I am in LOVE with these images. She is the most beautiful and photogenic girl I’ve ever laid my eyes on!  I want to edit ALL of the photos from this session…but I must choose…or must I?

I have MANY more to come and some information on how to get a FREE SENIOR PHOTO SESSION through my SENIOR REP 2013 PROGRAM!!! So, check back soon on that!

Can you think of a better girl for this photo challenge than FITbaby?!

When I saw this challenge this month I thought of my favorite photo of FITbaby.

With kids it’s really hard to get every element right. And, sometimes, when you get THE PERFECT SHOT…other factors aren’t perfect…the camera settings, the light, the background, etc.  But, if it’s THE PERFECT SHOT…you do what you can to make it better!

This was taken with my old camera [which I'm selling if anyone wants!] and I was experimenting with light. The ISO [and thus noise] is too high on this photo. Also, the shadows on her face were a bit much. SO, although this is not a new image for this challenge…it is a new edit!  I am getting closer to an edit I want to print on a canvas for this image.

Go to i heart faces and enter the challenge today!

Change is a process. It occurs over time. Sometimes longer than you would think. So, give yourself a break…I know I do!  And, figure out what stage you’re in.  Remember back to the different stages and how you worked toward the next stage.

1. Precontemplation Stage

These people are often in denial or have failed in the past and lack the confidence that a change will work.  They do not intend to make a change in the next 6 months.

How to help? They aren’t looking for information. They are examining their feelings and forming an opinion about the pros and cons of making a change.  The best thing to do is help them find advantages to changing!

2. Contemplation & Preparation Stages

These people are preparing for changing in the next 6 months.  Once these people are a month away from change, they are in the preparation stage. They may be attempting change or be making small steps toward change.

How to help? Social support is key in this stage including food prep, exercise buddies, engaging happily in health behaviors, etc.  It is helpful to work with this person to alleviate perceived barriers to action such as:  food prep & workouts take too much time, confusing information on diets and exercise routines, and not wanting to give up favorite foods.

3. Action

This stage lasts about 6 months.  They will start setting goal for diet and workouts including rewards, monitoring diet and workouts, working on their environment and how it affects their results, modifying lifestyle, and changing thinking patterns.

4. Maintenance

People in this stage have continued to practice these healthy behaviors for at least 6 months.  This is where lifetime maintenance begins in weight management.  They still may be in the action stage of certain aspects of their goals while in maintenance in others.  As I often say, this is not simple or everyone would be at their goal size.

How to help?  Support groups are helpful. Having a plan for relapse is important, either in a small aspect such as a party with your “trigger food” or if you start slipping out of the healthy lifestyle patterns.

 Have you noticed yourself in these stages? 

I definitely have! I notice when I’m contemplating making a change [i.e. getting back into a regular workout routine] and I notice as I pass through these stages. I think knowing these stages makes me feel like less of a failure…because I understand that change does not happen overnight!

Also, check out this video… I just love it!

I Am Days Away From Change Video

Resource.

I recently had the opportunity to take some photos for a new real estate brokerage in Warrensburg, MO.  I am super excited about the headshots from her shoot! But, I want to wait until her new website launches before I share the images!  In the meantime, I wanted to share with you some of the other images I took around town for her site. I found the Unversity of Central Missouri campus to be beautiful!  UCM has some gorgeous areas and I’ll definitely be doing more photo shoots there. I am now in love with the James C Kirkpatrick Library.

James C Kirkpatrick Library at UCM

UCM Bell Tower

UCM Football Stadium

Doesn’t it make you miss college? It makes me miss college!!! Every time I drive by this campus and see the students walking around in their UCM gear it makes me think back to college days! Oh what fun!  [Rock Chalk Jayhawk!!!!]

First of all…

Check out my first post on Baby Led Weaning for resources. I took these pics back in JANUARY for this post…just now getting around to it….

