Too Much Good Stuff

My poor little blog is such a mess. 

I'm putting my brain back together and as soon as I finish I will create a separate website for my photography and keep Raising Beasts for its sole purpose of updating family and friends on what's been going on in the Mathis-Vella world. I know that our life isn't always a thriller but today I have so much to share.

Photography 

Lets go back a few posts to when Uncle Skip came to visit and shoot the Eagles game. That weekend Skip took some of his valuable time to sit down with me and teach me what I've always wanted to know about shooting. Since then I have gained additional knowledge on my own (via youtube) and developed quite the start of a great portfolio already. I have much more to learn and plenty more shoots to do but I couldn't be happier that I have a long term goal for my money making self. 

Before jumping the gun on taking this as a career path I had to test if I was any good at it. The first baby I shot was lil Ila bear (duh.) She gave me a hard time but I eneded up with a gem photograph. The next baby I shot was Ila's BFF Kyla Jane. She continually gives me such motivation to keep shooting so I'll be sure to catch every detail in every expression. The next angel I shot was Ila's other BFF Stella. Stella has the most beautiful eyes! It's obviously very easy to find such beautiful models when your baby has such stunning friends. These two babies were nothing but perfect during their shoots, but during their shoots my child was nothing but trouble. Now I make sure to have a babysitter while working. Seems like a lesson I shouldn't have had to learn but normally by child is so self entertained. 

Those three images were all shot with the starter kit lens on the Nikon D90. I have added two new lenses to my collection since as well as plenty other supplies for the on location newborn shoots. When traveling to a newborn shoot I make sure to have the babysitter here at least an hour before I leave the house. Packing my car is not an easy task. First I take the car seat & stroller out, fold down the seats and then I pile my supplies in. The first time I packed up the car I couldn't see out the back, but now I have managed to break down my "must bring list" enough see behind me.

On my last shoot my trunk was filled with three seamless paper backdrops, three canvas backdrops, four different faux furs, three baskets, three blankets, a backdrop stand, lighting, a heating pad, a room heater, a bean bag, a white noise machine, props and my camera equipment. This was me planning ahead. I'm still trying to break down my load by half. Bringing all this junk is totally worth it because I get to capture beautiful images like these:

 

I have three newborn shoots and two family portraits before Thanksgiving. I couldn't be more excited to have these opportunities I want to squeeze in a photography class before December but I have no idea how I'll manage to fit it in with the other fantastic things going on in my life. 

Wedding 

Wedding bells are ringing! Ev and I have decided to tie the knot November 19th. This November 19th, crazy huh? We are having a private ceremony with our parents and siblings locally. We have found my dress, florist, bakery and venue. Not much more needed for our tiny celebration... or maybe there is and I'm just extremely unprepared. 

We have heard that we are hurting some family members and friends feelings by keeping this special moment private and we want everyone to know that we had no intentions of doing so. Ev and I are planning an outdoor reception in Fairhope, Alabama in the off season for everyone who is missing out on our nuptials. 

Being legally married won't change much except for taxes and my last name. Ev and I will still act, play, argue and love the same. We have always been a family, ever since the day we met we have been inseparable and will forever be inseparable. Our bond is the complete ice cream sundae and marriage is an extra cherry. 

Our Pre Honeymoon

Short and sweet and most definitely needed. Ev and I spent three nights in the lovely Cancun. Beautiful sunsets and unseen sunrises. We spent our time eating and getting the much needed sleep we both have lacked from a very stressful football season. We stayed at Le Blanc Resort and felt no need to leave the hotel. We had everything we could ever need (except for our kids of course.) Ila, Thor and Bill stayed in Philly with GaMamma Deb while we were away. Thankfully she was able to come out and spend her (much needed) time with our little angels. 

Little Bill

Yes, the rumors are true. Thor is a daddy to a Chorkie girl and boy. Thor made sweet love with Ev's grandmother's Yorkshire Terrier Maggie and we have now have two new members to the Baumhower puppy family. We decided to keep the boy and name him Bill (no, we don't have a reason why we chose that name.) Ev's grandmother has kept the girl and named her Sugar. 

Bill is just like his daddy. Poops everywhere. Other than his mishaps, Bill is a very well behaved loving dog. He adores Ila and is absolutely perfect for Thor. For the most part Thor and Bill sleep at the same time and play at the same time. Every so often Thor will want to play with Bill but Bill will be too tired so he'll just let Thor roll him back and forth. The two of them are quite the sight. Now if I can get them to stop barking while Ila is napping. 

Lee Ila Ann

Oh my big girl, she's almost 7 months old and practically ready for high school. She has been eating three times a day (fruits or/and vegetable mixed with oatmeal,) holds her bottle, drinks out of a straw and snacks on foods like Cheerios. She wears size 4 diapers, 12 month old tops/dresses and 12-24 moth old tights/leggings. She's a crawling machine that still jumps in her bouncer, walks in her walker but it totally over "silly baby toys" (as I assume she would call them if she could speak English.) Oh yes, she talks... or at least babbles. I don't ever hear the girl cry unless she hit her noggin on something. She normally just tells me she's tired by rubbing her eyes and starts babbling. I put her to bed with her binky and blanket and BAM, she's out. What lucky parents we are to have such an easy going & happy monster. 

Ketchup

Catch up! Get it? My sense of humor has decreased since becoming a full time mom. The little things that make me laugh make others question my sanity. 

Right after my last legitimate post Ev's mother came to visit while Ev was playing the Cards in AZ. We had a blast together :) Cooking, entertaining, celebrating and just living it up in Philly. 

I finally got my engagement ring! Ev gave me the opportunity to design it and he did the rest. It's exactly how I pictured it and suggest everyone to ask for our jeweler's info. It's absolutely stunning.

The following weekend my cousin Jackie & her family as well as Ev's cousin Dane came to visit. More  cooking, entertaining, celebrating and touring. I can't get over how cute little Avery is. Dane's cute too. 

Ev's childhood friends flew in this past weekend. I didn't have my camera out as I should have and missed any oppurtunity for pictures. Instead I have a picture of the cake we had made for Ev's (Papa Bear's) 31st birthday.

That's all folks. I'm apologizing in advance if it take me another month to update everyone with all the fun junk we're about to go through. Hopefully you won't hate me if I'm a little preoccupied ;) LOVE YA!