Thanksgiving...On Labor Day

It's Labor Day(ha! funny, I'll be really experiencing labor in a few weeks!), so I wanted to take a few moments and post a personal post today. I've been so busy with photo shoots this summer, so I slacked on posting anything other than images from each of those shoots.

As many of you know, I'm expecting a bouncing baby boy in October, Halloween to be exact. I finally took a break from shooting from my busy summer schedule because who really wants to see a fat pregnant woman sweating, losing her breath, and panting like a dog in the hot summer sun?? Yeah, that's what it was getting to, even though I've fared better this pregnancy than any other one I've had. But I do have to say the summer weather has been quite mild compared to almost every summer in the Bootheel.

Well, moving on.

When I started this small photography business last fall, I never, you hear me???, never imagined that it would take off like it did and that I'd manage to have a waiting list of more than 30 clients. Holy moley!!! I just re-read that and it still blows my mind!

But yes, I have a waiting list, mostly I'm sure because I only shoot once, maybe twice, a week and I also have a 30-hour week job and oh, did I mention I have three other little munchkins at home? And a husband? And then I had to go and make the decision to quit taking on shoots after a certain point in my pregnancy because, again, the sweating and panting and losing my breath thing isn't that flattering. Seriously.

But I'm going to try to fulfill shoots for those clients as soon as humanly possible. I mean, I know I'll be on maternity leave from my day job, but that doesn't mean I'll be shooting, with baby in a sling. I mean, c'mon, this won't be my first rodeo at getting to know a newborn, but it will be new to me to get to know my new son. And every moment with a child, a newborn, is precious when you only get so much time off. Again, I will try to shoot what I can, so please bear with me on this one.

Now, back to Thanksgiving...Ooh, I can't wait to eat some turkey! Oh, not that Thanksgiving.

I want to give thanks for so many things in case I get sidetracked on the actual Thanksgiving holiday with poopie diapers, breastfeeding, new baby smells, and oh-so-good turkey and dressing.

First off, thanks to God for letting me bring into this world another precious child, whom we can't wait to meet. I know my little man is already prepared for the party at his new home because he's probably heard so much raucous fun times from the time his ears developed!

Second, thanks to all the clients who had faith in my new found love of photography and decided to take a chance on having me capture precious images of their families. Even while I know I still have so much more to learn. You have rocked my esteem and given me hope for this business!

Another thing, when I found I was pregnanct in March, I was sooooo dreading the fact that I would be pregnant in the hot summer. Based on my last pregnancies, I got so big, so uncomfortable, so swollen, and I just knew what was in store for me this time around. I had visions of bloated Violet from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (ca. 1971) after she chewed the forbidden gum. Except I wouldn't be purple, I would be red and blistered! But I have to say, I have been pleasantly surprised in two respects: the weather has been relatively mild and I haven't blown up as previously stated. Oh, I'm pregnant alright, just not all over!

I'm thankful for my husband. I know, he won't appreciate the shout-out, but he's seriously been there for me. From doing laundry, cleaning house, hauling kids around, you know. These days, I get a little winded and run down because baby boy lives in my ribs most hours of the day. Or he's down South resting on my one and only bladder. He's really a mover! Oh, and my hubby has been great at supporting this biz of mine, even when I spend more time on my computer than scratching his back!

Another thank you to my friends who have listened to my hormonal grumpiness. I'm not always smiles and rainbows and sugar-coated sweetness, but some days it's hard not to vent about little things that really won't mount to a hill of beans, even when I think it's a mountain. And thanks for checking on me too. It makes me feel loved, even when I'm not a rainbow!

And one more...well, there's so many things, but I know you'll find yourself bored with this post if I don't cut it short.

I must give praise to the Lord. I'm seriously blessed, and when I find I'm being cranky, ungrateful or what have you, I always get a reality check in some way, shape or form. It's like my kick-in-the-butt from God. Even when I fight back. I have a loving husband, a beautiful home, even with its fix-'er-up projects, great friends and most of all, healthy, vibrant, always entertaining children that love me so much, even when I get impatient. They've given me so much purpose in life and I don't know how I thought life was so awesome before them. Before their kisses, their hugs, their "I-love-you-so-much-Mommy" words. They'll just never know how they gave me life.

So on this Labor Day, I leave you with this image of me at 32 weeks. Enjoy the day with your families, your kids. Don't let a day go by without letting them know you love them. And thank them for loving you.