I posted about this on Facebook and had OVER 50 COMMENTS between my personal and my FITori Facebook Page [of course some were my replies] so evidently this is a hot topic!! It’s so great to know that people are fired up about food!! We need this to make change in this country around the food we’re eating.  I need to let everyone know I’m not judging. Nothing is 100/0, even food. We eat in moderation. I think that’s healthiest mentally and physically. I’ve talked a lot about extremes in eating and working out and eating disorders. I believe it’s best to take an “I’m going to eat healthier” approach and let the weight come off vs crash diets and starvation.  FITbaby will have cake on her first birthday. We will go out for ice cream. We will bake. We are normal people…swear. We just TRY to make REAL FOOD choices as often as we can. And, with FITbaby….we ALWAYS make real food choices…at least for now!

Mini Rant About Baby Food in America

I have a LOT to say about how we feed ourselves and our children in this country…much of which would probably get me attacked if I were to say it in public…especially at the playground.  I think we all know that we lack proper nutrition knowledge as a country…and that’s not our fault, it’s politics.  [Of course, I believe we should educate ourselves...but I understand that the proper information is REALLY hard to find with SO much misinformation out there due to a billion dollar a year weight loss industry.]

But, I am afraid we don’t want to hear that we are feeding our kids crap!!! Why?! Tradition.  I challenge you to question WHY you are feeding your baby or kid what you are.  Think about it. Why? How is ____ helping him/her to grow? How is ___ developing their taste for good foods?  Some of the “convenience” foods may not hurt them, but are there more nutritious foods?  REAL FOODS  are always the goal for us…though we don’t meet every goal, every day.

As adults we have excuses and reasons why we eat crap…..stress, emotions, cravings and tastes, etc.  As babies…no excuses exist! I have my own excuses and reasons why I eat crap….I’m not perfect and don’t eat a perfect diet…far from it! Promise!  But, our babies only know what we feed them! WE can affect their health, taste buds and future love of food. It’s in our hands! It’s a very important responsibility…one I do not take lightly at all.  To me, in my very busy day, my FITbaby’s food is non-negotiable. There is no room for error. No running out of healthy food. No skipping healthy meals and giving her restaurant food [mostly b/c sodium is hard to process for infants under 12 mo old.]

So, my rant for today is over! Ask me more and I will tell you more.  For now, here are a few foods that FITbaby loves. I have a basket steamer. Yes, it can take a while, but it’s worth it. I just pick a time I’ll be home and around the kitchen for an hour and I fill up the steamer and let it go!  I set a timer so I don’t forget it. I poke it with a fork to check to see if it’s done enough. I put it on her tray in the fridge and it’s ready for the next few days of meals.

cucumber. carrots. broccoli. cauliflower. apples. ground meat. egg yolk. colored peppers. asparagus.

FITbaby’s Food Tray

FITbaby has a “baby food” tray that I keep in the fridge and bring out at mealtimes. It always has a sampling of the different food groups as listed below….

broccoli. cauliflower.

There is always:

• Protein
• Always a meat [usually chicken, turkey or beef]
• BLW says to give meat on the bone but this scared me so we did ground meat early on. When she was too little [before pincher grip] we offered to put it in her mouth. If she didn’t want it, she let us know. If she did, she opened wide.
• and often egg yolk [no egg white til 12 mo, I think, due to allergy]
• [I make meat and veggies in a pan on the stove and add garlic and onion or other spices but no salt]
• Green Vegetables
• Almost always broccoli, her favorite.
• Often peas, avocado [raw], asparagus, green beans, sugar snap peas, green, red & orange bell peppers, etc.
• [all steamed except avocado]
• Orange Vegetables
• Carrots or Sweet potatoes are always on her tray
• [all steamed]
• Fruits
• Fruits come out after she’s had her fill of her meats and vegetables.
• She loves apples [steamed] and watermelon [raw] the best.
• Starchy Carbs & Dairy [Not yet.]
• We will start these around 2 years I believe. I still have more research to do on starchy carbs and milk for around 12 mo-2 year. The research I have done says that babies cannot properly digest starch until around 2 years old yet Baby Center tells us to base our babies diets around starchy carbs like baby cereal…what??!!! Smoke is coming out my ears.  And, the research I’ve done so far says that cow’s milk is not for human consumption…yet I love it. Decisions, decisions.

apples. carrots. broccoli. asparagus.

About our meals.

