diapers and skinny jeans

The remembering now project, 2012. Catch the rest of the series here . We are in the "new face" phase.  This girl may look exactly like her Papa, but all those silly faces definitely come from Mama.  It seems every week she's added a new expression into her arsenal...

I'm not sure if it's the change in the season, the quickly approaching holidays, or just me being a bit more emotional lately (highly likely) but, for as busy as we've been these past few weeks I truly feel myself slowing down.   I say slowing down not in the usual overworked, drained of energy way, but instead a time for pause and reflection.  I have had silent and inward moments to appreciate all of the good that's come our way and feel more gratefulness in my heart than I've had in a long while.  I think often times life just catches up with us and we simply get buried under everything that we forget how good we really have it.  I'm so happy I have somehow managed to take the reins and reflect in gratitude. And well, this little one of ours, she's running and jumping and climbing all over the place!  She's had her first taste of popcorn, cotton candy and sticky sweets all thanks to Halloween, and I just can't keep up with all of the change...

We don't usually plan for extravagance.  In fact, it's usually the opposite. We have visited the same exact restaurant for brunch countless times over, at least switching up our orders every now and again.  The park she favors is also one you've seen in most every "playdate" photo, not too far from brunch and always crowded with kids.  We like simple, here.  Some days are nearly identical, but each with their own unique twist... we've grown comfortable in our dynamic together as a family, and it's such a great feeling.  As little ones change and grow, (and my so quickly!) life with a baby has become life with a toddler: fast paced, challenging, but more fun than Erick and I have ever had.  We are living and loving each day as it comes, and I couldn't be more grateful. Today, Nina and I are taking the girls on a fun Halloween excursion.  Sofia was thrilled when she saw her Yo Gabba Gabba costume-- and I have to admit, she looks ...

We were waiting for this day. The rare occurrence of warm weather struggling to stay around just a bit longer.  As the breath of the late, autumn wind touched our skin, I was instantly reminded of our summer: icy pops, trips to the beach, sand in our hair, bare tanned feet.  So many wonderful memories were made, adventures taken, and time spent in complete and utter relaxation. The beach in autumn is a silent beach, an empty beach. Frankly, it's one that I don't mind at all- often better than the busy, sticky original.  We ran with full force into the sand, which was a cool in contrast to the warmth of the day.  Thinking Sofia would surely be frightened after we learned that the new tactile sensation of sand didn't sit too well over the summer , but to both Erick and I's surprise, she loved it.  I am relieved. Thank you again, friends for your warm words and welcomes over on Facebook . It means the world, truly.

The remembering now project, 2012. Catch the rest of the series here . Today we basked in the autumn weather and all of its glory.  Leaves are still an interesting fascination.

Hello again, friends!  Lots of new exciting things are coming.  I can barely contain myself!  It's been a tough couple of weeks for reasons I haven't really shared yet, but I promise it will all make sense to you soon. Sinus infection is officially gone, and although the house is still a mess, I finally have caught my second wind of energy and luckily haven't been feeling as run-down as my absence here has unfortunately shown. I'm back to starting personal projects and crafting, gearing up for the holidays, and have been tediously working out some details for some changes right here at Diapers & Skinny Jeans. Get ready for a whirlwind of new features and announcements here on the blog, as well as some unique opportunities for you- my readers! Blogging is such an incredibly personal venture. For anyone that has started a blog, you know. It takes so much more courage than I ever could have imagined to put your personal life out into the open for anyone ...

The remembering now project, 2012. Catch the rest of the series here . Sofia and her "swing face".  Never fails to give me a good laugh.  That, and her slide hair ;)

Before we all got sick, we got the chance to head out to Bengston's farm out in the suburbs of the city for pumpkins, caramel apples, hay-rack rides, haunted houses, and a chance to feed some furry friends. While we still have so many great memories from all of Sofia's very first holidays last year, the second time around you can tell how much more aware she is of her surroundings and how she understands what's happening.  The joy is real, the experiences are beginning to form memories, and oh, how funny it is to hear her call every animal she sees a "puppy".  (We're kindly trying to introduce cow, sheep, horsey, and others into the mix!) I really love the fall, I've been getting so excited-- maybe overly so-- about the upcoming winter time and being able to spend more time with the family I haven't seen in a while.  My grandmother can cook an amazing turkey, and I'm already gearing up f...

Hello, friends.  It's been a while.  For any of you that have stopped by lately, I apologize for the absence here.  I miss this space.  I miss writing.  Most days I'm having an internal monologue with myself for minutes on end, trying to see if I can ever get out of my warm cocoon of a bed and head to work.  Erick and I both have been hit over the last two weeks with sinus infections and an extreme bout of exhaustion, so now our days have been spent primarily at home between blankets on the couch.  (It's been pretty cozy around here, lately!)  I do have some pictures from our time at Bengston's pumpkin farm that I'm planning on posting soon, and thankfully we've all been starting to feel better. Now, it's off to go figure out why Sofia is wearing my old breast pump and tubing like a scarf around her neck... Happy Tuesday! ;)

The Remembering Now Project, 2012. Catch the rest of the series here . This is what we like to call Sofia's "slide hair".  It makes me giggle! 

I've never been so proud of my husband.  All of the long nights, the hard work, the days off he's spent shooting instead of at home, they've all lead up to this moment. Erick has been tediously finishing up the last few pieces of his personal project, Created By Us , and now here it is birthed into the internet world.  I couldn't be happier for him! It's such a relief to finally release to the world something you've been working on. The basis of this project was Erick's video interviews with lesser-known creatives from Chicago, and hopefully reaching out to those all over the world. First up in the series is the extremely talented Stacey, the one-woman show of Steracle Press . Please join me in giving Erick the warm welcome he's worked so hard for.  You can follow along the Created By Us blog right here , and watch updates to the Yum Yum Studios  here .

A bit terrified of the rain, I left for this day with both sets of fingers crossed on my drive up to Skokie. I've known fellow talented photographer  friend Justina Olenick for more years than I can even count. I've talked about her numerous times on this blog, you may remember her maternity session or the wedding we shot together. Luckily for all of us, we escaped the day with nothing more than a mere sprinkle in the early morning and were left with a beautifully perfect, overcast sky for our time together. I'm always more nervous taking photos of other photographers, something about this fear that I have less room for error, and they're paying attention and silly things like that, but what I've come to realize is that it is much  easier to pose and direct a photographer's family because they simply already kn...