Flashback Friday

I hope this weekend is wonderful for everyone!  I thought I'd share a flashback Friday photo (along with a more recent photo to compare). 

My family in the 90s

My family (now with my hubby) last summer at my wedding

My, have we all grown....

Book Recommendation

Mom and I both love to read, and we do it all of the time!  I thought it might be fun to have a regular post sharing a book that I have read and really loved.  I might also eventually do a post on books that I wasn't so thrilled about.  Make sure to follow me on Goodreads (katieosborn) as well!

Little Giants of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker

I read this book last summer, and still can't stop thinking about it!  I fell in love with it before I even got too far into it because the protaganist's name was Truly.  I LOVE that name!  The story is about a very large girl, Truly Plaice.  She has had to live with her unsightly appearances, while her gorgeous sister, Serena Jane, has lived a life of privilege and positive attention.  Eventually Truly finds her place in the world, and everything falls into place for her.  The moral of the story is to feel comfortable in your own skin, and I think that is a "truly" important message!  

The book I am reading right now:

Just One Look by Harlan Coben (recommended by my mother)

 So far so good......

Soooo BIG!

In honor of the end of my maternity leave, I am going to post some week-to-week pictures of my beautiful baby.  I may start crying about going back to work at any minute, so deal with the emotional rant of a proud mama!  

Mom and I went to a citywide garage sale in the middle of May, and I found this really cool crib to be used as a photography prop.  In the meantime, it was a perfect photo prop for my own darling!  She is going to be 12 weeks tomorrow, and it will probably be the last "weekly" photo.  I will switch to taking monthly photos now, but I am going to probably have to find a new prop, and my pumpkin is outgrowing the crib!!  

Enjoy the photos!

6 Weeks :)

7 Weeks

8 Weeks 

9 Weeks

10 Weeks

11 Weeks

She makes my heart happy! 

Blake's Birth Story

So I know that we have kind of abandoned this blog as of late, but it’s for a good reason!  Meet Blake Leigh Ann Brockpahler!

 

 I went into the hospital at around 7:00 AM on Tuesday, May 3^rd to be induced (I was 41 weeks pregnant and miserable)!  I was told later that I was lucky that I came in so early, because shortly after I get settled in a room, more girls came in active labor. 

  So they started my pitocin around 10:30 AM, and I was dilated at about 1 cm and about 80% effaced.  At around 2, I was started to get frustrated because I didn’t feel much for contractions and I didn’t think anything was progressing.  Shortly after that, I was dilated to a four.  Shortly after that, my water broke!  Once my water broke, labor started progressing pretty quickly. 

By the time my doctor arrived at around 5:30 PM, she said that I was completely dilated.  I started pushing at 7:00 PM, and our little punkin was born at 7:51 PM with a full head of hair!  She weighed 8 lbs 1.6 oz, and measured 20.5 inches.  She was (is) the most beautiful little girl ever, and the sound of her cry right away was the best noise I had ever heard! 

 I was one of the lucky girls, because both labor and delivery were relatively easy for me!  Contractions were nothing like I had expected—I didn’t really feel pain, just pressure.  I guess I was just made to make babies. 

Since this little girl came into me life, everything has changed for the better.  I love her and life even more every day.  Every little thing in life brings me so much joy because she is in it, and when I start to think about how much I love her, I start to tear up.  I love my role as a mommy more than anything!

What's in My Hospital Bags??

Let's be honest, I only have one thing on my mind. At 39 weeks pregnant, I am concentrating on getting this baby out of me (safely and healthily, of course). I'm uncomfortable. I can't sleep. And I am just sick of feeling so limited! Anyway, I thought that I would share what is in my hospital bag.

Our Diaper Bag--Mom bought this for me at Pottery Barn Kids/Baby Store. It is from Petunia Pickle Bottom, and I absolutely love it!

Blake's Coming Home Outfit--We found this outfit at Gymboree, and just couldn't resist it!

 We also got a cute little hat and pair of matching pants with this outfit!  

Baby Book--I want to make sure to pack the baby book, so we can get hand prints and foot prints!  I bought an adorable, customized book from the Edna Mae Etsy Shop.  I love it!  This picture isn't of our book, but it is an example of the books that she makes!  Our book is gray. 

 Blake's baby blanket (or one of them)--This was the Dr. Seuss blankie that I made for my daughter!

My camera--DUH!

Our Video Camera

Bathrobe and slippers

Toiletries

Gum

CHAPSTICK!  Hospitals are dry and with all of the breathing we will be doing, this is essential!

Cell phone and charger

Extra clothing

Change for vending machines (for the hubby)

Nursing pads

We are ready--we are just waiting for baby!

Speaking of Photography...

Thanks to some coupons and store-closing sales, I have aquired some new photography books... I had them stacked in the corner of my desk with the owner's manual for my new camera (BTW, did I mentioned I got a new Canon 60D). This past weekend I finally got tired of just looking at them so I started reading.


Actually, some of these will more likely just end up on my bookshelf and used for reference (they aren't meant to be read cover to cover), but I will at least flip through all of the pages first:

• Taking Stock: Make money in microstock creating photos that sell
  This is the book I started reading first. I have been told by so many people that my photos are good... Really good... So I started looking into the many sites available online for selling them. When I saw this book, I figured it couldn't hurt to learn a little more about selling those pictures. This book was very inforamative! The manin thing I have learned is that, while my pictures might be good, they are mostly night right for microstock site. :-( But, now I know what kind of pictures to take to try my hand at selling them.

• National Geographic Photography Field Guide
  I got this at Half Price Books. This will be more of a reference book, but I will page through it first.

• The Photography Bible
  I got a great deal on this book at a Borders bookstore that was going out of business.

Photography Business

I finally took the first steps to start my own photography business.  I started a website using smugmug, and have had a lot of fun making it.  I also started a facebook page, and already have around 80 fans!  Make sure that you become my fan and check out my new website!

Since starting these, I have already booked a couple of new sessions and weddings!  I am looking forward to all that this new venture has to bring.