• She eats 3 times a day. I don’t worry too much about whether it’s before or after nursings, etc. It falls where it falls.  These days as we are cutting out some nursings during the day, I try to feed her lunch and dinner when I can give her a sippie with milk between nursings.
• I give her a sampling of each item that I have steamed and ready for her.  Once she runs out of an item on her tray I give her more. So, I just monitor that she hasn’t run out of any food.  Some days she eats TONS of carrots, others it’s peas and others it’s chicken & broccoli. I let her decide what she wants/needs that meal.
• She eats her food cold if it’s been pre-made. It makes life easier when we go out and about. More on that later.

Out and about for the afternoon.

• 1-2 small tupperware containers with her lunch, sippie cup with pumped milk and a cooler pack. Done.
• One tupperware usually has her meat & veggies. Another with her fruits. So easy.
• I have a water sippie cup in the car or on her stroller now too.
• I take disposable placemats though they aren’t necessary. She can eat right out of the tupperware [I hold it to minimize mess.].

sweet potato. carrots.

Snacks & In Between Meal.

• For now, we don’t eat in between meals. LOVE LOVE LOVE the book Bringing Up Bebe & the French don’t agree with snacking. I’m curious where we’ll “land” on this subject in a few years.  Definitely “food” for thought!
• WE LOVE FROZEN VEGGIES FOR TEETHING!!!   Frozen asparagus (not while walking or crawling), broccoli, and peaches for example. Whole refrigerated carrots work to chew on too.

banana. ground meat. cucumber.

**AS WITH ALL FOOD, DO NOT LEAVE KIDS UNATTENDED WHILE EATING. WATCH & LISTEN CLOSELY!**

I also have to say….I have a 10 month old and that’s as far as my experience goes! I have no idea how to feed a 2 year old. Once I get there, I’ll let you know!  Snack ideas? I have no idea! Trail mix? Carrot sticks? Cucumbers & Natural Nut Butter?

I challenge you to question why you are feeding our kids particular foods every day. 
Is it providing true nutrition? Or is it filling up their stomachs with a empty calories and taking place of good, nutritious foods? [This works for us too.]

Please tell me if you have any specific questions about baby food.

Did I miss any foods here? I’m sure I did! Share some ideas!!

I am not just blogging photography…though it may seem like that these days! I’ve been a busy girl with my current part time job, the new photography business (business cards and mailers, new gear, photo shoots, etc), decorating the new house, FITbaby’s First Birthday coming up in 2 months, and of course…being mommy, wifey and friend!!

I have a baby food post half done!  I have SO much to say about how we feed our kids!!! (I hope not to offend…I’m afraid I might!) I also have baby sleep posts coming up.  I have so much to say…and beautiful images to share!

Stay tuned…..

And, please send me a message if you have a topic request!!

What a trooper!! We found out the day after this shoot that Baby Z had an ear infection!! He was such a trooper!!!  I just love these images!  I hope he feels better really soon!!!!

I took this photo this morning and thought it was a great example to showcase why I only give and show edited photos to clients. I prefer photography to artwork. I prefer to see my life, family, friends and memories on my walls….vs artwork that I purchased.

If I show you an image online or sell you an image on a CD or a print, it should be a good enough image to blow up and hang on your wall.  That is not just about taking a good photo. I don’t want every scratch or blemish on my face to be visible when I blow up the image!

Of course the SOOC (straight out of camera) image is nice too, but to me, it’s not good enough to hang in my home. I want polished, neat images on my walls, especially if I’m paying to print them large! It’s art!

But, that editing takes time! It’s a “science” that is unique to every photographer. It is learned. It changes. It is a process. When photographers say you are buying their “time & talent” part of that is what you see at the photo shoot but much of the rest of that is spent behind the computer screen!

Here is my example of editing:

You can see this better when you zoom in on her face or when you print it larger! Take a look a the details in her face….

I just love the look on her face! She looks like she is thinking very seriously about the problems in the world….

Side by side…..

The weather was nice and I wanted to get a few more images of Miss Baby L..this time outside! I edited WAY more than I promised….oops! There were too many good ones not to pass them along! i just love Natural Light Photography! It’s magical!

I wanted to share a few other faves from the day with Baby M. I usually love color but I really love this first image in B&W.  You can see how much they love Baby M…and how could you not?! Look at that face!!