Mac Family

New Blog!

I moved! You can find me here: www.susanjamesphotography.com!

Christmas Card Mini Sessions

All of the information on my Christmas card mini sessions is below. I encourage people to check around and find out what other photographers are offering and charging. For the time being, my collections and prices for cards are much lower than the surrounding photographers. The mini sessions include not only the session but the hours spent editing the photos (all final editing and correcting of blemishes, etc. is included with each session), creating an online gallery with the final images from the session, and putting together a Christmas card for each family.

This year, I am also moving to 5 X 7 front-to-back cards--they are beautiful.

I have already booked a couple of these sessions, and they will fill fast! Please contact me if you are interested!

We have the next couple of weeks to complete the sessions in time for the Christmas season rush!

Thank you!

Mini Photo Sessions: 3 Collections and/or Session Fee + Cards Option

Collection 1:

$130

30-minute photo session

All post processing and editing of images

Online gallery with a minimum of 10-15 final images24 Christmas cards (5 X 7) with envelopes

***Choose from the beautiful templates available; there is a design fee of $25 for custom cards

Collection 2:

$165

30-minute photo session

All post processing and editing of images

Online gallery with a minimum of 10-15 final images

52 Christmas cards (5 X 7) with envelopes

2 5 X 7s

1 8 X 10s or 1 8 X 12

10% off any additional prints ordered (excluding Christmas cards and specialty items)

***Choose from the beautiful templates available; there is a design fee of $25 for custom cards

Collection 3:

$200

45-minute photo session

All post processing and editing of images

Online gallery with a minimum of 15-20 images

52 Christmas cards (5 X 7) with envelopes

2 5 X 7s

2 8 X 10s or 2 8 X 12s OR 1 11 X 14

5 images on a disk with a copyright release

$50 photo credit – excludes specialty items: gallery wrapped canvases, photo albums, photo cards, and photo bags

10% off any gallery wrapped canvas

***Choose from the beautiful templates available; there is a design fee of $25 for custom cards

ADDITIONAL OPTION:

$40 session fee - due at the time of booking

$1.80 per card ($1.60 per card is 100 or more are ordered)

***All photo cards are $1.80 apiece, both the 5 X 7 photo cards and the 5 X 7 front to back cards; they must be ordered in increments of 4 after the initial 24 cards.

***Photo Sessions: Allegan, MI: Downtown

***50% of the collection amount is due at the time of the booking. The balance is due at the time of ordering.

***Shipping is included with each collection, too.

Jody O., please email me!

I don't know your email. My new email is susan.mcentyre@gmail.com. I want to send you the link to my new blog this week! Thanks! Everybody misses you!

Tomorrow (Friday) is the BIG DAY!

This is also my 600th post here on my blog...and my last. Time to move to the other blog. Leave a comment if you want the link.

I plan on posting the first baby photos and the DVD slideshow of the birth photography on my new blog about a week after the baby is born. We will share it all!

Tomorrow, as soon as we can, we will post the birth information on Facebook. I know many of you are excited about her name! I might send an email to my work, too, if we are able to do so.

I cannot believe we have made it and that the end has come! I am really looking forward to feeling good again...it has been so long!

Most of all, though, we are overjoyed at the thought of meeting our third daughter and just holding our new baby girl!

I still have lots to do tonight to prepare for tomorrow, so I must sign off of this blog. Thank you for reading, and I hope to see you on the new blog! There will be lots of photos to come!

Drama, drama, drama!

I am not even working. I have been home all week, and yet, drama has found its way to me. Some days I long for interaction with men only. Does anybody know what I mean? I say this as the mother of (almost) 3 little girls, and, being a *girl* myself, I have experienced my fair share of drama. It just stinks when people cannot be nice in this world.

I am working hard on my final client orders. My computer is so slow! It is driving me nuts! I think I should have invested in a Mac for my photography business. This Dell has taken a beating with all I have put it through in the past year and a half!

I just spent a few more minutes working on my new photography blog. It will be ready to launch to the rest of the world by sometime next week, hopefully. I have already given the address to a few friends, They can see that it is still a work in progress!

But the large photos are going to be awesome!

