Orange County photographer | Tara Whitney – Orange County's Leading Photographer. Family, Pregnancy, Maternity, infant, Newborn, Baby, engagement photography in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego

February was a rough one for us.

It started out with a major back issue that had me immobile for about two weeks. Then my camera died. Then I got bronchitis. So, since I spent a lot of time in bed in February, I thought it was only fitting to take our family shot there.

I love our room.

I love our bed.

It is a complete and total respite from the world for me. We have had our quilt for so long that it is ripping and ragged, but I can’t bare the thought of getting rid of it. So our feet just poke through the holes. I took it on a photo shoot once, and I am still pulling sticks out from that. I don’t mind. That shoot is a good memory.

Jeff was assigned to a major project at work. While it was really good for him to be asked, it is taking a lot of his time and energy. Away from us.

Nathan is getting over a cold – I can tell in his eyes that he doesn’t feel great.

Mckenna is in her splint, or gizmo, as the Dr calls it. The splint that everyone hates for her sake, but her most of all. It is so hard for me to ask her to put it on, knowing how much she hates it. She is meant to wear it as much as possible every day to keep the skin in her armpit stretched as it heals.

Jeff got a haircut today – and immediately came home and took a shower to get rid of  “itchy neck syndrome”. This picture was last minute, taken literally seconds before it became fully dark outside. So, he didn’t have time to do his hair. It looks hilarious, and I am fine with it. I love his crazy stand up rooster hair. You should see it in the morning.

A neighborhood boy came over with his Nintendo DS one day earlier this month, in the middle of a game. He wanted Drew or Nate to help him get through the end of the level.

Anna came into our room one evening, with her finger above her lip (as a mustache and disguise), and dropped off a piece of paper. On the paper was written: “Mom and Dad, I ran away with Silce (silkie is her cherished blanket) and pilow pet. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox Anna. Mom, don’t tell Dad that I’m still here. Act it aot(out). Ha Ha Ha.” I don’t think I have laughed that hard in a long time. We did indeed act out our sadness at finding her gone, and our excitement in finding her again.

Nathan got an A+ on his science test and was so, so proud and excited to show us.

Jeff recorded Black Beauty for Anna, and she watched, transfixed. I love that he thinks of all of us and is always searching for things to record that we might like.

Mckenna turned fourteen. She asked for Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Spirals. We got her three boxes, clothes, and an old iPod shuffle. She was more excited about the Mac & Cheese.

A friend loaned Drew and Nathan a Lord of the Rings video game. One night Jeff played with them and started telling them all about the characters and the story. Drew remembered that he had The Hobbit in his closet, and started reading it. That lead to us starting a LOTR marathon one Saturday.

We are all still so happy about the weather we have this time of year. Perfect.

Oddly, we didn’t go out as an entire family unit at all this month.

I had a ton of fun on Valentine’s day…doing special things for the kids. They woke up to treat bags filled with goodies in their top dresser drawer and personal heart shaped chocolate cakes for breakfast.

Mckenna loves, and when I say loves, I mean LOVES, to get the mail after the bus drops her off everyday. One afternoon the mailman was there, putting mail away. She ran up to the truck and said, “Hey mailman! What’s up?!” We got the mail and I told him about how much she loved it. As he drove off, she shouted, “OSA MISA MAILMAN!” I was like, huh? Took me a second to figure it out-but I finally did-she meant to say, “HASTA LA VISTA MAILMAN!”

This shot was actually taken on March 1, but I am going to pretend that since February is such a short month, that doesn’t matter. I propped my camera on our laundry basket, two pillows, and an eyeshadow compact. I called everyone into my room and they piled on the bed. No one REALLY wanted to do it, so I took three self timer shots in about a minute and this one was my favorite. I couldn’t decide in color or bw, so I decided: BOTH.

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If you joined in, feel free to post a link in the comments. I would love to see.

xo

Tara

January notes:

Love this fence. Have taken photos of OTHER people in front of this fence. When we were here playing golf for Anna’s birthday I asked Shane to snap a couple of us in the same spot.

I am not wearing glasses because I was wearing my prescription sunglasses, and I didn’t want yet another shot of me with sunglasses on. (My glasses were in the car – not enough time before dark to grab them.) It feels weird, my glasses-less face, but it is actually growing on me. Are contacts on my horizon?

Drew is obsessed with that grey sweatshirt and wears it every single day. He likes that the sleeves are too long and that they bunch up in his hands. It drives me bonkers having to look at him in it every single day, and although sometimes I gently recommend that he switch it up, I know that this is his way of expressing himself through his clothes. So deeper down, I love it. I can’t wait to watch him through all of the stages of discovery and becoming.

Uniqua is clipped securely to Mckenna’s belt loop. She comes with us everywhere we go. This is the second Uniqua replacement. Mckenna likes to find her shadow in the light and project it into walls.

I am so glad I went with that color when choosing a jacket. I almost went with olive green, but this gold color is so 70’s fantastic.

Right now the kids spend a lot of time playing wii. Nathan is a pure professional when it comes to boxing, bowling, and tennis. All of the kids complain about sore arm muscles after the weekend is over!

Favorite dinner of January was: Beef Biscuits. (I should edit and say my favorite dinner of January. The kids hated them.)

We are all loving the rain and cooler weather. None of us likes being hot. We are complainers in the heat. We all enjoy snuggling into sweatshirts and cardigans and soft fuzzy blankets.

Looking forward to the premiere of Percy Jackson & The Olympians: Lightning Thief in theaters. I have started the first book of the series so that I can have something to talk about with Drew. (That was Jeff’s brilliant idea for me.)

Anna has recently gotten into Polly Pockets and HORSES!, but only plays with her toys when she has a friend over. She loves to make a bath or swimming pool for them in the bathroom sink. She also loves dressing and doing the hair of her American Doll.

Jeff downloaded the latest Offspring album, and although it isn’t always my cup of tea, it is definitely on major rotation and getting lots of requests from the kids. (Half-Truism and Kristy, Are You Doin’ Okay? are favorites.)

Jeff and I are struggling through the aftermath of Mckenna’s surgery. She is almost completely healed, but twice a week occupational therapy appointments along with weekly burn clinic appointments take up a lot of precious energy.

The house is a bit of a mess. A lot of my organizational projects are half-done or not even started. I want to get organized and re-arrange/re-decorate pronto!

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Okay so here’s the deal. I love seeing photos of all six of us together, but for obvious reasons that rarely happens.

Was talking to a friend about this problem, and I thought of a great idea. IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF.

Once a month, I am going to organize a family self portrait. Hand held, self timer, or grab someone else to take it.

Whatever. JUST DO IT. Just to have it.

Because I can, and I should!

I don’t think once a month is too overwhelming. Not even for this procrastinator. I am pretty sure I can do this. I am going to let the kids get in on it too, and maybe have them plan a shot or two if they want.

When I share the photo(s) of the month, I am also going to jot down some things that are going on with our family at that time. And then at the end of the year, put it together in a book.

I would love for you to join me.

xo

Tara