Six Years…etc

A wonderful six years it has been of being married! I won’t go into all of the great details of married life…if you care to hear it all over again, you can click here. I think anyone that knows me well enough knows how much I adore spending time with my husband. And I have nothing but good things to say about married life. Celebrating this year was a bit different for us considering I’m a human incubator and I have sweet Baby Finch (what I like to call him) growing inside of me. (I’ll update you and talk more about this in a bit.)

So yes, 6 years ago……

A few weeks back, we went away to celebrate our anniversary by doing what we did last year–visiting Florida and spending time with my best friend and her husband. We spent a day in Saint Augustine, Amelia Island, and just good ‘ole Jacksonville. (See last year here)

*On our way….

 

We spent our first evening there going to see The Hunger Games (no haters please,) which I loved. First morning there, we got up and went down to a lovely cafe on the water where we sipped coconut lattes and laughed together.

Spent some time on the beach…..

dipped our toes in….. brrrrrr…..

We then set out to Amelia Island, where we drove along the coast blaring Michael Jackson and letting the breeze make our hair beautiful. We spent time walking the city, looking in antique shops, eating fabulous Mexican food and hanging with our friends. <3

That evening our friends cooked us the most amazing venison meal I have ever had. Wow! A poor little Bambi that Ferrill killed…. he was yummy.

We ventured to the Winn Dixie to pick up Ice Cream and stumbled upon this…..

Let’s just say our ice cream run took an hour or so, complete with a Ferris Wheel ride. (It was my first carnival ever!) So amazing.

We got rained out the next day but spent time shopping and sipping coffee while watching The Office together. ;D

Sunday was Brandon and my day together…. Saint Augustine. sigh. Mossy trees, cobble stone streets, street musicians, sail boats, yummy food, carriages, horses, sweet shops that make me fall in love…..

This is one of my favorite Italian places there….

Gelato?

So we found this coffee shop….. ummm… can we say amazing!?

When I go to Saint Augustine, I never want to leave. ah!

That evening we spent time watching the sunset on the beach, eating pizza. ;D

So yes, a fabulous trip…… <3

 

The weekend before (I have to tell!) the son of some of our closest family friends got married, which was pretty much epic for me. I’ve known Jamie for 12 years and have been super close with his sisters. (They were in my wedding.)

I always shoot weddings, so to get to attend and dance and eat and be “normal” was quite the treat.

It was one of the happiest weekends for my heart…to spend time with friends. (Two of them (below) live in Kansas City and one lives in Argentina.) The Webb family is seriously my second family and some of my closest friends. Love them.

My Molly. <3

Lilly, Ashley, Jessica, Molly and me…

beautiful front camera iPhone photos always win! (The hot blonde is my mom.)

Me!

 

So, an update on me…. well… I’m 26 weeks pregnant today. I work out a few times a week, growing bigger and bigger. My belly button is trying to poke it’s face out. (Time for some tape!)  It’s definitely taking time for me to be secure in the fact my body is looking completely different than what I’m used to. It has been the biggest struggle for me to see “pregnancy” as a whole as a beautiful thing. (Not the baby part… the outward part.) My sweet son kicks me often and makes me smile. And seeing my belly pop up and down is pure joy. I’m not going to lie when I say it’s hard to “feel” excited in the unknown. Although we are excited, it’s definitely scary. My husband has been an amazing encouragement and is very proud of me. I’m hoping in the next three months to be able to snap into the confidence to share more about my pregnancy. It’s going fast. (Thank God!) I feel great! I’m still shooting weddings and working often. The baby room isn’t coming together yet… lol…. not gonna lie. Oh well, I have time.

We are planning on naming our son “Laef Owen Fancher.” “Laef” (pronounced Layf) means “heir” and “beloved.” Another form of it is “Leif,” as in “Leif Ericson,” the great explorer. “Owen” means “well born,” “born of nobility,” or “noble.” <3

I’m having to take from June to maybe Octoberish off from weddings. It’s bittersweet turning people down, especially when it’s what I love doing. So I’m sorry I haven’t blogged a ton of non-personal stuff yet. I have a few weddings I’m hoping to blog about here in the next few weeks.

