the heart of this christmas | boston holiday.

But you don't have to be an angel
To sing harmony
And you don't have to be a child
To love the mystery
And you don't have to be a wise man
On bended knee
The heart of this Christmas is in you and me
{C. Simon}

Our second annual Christmas in Boston was a great success. It truly is a special time for us. The folks at Nine Zero welcomed us back so warmly + didn't forget that Annie has a December birthday - besides a lovely little tree in our room, they made her feel so special with gifts and a big cupcake with a candle to blow out and of course cookies + milk to leave for Santa. We love this hotel and the staff that make it such a wonderful experience. The Nutcracker at The Opera House, a delicious dinner, cozy pjs, soft fluffy beds, A Christmas Story on constant loop, the glow of the city lights, a quick visit to Trinity Church, luminary bags lit for the precious from SHES, the anticipation of Santa, the warmth of being together. Christmas morning in Boston with a light snow falling, a few surprises left from St. Nick, our walk is always so wonderful - nothing like Beacon Hill on Christmas morn. Pho in chinatown, the bustling streets, and of course our final destination - home in Newburyport, and the always delightful smiles from our little girl. All of this and more made for a happy Christmas. xo

snippets of us | sand.sky+hearts.

come on, jump out the door
you can't hold it back no more
i'll show you how the birds learned how to fly
don't mind leaving your nest
don't mind making a mess
this might be the best day of your life
{k.herzig}

snippets of our thanksgiving weekend. from seashells to shirley temples and the last of the herbs from our garden xo

the reason. | above.beyond

from the moment i first saw you

the second that you were born

i knew that you were the love of my life

quite simply the love of my life

{c. simon}

to my darling annie.

you are everything to me.

you are my reason.

i never knew motherhood could be like this.

each day something new.

watching you grow, 

expanding your world.

your heart is so pure with so much love.

your kindness and genuine interest in people are attributes that make my smile.

i learn from you.

my dream come true.

you + i were  meant to be.

and to  my husband, thank you for this gift of motherhood.

a path i was convinced i would never be on.

you entered my world and nothing will ever be the same.

xoxoxo

[into forever] | newburyport, ma

His friends are more than fond of Robin

He doesn't need to compliment them

And always as he leaves, he leaves them

Feeling proud just to know him

When Robin goes on holiday

There's no one livin' in our lane

Oh yes, folks still live in our lane

But they're not like Robin

Robin, I've never told you

But I'll be yours until we're old

Please learn to call me in your dreams

The way I'm lookin' at you is just as it seems

He's talked about before he gets there

Though he can never understand it

And I would like to be his alone

But I'm shy and can't demand it

But when Robin gives his love to others

There's no one living in my heart

Oh yes, I keep others in my heart

But they're not like Robin

{c. simon}

she held the photo in her hands and the sound of crying began. soft at first, but it became increasingly louder - she was so distraught. how can a 6 year old be so intuitive, so sensitive - she has a heart as big as the world and a kindness that is so touching. the photo she held in her hand was of robin. robin the cat. her cat. she remembers him. sadly robin left us when annie was about 3. but her memories of him are sweet. her favorite she told me, through her tears, were of her chasing him and pulling his tail and how he didn't even scratch her, "because he loved me mom, he really loved me". and it's true. this little guy loved annie. he was a bit of a "scaredy" cat - so having a baby in the house was new to him. but we would often find him napping in her bassinet, cuddled up around her blankets and sweet stuffed animals. he would sniff her freshly bathed head and was never far from where she was. annie had experienced her first loss in life, her beloved robin. and it still stings. there are times it hits her like a freight train and her sadness is unconsolable. like last night. she cried for an hour. clutching her framed photo of her first love. falling on the bed in tears. her little shoulders quivering up and down with each sob. it made me cry to think how sad this little girl of mine was. how truly heartbroken. we have robin's ashes in a beautiful wooden box with a plaque - his name engraved in brass - and his years on this earth. {she refers to them as robin's "rashes" and i never ever had the heart to correct her - i know i must, but really how sweet is that}. as i cradled my little girl, she asked  me to play his song. the carly simon song from which he was named - but she soon asked me to turn it off because it made her even  more sad to hear his name being sung. the truth is, he was a wonderful pet who is missed tremendously and loved so dearly. and wouldn't he be so happy to know that his little annie still cries for him and that he was once and still is - so cherished, into forever.

