three years :: nashville wedding photographer

I was not one of those brides who was nervous on her wedding day. The morning of May 23, 2009, for me, was like being a child on Christmas. I was beyond excited, more happy than I've ever felt, and my face was already hurting from my inability to stop smiling. I was preparing to marry the guy I'd dated for four years, and on that day, nothing else mattered. It was the best decision I've ever made.

(Photos by our wonderful photographer Sarah Beaty of Eyeris Photography in Nashville)

This past weekend, we took a little road trip to Beaufort, NC to celebrate our anniversary. We stayed at the precious Ann Street Inn, strolled the streets of this cute little town, at some amazing food at Aqua Restaurant and the Beaufort Grocery Co., and spent a little time on the beach. Sometimes, all it takes is a little adventure... getting away from the day-in-day-out tasks of work, laundry, and planning dinner to remember how much you appreciate someone. I know it probably shouldn't, but it still amazes me how much fun we have together and how we always find new things to talk about... childhood memories that've never been heard and stories never told.

He knows how to make me laugh like no one else can, tells me I'm beautiful even when I'm in yoga pants and a sweatshirt from 2002 with no makeup, and always makes me believe that I can do anything. And I know that I can as long as he's by my side. I love you so much, Joshua, and I look forward to 100 more years of adventures!

happy birthday josh :: greensboro event photographer

For those of you who don't know my husband, let me let you in on a little secret. Josh is a technology nerd. And an information junkie. And an Apple fanboy. Want to know the latest specs on the new iPhone? He can tell you. Looking for a surround sound system? He'll give you A+ recommendations on which ones are the best. He spent months researching which television we were going to buy for our house. And he was talking about the new iPad 3 prior to its release for what seemed to me like an eternity.

Each evening, for no fewer than 6 weeks, he updated me on the new features that the latest version of the iPad would possess. And how badly he needed it. And how sad he was that I wouldn't tell him it was okay to buy it because we already had one and it wasn't a necessity right now. And how utterly distraught he was that I told him he was absolutely NOT getting it as a birthday present.

So, of course, I ordered it for him the day it was announced with every intention of, once it arrived, stashing it in the deepest, darkest corner of my closet until today, when we would celebrate his 28th birthday and I would be proclaimed the best wife to ever walk the face of the earth.

And for those of you who know me, I hate ruining a surprise. My grandmother, who I know as Mamaw, is the type of woman who'll read the last chapter of a book first to see if she wants to read the rest of it, and she always loved to have me open Christmas gifts in early December when most people haven't even begun their shopping. And what kind of kid doesn't love getting to open her gifts early? This one. I've always wanted to prolong the surprise and joy that I knew would ensue until the latest possible moment.

Until a month ago, when that Apple package arrived in the mail, and I knew I had to make a decision on which would be the greater surprise for Josh... giving the iPad to him immediately and allowing him the joy of having it at the same time as all of the other Apple addicts or waiting until his birthday and listening to him continue to talk about it for a full month?

After getting some bad advice from one of Josh's friends who shall remain nameless who told me I should wait until his birthday to present him with the iPad, I called my mom, who like me, also doesn't care for early gifts and ruined surprises. I asked her what she thought I should do, and her answer was simply,

"You never know what tomorrow brings."

She then proceeded to tell me that my giving the iPad to him early was also like a gift to myself as I wouldn't have to endure another month listening to Josh's first world problem of why it was so important for him to have the device he so coveted, which really sold me on the idea.

So like any good wife, I stashed the wrapped iPad in the diswasher and waited for him to get home. As soon as he walked through the door, he began trying to convince me why he should get the new iPad, and I promptly yelled at him to go load the diswasher.

Some surprises are just too good to wait :)

Happy birthday to an amazing, loving, supportive husband and my very best friend!

happy new year :: pittsburgh event photography

Josh and I returned yesterday from a trip to Pittsburgh, where we celebrated Christmas with Josh's family and rung in the New Year right. After arriving in Blairsville (about an hour from the city) early Friday evening, opening some sweet gifts from his fam, and enjoying an incredible meal by Josh's mom, we headed in to Pittsburgh. We got to hang with old friends (many of which we hadn't seen in 2+ years!!), met some great new friends, and spent two epic nights celebrating the New Year in Southside!

After an extra late breakfast at Pamela's (the BEST) on Saturday, Josh and I spent a couple of hours doing some sightseeing downtown. Despite having lived in Pennsylvania for 3 years, I never really got to see much of Pittsburgh. It's such an awesome city (as long as you don't have to drive in it), and the rain let up just in time for me to snap a few photos...

My handsome hubby...

 

Wishing all of you a happy New Year and hoping 2012 is your best year yet!