Thanks for looking and reading! <3

Mushaboom, Mushaboom

On my wonderful wedding day, a family friend came up to me and gave me some advice which, while well-intentioned, still puzzles me to this day: “If you can just get through the first year of marriage, it will all be worth it.” Thankfully, I have to say that our first year of marriage was far from being the hardship his words portended. Spending that first year in a tiny, one-bedroom apartment, having to walk up three flights of steps repeatedly with all of our groceries, “cooking” spaghetti every other night for dinner, both of us working full-time jobs (with one car to share)…all that normal first-year marriage stuff…it wasn’t that bad. That first year was full of joy, anticipation, excitement–dancing to Norah Jones in our small, candlelit living room, buying our first home, decorating that home, laughing continually…etc…it was ever so, well, wonderful.   We didn’t just drudge through our first year; we loved it. Marriage has been fresh air in my lungs, day in and day out. We are so blessed that we feel the way we feel about each other.

So what’s with the title of this blog? Well…Brandon and my love song throughout these years reads something like this…(or if you’re like me, just give me the music video–http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYF0qU5WSew)

“Helping the kids out of their coats
But wait the babies haven’t been born
Unpacking the bags and setting up
And planting lilacs and buttercups
But in the meantime I’ve got it hard
Second floor living without a yard
It may be years until the day
My dreams will match up with my pay

Old dirt road (Mushaboom, Mushaboom)
Knee deep snow (Mushaboom, Mushaboom)
Watching the fire as we grow old (Mushaboom, Mushaboom)

I got a man to stick it out
And make a home from a rented house
And we’ll collect the moments one by one
I guess that’s how the future’s done
How many acres how much light
Tucked in the woods and out of sight
Talk to the neighbors and tip my cap
On a little road barely on the map”

I can honestly say that I have lived this song with Brandon. It’s like my life theme song. “Watching the fire as we grow old…”

When Brandon and I met, we were both involved in a Christian ministry. I always knew I would get married at a young age. I was actually dating another guy at the time when I met Brandon. My heart was cold, stale, hopeless, bored, extremely angry, and really was doing what I was doing at the time to bring fulfillment to the broken parts of me. When I met Brandon in DC that cold January, I was taken back by his long hair, fabulous smile and gentle voice.

We sat down on a grand piano one afternoon, I played a song for him and he played a song for me. The next few weeks (which looking back seems like months) was a beautiful blossoming of our hearts…we were smitten, trippin’, fallin’, oh, man…all of the above. I was enthralled with the way he loved me–not only through his sweet words, but in his actions, like buying me Starbucks lattes every day, taking me to dinner constantly, walking in such wisdom with his words and action.

My closed, angry heart found shelter in the sweetness that flowed from this man. He had such a healed, whole heart in spite of a hard and broken past. He was full of life. He was restoration to me.

Below, is the first picture we ever took together. We weren’t even dating when this was taken.

Below: Brandon had just met my parents. (Maryland, 2005)

Below: Johnson City, TN, 2005

Look at that hair —> Suunnnnshine!

London, Summer 2005

Cardigan Island, Wales, 2005

Wales, 2005

Below: Greystones, Ireland. Engaged!!! 2005

Wedding Day – April 2, 2006

 

Our love developed so quickly. We started dating on February 14, 2005, got engaged August 7, 2005 (in Ireland), married April 2, 2006. We bought our first home within five months of getting married. We moved to Kansas City for a few years in the summer of 2007.

In 2009, Brandon and I spent eight months living apart much of the time. Brandon lived with his parents in Joplin, MO (two hours from Kansas City) where he was finishing his college degree. I spent half of every week with him in Joplin and the other half away from him in Kansas City working as a bridal consultant and living with my best friend. Those that knew us knew how much we missed each other. I hate, hate, hate being away from Brandon. It was a really hard time being so in love with Brandon, seeing him work so hard (full-time college, full-time work, and a part-time internship at a hospital), and seeing him only on weekends.

We moved back to South Carolina in the fall of 2009, back into the home we bought when we first got married. Since then, we’ve had a few different jobs, started our own businesses, and we’ve spent time with family and friends that we hadn’t seen in years. We are still here in SC and love it.

