2017 Mini Sessions

It's hard to believe the holiday season is upon us! I've had several family and friends ask me to take photos for them recently, so I'm excited to be offering mini sessions at the gorgeous Jack's Creek Christmas tree farm this year! These sessions are the perfect affordable way to capture those babies that are growing too fast, to celebrate an anniversary, maternity portraits, or get an updated family photo for your Christmas card.

Spots are limited and are first come first serve. If these sessions book up, be sure to email lesley anne.fenton<at>gmail<dot>com to get on the waitlist and be the first to know when more spots open up!

You have the option to pay for your session by cash, check, or credit card. Payment will be due the day of your session. To reserve your spot, fill out the online form here. You will receive an email from me with your secured spot date and time, with additional details emailed a week before your session.

DETAILS

Your $35 Mini-Session Includes:

25 minute session at Jack's Creek Christmas Tree Farm

Editing of images

10 high-res images delivered online with full printing rights

DATES AND TIMES

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19 

3:00 PM - BOOKED
3:30 PM - BOOKED
4:00 PM - BOOKED

4:30 PM - BOOKED

5:00 PM - BOOKED

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25

10:00 AM - BOOKED
10:30 AM - BOOKED

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26

3:00 PM - BOOKED
3:30 PM - BOOKED
4:00 PM - BOOKED

4:30 PM - BOOKED

5:00 PM - BOOKED

Click here to reserve your spot now! 

Reading Lately

I know this is probably a horrible way to start this post, BUT in the spirit of being honest with y'all, I've been underwhelmed by most of the books I've read so far this year. You win some and you lose some, even in your reading life. I think the stress of being a working mom has had an effect on the way I've approached reading this year, so know that even though some of these books didn't work for me, they absolutely could be a good choice for you!

Today I'm sharing brief thoughts on the 8 books I've read so far, and next week on my book blog I'm sharing what I'd like to read in these last few months of 2017 that will hopefully get me out of my reading slump!

   

1. On Becoming Baby Wise by Gary Ezzo - I started this book in my third trimester of pregnancy, and finally finished 5 months later when we took a New Year's weekend trip and I had more focused time to read. It's so crazy to think we were in such a different stage with Gabe then! My philosophy on parenting books is to read them with an open mind and low expectations. Baby Wise can make you question some of your decisions as a parent, but know that babies are little human beings, and they don't always follow parenting books to a T. We applied the general principle of the eat, wake, sleep routine (and didn't worry about sticking to a specific schedule), and that worked really well for us. If you're planning on breastfeeding, this book has a lot of information on that topic as well, even though it's heavily marketed as a sleep book.

2. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany - Of course there were so many emotions going in to the infamous "eighth" Harry Potter book. I liked the plot overall, but felt the character development was lacking because of the script format. I wish we had more time to really understand Albus, and I was specifically disappointed in how Ron was portrayed as an adult. He came across as a lump who was useless in the face of Hermoine's stronger personality, and I felt there were several others who were inconsistent with their younger counterparts. I did love revisiting the Wizarding World and seeing lots of familiar faces and a few new ones, and it's Harry Potter, so of course I'm going to love it overall. But the more I think about it, the more I wish this had been developed in to a full novel. In the meantime, though, I just saw that tickets go on sale in a couple weeks to see the play on Broadway. I guess a trip to New York is in order!        

3. Grace Not Perfection by Emily Ley - One of the first things you'll notice about this book is the beautiful layout and design (it even comes with its own ribbon book mark!). As a longtime follower of Emily Ley, I expected nothing less from her. The overall message of holding yourself to a standard of grace isn't new or groundbreaking, but it's one I have a hard time implementing in my life all the same, especially as a new mom. I loved the questions at the end of each chapter and how it gave you space to reflect, which helped me dig a little deeper and not just passively absorb the content. While I enjoyed this book, I can see how it would fall flat for some since it is targeted at a very specific demographic of women.        

4. The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan - I feel like the black sheep when it comes to this book. So many people I know love it, but it just did not work for me. I was really surprised, since the novel is loosely based on William and Kate's story and I love anything to do with the Royals. But while I was reading this, I was not excited to finish it, and only finished because I had already made it so far and wanted to see if it got any better. Spoiler alert: it did not. The time Nick and Bex spent apart especially dragged on, and made me wish that Freddie was the principal character instead. I will say the audiobook narrated by Christine Lakin was excellent and made my experience much more enjoyable, so if you do pick this one up, I highly suggest the audio version. Lakin's accents for the different characters were spot on!    

5. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid - This has been my favorite read of the year! I feel like this is one of those books that came to me at the perfect time. I loved it. The premise was heartbreaking and thought-provoking, but it also had the right amount of lightheartedness. The ending was tied up a little too neatly, but it did not keep me from loving the book overall. Now I need to read all the titles on Taylor Jenkins Reid's backlist!  

6. Very Good Lives by J.K. Rowling - This is a physical copy of J.K. Rowling's 2008 commencement speech at Harvard University, so not technically a book. But I'm counting it because the book I read next, A Court of Wings and Ruin, was 700 pages long--so basically two books in one. ;) Anyway, I'm so glad I read this! The illustrations were beautiful and the speech itself was full of sound advice, including one of my all-time favorite Rowling quotes, "We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better." So good.

7. A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas - Usually I have nothing but love for Sarah J. Maas' books, but unfortunately I was disappointed with the pacing and structure of this one. It took about 400 pages or so for the story to finally pick up, and the overuse of deus ex machina throughout the book had me rolling my eyes quite a bit. There were too many convenient resolutions to problems and the characters barely had to deal with things not going their way, which just isn't realistic. Another hangup I have with Sarah J. Maas' books is the sexual content, so I recommend her books with reservations based on that aspect. I still loved the Inner Court, though, and the glimpses in to the other Courts. Maas' world building still remains one of her biggest strengths, and that aspect of this novel did not disappoint. I definitely wanted more from the Lucien and Elaine storyline, so hopefully they will play a bigger role in the next three books of the series!

8. Reading People by Anne Bogel - Since I preordered this one, I received access to a free copy of the audiobook, which Jenny and I listened to during our recent girls trip to Florida. Now that I've finished the audiobook, I want to go back and read the physical copy to really dive in to the different personality tools. I will say that from listening to the audiobook, the information contained in this book was very repetitive and more surface level than I was expecting. Most of the information in the book is already available online and it felt like a simple compilation of the different tools out there. That being said, I am excited to learn more about the Enneagram, which is all the rage right now, especially in the podcasting world. This book is our book club pick for October, so I'm really looking forward to our discussion on personality and how self-awareness can help in our day-to-day lives!  

Gabe's Barnyard Bash 1st Birthday Party

I can’t believe it has almost been two months since we celebrated Gabe turning one! It was such a special day, and we were blessed to be surrounded by so many family and friends who were there to support us during Gabe's first year. He is one loved little boy!

When it came to choosing a theme for his party, we didn't have to think very hard, since Old McDonald Had a Farm was Gabe's favorite song from very early on. For a long time it was the only thing that would calm him down when he was being fussy, and I can't tell y'all how many times we sang it over the past year. So a Barnyard Bash theme seemed only fitting!

We hosted the party at my parents' house since they have a huge backyard with a pool -- perfect for a party in late July! They have a finished basement that opens to a covered patio, so we had a place to go in case those notorious summer afternoon thunderstorms decided to roll in. HUGE thanks goes to my mom and dad for hosting and helping us get the house ready the week of. They did so much to make sure things went off without a hitch!

We kept the menu for dinner simple and grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, and served baked beans, fruit, slaw and chips n' dip as sides. To make things a little more fun, my sister-in-law and I made tent cards for all the menu items to go along with the barnyard bash theme, like "potato field" for the chips and "cow patties" for the hamburgers. 

One thing I learned from the planning process is that it's okay (and totally necessary for your sanity) to ask for help! For dessert I wanted to serve rice krispie treats and cupcakes, so I asked my mother-in-law to make the rice krispies (aka "hay bales") and Gabe's Grammy did a fabulous job making and decorating the farm animal cupcakes. I definitely would not have had time to do this on my own and do it well. My mother-in-law even came up with the idea to wrap the rice krispies in twine to make them look more like bales of hay, so two heads are definitely better than one!

For the decor, most of the stuff we either already had or I made it myself, since we didn't want to spend a ton of money on decorations. I printed the photos for his monthly banner for free using the Shutterfly app, and for the straw holders I repurposed some Starbucks frappuccino bottles we already had on hand by spray painting them white. Another easy decor tip -- frame the invitation! It adds a fun touch.

For the centerpieces, I wanted to use something other than mason jars for vases, so I grabbed a yellow pitcher we already owned, cleaned out a couple of Cheerwine glass bottles, and added in the two red lanterns from Gabe's nursery to fill in the last bit of space on the table runner. The flowers were all from Publix, scored during a 3 for $10 sale!

