Sweet little ones...

There's just nothing sweeter than a newborn. Ohhhhhh, I love them. And there's going to be another one in the fam come next summer! No, it's not me. My sister, Melissa, is pregnant!!! Oh man, I'm so excited. I can't wait - they are going to have the most tall, gorgeous, supermodel children. And I'll be photographing them every step of the way. :)

Here's another supermodel in the making. Sweet Kendall, she's as perfect as they come.

Birthday week

Looking back through all the pictures from the past year it's crazy to see how much Brody's changed! I love the chubbiness of his cheeks and wrists in the first two months. He was the cutest little roly poly, these days he's getting tall but still has the best chunky buns and thighs. He usually plays with his toys in a squat position so I think he's pretty proud of them. They may be big, but they're strong! I'm afraid he comes by them rightfully, on his mother's side. Haha.

Happy Birthday my doodles....

I think I'm in denial, today my little munchkin is one. Has it really been a year already? I can't believe it. And then again, I can't remember what life was like without him. A year ago today Jared and I were dancing around the hospital room to Jay-Z on my iPod "labor mix" trying to get my contractions to progress, and just a year later we have a walking, talking one year old with 16 teeth (whole story coming on that, who breaks 8 TEETH in ONE WEEKEND!?). But the truth is if I could have a pack of Brodys I would in a heart beat, he is such a happy, sweet little boy. I can't believe he's already one, wow.

So far one year old is the most fun age ever. I am so loving watching him run around and play. (The whole crawling to walking thing wasn't nearly as traumatic as sitting to crawling. The increased destruction is only marginal.) So far his favorite things are books, balls, anything with wheels, his toy phone, and eating paper. I hope he grows out of the last one. He is babbling like crazy and has a few favorite words - mama (currently his name for both Jared and me), ball, bird, mum-mum (his favorite snack), and bo-bo (his bunny he sleeps with). It seems like he's doing something new every few days.

So, in honor of Jacox tradition I've decided to declare this "birthday week" and do a few posts with pictures from his first year and some of the cute things we love about him. Here are few to kick things off...

Happy birthday sweet boy, we love you more than words can say.

I am buried alive...

... in pictures of beautiful people. Just how I like to be buried. :) I think there are 12 sessions on my desktop  waiting to be edited, and 9 more to be added to that before Thanksgiving. I have a feeling that there will have to be a diet dr. pepper intervention of sorts after this holiday season. :)

This is Mary Jane. She is an opera singer, loves traveling and tall heels, will be moving to Paris with her husband next year, and is one of the nicest, funniest people I have ever met. Is it fair that she is stunningly beautiful to boot? Stunning. 

Happy Fall

Fall is my favorite. There's nothing better, especially in Texas, than stepping outside in the morning and getting little chill bumps. We usually have to wait a little longer than everyone else for it to actually be fall but when it comes it's like magic's in the air. Ahhhhh, I love it. 

This year fall gave us a pretty good head fake. A couple of weeks with waking up to the 40's and getting into the 70's during the day really got me thinking it was actually here - bring on the jeans and cardigans, bust out the grill, and let's actually use the backyard. It was awesome. Then it was like a mean trick - days back in the 90's, humidity galore, and I was in jeans. Disgusting. 

So this is my letter to fall. 

Dear fall, please come back. We really like you. Remember the good times we had a couple weeks ago? Maybe these pictures will remind you. I hear you're coming back this weekend, I hope you'll get comfortable and stay awhile. Love, Tyan

Mmmmmm, rope.

This is what Brody was doing right before he started walking. We called him our little silver back. 

And just like that...

he walks! I can't believe it, he's getting so big so fast. (can you tell by the too small shorts? It was laundry day. :)

He's been taking steps for a couple of weeks now. Two or three here and there. Then last week he just decided he was going to walk! It is so cute. Most of the time it's with his arms straight up in the air, like they're in his way or something.




And usually he's screaming the whole time. I'm not sure if it's because he's so excited to be walking, or if it's because he's mimicking what I did when he walked for the first time, or if it's because his new favorite thing to do is play chase. Probably a combination of the three. But I love it. And he couldn't be more proud of himself.

Oh the irony...

Even more ironic - he bit me while I was blogging this. Heeeeeee's a biter.