Honeymoon, Mexico 2006

Our first Christmas, 2006

First Anniversary, Florida 2007

Kansas City, MO, Summer 2007

Kansas City, MO, Summer 2007

Kansas City, MO, Fall 2007

Kansas City, MO, Fall 2008

 

Brandon and I have grown up together the last six years. We’ve learned each other, found a home in one another. We’ve also had our really disappointing moments, walked through heavy heartache. It’s been quite the dance for us. We are the closest, bestest friends. We love doing everything together…or nothing, we love driving nowhere, being lazy together, dancing around the house, being stupid together. He is genuine and gracious to my heart. He’s a hard-working husband and full of sincerity. I’m so in love with him. And I’ve had years to have his love proven to me time and time again.

We have had the best six years of marriage.  I have no regret in anything we have done these last six years. I have needed all of this time, all of these evenings, mornings, afternoons, weekends to discover and learn my husband–to love him, to be loved by him…to find myself, to discover who I am.

We, like so many couples, have massive life dreams. One in particular is to live in Europe. (I dream of photographing the streets and people of Europe.) When Brandon and I had one of our very first dates (before we were actually dating), we walked through Georgetown, Washington, DC. The snow was falling so lightly, and it was (in my mind) just like a movie. I looked at him and knew one day that I would walk the streets of Europe with him. We both are passionate about nations and languages. We both have traveled quite a bit. We even tried our best to get to Spain for a year. Haven’t made it yet, but this will always be on our hearts.

Graduation Day for Brandon, Spring 2009

Branson, MO, Summer 2009

Fort Mill, SC, Fall 2009

Fourth Anniversary, April 2010

Halloween, 2010

Ohio Snow Day, Winter 2010

Fifth Anniversary, Saint Augustine, 2011

Snorkeling in the Bahamas, Fall 2011

Winter 2011

 

Our other little kitty “Hans” didn’t want to grace us with his presence for this next photo.

The first line of the Mushaboom song says…”Helping the kids out of their coats, But wait the babies haven’t been born.”

Sometime in July, we are bringing another lover into our sweet life…another character in our life play…another dreamer to dream with…another best friend.

I feel like having a baby is not just “the next step of life,” or “this is how life goes.” For me, I look at it as the outcome and reflection of Brandon and my continuous love, a love and deep friendship which we’ve cultivated for years. We’ve built a beautiful set, planted a lovely history, and it’s time to bring in another to journey and to love with us.

For years I have felt pressure from many around me to get pregnant. At times, I have felt angry, terrified and frustrated by that pressure. But now, I can honestly say that Brandon and I chose this. We picked this time, and we weren’t really surprised when it all worked. (Our cruise this fall was a pretty good kick-off party!) ;D

My heart spent last year searching out the beauty in the idea of having a family…something that had always been scary for me. Thankfully, my heart found that beauty. I have needed every second of these last year six years to gain the right perspective about having a family and about being a mom. The Lord has been ever so faithful to my heart in his perfect timing. Brandon and I have also recognized the extreme commitment it takes, and we waited until our hearts were ready to take on the challenge. (Are we ready for it? Can you ever be ready for it?)

This timing, for us, is a gift. There’s a lot of unknown that lies ahead of us, a lot of newness. Our quiet world is about to become less quiet. What we’ve known up til now is about to be interrupted. We won’t sleep much for the next couple years. Our date nights will be a bit more scarce. Our clean house may not be, well, so clean. But our love will be broadened. We will catch on to this new pattern, this new flow and new way of thinking.  And it is good.

 

So here is our first view of our little “man.”

 

I’m excited to see a little Brandon walking around!!! ;D

 

 

The Tale of Forest Káel. Part 1.

This is my side of the most incredible story that I’ve been able to be a part of in a long time. Not just any baby was born; He’s very special. He’s my best friend’s baby, my brother’s son, my parents’ grand-baby and my little nephew. I felt every emotion known to man in 24 hours. This was miraculous, exciting, terrifying, fearful, painful, traumatic, heartbreaking, heart-wrenching, incredible, fantastic, happy, selfless, sad…name it. I felt it. At times I felt like a fly on the wall waiting for a window to open so I could fly out.

I’ve been skeptical of pregnancy for quite some time, but after this, I may go up to pregnant ladies in Wal-Mart and start shaking their hands. I’m such a changed person. My heart is so tender and happy. I never want to see my best friend walk through this again. I’m scarred for life.  Jessica is my absolute hero and such an incredible woman to know. I’m so blessed and honored that we both found one another. I hope you enjoy her story.

Side note: Keep track of the times and dates that I post. Káel was born on August 29th at 3:33AM. You’ll be able to count the hours till he’s born.