I also wanted to incorporate Gabe's baby book in to the decor somehow, but did NOT want to pressure myself to have the entire thing finished by his birthday. That definitely was not going to happen. So I picked one of my favorite spreads and made sure I had it the way I wanted, and displayed it using the cookbook holder from our kitchen (which also kept people from flipping through to see that the rest was basically blank haha). The tea towel underneath it is a find from an antique store in Greensboro, GA. I'm thinking about framing it for Gabe's big boy room one day, but we'll see!  

The day of the party, we were blessed with gorgeous weather. It actually wasn't too hot for late July, so it was a great temp for hanging out outside. After dinner, all the kids (and dads) hopped in the pool to play for a bit, then it was time for Gabe's smash cake! 

A lady in our church made Gabe's smash cake and she did a wonderful job bringing my vision of a little barn cake to life! (Her company is called Sweets by Shay if you're local and interested in hiring her for your next event). My mother-in-law is still talking about how good the cake was, since of course we ate the leftovers! ;)  

Speaking of leftovers, Gabe didn't dig in to the cake as much as we thought he would. He just ate it piece by piece like it was any other food we've put on his highchair tray. So funny! My advice on the cake smash is to have as low expectations as possible, because you never know how your baby is going to react.

After presents were opened, it was time to play with all the awesome new toys! Lillianne and Silas were especially happy to oblige helping break things in. 

For favors, my sister-in-law came up with the cutest idea to do "popcorn on the cob." She put popcorn in cellophane bags and wrapped it in green tissue paper to make it look like corn husks. And apparently it was a huge hit because we barely had any leftover for us!

So there you have it! All the deets on Gabe's first birthday party. Can I be real for a sec though? In the days leading up to his party, I started to feel it. The P R E S S U R E. The need for it to be perfect because I’m an event planner, because he deserves it, because all the moms around me are throwing Pinterest perfect parties. I didn’t like the icky feeling that went with it. 

Honestly, I should not have expected myself to do all the things. The day of the party was fun and I loved seeing my ideas come together, but at the end of the day, Gabe won't remember it, I won't, and our guests won't. But I do remember being stressed out along the way. So if you're reading this and in the midst of planning your own kid's birthday party, please learn from my mistake. Let go of the perfect, turn off Pinterest, and just do you. Ask for help, and pick one or two things that are really important to you, and stick with those. Then be joyful planning a simple birthday party! I think my favorite part of Gabe's was hanging out with family after his presents were opened, watching him squeal with joy as he rode in his wagon around the yard. That is the good stuff of life, y'all.  

To everyone who came out to celebrate our sweet baby boy--we can't thank you enough. We are so grateful to have this village alongside us as we journey through parenthood!

One Year of Breastfeeding: 5 Lessons Learned

It's a little crazy to think that over the last 12 months, I've spent more time nursing than anything else (I'm pretty sure sleeping comes in a close second, ha!). Breastfeeding has been one of my favorite parts of being a mom by far, but it has also come with its fair share of difficulties. As a working mom, making it to 12 months has not been easy, but I can say it has been 100% worth it. It can demand every ounce of energy you have and more, especially before your baby starts sleeping through the night. But the fact that God designed us to be the sustenance and safe place for our babies in this way--man, what a gift it is.  

I know not all moms fall in love with breastfeeding, and this post in no way is meant to depreciate moms who choose not to or can't breastfeed. Breastfeeding is not every mom's goal, or even doing it for the first full year, and that's ok. At the end of the day, fed is best. You know your baby and have to do what's best for them! This post is simply a reflection on our breastfeeding journey over the past year, and I thought it would be a great way to share some things I've learned along the way, especially in light of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month this month. These tips are mainly for mamas who are pregnant or freshly discharged from the hospital, but please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any specific questions. I'm always here to help!

Top 5 Breastfeeding Tips for New Mamas     

1. There WILL be bumps in the road--but it's worth it to keep going! 

No mom's breastfeeding journey is perfect. Latch issues, engorgement, nipple pain, cracks/bleeding, clogged milk ducts, sickness, gas/reflux, lopsided supply, biting--it has ALL happened to me. But I'm so glad I didn't let any of those things keep me from continuing breastfeeding. Whenever an issue popped up, I would reach out for help either from other nursing mamas or the lactation consultant at the hospital where I delivered, and that made a world of difference in my confidence to work through things and keep going. I will never forget when someone told me to try to make it through the first 6 weeks--those are always the hardest. And they were right! You will eventually get in your groove, breastfeeding will become easier, and you'll be so glad you kept going! 

