One day left of 2019, what the heck! This year has flown by.
What is it about having kids, that makes your years go faster? Perhaps it’s how we’re always looking forwards, waiting for our little ones to hit new milestones? When they’ll ‘finally be able’ to do this or that for themselves, or experiencing ‘first’s’.
It’s easy to get caught up in that and forget to just enjoy them at the age they are. It’s something I have been trying to be conscious of lately, and I try to remember look at the world through Grace’s eyes. Admittedly, it’s not every day that I’m able (/have the time!) to watch and appreciate the way she wants to stop and look at EVERY. LITTLE. BLOODY. THING on the way to wherever it is we’re going. A lot of the time, I don’t.
But, when we do, I love watching her face light up when I say, “Yes, you can jump in the muddy puddle!”, or “Of course you can pick that flower, how about that one over there too?”.
So much is still new to them and it’s so easy to get caught up in our own stuff, that we forget that a lot of the time.
We do have adventure days as often as possible though, where we can dawdle as much as we please. Just another perk of my job as a lifestyle photographer – the flexibility to have days like this in my week! And it’s one of my favourite things to do, taking Grace on nature-based adventures around Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. Sometimes we even go as far as the Central Coast, like we did a few months back.
I’d been dying to take Grace where there was an abundance of crunchy autumn leaves. I had my eyes peeled, but couldn’t spot anywhere in Newcastle. Then I remembered a friend of mine posting a picture of her driveway through all four seasons. It looked AMAZING in autumn, lined with those picturesque liquidambar trees. So I got in touch to see if Grace and I could come check it out, and she said yes! Woo hoo! So we hurried on up there before all the leaves had fallen, and boy, we were not disappointed.
Dani and Brendan were so lovely and welcoming, and I’m so grateful they let us come and hang out at the farm for the morning (thanks guys!).
Grace had the best time, seeing horses, cows and chickens up close. I gotta say, I was surprised to see her have no fear when it came to sticking her hand out to feed them!
This morning resulted in some of my most favourite pictures of Grace (#longlivethemullet)… and also a strong urge to return to my country roots and live on a farm again! Ah, the dream.
I’m excited for all the adventures with my fam that 2020 will bring, as well as those with my awesome clients!
If you have any fun adventures planned, and would love to have them documented (one less thing for you to have to worry about), shoot me a message so we can get it happening!
Newcastle lifestyle family photographer
