Father's Day 3.0

Hello All!

I know, I know...it's been about 100 years. I apologize and hope to be back on the radar more often now that the newest Baby Maconachy is getting a bit easier to manage. Did I mention I had a new baby? Oh, yes. Well, more on that later...

 Anyways, I wanted to jump on before it was too late and share our newest Father's Day picture. This has been SUCH a fun tradition for our family. My husband thought it was adorable the first year, but I believe he got teary the second year when he saw how much his baby girl had grown (and sprouted pig tails). I can not WAIT to give him this latest installment with our latest little "installment" included! ;)

Since we are going to be away for Father's Day this year, we are celebrating a bit early and I wanted to share this with you all so you could see the progression. It's never too late to start this yearly tradition for your own family!

So, an early Happy Father's Day to all of your fabulous Daddies out there and especially to ours...he's kind of the best!
 
For more on how the tradition started- click here .

Father's Day 3.0 

Planes, Flare, and Automobiles

Mr. M (which stands for Man) is one of my favorite little dudes. It just so happens that his actual name starts with M too, but Mr. Man suits him just as well. This kiddo is ALL BOY and I love every inch of him.

I'm been photographing him since the day he was born, literally. (Ok, so maybe it helps that his mama and I have been BFFs since the days of all-nighters, sorority parties, and mac & cheese for dinner on the pull-out couch. But I'm pretty sure I'd be just as obsessed with him if we weren't.)

Knowing this little man's love of planes, cars, and...well, running-- I came prepared for this shoot! His Mama and I may have lost a few pounds chasing after him...but for that, we thank you, Mr. Man! xo

Since Mom isn't using these pics for Christmas cards, I can finally share some pics with you of someone other than my own child! You're Welcome.  ;)

"Pink"

So, I am fresh off the I Heart Faces conference, and am bursting with info and inspiration. I can't wait to share some of it with you- right here on the blog, very soon!

For now, I figured I'd join in on their latest challenge, entitled "Pink" in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It's a non-judged month, which means it's just for fun...so head on over and play along! You can enter as many photos as you'd like! :)

Sorry for the picture repeat for those of you who followed our "Dance Class Horror Story" last month! ;)

 

Big Sister!

Well, the cat's out of the bag...Yes, Quinlin is going to be a big sister!

I wanted to thank everyone so very much for all of the sweet comments, "likes", messages, etc.  I've read every single one of them and I feel so very lucky to be surrounded by such amazingly supportive people.

As most of you know, our path to pregnancy has never been an easy one as we have to go "The Dreaded IVF Route" each and every time. It's pretty much not fun...at all, but we feel lucky to have the absolute BEST doctors, families, & friends in our lives. And although this past year has been a difficult one, I feel that the details of that story are neither here nor there. We are focused on the present...and especially the future as we get ready to add another member to our little familia!

Many of you have asked about our announcement picture- so here's the story:
I decided to stay off (the ever-dangerous) Pinterest because I knew I would immediately find a cute idea and try to replicate it and I really wanted the announcement to be original. Not that I was trying to be a super hero or anything, I just wanted the idea to originate from something within our family, our daily activities, Quin's likes/dislikes. I wanted it to really mean something to us after all we had been through.

Well, as many people with a 2-year-old girl will tell you-- dolls are all the rage. My daughter is seriously obsessed. I'm scared to count the number of dolls in the house for fear that I may need to admit to having a small shopping/hoarding problem.

Quin's day consists of following me around the house, replicating everything I do for her- for her baby doll. From standing on a chair in the kitchen preparing meals for her baby doll to putting the poor doll in time outs. Q's babies get sick, take baths, have their diapers changed, and are even in the midst of potty training. I should mention that the dolls are having much more success on that front.

We seriously have every piece of baby furniture in two sizes: human size and doll size. It got to the point where I had to buy one of those hideous hot pink fabric tent "houses" for the living room just to house all of Q's doll furniture & accessories. It matches perfectly with our living room furniture and isn't an eye-sore at all...

One day, when my husband and I were watching Q vacuum her doll house floor with her Minnie Mouse vacuum in one hand and a baby doll cradled  in the other, we turned to each other and I said, "Well, she sure is going to be well-trained!" Viola- light bulb moment. The announcement idea was born.

I should mention, it took 3 adults to lug all of that furniture out into the middle of the woods, 1 of us to hold up one end of the string of stars, another one of us to direct Q, and me to actually man the camera while all of this craziness was going on. It was most certainly not a one-woman job. Huge thanks to my hubby and amazingly creative sister (chalk board artist, anyone?) for their help!

Here's the announcement again along with some other favorite shots that didn't make the cut. Thank you again for reading, sharing our excitement, and following our journey!

xoxo -j

 

Q's First Day of Dance

So I've pretty much been planning this day since I found out that I was having a little girl 2 1/2 years ago. I anxiously awaited her 2nd birthday and called the studio the very next day to schedule her very first dance class. I had purchased every dance article and accessory- from leotards with matching tutus all the way down to the leg warmers. Yes, leg warmers.

I. Was. Ready.
Unfortunately...Quin was not.

For those of you who follow along with our adventures on Instagram (@jjmaconachy), you will know how this story ends. For those of you who don't know...here's a little recap.

Dance Day arrives.
I've got Q prepped and primped and she is cutest ballerina-- ever.
We enter the dance studio lobby.
Obviously, we are first in line.
Q and I are both bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. She's skipping around the room. I'm strategically choosing my seat on the benches so that I can begin my "Dance Mom" reign and of course, have the best view of Q's classroom monitor screen.
Everyone's excited.
Q's tutu is sparkling, ballet slippers tied, buns high and slicked back on her head.
"Mommy, I do circles" she screeches as she spins around the lobby, knocking down several small children. I'm already envisioning how she will be the star of Abby Lee Miller's competition team one day.

