Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season!

Wishing everyone out there their own special holiday. Hoping you are enjoying the time set aside to spend with your loved ones. Celebrating the good times of 2009 and looking forward to the adventures ahead in 2010. Also, thank you for letting us share some special times with you this year. Can't wait for more exciting weddings in 2010.

From all of us at Vrai, happy, merry, special days ahead!

And as a special treat, some smiles from our newest Vrai member...

ISPWP Contest

I am so honored to be voted in among so many outstanding photographs! I had 1 winner and 2 others that placed and considering how phenomenal the photos are, I was glad I did that good! :) Congrats to David Wittig Photography too who got 19th overall!

They are having a people's choice award so if you want to vote for this photo, just click the photo in this post, go down to the bottom of the page and type "VOTE: 1st place - engagement" Just vote once until Dec 7th, and thank you for your vote! If you want to vote for this photo, just click the photo in this post, go down to the bottom of the page and type "VOTE: 14th place - framing the subject" If you want to vote for this photo, just click the photo in this post, go down to the bottom of the page and type "VOTE: 14th place - kids will be kids"

Kentucky

Last week I got to go to my first annual girls weekend getaway for mom's and expectant mom's at my grandma's in Kentucky. What a treat! It was the perfect time to take a break from work to spend time just being a new mom. Thank you to everyone who made it so special. There are more on the baby danger blog!

I can't look at this picture without laughing! Peter's face cracks me up.
Blackberry picking! Ayla's clothes hangin on the line... I love the way the KY hills look blue in the distance. Peter got a little dirty playing in the sandbox :)

Ayla Brianne aka Baby Danger

We are finally home and so excited to be here with our precious little girl Ayla Brianne. I went into labor Sat night after Jewel's wedding (which we will post soon!) which goes to show that little Ayla is already so kind as to wait until after a wedding to start her way out into the world! haha

Ayla means strong as an oak and we hope that she will always be strong enough to be herself. Brianne is after my sister for her nonstop love and faith in me, our hope that Ayla have that same devotion and sweetness towards her family and others. Although we didn't name her Danger, she is still our little baby danger and we will continue to push her to find life's adventures!

As some of you know, we planned a home birth and I did make it 22 hours and 8 cm at home but with some complications and pure exhaustion, I need to take advantage of our medical system and head to the hospital to get through the rest of the labor, all in all 25 hrs. I couldn't be happier with our Doctor, Dr. Munoz, and the staff at Rush University Hospital. They took all my worst fears of a hospital birth and squished them flat. They were so kind and attentive and never even mentioned interventions that weren't necessary. My midwife says this is a successful home birth story, we did as much as we could then took advantage of the technology we have. I don't think I would have been able to push her out on my own if I didn't have that option. In the end, we are all doing great and it was a life changing experience.

She was 8 lbs 13 oz and 41 weeks and 5 days past her due date! She took her time coming but we are so glad she is here now. I can't describe how much I love her, but I am trying to keep this quick (too late!) so I can get back to her.

Enjoy these first few moments of her life taken by Aaron.
I love these moments with my family as they first meet Ayla!

My Maternity Photos!

Last week Aaron and I went out and finally made some photos of this belly before I pop! :) It was a fun day and I think he really captured some beautiful photos. It can be hard to see yourself when you don't feel like yourself, and that is the beauty of the photos, that I can see myself in them, the way I remember myself. Only now, I have my baby with me too. I can't exactly expect others to desire these types of photos, if I don't do it myself, so I did, and it was great! I am glad that I will have memories of this time in my life. Thank you Aaron!

Schmooze Fest 2009

Some of you may remember me talking about a non-profit organization called "Walk the Talk". It was started by a good friend Bria Day and after I got some information, I decided to be an official sponsor. It is a great concept designed to get people out and about and stretching all of their muscles creative and otherwise. They have fitness, wellness, and art classes among many others.

I went to the kickoff Schmooze Fest on Thursday night at the House of Blues and it was a great turn out. People came to sign up for all the classes but there is still time to get involved.

See our name on the water bottle :) Bria schmoozing Look at all the people that signed up for boot camp! Hmmm, maybe this had something to do with it :) Smart Bria! Take this spring and give yourself something you need! Exercise, stress relief and community involvement!

San Francisco

No weddings this weekend, but I did have a fun weekend in San Francisco! I was fortunate enough to win this trip through winning first place in a photo contest through the Foundation Forum (btw, one of my favorite places on the web. If you are a photographer and looking for a community online, check it out now!) I got to chose one photographer to mentor with for the day and I chose Anna Kuperberg. I love her style and eye and she is just fun! We had a great time talking shop and going to the local climbing gym (my favorite!) Thanks Anna for a great time!

Then I spent some time with my sister and niece and got to see their beach side cottage for the first time. Madyson showed me the dunes in style! We had fun playing around with my little point and shoot, it does pretty good when I don't have the space and time to go all out with the pro equipment :)


Me and Madyson

Off to Kentucky

After a long and fun wedding season, I have an early break and I am headed to KY to climb before it gets too cold! I will be back on Monday so if you need me before then, please leave a message or an email and thank you for your patience as I recoup! There will be no Impact Tip this week so try and think of one and send it to me and I might use it on my blog!

I will be sure to take some pics and in the meantime...go VOTE! :)