MY NEW SITE IS LIVE!!!!!!!!!

Can I just tell you how incredibly happy I am? I have been working so hard for so long on this site and it's FINALLY live. I have some more images to add to it, but for the most part it's done. I've also sent out a newsletter to 100 of my previous customers about that and my new storyboards. Wooooo Hooooo!
www.TammyMcMillan.com

Very Important Message

I challenge everyone today to take your camera out, dust it off and use it. I have friends that are photographers that read my blog too and we need to remember that it's okay for us to take "snapshots". Not being concerned if the lighting and everything is okay, but concentrating on catching the moment.

I created a slideshow with pictures of Alison and her friends to send to her friends (something Liza and Alison talked about and we just got all of the pictures and got it together). It got me thinking that I wish that I had more pictures of Alison and I. We just always assume that all of our family and friends will always be here. If nothing else be sure to take pictures of your children, but also look around you. Turn the camera up and take pictures of your spouse, your parents, your friends. They don't have to pose, just capture conversations or relationships with people. Just think if you lose a loved one, how much that picture would mean to you when they're gone.

Also, if you're the one always taking pictures, hand the camera over to your spouse too. Your children need pictures of you too and pictures of you with them. I don't like to be in front of the camera but I keep thinking if something happens to me, Dawson will have very few pictures of him with his mother and that would just be sad.

Speaking Spanish

So, Dawson now thinks that he can speak spanish. It's actually three year old gibberish that he tries to pass off as Spanish. The kid truly needs a spanish class. We were in the drive thru at Burger King a few weeks ago and I'm TRYING to place an order over the intercom. Dawson is in the backseat steady and loudly speaking "spanish". I felt so bad. I kept trying to tell him to talk quietly but he was quite proud of his new language. Lord help a girl! As my friend Moriah would so proudly say. ;)

Where are you????

Oh Spriiiiiinnnnngggg! Where aaaaaare you?
Enough cold weather already!
I'm ready for flowers! We had one and Dawson stomped on it the other day
I'm ready for anything Green!
I'm ready for spending more time outdoors (comfortably).
I'm ready for warm sun on my face.
I am not, however, ready for bathing suit weather! ;)

A few from my most recent session

These are a few from my most recent session with these cutie pies. I'm going to try to start posting a few of my favs from each session. This is Kayden and Taylor. These girls are baby planners of mine and their mom's have become good friends as well. It's Kayden's 1st Birthday (bottom two pictures) and Miss Taylor is just a few months behind her! Happy Birthday Miss Kayden!

Thoughts on Alison and Pete

Alison and Pete are really on my mind today. I really miss Alison. I keep thinking back to when we were inseparable little ones. I'm sorry that over the years we weren't able to spend as much time together, especially her last few years. I'm glad that she's in such a wonderful place with no pain or suffering. I'm glad to know that in time I'll be with her again. It just breaks my heart to know how hard she fought to stay here with Pete. It makes me sad that they were only able to be married for a few short months. I do thank God though for bringing Pete into Alison's life. Pete was truly an angel brought to Alison in the time that she needed him most. Alison has always been one to distance herself from guys, but right at the perfect time she found a man who refused to allow her to do that. It's hard for me to think back to those last few days in the hospital. NEVER have I seen love like I saw in that hospital between Alison and Pete, even though she was sedated. She was so very blessed to have Pete. Pete was also so blessed to have known and loved her the last few years of her life as well. And now we are blessed that Alison brought Pete into our lives. I had not met Pete until the day they were married, but Pete and I have become great friends and he is and always will be our family!

Night time prayers with a 3 year old

Dawson is so funny. Either Jeff or I (whoever puts Dawson to bed) always say our prayers with Dawson at night. It's typically the same thing......Okay Dawson time to say prayers. Then Dawson says "I'm too tired". Then I'll say "What if God's too tired to make sure you have everything you need tomorrow". Then I hear "Now I lay me down to sleep......." LOL. Okay, I shouldn't guilt the kid into saying his prayers, but just want him to keep it all in perspective.

Then he always wants to say a second prayer. Which usually means, Jeff or I say a second prayer but lately he's been saying his own prayer (or part of it) and it's so darn cute! He always prays for the folks in LA and MS who have lost their homes in the Hurricane. I think with all of the drives, etc that we've done, this topic is just ingrained into his mind. Well the other night night I forgot to pray for the folks down south and he quickly corrected me. Then he said "Don't they have homes yet?". I said, no honey most of them don't. Which he quickly recanted with "Why is God so mean that he hasn't given them back their homes?". Yikes! Pretty deep for a three year old, don't you think? I told him that that God blessed them by sparing their lives in that awful hurricane. I've told him that God has a reason for everything that he does, but as adults we sometimes question that, so try to get that point across to a three year old!

Just so random thoughts on our night time prayers.

Life

This is a blog challenge from Moriah..... So, girlie, here are my answers

1. What is the smartest thing you have ever done?
Married Jeff (that's right, I said it=)
Had Dawson
Became a Christian
Started a photography business

2. What is the dumbest thing you have ever done?
How long do you have? So much comes to mind. Alot I'd rather not share online! =)
The biggest one would be dating the assistant to the Omanian Ambassador during the Gulf War. They were neutral, but still a crazy story. If you haven't heard it, ask me some time =)

3. What is something you would have changed about your life?
Alot my teenage years
For the most part though, honestly, I'd have to say very little. Everything I've done and experienced has made me the person I am today - for the good or ill ;).

4. What is the worse feature about yourself?
Weight
Nose

5. The best?
Eyes
Heart (okay so I'm stretching for a feature ;)

6. Why are you with the person you are with?
Jeff has the biggest heart. He also has so many qualities that I feel that I lack in myself. I do believe, as any couple, that God made us to be one complete package. Not that I'm not an individual myslef, and vice versa, but that we're a complete package together. He's handsome, a wonderful father and husband and he's an awful lot of fun!

7. Today you are________, 10 years from now you will be_______.

A 35 year old mother of one, wife, photographer, Christian
Really though? An accountant, a doctor, a chef (Jeff would get a kick out of that one), a nurse, a teacher, a housekeeper, a shuttle service, a secretary, a counselor, daughter, a friend. ;). I'm SURE I'm forgetting lots of things!
In 10 years I hope to be all of the same things, but possibly be the mother of two =)

Thoughts on my gorgeous nephew

So I say to myself "Self, this little man is so gorgeous and looks so familiar". So, I do a little research and low and behold, come across this picture. Now in all fairness to his parents ;) I'll get baby pictures of them and post them as well. For now though, I will choose to believe that he looks like his Aunt Tammy! ;)

I'm sorry

I have been terrible about keeping this up and I promise I'll do better ;). I'm trying to upload some pix as we speak, but it doesn't seem to be working tonight. So I'll leave you with that tease and hope it will work tomorrow!