What is it with this kid and the fridge?

And the dishwasher, the trash can, the printer (he can just now reach). Basically anything that's not a toy he wants to play with. Toys do not interest him at the moment. But as soon as he hears the dishwasher door open he is hauling it from wherever he is in the house with his cute little janky leg crawl.

He started crawling between six and seven months with one leg up, foot flat on the floor, and the other leg bent like a normal crawl. He uses the leg that's up to launch himself forward and then the other leg scoots along like normal. He looks like a little pirate with a peg leg. Lately he's started putting both feet flat on the ground with his bum in the air like a little silver back. It is hilarious.

So usually I have about three seconds to throw something in the dishwasher before he's trying to pull the door down and grab the forks. And if the door is already down he's crawling on it trying to get inside. I think I didn't appreciate the sitting-up-but-not-yet-crawling-stage enough. And now that he's standing up and trying to take steps I'm realizing that life as I know it is over and the house has probably not seen the worst of the messes. I'm just glad he hasn't figured out how to take his diaper off yet, haha. Oh, I dread the day.





I have no idea where he learned how to do this. Okay, I do. Or I thought that I did. I thought "Okay, he's seen me have one every now and then. Or every day. So he's just copying what I do." But he seems a little too excited, no?

Sometime after that is when l I saw Jared GIVING HIM A SIP. Oh no, no, no, nu uh, no way did I just see that. Now I know who the culprit is here. He has his daddy wrapped around his little finger.

I have a sneaking suspicion that this is just the beginning.



PS - I am overwhelmed and humbled by all of your sweet comments and messages about the previous post. To be honest I was really hesitant about putting it up and worried that it wouldn't come across the way I had intended. So thank you, it's awesome to know that we're all in this together. Perfectly imperfect.

It's cool to be the janitor

My dad is an incredibly hard worker. He grew up on a cotton farm, went to college, lived in his car part of one semester because he couldn't afford rent, sold Bibles in the ghetto, graduated, worked in Houston, then in Waco, then New York, and then started his own stock broking firm in Tyler 25 years ago. He is a self made man who is as selfless as they come. I've learned, and continue to learn, a lot from watching how he works, lives, listens, loves, and smiles through just about anything. There's one time in particular that's been on my mind a lot.

Growing up my dad always went to the office early, in high school he would drop me off at seminary (6:00am) and go to work. His office is in one of the biggest bank buildings in Tyler, which he bought sometime after moving in. To us the coolest part about him owning the bank building was that on Saturdays if he went up to the office we got to go with him. We would sit across the desk and draw or fill out pretend stock orders. It was so fun to go with him and see just a few other people there in jeans and t-shirts when it was usually filled with people in suits.

Walking in one Saturday someone said hi to us as they walked by, and we smiled and said hi back.

"You know, they think I'm the janitor." My dad said to me and smiled. I was shocked, why??

"I get here earlier than everyone else during the week, I come in on Saturdays sometimes, and I drive an old truck."

Then he shrugged and said, "I kinda like it."

He wasn't trying to teach me anything, but it was an amazing lesson. He loves what he does, takes care of his family, serves others, and doesn't care if people think that he owns the place or is the janitor. He doesn't waste time worrying about it or making an effort to put on any type of appearance whatsoever.

This has been on my mind as I've been catching up on blogs that I like to follow and keep noticing something. There are blogs that I love and can't wait to check, and then there are those that I only visit every once in a while because whenever I do I always end up feeling more and more inadequate/uncreative/out of shape with each scroll down the page. It just seems like a lot of people's blogs or facebook pages are a sort of monument to their own wonderfulness - their perfect lives/houses/bodies/talents/kids/husbands/businesses/etc.  You know what I mean?  I don't doubt that they are super talented, or amazingly creative, or look super hot but sometimes it feels like more and more people are consumed with portraying perfection at all times when that's just not reality. At least not my reality.