Disclaimer: Jessica has seen and approved all the images in the next two blogs.

I received this text Friday afternoon while I was at work. My little heart leaped, and I was so excited about the next few days.  I got off work and ran a few errands. Jess told me that the contractions had been consistent since the night before, and she and Sam were watching the movie “Up” for her to try to get her mind off of the pain.

As soon as I got back from my errands, I drove the few blocks over to Jess’ house to see how she was. Jess’ mom and midwife, Damaris, were there.  Jess came out of her room and said, “Looks like we’ll have a baby in the middle of the night or tomorrow morning!”  We decided to go get some spicy Mexican food and make it the last dinner date before little man arrived. Jess began putting on her first batch of makeup saying, “I will be beautiful while I’m in labor!”

We put on Imogen Heap’s “Bad Body Double” song and danced around the living room. Every now and then, Jess would double over and breathe deeply as a contraction would come on and leave quickly.

After a fantastic time of eating Mexican food with Jessica, her mom and my husband, we drove back over to Jess’ house and watched the first half of the old-time “Parent Trap” movie. We were remembering being little girls and reciting the lines we had memorized from the movie. I got too tired and decided to leave around 12:30AM to go to bed. I hugged Sam and Jess goodnight and said, “CALL ME if anything happens.” Jess smiled and said, “Oh, girl, we totally will!”

I got home and went to bed.

Around 3:30AM, my phone starts singing to me. It’s Samuel on the other line: “Jess has been in intense labor since you left. We called the midwives and the doula. We’re filling up the birthing tub now. I’ll call you when we get it filled up.” I hanged up and thought, “There is no way I’m going to be able to get back to sleep!”

I got up, got dressed, and made some coffee. I knocked on the door where my parents were staying and asked my mom if she wanted to come with me. We both drove over to their place. Jessica was in such pain, and the tub was slowly being filled up with water.  It was exciting thinking about what was going to be happening soon. (It was almost like Christmas.)

They filled the birthing tub up with a hose that ran from the sink to the baby room.

Jessica was having contractions every five minutes. She would double over and swing her body side to side.  Samuel, my mom and I all cuddled on the couch, cheering Jess on and trying to keep her mind off of it all.

Sam and Jess’ fridge… waiting on the little man.

Jess’ finally got into the tub and began to labor and sleep in between contractions.

I fell asleep with my mom and brother on the couch. We woke up around 8AM. I ran home, took a shower and came back as fast as I could.

Samuel just woke up, and Jessica was putting round two of makeup on and making herself feel good!

Every five minutes or less… doubling over, groaning and breathing heavy.

We were all excited!

Around 10AM, one of Jess’ midwives, Jordan arrived. She felt like Jessica should go on a walk for a while.

I said to Jess, “After what I’ve seen so far, I may not have kids for about five years.” She smiled big and said, “Me neither!”

Jess’ dad, Ruben, arrives.

This is Jess’ mom, Rebecca.

We watched the “Galápagos” island documentary about eight times.

I was there…

Grandmas’ waiting…

I came in to see Samuel singing to Jess as she labored intensely. So incredible.

To the tub again…

So Jess’ dad, my dad and my husband all hanged out in the living room. They were the relief from the intensity of everything going on.

Round three of makeup!

We’re all ready for the little man!

My mom is to the right, and below her is Jordan, one of the midwives.

Time went on and on. Things began picking up heavy. I watched Jessica torture and yell, cry, groan, and roar. I felt so helpless and so frustrated. My heart was grieving for her.

Her doula, Molly, was keeping track of the stages of her labor.

Yes, Jess is tweeting…

Meanwhile… my mom is cooking for everyone…

…while we’re sober and crying with Jess.

The lady to the right is Jess’ other midwife, Damaris.

So this is the point that I had to put my camera down and just cry. My brother was singing a song to Jess, and she would sing aloud between contractions. So powerful and extremely beautiful. I lay on the side of the tub and wept.

The beautiful thing about home births is you can go anywhere in your house and labor. Jess chose her back porch at one point, yelling loudly and pounding her hand on the railing, swaying her hips back and forth.

The sky at that moment…

To be continued…..

Want part 2? Click here

waiting on baby Gatlyn… 41 weeks

We are all still waiting for my nephew to arrive. He’s taking his sweet time, and his mommy is getting tired of waiting. Jess has been blogging since the beginning of her pregnancy, http://bohobabybump.blogspot.com/ .

