Reagan's Photography Business

Reagan is starting her own photography business. Most of the work she does is done while she is getting her diaper changed or hair combed. It is described as abstract and modern with a progressive appeal. Here is some of her more recent work. Details and pricing to come...
(She took every single one of these pictures, most of them while I was trying to take the camera away, hence the unhappy faces). I did include the one she took of me with a double chin, only because it's fun to see the world from her point of view.)

Steve-o

Steve has lived with my parents for 22 or so years, since I was very little. He has Down's Syndrome. Those who know him know his BIG personality. I am very fortunate to have grown up with him in our home. It taught me tolerance and patience at a very young age. I have since had a couple different jobs working with people that have disabilities and the lessons I have learned from Steve have helped me tremendously in these jobs. Steve's spirit is strong and unmistakeable. I get to work with him twice a week, which basically means I get to go hang out with him and talk about wrestling all day (his one true love). However, his other true love happens to be Miss Reagan Penelope herself. He always tells me that if he has a daughter someday he is going to name her Reagan. That's fine by me. He loves her so much, and the feeling is mutual. She gives him the smiles and attention he desires, and he gives her an audience while she makes funny faces and dances. I am so grateful that she is also able to get to know him and benefit from the spirit he brings everywhere he goes. They were being so cute together the other day, I had to snap a few pictures. They played patty-cake and sang Itsy Bitsy Spider. It warmed my heart.

little lady

Amanda did a little photo shoot of Reagan the other day. I am so glad that I have someone to take such cute pictures of my daughter since I have zero skills in the photography department. I am so spoiled having her as a friend! Reagan was being her usual feisty self that day, so she made lots of scrunchy mean faces, but Amanda still somehow managed to get some really cute pictures. She gets more and more beautiful every day! Here are a few of my favorites.

No way

Reagan has quite a vocabulary. I am definitely biased, but I think she is so smart. She is really starting to comprehend things I am saying, and it is so exciting! When I ask her if she wants to take a bath, she crawls to the bathroom, stands up at the tub and points to the faucet. Wehn I ask her if she wants a diaper change, she either says "By-doh" (diaper) or "poo poo" which is pretty self-explanitory. I am just realizing that I "ask" her if she wants to do a lot of these things, but the poor girl doesn't really have a choice. Maybe I just like her to feel like she is making an informed decision? She says "I lah la" (I love you) when I tell her I love her every morning, and gives me a great big hug. I live for those moments! Although she says a lot of sweet things, her favorite things to say are a little more naughty. She likes to say "no way" and "go away" all day long, and shakes her head no to pretty much everything I say. This little girl went from being the most calm, quiet, easy-going baby to one with an incredible amount of spunk and feistiness. She has SUCH a strong personality and acts more and more like Jason every day, always trying to make everyone laugh. She is one hilarious little girl full of an incredible amount of energy for such a little thing. She exhausts me, but the love I have for her is incomprehensible. Today, she was acting so funny. I am so mad I didn't catch it on video, but Jason was feeding her dinner, and he held the spoon up to her mouth and she just shook her head no. So he stops for a minute and tries again. She proceeded to then tell him "no way." We were cracking up which I am sure just reinforced her behavior, but it was too funny not to laugh. Here is a little video I took of her this morning saying "no way" and "I love you." I might be the only one able to understand it, but I am so proud to be her mama!

Easter 2009

It was a beautiful Easter full of family, candy, easter egg hunts, and being thankful for the Savior and his atonement and resurrection. I don't have much else to say about it so here are a couple pictures I took of Reagan. We tried and tried to get a good picture of her with her bunny ears on, but most of them turned out with her either mad/confused or making a crazy face. See?


She had fun playing with "cousin" Maribel. (My cousin's daughter).


Modeling her Easter dress. (This is her new face she makes in every picture.)

What happened?

Whatever happened to my sweet little newborn who loved to be swaddled and only had enough hair to stick a tiny bow with corn syrup to her forehead? I miss her just a little bit, but this new "big girl" that has taken her place is just as much fun I guess. =)