[a lime slice]. just another year 2010. | newburyport - ma.

she's too cute not to share. know what i mean?!!!! xo happy.new.year.2011.

[a year of annie. 2010]

a lime slice - [randomness]

sometimes i just shoot to shoot. no rhyme. no reason. similar to my life lately. just going along.... hoping for calm waves, soft winds and smooth sailing. busy with this and that and gearing up for a lovely spring of shooting for reason or no reason. that is what i love about photography. when the mood strikes. click.

some randomness from the past few days....
[i do believe my faithful darling model will start to invoice me soon. yikes!]

a lime slice - [do the think]

YOU MUST DO THE THINK YOU THINK YOU CANNOT DO. (e.roosevelt)

words to live by. as 2010 begins i have a list of goals i would like to reach. i know, i know, by making a list i have already failed. i shouldn't put such pressure on myself. one day at a time, one moment at a time. but......i just want to be true to myself and in being true i feel i will be a better, mother, wife, friend, neighbor, employee, sister, daughter and photographer.
i won't bore you with my list but instead i will show you some photos of my darling annie sporting her "annie" cape (made by the fabulous jennifer pinkerton who by the way also made annie's fabulous birthday skirt!)- her super hero cape or as she calls it "super annie"! she can do anything and in looking at her little face and her triumphant stance i know i can too!

[snow] snaps

a few "snaps" from our first snow last weekend. sadly the rain came and it's all gone. dreaming of a white christmas.

[well ok then]......

the sky was blue. a perfect day to do it. she likes to dress herself these days. she wore her skirt around the house for a few days prior - taking it out for a spin. over jeans, with her sneakers, over her pj's, each time i spied her in it i would make her take it off. she would protest. i would win. i had a vision of how i wanted her to look. i just wanted one shot at the shot. you know.......the holiday card shot. the dreaded.holiday.card.shot.
the afternoon was fahreeeeezing. figures. where did this wind come from? it was balmy just a day before. of all the days i planned it, it had to be cold cold cold. but try i did. it backfired. wasn't going to happen. she's onto me. she rarely looks at my lens anymore. she knows. she knows how to push all my buttons. she's a free spirit. i can't blame her. she's got her swirly skirt on and there's nothing but grass to run around in. why would she want to stop and pose for her mom.
oh well. perhaps i'll try again tomorrow. or maybe i'll just settle and use one of these shots - after all it's her. my girl.

shameless plug. - there's still time to book your christmas card session. can't think of the perfect gift? i can!! a bluelime photography gift certificate. give the gift of a memory. session gift certificates are available. [email meg@bluelimephoto.com - for details]

outtake no. 1 - i'm hungry. i'm really really hungry. [she's always really hungry - even after her lunch] open the lollipop survival kit. oh and what's this thing mom? are you trying to get a little holiday touch in your shot? um....yes annie will you hold it? no mom. well ok then.


outtake no. 2 - will you smile for me? no mom. well ok then.
outtake no. 3 - make a wish annie and blow. i wish my mother would stop.


outtake no. 4 + no. 5 - annie don't take your hat off it's really cold. i don't like it mom - that's it, i quit [that's usually what she says when she's mad] there. better. well ok then.


outtake no. 6 - ok my sweet girl why don't you show me that wonderful smile. well ok then.


outtake no. 7 + 8 - she throws me a bone. and then she walks away.


outtake no. 9 - wait annie! just one. please. for me? well ok then.


outtake no. 10 + 11 - get that hat on it's fahreeezing! reverse psychology. whatever you do annie. don't.smile. don't.laugh. don't.do.it!! well ok then.


outtake no. 12 - perhaps all wasn't lost. i love you annie viola. i love you too mom. well ok then.