i can't believe another month has passed! not only because this year has been flying by, but also because our world up here in edmonton is still completely and thoroughly snow covered. usually by now we at least are getting a peek at the grass underneath all that white... fingers crossed that the [relative] heatwave we've experienced the last couple days sticks and we get to experience spring very soon -- we are ready!
march contained it's fair share of awesomeness as well as a handful of not so awesome events. fortunately, the good way outweighed the bad, but i have to admit i'm still a wee bit annoyed with the fellow who rear ended my car and then took off before i could get any information from him. thankfully i am totally fine, but i can't say the same for my rear bumper... boo! on a more positive note, my faith in humanity was restored later that same week when i dropped my wallet in a parking lot, only to have to hand delivered to my front door the following day... yay!
early in the month, we celebrated the second anniversary of the best playgroup ever with six of lila's nearest and dearest and their incredible mommies. these ladies (and kiddos) have been the most amazing network of support and friendship i could have ever hoped to have while raising a child. with five siblings added to the mix, and at least one more on the way this year, we don't see each other as often as we did when the kiddos were wee, but i know i can always count on these ladies any time i need a hand, a laugh, or a good cry. thank you all for being so special... love you! (if i had only one piece for advice to give any new mom, it would be to try to find (or create) a group of moms and babes to meet up with -- the right group will totally save your sanity during those first sleepless nights, hunger strikes, toddler tantrums... you name it!)
here are the kiddos this year, along with a few favourite images from the last couple of years :) (and if you happened to see this image on lila was here, it likely now makes a lot more sense -- having six friends over to play is hard work!)
we also celebrated the arrival of another special baby this month. brandi's little guy arrived at the end of february but i had the opportunity to photograph and snuggle him a few times this past month, as well as creating a few simple decorations for his welcome celebration. i totally forgot my camera the day of the shower, but brandi was nice enough to share a few images she snapped of the event so i could post them here (thanks b!).
mark was away working for a couple of weeks so i had almost given up on getting our monthly family photo, but one day everything fell into place with naps and meals and sunset and after an afternoon of running errands, we stopped for a quick walk in the trails by our house.
also in march, this happened. pretty much the awesomest site ever when it comes to kids and design, and my girl's room was featured. so incredibly cool -- thank you ohdeedoh!
in other news, i've been agonizing over wardrobe choices for our own family photos next month, so i'm totally understanding how all of the families i photograph feel leading up the session. for some reason i always find it much easier to dress other families than my own (note to families i'm photographing this year: make sure you get in touch with me if you have ANY questions at all about attire as i am super happy to help!). it seems like i can find perfectly coordinating looks for any two of us (li and i, mark and li, mark and i) but can never find that perfect third outfit (that actually fits properly!) to tie it all together... i'm sure it will all come together in the end (fingers and toes are crossed) but in the meantime, here are a couple of palettes i am working with. if you happen to spot anything super duper awesome for either look, let me know!
aside from all of that, i've spent most of my month preparing for the busy wedding and portrait ahead (may is pretty much full and i've now opened my calendar for sessions for june through the end of september) and trying to convince my two year old that she used to know how to sleep. i would gladly welcome any tips for a toddler who is not at all interested in sleeping in her own bed, and is newly afraid of both the dark and monsters. i would love to come back for april's recap with a success story and both of us sleeping through the night :)
oh! i almost forgot. if you happen to follow the pink sugar facebook page you may have noticed a certain announcement made there a few days back... there is going to be a contest announced within the next couple of weeks here, and a free session will be up for grabs! hang tight for details :)
alright, i've got some sunshine to go enjoy! hope you all had a great month and that spring finds us all very soon. happy april! xox, andrea.
love love love love! I hope you have a wonderful April - with more sunshine and flowers!
Posted by: Lisa | April 01, 2011 at 01:03 PM
love your palette's. will you dress us for our next family portraits? i'll hand over my budget and you can work your magic :)
Posted by: kelsy | April 01, 2011 at 01:05 PM
love you!! :)
Posted by: michelle | April 01, 2011 at 01:10 PM
aaaaw I am smitten with that perfect little family snapshot! Pretty good for a "selfer"!
And I'm with Kelsy on this one-- can I hire you to style my family for our upcoming shoot?? stresssssss! (dressing 4 is not an easy feat haha)
Posted by: Kat | April 01, 2011 at 01:24 PM
I just love your family photo this month! Here's to an even more exciting April (good exciting, NOT hit-and-run exciting). We're on one year of having to keep the bathroom light on and her door wide open at night, so I don't have much advice for you there other than I feel your pain :/
xox, thank you for everything and for being super awesome.
ps: one of my scarves has all of your palette one colours if you want to use it :)
Posted by: Brandi | April 01, 2011 at 01:39 PM
I love your monthly updates! And what a great family pic.
Posted by: Laurie | April 01, 2011 at 01:52 PM
LOVE your family shot this month!! And I agree about Mom's groups.....I've got a group of wonderful ladies that have been together since our first was born (we just celebrated 6 years this month). Might be coming to you for wardrobe help.....starting to look soon!
Posted by: charmaine | April 01, 2011 at 01:59 PM
awesome march highlights, LOVE your photos and the one with all the kiddo's growing up are just priceless. Your decor for the baby shower is awesome and I just wanted to share this website with you in case you have not seen or heard about them before. I know I always bug and ask you if you are a scrapbooker (lol) but your decor is so inspired by it all that I just find it hard to beleive! Anyway check out this website: http://www.houseof3.com/ it is full of awesome digital and PDF templates, patterned paper, digital brushes etc. that is just so inspiring and very reflective of your decorative style. Just thought I would share!
Posted by: Lindsay Bateman | April 01, 2011 at 04:29 PM
i love your posts! as always, your pics are perfect in every way. so true about mommies needing mommy friends. loved seeing 'cooper' hanging up... my oldest is a cooper, he'll be six in july and still ends up in my bed halfway though most night. ;)
Posted by: melissa bailey | April 01, 2011 at 08:48 PM
I agree that March has gone so quickly....and it is still snowing! Love the family portrait.....I need to hold myself to a similar ideal. We have way more pictures of Daddy and H than Mommy and H, or us all together!
Can't wait to see what you choose for outfits for your family portraits. You are always so well dressed!
Posted by: Morgan | April 02, 2011 at 08:14 AM
These are amazing images ( as always )congrats having your daughters room featured on that site.. seriously so cool. and a gorgeous room.. you have so much talent.
Posted by: elizabeth pellette | April 04, 2011 at 07:09 AM
There is way too much fun stuff in this post (except for the car acccident - NOT fun. ugh)! And I have no doubt you will find some thing awesome for the 3 of you to wear - I love the colour palettes.
p.s. I saw some GRASS in my front yard this morning!! Spring here we come!
Posted by: Christine | April 04, 2011 at 10:49 AM
Your photography tells such a beautiful story! So in love with the pictures of the playgroup kiddos! can you tell me the paint color in the picture of the playgroup kiddos eating suckers? Im in love with it!
Posted by: Carley | April 15, 2011 at 03:23 PM
Andrea,
Can you tell us the shades of grey you ended up choosing for all of the rooms in your house? LOVE them. I'm trying to chose grey shade paint colours and I'm having a heck of a time with all the choices... I'm starting to go a little batty!
Posted by: Julia | June 09, 2011 at 04:13 PM