2. Find a support person (and don't be afraid to ask for help!)

I'm not sure if I would have made it as far as I did nursing if it weren't for my sister and sister-in-law, who were both successful with breastfeeding their babies, and received a TON of "what do I do?/is this normal?!" type texts from me this past year. I'm so thankful for them and their advice, and it made me feel less alone. It helps to have a supportive spouse, no doubt, but if you can also find a mom who has been-there done-that with breastfeeding, and really gets what you're going through, that will help big time when the going gets tough (and when you just need to laugh about the insanity of motherhood). When issues popped up that required more professional advice, I would call the lactation consultant, and she has truly been a lifesaver. Most hospitals also offer breastfeeding support groups, where you can meet other moms, have one on one time with the LC, and weigh your baby to check on their growth in between doctor appointments. I went to those several times while I was still on maternity leave, and it really helped me keep my sanity to know other moms were struggling with the same things and that I had a place where I could ask questions and get great advice. It was scary the first time I went and knew absolutely no one, but I'm so glad I did!

3. Take care of yourself. 

I am preaching to myself on this one--I have the hardest time with this. Drink plenty of water--120 oz. a day is a good goal. Eat a well-balanced diet, including healthy fats and protein (avocado, peanut butter, and veggies + hummus are the perfect snacks!). Staying hydrated and eating enough calories = a healthy milk supply, so taking care of yourself means you are taking care of your baby! And while it's good to get stuff done around the house during nap time, be sure to get plenty of rest and listen to your body when it's time to sit down, read a good book, or catch up on Netflix.

4. Get acquainted with the basics of breastfeeding before your baby is born. 

When it comes to breastfeeding, knowledge is power! Research as much as you can before your baby gets here, and it will make a world of difference vs. starting from ground zero with a hungry newborn in your arms. There are a ton of books, blogs, podcasts, apps, and even Instagram accounts that are great resources on breastfeeding (I'll be sharing my faves later this week!). I think what helped me the most was attending the in-person class offered at the hospital where I delivered. I was able to meet the lactation consultant, learn what to look for in a proper latch, practice different breastfeeding positions, and it was a great way for my husband to learn more about the benefits of nursing, which was definitely a good thing!

5. Create a comfortable nursing/pumping environment. 

You will be spending a lot of time sitting down, so investing in a comfortable rocker/glider/chair is absolutely essential. If you can find one with great back support, even better, since nursing (and taking care of a baby in general) can put a strain on your back. I also used a lumbar cushion for extra support those first few months postpartum, and I'm so glad I had that to alleviate my back pain. Next to the rocker in the nursery, I have a nightstand for my water bottle and snacks, and a basket with extra burp cloths, nursing pads, nipple cream, hair things, etc. so it's all within reach right when I need it. I also used a nursing pillow a ton when Gabe was smaller, and liked both the Mombo and Gia, especially for arm support. Once you go back to work, creating a comfortable pumping environment is a lot harder to do. Companies have made huge strides in providing pumping/nursing rooms for moms, but we still have a long way to go. If you will be going back to work, be sure to know your rights when it comes to pumping, and know that in most states employers are required to provide you a place to pump other than the bathroom!    

BONUS--Find a good quality nursing bra! 

Finding a comfortable nursing bra (and sleep bra) is an absolute must--you'll be wearing these almost 24/7 while you're nursing. I've used the heck out of my Target and Motherhood Maternity ones, but for Baby #2 I think I'll be investing in this one from ThirdLove! (And no, the dress I'm wearing in these photos is totally not nursing friendly, but we made it work for that half hour during our session, ha!)

So that's it, my top 5 lessons learned after nursing for a year! Breastfeeding has been such a beautiful experience and I feel so lucky I've been able to share it with my son. Wherever you are in your breastfeeding journey, know that I am wholeheartedly cheering you on. You are not alone! :)      

Gabe: 12 Months

Photo by Linds on Life Photo

Well, we've officially made it through the first year! Gabe's birthday has come and gone, and our cup truly overflows. This year has been such an indescribable experience for Kyle and me. Every month more sanctifying than the last, so I can only imagine what the year ahead will bring. God has much left to do in this mama's heart!

As a way to document how much Gabe grows and changes, I've decided to do these milestone posts every few months. I wish I had this much info written down for the other 11 months of Gabe's first year, but alas, hindsight is 20/20. So thankful for everyday we have with our sweet buddy. Here's all the details on Gabe at 12 months!

Weight:

19 pounds 11 ounces 

Height:

30 inches

Clothes:

Filling out 12 month clothes and wearing 18 month in some brands!

Diapers: 

Size 4. I was so used to him wearing Size 3 that I didn't notice how tight they were getting until I tried Size 4 on him a couple weeks ago, and that fit a million times better. Huge #momfail on my part haha! 