Yes, I like to write about things that I love like fun family trips, adventures of becoming a stay at home mom, new clothes, favorite images from sessions, or exciting finds from Anthropologie or J.Crew. But maybe I haven't been as willing to share the real life stuff in fear that I might seem less perfect than everyone else. In reality some days I don't change into real clothes until just before Jared gets home from work.  Or I wear "nicer" jammies like yoga pants and a shirt that's mine (as opposed to Jared's) and call it good. I hate ironing and cooking, which means I'm fine with wrinkled clothes and Lean Cuisines. (Disclaimer: This is not a reflection of my mom who is an amazing cook and whose clothes are always perfectly pressed.) I struggled for a long time with postpartum depression, and still have hard days every now and then. I can't arrange frames on a wall without 14 people's opinion, and I can barely sew a pillowcase without wanting to set my sewing machine on fire.

I don't mean for this to sound like a pity party in the least. I love my life and recognize that I have more things to be grateful for than I can count. But real life is happy, sad, fun, hard, and everything in between.

The last thing I want is for someone to come to my blog and feel like my life is, in any way, better or more productive or more beautiful than theirs. Because it's not. We are the same. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that you have it WAY more together than I do. The important things, I have to remind myself, are to love what I do, take care of my family, and serve others. If I'm having an "I'm the janitor" kind of day I'm not going to go out of my way to make it look like I have it all together, because it's okay if people think you're the janitor. I still have to work on "kinda liking it", but hopefully this is a small step.

Good Morning

I've been putting Brody in our bed for his first morning nap the past few days. I like having him close since I'm usually putting laundry away or doing other morning chores, and I LOVE cuddling him to sleep (only every once in a while since it does go against everything babywise, but hey, I make the rules right?!). He's just so sweet and cute and sleepy and I can't get enough.

It's funny how much this little boy loves sleep! I'm counting my lucky stars (and know I probably used all my points on this one and that the next one will be a nightmare, haha). We're still at three solid naps a day, some days it's four - two in the morning, two in the afternoon. I think during the two hours at a time he is awake HE IS AWAKE. and BUSY. Oh my gosh, is he busy. He's into everything, and just discovered that the toilets have water in them. all the time! He thinks it's awesome, I think we need toilet locks asap.

But what I love almost as much as how much he sleeps is how happy he is when he wakes up. It definitely takes him a few minutes to actually wake up, but after stretching and looking and scratching and staring, he looks at you like "HI! Let's play!". I was taking pictures of him sleeping in our bed the other morning and he started to wake up so I just kept snapping. This is soooooo him.

So cute

I could eat his toes. Love this little man.

P.S. - Now accepting bookings for 2011. The remaining 2010 shooting schedule is filled to the brim! (If you would like to join the waiting list for holiday openings please email me)

And here he is

Landry Sean Hatch
7lbs 9oz
20 inches
September 2, 2010
4:30 pm
Cutest thing I've ever seen.

Oh believe me, LOTS more coming.

Today is the day

Brody gets a cousin. I meet my first nephew. And Kellye becomes a mom.

I'm pretty sure she's the most beautiful pregnant person ever.



I love having sisters, and I especially love that all of us are so different. Melissa is the funny, fashionable, smart one. Paige is the super organized, social one with perfect hair. And Kellye is the nurturing, calm, yoga one. The one all of us feel close to and connect with.




She collects teacups and loves olives.
She's married to her best friend, who also happens to be Jared's best friend from high school.
She has the most perfect skin you have ever seen.
Her favorite color is purple.
She has a long-haired dachshund named Wellington.





And today she will fall in love.

with a little boy named Landry.

Baby Caroline

Oh sweet goodness, I love babies. and gorgeous parents. and cable knit sweaters. and a little 5 o'clock shadow. Welcome baby Caroline. 

Robyn and Josh: Engaged

My favorite thing about being a photographer is getting to see all the ways people love each other. The still, deep love of a new mom and baby, the rambunctious, crazy love between little brothers and sisters, or the honest, all-consuming love between a couple. These two have all of these, AND THEN SOME!

They are the definition of a perfect match. Robyn and Josh, I am so so happy for you. Thank you for being true to exactly who you are - smart, fun, silly, happy, and so in love - and for letting me be a small part.

Belly to baby

I love meeting clients like this ...

And then seeing them again like this ...





Such a beautiful, beautiful family.

Giveaway - Word Posters

AND THE WINNER IS .... queenoftheclick! Congratulations! What a cute idea to use them in a classroom. Love it.