Before the baby comes, which, by the way, is only SIX DAYS AWAY, I need to complete the following *jobs* around here:

1. Finalize and order all client products...by Monday. ALL BUT ONE!

2. Finalize the yearbook (still have a few issues to resolve before we can print the books, but we are so, so close!).

3. Finish some more plans for my sub...

4. Publish my new blog.

5. Go to my pro. lab and take care of a few things...

6. Take Addie to her first day of preschool...and volunteer in her classroom that same day for 3 hours, a couple of days before my due date.

7. Take some *official* photos of Addie.

8. I will take Reilly's photos after the baby is born...this fall.

9. Keep cleaning this darn house...

10. Attend a photography club meeting!

Time should at least fly in the next 6 days. Today I had my pre-admissions appointment at the hospital for my surgery (C-Section). I am starting to become a bit anxious about the surgery. I don't know why because with Addie, it was all so easy! I did not have hardly any pain at all. I just develop anxiety about the surgery once I get in the operating room.

Have I mentioned how excited I am to NOT be pregnant anymore? It's been fun, but it is time to have this baby!

I have to share some funny things Addie has said lately. Now that I am home with her every day, I have realized what a little chatterbox she is! I never noticed this before because she has always had Reilly to play with every day.

She talks non-stop! On and on and on... It is pretty cute, but wow, this little girl talks a lot! We have been playing lots of little games, too. She is a pretty good kid overall.

This week I mentioned that Daddy needed some new clothes, and she said, "Yeah...because I wipe my boogers on his shirts!" I started laughing and said, "What?" She added, "I always do that!" When I asked her why, she answered, "Because I don't have anywhere else to wipe them!"

She also asks me many, many times a day when "Rye-wee" is coming home. Today she told me over and over again in a very worried tone that she does not want to go to kindergarten because she does not want to get any shots! All she knows is that Reilly had to get shots in order to go to kindergarten. She was there and witnessed it!

But...she really wants to get her ears pierced...ASAP. I will not let her do that yet. She is only 3. Maybe someday...

Today she wore a new outfit from The Gap that she picked out herself. The skirt is almost like a tutu, and it is pink. As she was getting dressed this morning, she told me, "I'm going to look like a rock star!" Both of my girls love cute clothing! I have no idea why!

That is about it for today. It is getting hard to sleep again, but it has been way better than my pregnancy with Addie as far as that goes.

I should try to sleep now! I have a feeling I will not be getting much sleep once we bring the baby home, at least not for several weeks!

Goodnight!

Baby still on board!

We have 7 days left before Delivery Day! I will post the first photos on my new blog about a week after we have her (gives me time to take lots of photos...and edit them!). This blog is soon to end... Leave a comment if you would like me to send you the link after our delivery. Be sure to leave a comment...and not send an email. Thanks!

I am hoping to make the big announcement on Facebook sometime on Delivery Day. I am not sure how we will make that happen, but that is the plan. This blog will officially end in a week. It will still sit here, as I have 3 years of our lives recorded here, but I will be moving to the bigger, better blog!

I went to my final doctor's appointment yesterday. The total weight gain this pregnancy has been 38 pounds. I kept it under 40! I gained 30 with Reilly and 35 with Addie. I lost the weight pretty quickly with Addie, so I am hoping for the same this time around. Time will tell...

The doctor said I am not yet dilated at all, but I am 50% thinned out, whatever that means. He said I might go into labor in the next week, but I should make it to Delivery Day. I have cramping, but nothing significant. I think I'll make it until next Friday.

Tonight I took Addie to gymnastics and the beach. Yes, it is September, but it was beautiful at the beach. So warm! Even the water was pretty nice!

I still have some work to do in the next few days: client photos/orders (I am almost done), a few yearbook issues to resolve, and some school work.

Then we are will be off to the hospital early Friday morning (very early) to have the new baby. It is so hard to believe that I will no longer be pregnant. As hard as it has been, it is a little bit sad to know that I will never experience pregnancy again. I think that is a normal feeling, though. I have heard many women talk about it. Even though they are "done" and do not want any more children, it can be sad to let that go and move on with life.

We plan on enjoying this last birth to the fullest. I want to savor every moment with my last newborn baby. And I cannot wait for the girls to meet her! I cannot wait!

Back to work now!