Then the dance teacher walks out...and all hell broke loose.

The teachers make an announcement about how no parents are allowed in the room and that they'll be back with our kids in an hour at the end of class. Q looks from the teacher to me- back and forth. Surely, you aren't suggesting I follow this stranger? All the little tutu-clad girlies line up behind the teacher...except for mine- who at this point has begun heaving and screaming bloody murder while hanging onto my legs like a monkey. I walk her to class, or should I say, I walk to her class with her riding on my legs- peel her off of me and quickly back out of the room.

Back in the lobby- I've lost my optimal seating and notice how all the other moms are watching my child's tantrum on the monitors. (Dance Mom dreams on the decline...)

Eventually the teacher comes out covered in my kid's tears and snot and invites me to come sit in the room. Well, that didn't help any. In fact, it made it worse, because all the moms gave me the stare of death and then the students saw me come in and they all started crying for THEIR moms. Embarrassment and insane amounts of sweating all around.

Needless to say, this went a tiny bit worse than I had planned.
Oh well, next week will be better...

The next week,  I strategically planned to have my husband drop her off since "obviously she is less attached to him and won't cry as much".
Obviously- not.

I arrive after the kids are already in class and find a seat. I find Q on the monitor and Whoa!! She is spinning and leaping around in the dance room! I am beaming.
Whew!! I knew she'd get better! She dances all the time at home- I knew she'd love it once she warmed up! I'm so proud of her...just look at how cute she looks in her little black tutu...
wait...I'm pretty sure I put her in a pink tutu today...

Yep, wrong kid.

Just as my ego is slowly deflating, I noticing the sound of screaming getting louder. Then out walks the dance teacher with my child on her hip- sobbing uncontrollably. And then...in front of everyone, she hands me my screaming, red-faced toddler and says:

"Why don't you try again when she's older? See you then."

Kicked. Out.

I'm pretty sure I've never been kicked out of anything in my life. With all eyes on us, I try to stealthily slink out of the dance lobby- serenaded by a chorus of whispers "oh, poor thing", "so sad", "what a loser mom".
Ok so maybe I made that last one up...but that's what they might as well have been saying!

Dance Mom dreams- CRUSHED! (Have I mentioned that I'm obsessed with the show, Dance Moms?)

Well, don't worry everyone...Quinnie and I are not quitters and there are way too many unused dance outfits at home for this story to have such a sad ending.

Fast Forward to today.
Mommy and Me Dance Class.
The very last resort.

After 10 minutes of leg clinging and blood-curdling screams, Q finally calmed down and...danced! I think I could even say that once she realized that I wasn't going anywhere- she actually had a good time!

So, why am I "forcing" my kid to do dance class, you ask? I'm actually not...although this blog post may imply otherwise. You see, every day she asks to put on her dance outfit. She then requests that we watch "Barney Circle" which is the excruciatingly annoying episode of Barney where they talk about dancing and show a clip of a little ballet class spinning in circles. She watches that damn thing on repeat...copying every last move those little ballerinas make. "Look Mama- toes! Me do circle!" The kid is obsessed. So I'm not forcing her to dance- she asks for it every day. She's just not quite ready to leave my side yet. And you know what...with as fast as she's growing up. I'm okay with her clinging to me for a little longer.

And so, from now on, every Thursday at 10:30 am- I will be donning my butterfly wings and flapping my arms, leaping, and crawling around on the floor making animal noises with my little Mama's girl. Because, in case you were wondering, that's what you do in Mommy and Me Dance Class.

First position can wait for now...and happily, so can Quin.

Luckily, I was able to get some shots of Q's very first day of Dance Class - before the madness ensued. Oh, the memories we are making together, my little girly...

 

 

 

 

 And for those of you who asked...no, Q and I will not be wearing matching tutus to class, and yes- I do have two left feet. 

Not Back to School Just Yet...

Call me crazy, but I'm pretty grateful that she's not leaving me just yet

...although, she may not feel the same. ;)

Cherishing these "baby years" that fly by all too quickly.

Fall Minis

Update: Fall Minis are BOOKED! 

I will let you all know about any cancellations or last minute openings.

Hello Friends!

After much consideration, I made the decision to not take any more FULL sessions (this includes full child, family, newborn, maternity, etc.) for the remainder of 2013.  Instead, I will be offering a limited number of Fall Minis. This will allow me to catch up with old clients, meet some new faces, while also keeping my workload in check and allowing me to spend time with my family. Last holiday season was so crazy that I felt as if I was hardly present to enjoy it with my own loved ones. 

Not that I don't love my clients...but you get what I'm saying. :)

Below is the info for Fall Minis. 

Emails have already been sent out to current clients, so if you are interested--hurry, hurry!

Due to travel, family events, and workshops I will be attending this Fall, I only have room to open about 10-12 slots!

Can't wait to see you soon!

email: jmaconachy@yahoo.com to BOOK TODAY

*fine print*

-includes immediate family members only

-all family sessions must occur outdoors 

-outdoor shoots are booked during golden hour (sunset)

-studio sessions available for children only

-a CD of images mailed to your home is an additional $10

-Blackout Dates (unavailable) Include:
September: 12-16th
October: 3-7th, 29-31st
November: 1-10th, 27-30th