I can't believe this Saturday the moving truck takes our stuff to our first house! I'm excited to get there and revamp so I've been brainstorming about some new things that will make a big impact for a small price (Pottery Barn style on a Target budget as they say). In the process I've designed a few posters with my favorite sayings, proverbs, wise words, etc.

The plan is to print a couple of them out to put in big Ikea frames with white mats (one above the fireplace and one hanging in the office maybe?) and then switch them out every few months. They're nothing fancy but I think they will make the space feel bright and modern, and remind me of the important things that are so easy to forget. 

SOOOO.... if you think one of these would look great in your family room or in a small frame on your desk or nightstand here's the deal. I'm giving away the 16x20 printable files for all four posters AND the winner gets to customize one poster to the color of their choice. (smaller sizes available as well)

TO ENTER: Leave a comment on this post with your favorite quote or saying. What words inspire you every day?

For extra entries: Post this sentence... awesome giveaway from Tiny Bird at http://www.tinybirdblog.com ... on Twitter, facebook, your blog, etc. and come back here and leave a comment with a link to your post.

Winner will be picked Monday morning, 10am CST. 

Knock, knock

Anyone home?? Sorry to leave you for so long! As you can guess life with an 8 month old is filled with lots of lounging, blogging, shaving my legs - you know, things like that. HA! I wish! Throw in a couple of weddings, maternity and newborn sessions galore, Texas heat in July, and the fact that we're moving in exactly TWO WEEKS - it's kind of pandemonium around here. AAAHHHHHH! Okay, sorry, what was I doing? Yes, yes - trying to blog.

It's fun crazy though. The fun part is watching Brody grow like a WEED! He's 8 months old this week and busy, busy, busy. I feel like the first few months there were exciting milestones every couple of weeks, these days I feel like he's doing something new every two days. He laughs like crazy and is so expressive. He has the Jacox eyebrows and knows how to work them! It's pretty entertaining.





A few weeks ago he said his first word, which I had no influence over might I say. I'll give you one guess. Jared swears I've been repeating it to him while he's been gone at work, but I've given equal opportunity to mama, baba, and dada - he just chose the right one to say first. :)

He's also starting to grow some hair, finally! He was a little baldie for so long. What's funny though is that it's growing in faster at his crown than anywhere else, so he has a permanent spike in the back. We've tried sticking it down with water or lotion but it won't budge. He's our little Jimmy Neutron. :)




He's also super interested in people, or just a big flirt. Standing in line at the grocery store is like center stage, he's always looking around me or behind him to find someone to make faces at. Which was really cute until he recently discovered the full range of his voice. How do you stop the high pitched, loud as he can get, crazy screeching!? Oh man, I would love to know. Thank goodness he's not as entertained by it lately, but he still loves to bust it out in the checkout line.

When I cover his mouth and say no he does this - his "Who, me?" face.  Also known as  the "Hi mom. I'm 100% pure trouble, aren't I cute?" face.

THE wedding

All I can say is A.MAZ.ING. Absolutely everything about this wedding was BEAUTIFUL! The colors, the flowers, the stunning bride, the awesome bridesmaids, the weather - literally everything was perfection. I felt like I was in a dream the whole time, a brightly colored, everyone's dancing, love is in the air kind of dream. It was amazing.

The best part of all is that Julia is the most joyful, kind, and humble person I have ever met. She deserves all of the best things in life and I just couldn't be happier for her. I feel so lucky to have been there.

California bound...

So when you get a call asking if they can fly you to Orange County to photograph their wedding and yacht reception - you say YES! We're about to leave for the airport and I'm super excited, although I am going to miss this little one to pieces. He'll be having lots of fun with Honey and Papa until Sunday. Miss you my doodles!!

Fresh

Something about moving always makes me want to throw out everything and start all over. Ever get that urge? We're moving up to The Woodlands in a few weeks so I'm definitely getting to itch to rethink everything and start fresh. My goal: nothing brown allowed! I've always had an idea in my mind of what our dream house would look like, but for some reason everything I've accumulated in the mean time is brown! So moving forward it's new house, new rules.

These are some rooms/looks that I love.

I know for sure we will have these chairs. They're kind of an obsession, okay they're a full blown obsession.