It poured, sprinkled, and drizzled all day every day this week. Alexa and I enjoy getting outside so between the energetic rain and her tireless cold, we were both starting to feel cooped up. Luckily the clouds took a break and even parted to give the sunshine time to play on the puddles and dance on our faces. We chose a path above Obernarnbach and it was lovely, but the chilly air refused to be ignored so it was a short one. Even so, it felt wonderful to be out walking, exploring new trails, and enjoying nature again.

This is the second portion in my Mother - Daughter self-portrait series, inspired by Wherever I am With You.  Every month I'm making the effort to get behind the frame with my daughter. Click here to read my reasons for doing this project and to see last month's getting in the frame moment. It's only been two months, but I'm already seeing how this project is stretching me creatively. Self portrait's in themselves are tricky for me, so adding a toddler to the mix has added a completely new dimension of challenges! Especially today having her in the Ergo carrier. Alexa is happy as long as I'm moving, which meant I had to be very quick while setting up the tripod and making adjustments in the camera. But like always, I'm impressed with my ability to adapt and Alexa's ability to make everything in life more fun. I can't imagine what this deployment would be like without her with me. I'm sure grateful for her sweet disposition and the loving comfort she adds to my life.

If you're joining me in this self-portrait challenge, or you're just dabbling in a photo here and there, I'd love to hear your thoughts! How's it going? What challenges are you facing taking portraits with you and your children in the same frame?

Starting a new self-portrait project, inspired by Wherever I am With You. Every month I'm going to make the effort to get behind the frame with my daughter. For her birthday party a few days ago I strung up a collage of photos of her from the year. A friend, after looking at them said, "You don't get many photos of you do you?" I re-looked at the collage and Alexa and her Dad littered most of the photos. Many of the photos of her and her Dad are my absolute favorite, but that doesn't mean I should be "absent" from Alexa's growing childhood. With Scott deployed, I feel it's more important than ever to make more of an effort to get behind the frame. So this is me, making the effort to show Alexa that I was there too. Getting in front of the camera is not easy, and taking a creative self portrait with an energetic wee one isn't either! But it's an exciting challenge. I think it will really stretch me creatively and years down the road, I'm sure I'll be grateful I made the effort.
At Wherever I am With You, is a website where a group of photographers monthly post their efforts to get in the frame with their children, but you don't have to be a professional to take this challenge. Does this sounds like something you want to do? Write me in the comments and join me! I'm all for the buddy system. :)

Today we explored the neighboring hills around our village and had a picnic. Alexa and I are so frequently on the move when we're outside, traveling and what not, that it was nice to just take it slower and enjoy nature together.

So we've been in Germany for what, almost 6 months? And I'm just now finally getting around to hanging up all our photos on the wall. I know embarrassing, but it gets worse. As I started hanging everything in the living room I Realized That I do not have a  single family photo of the three of us.  Ouch. I'm trying not to be too hard on myself, I know things have been busy. We had a baby, moved to the other side of The Globe, and havebeen adjusting to living in a foreign country eversince, etc. Regardless, to say That I'm not a little devastated That I have not made ​​the time to take or print a nice photo of my growing family for six months is an understatement.
So for Mother's Day, my very first Mother's Day, I wanted to take a deliberate family photo. Not just a quick snap shot of us on our travels. I've taken so many pictures of Scott and I together on the tripod, even of Alexa and I, but trying to capture all three US proved to be challenging! Even so, I'm glad we got out there and made ​​the effort to capture our family Because before we know it, another six months will fly by.









PS This is What happens when you try to take your family photos yourself ... smoulders and squishy faces. Ha! But it does make me laugh! :)

I'm in a self portrait group on facebook and this week's challenge is faceless.