Soon and very soon we’ll all have a new family member.

Want more? I did some photos of Jess Pregnant at 24 weeks click here

A Carolina baby Shower! (Part 2)

So… my brother and sister-in-law’s baby is due in just a few weeks. Jessica looks great, she is an absolutely beautiful pregnant woman. And she works out like crazy. She just got dreads last week, and if you know anything about Jessica.. its perfect for her.

This photo was taken just last week… we got to see him all big and chubby. so cute.

We did a baby shower for Sam and Jess last month (blog here) in Dallas with Jessica’s family.But since we all live here in South Carolina, we wanted to do a pool party/baby shower for Sam and Jess with all their friends here in the area. We had the shower at our dear friends “The Webbs” home. And we had such a great time just hanging out..

Lilly Webb skyped in from Argentina.. we miss her so much!

Nothing like a good sword fight…

And we tie dyed a ton onsies and burp clothes. oh jess…

Baby Gatlyn should be coming soon…..

A Texan Baby shower and so much more

Brandon and I joined my brother and sister in-law for a weekend in Dallas this past week. Jessica (my sister in-love) is very pregnant and due in about 8 weeks. (You can see her maternity pictures here.) She is from Dallas and her family invited us to come celebrate her baby shower in the state she loves.

We had such a fantastic time while we were there. We got to go to antique stores, we walked around the Gaylord Hotel, went swimming, spent quality time with family and lounged around.

The beginning pictures below are of Jess’ baby shower. Jess’ mom, Rebecca hired http://www.iloveflipbooks.com/ to come. We had a blast, making 7 second videos and then watching them be printed out into little flip books. Of course Jess’ baby shower was decorated in mason jars filled with flowers and antique buttons. For her baby room she is doing a 1960′s forest theme. (I can’t wait to take pictures!) We decorated with owls and birds scattered here and there. And Whole foods catered sandwiches and cupcakes.

The 2nd part of the pictures is from our day at the Gaylord Hotel and hanging out at antique stores, being ridiculous together. I took a lot of pictures in mirrors that day. It was just the mood I was in.

And yes, everything is big in Texas.

The below pictures are of us doing the flip books. They brought props and signs for us to use.

Showing our flip books off.

Game time. Kinda like musical chairs…but not.

Jess’ friends gave her old antique bible story books, that she used to read when she was a kid.

yep, I bought that.

And that too.

Here is Jess’ parents, Ruben and Rebecca

Giant chess set at the Gaylord Hotel

Yes, this is a serious situation.

I love this.

Thank you again Ruben and Rebecca for everything! We love you guys!

Jessica Gatlyn Prego!

So, Jessica is my bestest friend and, to go along with that, she also married my brother in September. (See some of their wedding pictures – http://www.tirzahphotography.com/2009/09/samuel-and-jessica/ ) Now we are sisters!!! Jessica  and I spend just about every day together. I’m seriously over at her house every day, or she’s at mine. We eat a majority of meals together  and we share the deep places of our hearts with one another. It’s so good that my best friend is going to be my best friend FOREVER–she’s stuck!  haha….

Jessica and Samuel found out they were pregnant back in December, and it took us all by surprise. Brandon and I got to go see Jess’s 3D ultra sound a few weeks back. Pretty excited to find out that we are going to be an Aunt and an Uncle to a feisty little boy who looks just like my brother.

Now, I’m a little strange about maternity pictures. First of all, I have never been pregnant. Second of all, I feel like so many photographers make BEAUTIFUL pregnant ladies look horrible.  And… the bare-belly, half-naked maternity pictures often seem so tacky, and even cheesy.  I’m on a journey of trying to figure out how to take maternity pictures in a way that hasn’t been captured yet… where men who aren’t your husband feel comfortable looking through you’re photo album.  I definitely haven’t arrived in that journey of creativity, but two days ago, I took Jess to an old abandoned house and I shot pictures of her.  She is 24 weeks prego right now, and I’ll probably shoot more pictures of her when she gets closer to her due date in August.

I feel like so many photographers have seriously missed capturing the beauty of a mommy “with a baby in the oven.”  I like to look at it like this:

“I’m shooting a portrait session.

PS: She just so happens to be pregnant.”

Enjoy, and leave me some love!

These last two I think are my favorites…