It's back ...

boo, the brace is back in the Patrick house.  For those of you that have been keeping up with Pickin' Patricks since Kirby was born (or even longer!) you know that Kirby had to wear a hip brace for 6 months.  Well, it is Patton's turn.  We are optimistic that it won't be for that long, though.  When we went and saw the orthopedic today, he said "it's not that bad", but then again he said the same thing for Kirby.  This time around we are starting much sooner though, so hopefully that helps.  With Kirby they had us wait until she was 40 weeks to do a sono, so by the time she was in the brace she was already used to life without a brace.  Sleeping was hard, so we didn't always leave it on at night.  This time around, they did the sono at the hospital and we got the brace on today - only 7 days new and so far so good.  He actually seems pretty comfortable in it.  While I was putting his brace on tonight I got a flashback and glimpse of Kirby ... brought some tears to my eyes because it was just a quick reminder about how quickly time passes.  Here I am, 2 1/2 years later doing the same thing and I suddenly said, "where has that time gone?"  Crazy how it flies.  I encourage you to embrace these moments.  Stop and dance.  Pause and laugh.  Take a break to give a hug or a call.  This past year Route 1 Photography completely took me by surprise with it success (Praise God because I get to be home and not working away), but it took much of my quality time away from Kirby.  Before I started booking this year, I decided I was going to run my business and not let it run me and my family.  I have decided to stick to a certain number of shoots per month and I am only offering them on certain days.  I have figured out what I need to make in order to be able to continue to stay home, so that is what I am offering.  I will not take on any more than that - time, life, and memories are too precious to let them slip away.  Once my children are in school I may decide to take on more, but for now this is where we are.  And so far, clients have liked the idea that I give them a few dates to choose from and then boom, set it.  Here is to even more cookie jar moments in 2013 ...

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17