Sleep: 

Still taking two good naps during the day and sleeping 11 hours at night. Gabe is just like his mama--LOVES his sleep! 

Schedule:

Nursing 3-4 times a day in addition to breakfast, lunch, and dinner solid meals. Most days I feel like all I do is feed him! Typical schedule right now looks like:

7:30 a.m. - Wake and nurse
8:30 a.m. - Breakfast (solid meal)
9:00 a.m. - Playtime
10:00 a.m. - Morning nap
12:00 p.m. - Wake and nurse
12:30 p.m. - Lunch (solid meal)
1:30 p.m. - Playtime
3:00 p.m. - Afternoon nap
5:00 p.m. - Wake and nurse
5:30 p.m. - Dinner (solid meal)
7:00 p.m. - Bath and bedtime routine
8:00 p.m. - Nurse and bedtime  

Health:

When cutting his molars, Gabe had a borderline high fever...but other than that it's been smooth sailing this month. :)

Crying: 

Molars caused more crying than normal for our usually pretty chill guy!  

Likes:

Playing chase with daddy
Reading -- aka flipping the pages super fast until the end ;)  

Bathtime, specifically sticking his hands in the running water

Being outside/going for walks
Climbing anything and everything 

Standing up 

Clapping his hands and playing patty cake

Practicing "walking" holding our hands 

Giving hugs 

Giving high fives
Talking up a storm! 

Dislikes:

Getting strapped into the high chair
Not getting attention for too long  

Getting dressed or diaper changes
Whenever we take something from him (which triggers a full-on tantrum--screaming/yelling and throwing his head backwards)    

Milestones:

Gabe has really amazed us with his language skills this month! He has 8 words and 2 phrases ("all done" + "what's this?") that he says on a consistent basis. He isn't walking independently yet, but he's soooo close. He can walk on his own behind his push walker, and is strong enough to turn it all the way around without falling down. He also will take a few steps with you holding just one of his hands, but if you totally let go, he decides to plop straight to the ground. His favorite mode of transportation is still crawling/pulling up. I don't know if teething is a milestone per se, but I definitely think one-year molars should be considered one (both for us and him lol). This month Gabe cut all four of his one-year molars (God love him), giving him 12 teeth total. He also is trying to brush his hair on his own, which has been the cutest thing ever. 

Places You’ve Gone:

Lake Oconee for 4th of July
Ama and Big Dad's house to celebrate Ama's 60th Birthday!
The Brooks' house to meet your new friend Lucas
The Brown's house for Young Adults' Bible study

Deanna's house for your 1st haircut
The Atlanta Athletic Club for your 1st birthday pictures 

Nana and Grandaddy's to celebrate your Birthday!

Welcome to the New Blog!

I'm so excited to welcome you to the new blog, friends! I've been itching for a change and I'm so glad I finally made the leap to create this new space. I have some pretty big ideas brewing in my brain, and this blog will be the perfect place to bring those to life. I'm excited to take this new journey with you!

I created this space to share everything I'm learning about life, faith, and motherhood. I love sharing our story with others as a reminder that while God works in big and mighty ways, He also works wonders in the every day and seemingly mundane! I hope that your time spent here will leave you feeling encouraged, inspired, and hungry to know the Lord more right where He has you. I am so thrilled to be "starting over" and I cannot wait to see what all the Lord does here in this space. So grab a cup of coffee, make yourself comfortable, and feel free to stick around!

A little more about me:

After growing up in a small town outside of Atlanta, I spent four years studying public relations at the University of Georgia, where I also met my husband and the love of my life, Kyle.

My husband is a Physical Therapist and I love seeing how he uses his God-given gifts to help others. He makes me laugh like no one else in the world and is my very best friend. I definitely married up!

I’m an introvert (INFP, if you must know), and while I genuinely love spending time with my people, I don’t feel like myself unless I spend lots of time alone sipping coffee and rediscovering joy in words and writing.

I love shopping, Starbucks coffee, and workout clothes (Soooo predictable. I know.) 

I love to plan a good party. I had my son’s first birthday planned since he was about 6 months old (because apparently when you become a Mom a whole other level of crazy takes over and you just want to celebrate all the little and BIG things!).

I wholeheartedly believe in the power of prayer, and still have much to learn about it.     

I spend WAY too much time on Instagram and constantly have to keep my heart in check on social media.

I'm the WORST at working out, but am slowly learning how to incorporate exercise as a part of my day as a busy working mom.

I have an insatiable desire to write about my journey of mistakes and triumphs. So this is my heart. Excited to grow as I share!

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