First day of kindergarten

I didn't have time to be sad or to think about the fact that my oldest was starting kindergarten today. It seemed a little bit odd to be sad about it when she was SO EXCITED! I am sure she would have thought it was weird for her mom to be sad over all of this!

Reilly woke up very easily this morning and was thrilled about getting ready for school! She is getting to be so independent!

She picked out her own outfit; it was not the one I had set aside for her for days now... But it was her choice, and she did look cute.

I am blessed that I was able to take her to her first day of school (I am officially on leave until November 30). Addie came with us.

Reilly even let me take some pictures of her. She cooperated! It will be a little while before I go through them. They were just some quick shots of her; we only had a few minutes for pictures. This little girl just really wanted to get to school!

All day at home, Addie kept asking me when Daddy and Reilly were coming home. My girls are truly the best of friends. They have spent the whole summer together, and I think Addie was feeling lost without her "Rye-wee" today.

When Reilly did come home, I was so excited to hear about her day. She told me she had had a good day. Her favorite part was gym, and she kept telling me how she had made a new friend. I asked her if she wanted to stay home with Mommy tomorrow or go back to school, and she immediately said she wanted to go back to school. "I made a new friend, and I want to see her again!" was what she shared with me. Such a big girl!

For the longest time, Reilly would ask me when the baby was coming out. I always told her two things she had to do first: (1) turn five years-old and (2) start kindergarten for a few days. We have finally arrived at this point in our lives.

9 more days, and our family will welcome a new addition! Next week will be a big week for Reilly and Addie, as they become big sisters...on Friday morning! Addie is so thrilled at the idea of having a baby sister! Of course, we are keeping Reilly out of school for the day.

I cannot believe we are almost there. Down to single digits! Yes, I am still sick...and exhausted, but little by little, I am getting everything done in time for Baby's arrival!

And man, will I ever be glad to be over the barfs every day! I have been sick for so long I cannot even remember what it feels like to feel good!

I have been pregnant for 264 days... At least I get to deliver on Day 273, not Day 280. Scheduled C-Sections have some advantages!

I cannot wait to hear more about Reilly's kindergarten adventures. She is maturing each day before my very eyes! I started an official journal for her tonight for her first year of kindergarten. I want to record so much of this wonderful experience!

I will share photos soon!

Tired, tired, tired...

Today felt like a waste. I was so tired! I had a doctor's appointment scheduled for 3:30, but they called me at 3:00 and cancelled it.

In the final month of pregnancy, I will have seen my doctor one time (middle of next week at the re-scheduled appointment). Good thing I have had issues and have been checked/monitored twice in the past week or so at the hospital!

I cannot believe how tired I am, and I still have so much to do! I am hoping to finish some of my many tasks this weekend.

And one last trip to the beach would be nice!

I am heading back to bed...

13 more days!

Good day!

I woke up feeling "pukey" and "gaggy" this morning, and I was afraid it was going to be a very long day. I took my anti-nausea pill (which, by the way, I am still taking every.single.day. of this pregnancy) and sat on the couch, waiting for the nausea to lift.

Such is the life of a pregnant lady...at least this pregnant lady. I really wish I would have had easier pregnancies, but I am still so thankful for my pregnancies. I probably don't mention that fact enough on here, mostly because I feel so "yucky" most of the time.

I will say that I have enjoyed this pregnancy the most, even though it has been the hardest. I knew it was my last, so I tried to make the most of it when I did have some good days. In June and July, I had many good days/nights, and I am very grateful for that.

I was able to take the girls to the beach this summer...a lot. I think we went at least 15 times, maybe more. I am bummed that the weather has been so cold these past couple of weeks. I am still hopeful that we have at least a couple more evenings on the beach left! It would be an awesome way to end the summer, and I still want to take some more beach photos to finish the photo album I am making of my girls. I am about 75% of the way done. Just need a few new photos!

I tried to be more "fashionable" this summer with my pregnancy. I didn't spend much at all on new maternity clothing, but I did buy a few new outfits. I tried to be "girlier" than usual. I had maternity photos taken to record this important time in our lives, and now I am investing in birth photography as this final pregnancy of ours comes to an end.

I even bought a maternity bathing suit (man, that thing is comfortable!) and went to the beach during the daytime with my girls a few times...without the camera...and just enjoyed being at the beach with them. I am thankful for those memories.

