Suzanne Melissa Photography, Engagement, Wedding, Wedding Photographer, Scottsdale Arizona, Phoenix Arizona » Scottsdale Arizona Wedding and Portrait Photography

It’s that time of year when I promise myself to go on a diet (again), to spend more quality time with my family and to stop watching excessive amounts of reality TV.  I almost can’t take anymore of Team Mom 2 (seriously-If Jannelle goes back with Kiefer one more time I’m going to stop watching…until the next episode).

Anywho-who, this year I decided it’s time to go big or go home with my New Year’s Resolutions.  I’m not just going on a diet I’m on a mission to lose 30 pounds, make a serious commitment to my family and to put all of my creative energy into my photography business.

I’ve read on-line that people who write down their goals make on average % more over their lifetime than those that don’t.  80% of Americans say they don’t write down their goals, but a study out of University of California showed that people who write down their goals, share them with friends and regularly update their friends on the progress are 33% more successful in accomplishing their goals.  Just WRITE THEM DOWN and you have already increased your odds of success without doing anything else!  (Maybe I should send Jannelle some pen and paper??).

So my friends, here are my goals for 2012.  I decided to split them between Business and Personal.  I wanted to have an even 20 for each, so I am leaving myself some room to add on later in the year.

Business

1. New business cards
2. Update portfolio
3. CD cases
4. Welcome package for brides
5. Book 10 weddings for 2012
6. Book 15 portrait sessions
7. Book 5 newborn or maternity
8. Network w/venues, other photogs, and others
9. Develop wedding workflow
10. Better reception images
11. Be featured on a wedding blog
12. Have a wedding published
13. Attend two PUG meetings
14. 2^nd shoot for other photographers
15. Buy 100mm Macro Lens
16. Attend a workshop
17. Watch Photo DVDs
18. Photograph wedding at a venue I have never worked with
19. Make two new photography friends

Personal

1. Lose 30 lbs
2. Wear a bathing suit on my b-day
3. Add a new meal each month
4. Take swim lessons w/Andrew
5. Have date night with the following couples w/Trey and Kandy, Mom and Rick, Dad and Cindy
6. Hang pictures on the walls…anywhere!
7. Decorate Andrew’s room
8. Hike the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim
9. Take 6 month and 1 year pics of Andrew
10. Organize/decorate office
11. Go to lunch/coffee w/Bre
12. Take a vacation
13. Read 5 books
14. Tailbone to heal
15. Get pregnant
16. Complete Legacy File
17. Quit day job
18. Run a 5k

You’ll notice that number 2 on my personal list is to wear a bathing suit on my birthday (August 31…just in case you wanted to plan ahead!).  I’m pretty sure the picture below is the last time I was photographed in a bathing suit.

So go ahead, don’t be scared. Write down your goals, tell a friend and start earning 9% more!

Yep…child birth is no joke.  I’m sure many of you out there already know this, but I did not.  I thought, sure, it’s going to hurt.  A little bit of pain, okay maybe a lot of pain, some he-he-hooooooooo and out would come a baby.  Let me tell you the truth.  Let’s get real.  Child birth is freaking crazy!  The pain, the waiting, the pain, the baby, the joy, the after pain…

I wanted to write this post so I can remember all of the events of this painful joyous day.  It’s limited TMI, but feel free to skip to the end and just check out our cute baby!!

9/10/11-due date.  No baby.

9/14/11-Ultra sound.  It’s a girl boy?!  Induction scheduled for 9/20/11

9/15/11-Last day at work.  No baby.

9/18/11-BFF’s birthday.  No baby.

Monday 9/19/11 9pm-Did I just pee my pants??

9:15pm-Did I just pee my pants…again?  No…my water just broke and my hair’s not done.  Damn!  Side note: my husband’s only request during my pregnancy was to not go into labor on a Monday.  Request denied.  Now we’re even for the Christmas ornaments

9:20pm-Shower and do my hair because who greets a new baby without your hair done.  Right?

10:15pm-Husband makes coffee and I tell him to take his time because I’M ONLY LEAKING FLUID HERE!

10:30pm-Check into the labor and delivery triage.  Nurse confirms, yep my water broke and those cramps that I have been having those are contractions.  Dilated to about 2.

1:30am-Get moved to a labor and delivery room, go to the bathroom and get moved back to triage.  They need the room for someone having a baby RIGHT NOW and apparently that’s not me.

2:30am-Get moved to a labor and delivery room again now to stay.  Pitocin drip stated.  Dilated to about 2.

2:35am-First contraction rips thru like a freight train.  Wow…that didn’t feel good.

2:40am-Second contraction even worse.

2:45am-Husband wonders if he left the coffee pot on and wants to go home to check it.  Third contraction hits and I wonder if I am going to die during child birth like in the movies. The headline will read, “Woman dies during childbirth while husband is turning coffee pot off”.

2:50am-Husband really wants to go home and check coffee pot.  I’m thinking it’s just a ploy to go get more coffee since the cafeteria is closed and really I could care less if the house burns down right now….I’m about to DIE in pain!  Oh, and another contraction.

2:55am-Contraction-unbelievable pain.  Nurse recommends I try and get some sleep.  Guess she’s not aware of the thriving pain I’m in.  How about I prove it by throwing up.  Done.

3:00am-Contraction-unbelievable pain.  Nurse asks if I want to try sitting on a “birthing ball” (which by the way is just an exercise ball…why do they have to call it a birthing ball.  I’m not going to birth anything while working on my core).  Pass on the birthing ball.

Contraction-unbelievable pain.  This little scene plays out every five minutes from 2:35am to 6am.

6:00am-My doctor stops by and tells me I’m dilated to 2.  A 2???  WTF!!!  I’m convinced this is the baby that will never come out.  I’m 10 days overdue, 8 hours past my water breaking and 3.5 hours into the pinball of pain from pitocin and I’m dilated to a 2????  Did this baby not get the memo to GET OUT!

I think for fear of his life the doctor agrees that when the nurse checks me at 8am if I’m at a 3 I can get the epidural.

8:00am-Nurse comes into the room and declares I’m at a 3.  wink. wink. and orders the epidural I’m certain as a show of mercy.

8:15am-My favorite person in all of the world and new BFF shows up…the anesthesiologist.  Oh wonderful person wielding large needle of joy where have you been the last 41 weeks.

I had watched an episode of Baby Story where the epidural only took on one side of a patient.  I recounted this story to my husband and mom and laughed about how awful that would be.  Karma was apparently in the neighborhood and paid me a visit.  The epidural began to wear off quickly on my left side leaving me with intense back pain.  My new BFF was able to adjust the epidural a little, but I still had a lot of feeling on the left side and zero feeling of the right side.

Fast forward to 4:45pm (we all know how babies are born) our baby is born and I hear the doctor say, “It’s a boy?!”.  Yep, our little girl was indeed a boy.  The cutest boy you have ever seen!

The pictures below were taken by a photographer that I have idolized for years and I am thankful to know her now as a friend, Kimberly Jarmen.  Meet our little surprise Andrew Patrick.

Oh I could just squeeze and kiss this little face all day!

It’s hard work being such a cute baby model!  He looks a little cross eyed in this, but I promise he’s not!