I am so in love with being a mom.

When I got pregnant, a lot of my high school friends and acquaintances were surprised. To be honest, they were snot a fan. But I was. Because not a lot of you know, but I was told it would be a rarity if I were to ever have a child. So I was ecstatic to become a mom!

Ava is my life. As I'm writing this, Doc McStuffins is blaring in the background. And that makes me so happy. She is so intelligent, beautiful, and perfect in her imperfections. God blessed me with the greatest gift and everyday I wake up to, "Good morning, Mommy!" I remember how grateful I am.

A few months ago, I was asked to take photos of Ava with a cute bunny stuffed animal. Why, you ask? For a book! Ava (and my photography) will be featured in a little kids' book. It will be available with a little stuffed bunny included! This is so exciting and I cannot wait to finish this series of adorable photos!

Have you ever had a passion, but you weren't sure whether you wanted to follow your dreams, so you just kind of decided to give up on it, without actually admitting it to yourself?

That was totally me. I was working full time, going to school full time, and had my daughter. There was no room for my dreams or passions, so I decided to get rid of them as a whole. But God had other plans.

Last March, I went to the Hope Taylor Photography Workshop and learned more than I could've ever imagined. When I met Hope & her family serving them at Carrabba's, I had no idea how much of an impact they were going to make on my life. Hope blessed me with the opportunity to learn from her, and I was so humbled. The next month, I was sitting with other photographers just like me.

For the next 8 hours, I learned the ins-and-outs of the business, social media, and working successfully with my clients. But one thing that I really learned was that my dreams still matter too! I won a new (super cute) camera bag that day, as well as 10 new friends. It was such an amazing day, that I still talk about it! I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Hope and her business, as well as me and my business! Yay for community over competition!

Since then, I have been working hard on mastering my craft and artistry. I wanted my art to showcase who I am, what I've been through, and what I'm looking forward to in the future. Since then, I have really invested in some amazing learning experiences, and every single one humbles me and lets me learn that the Lord provides.

One of these experiences specifically taught me a lot about myself and my business. That was Shannon Bishop (now Shannon Ensor) Photography's styled session. Not only was it a session, but also like a mini workshop. I learned a lot about my own capabilities, as well as adapting to others and how they work. It put every into perspective and was a great way to fully understand myself and others in this industry.

I had such a blast and I cannot wait for more days and ways to learn!