Today I made it through the second day of work...without throwing up. I did have to use the restroom a lot, though. This baby's head is pressing right on my bladder! I never had to use the restroom much at the end with Reilly and Addie, but I go to the bathroom a lot with this baby! I wake up at least every 2 hours each night just for that reason alone...and to eat.

I am starting to realize that this pregnancy is about to end. For a long time, I felt like it would never end. I am so thankful for the new blessing in our lives. So thankful. I am sure the moment she comes out I will be over all of the sickness I have experienced. Going to the hospital and having a baby has been the most incredible thing in my life.

I cannot believe I have been able to experience it (almost) 3 times. It is a true miracle. My delivery days have definitely been the happiest days of my life.

I am getting more excited now...and a little bit nervous. Nervous about the baby being healthy...and the surgery. Excited for our family.

Today I delivered some products to a special client of mine, and she was so sweet to present me with a present for our new baby girl! I just thought that was the sweetest thing!

Then, tonight, on my photography forum, there was a give-a-way for the cutest knitted baby girl hat, and I was chosen to "win" it. There is so much generosity on this photography forum! I feel so lucky to have met so many photographers online. They have been so helpful and so kind. It is definitely a place I like to hang out online.

I feel so blessed today.

Two more work days, and then I can focus on everything with my family. We still have lots to do before Baby #3 arrives, but I am finally getting it all together!

Hopefully the next couple of days continue to go so well. I was so afraid about this work week and just surviving it, but it has been good.

16 more days before we become a family of 5! My new blog will be ready by then, too. I'll finish getting it ready next week when I am off work.

Soon, very soon!

What I have learned...

On Friday, I got my hair done...at 10:00 a.m., which I thought was going to be rough on me, since I am still sick most mornings...until the middle of the afternoons, actually. However, I think getting fluids on Wednesday evening really helped. I made it through the hair appointment (my roots were so, so dark!), and then I took the girls to Michigan City.

On the way there, we stopped at one of my friend's houses in Union Pier, MI. I had not seen her in so long! We had a great visit, and then the girls and I headed to the outlets in Michigan City. Not such a grand idea in the 9th month of pregnancy, but I planned on only visiting a few stores. I was hoping to find some good deals for the girls, as I finally shopped for some school clothes. 

Not the greatest idea!

First, everything is last year's line of clothing. Second, it was hardly a deal. In fact, I think I would not spend too much more money just to visit the regular Gap, etc. and pay full price for this year's line of clothing. I felt that the outlet stores were a marketing scam.

Shopping was a challenge. I was having some contractions, and I even sat down while going through items. The girls were pretty good, but they were running around. The shopping trip ended up being a bit too much for me.

The only *deal* I found that I thought was a great one was 10 really cute onesies at Carter's for $24.00. We also found some other items at Carter's for the baby, but I still haven't shopped for the necessities: diapers, bottles (I refuse to re-use Addie's--gross--they've been thrown out, anyway), baby wipes, pacifiers, etc. And we only have 19 more days, at the most, to get it together! I really need some help shopping. Dave might have to be trusted to pick out some school clothes for the girls. It seems they never have the sizes I need. It is so frustrating!
THAT is why I HATE shopping! It takes up too much time! I could be spending quality bonding time with my kids instead. Shopping is DUMB.

This is the last week to shop before Reilly starts kindergarten. This week, I also plan on taking her kindergarten photos. Yes, there will be bribery involved. I have saved so much money by rarely shopping this summer, so that is good.

So what I have learned is that a trip all the way to Michigan City to the outlets to try to save money is unnecessary. It was fun to see my friend, though, so that part was worth it. I think I'll trying shopping one more time this week, and then I am done.

I must survive 4 work days this week, and then I am officially on leave until November 30. The best news from the past week is that we finally found and hired a professional photographer to do my birth photography! I never thought I could do this with a C-Section, but I can. We are very excited for quality photos of the birth experience...and for the pressure that will be taken off of us to record all of the details. I will be sharing the slideshow with everybody on my new blog after the birth. I cannot wait to see Reilly and Addie's reactions to their new baby sister!

As much as I hoped for labor and an early delivery, I now want to make it until September 18 so that everything goes smoothly with the birth photography experience. It is nice that it can be so planned out for everybody.

19 more days!