actually considering adding small weddings (under 100 people) to my packages.   

Stephen and Nicki are a beautiful couple. See for yourself...here are my favorites from the wedding- these were the ones that jumped out at me as the card was loading- I'll share the stunning reception later this week.  Be prepared- there is a lot of photos!

You know it's a good wedding when the Bride walks in to a steel drum band...

 One happy groom- walking with the Bride's father,

Zoolander...

The vows were LOOOONG and Stephen had to keep wiping his brow...

 You may kiss the bride...

 

Making it offical...

 

Hitched...

Bouquet shot...

Couldn't decide which one I liked better...

The parents-

My Favorite...

So, how did I do?  Do you think I should add weddings into my packages?

5 on Friday...

 1.  I will never make it through their teenage years...

YES! it was moving as fast as it could go!  G loves it and will only ride standing up like this.  Check out the crap in the back of the truck... I have no idea where Ham gets that from!

2.  See the little wisps of hair over his ears?  As of Thursday night they're gone... G had his first haircut.  Ham got a hair cut too- and invited "Bonita" (the lady cutting his hair) to come to Jamaica with us!  Wasn't that nice of him? 

Ham also told me this week that he has a "crocodator"  living under his bed... I'm guessing a "crocodator" is something like the "Montauk Monster"... Yuck! 

The "during and after" hair cut photos will come this weekend when I finally get around to taking the card out of my camera.

3.  Remember this?  Ahhhh the smell of sweet revenge is spreading through our house... So, who's got the floppy head now?

 

 

4.  G thinks he's an old man already- check out how he sits... almost every shot on this card he had his arm resting on his big chunky thigh...

5.  A shout out to our neighbors- Miss Kathy, Mr. Tim, Ryan and Justin for handing down a whole set of GI-JOE's (Aka Barbie for boys)  They were the best kept hand- me downs we have ever seen- the toys were in pristine condition and the boys LOVE them- THANK YOU so much! Check out G in the photos...  Our GI JOE's are hunters why else would they have guns?  So, they've been busy shooting every deer, goose and duck they could find-  thank goodness they have all that cool gear or they would have to be going to shop at Bass Pro just like the all hunters in our family!

Anyone know a good exterminator?

Something has been attacking my pansies on the front porch...

The bite marks are of a strange animal~ something we've never seen before~ almost as if it only has two teeth...

 

We know it's a big animal, and brave - the pansy's are right next to the front door...

 

Time to call in a professional...

Stinker...

Baby J 10 days old (Maryland Newborn Photographer)

Happy Mother's Day! 

After a crazy day yesterday running Ham to the nighttime peds because I thought he had broken his arm- I met baby J... I opened the card to start proofing and this was in the first 5 photos staring right at me begging me to post it~  My Mother's day gift to you to help you remember the first 10 days with your babies! Enjoy!

Destination Engagement

I did a quick engagement session at Downs Park in Pasadena for S and N before their destination wedding in May in Jamaica.  I'm going to make them a cool guest book they can take with them to the wedding with 10 of their favorite photos.  Just a little sneak peek...