God, 24 years old. It doesn’t seem possible. It seems like just yesterday that you lay in the warmer in the delivery room just looking all around you so quiet and alert. Your Dad called Grandma & Grandpa from the delivery room to let them know that they had another granddaughter. They brought Colin, David & Beth to meet you just 40 minutes after you were born. Colin patted your head and said, ” Hi Caitlin!” and forever became your protector. David jumped up on the railing, grabbed your hand, and called you Caitlin and took you right in stride. No biggie. Your best friend, big sis Beth, climbed on the railing of the bed, gave you a kiss and then went to the chair in the corner and sat there watching everything unfold. She didn’t call you by name for 2 full days. She’d say, “Mom, where’s THE baby?” She was not convinced. My mother took you from my arms and kissed you and told you she loved you and my Dad took you and giggled in that special way he did and declared you were so soft…What an amazing adventure it has been.
I am so grateful for your wonderful sunny and loving disposition. As a baby my favorite time with you was when you first woke up from your nap and you would come to my lap all wormby-bormby and just sit quietly and peacefully while the world came into focus. It made me slow down and take a minute. Now you come and visit me and I drop everything to spend a few minutes with you. I love to go out to lunch or shopping with you and truly enjoy just talking with you.
As the youngest of 4 children I think it was not always easy to believe in yourself in the face of your brothers and sister’s accomplishments. That is why, the day you came to me and said could I go to the bank with you to open a business bank account because you were starting a photography business I was so proud of you. Look what you have accomplished in two short years. To say I am your biggest fan is an understatement because I think that not only are you a stunning photographer but you are a great person, daughter, sister, friend…
Oh Disney why must you taunt me? Seriously. I already love you enough. Only you could convince me that running 26.2 miles sounds like a FUN time.
Yes, my sister and I signed up to run the Disney marathon entirely on a whim. This means I’ll be in sunny FLA in January - one of the coldest/hardest months to live back home in Indiana. I’m okay with that! You know, because I’ll be kickin it with Mickey at the finish line
Last night I came home after a long day of photographing an amazing couple on their wedding day (love you Rachel + Tim!), and was surprised by my family and close friends who had come over for an early birthday celebration. There were balloons, streamers, bear hugs and happies everywhere. I can’t adequately say how much it means to have amazing people in my life. I’m so grateful.
My birthday isn’t until the 4th, but I got an early bday present Every girl needs some glitter in her life.
* I’ve decided to try out Fantasy Football this year. Though I love watching any and all NFL games, I will admit I don’t really know much about football in general. What I do know: Peyton Manning is the man and Austin Collie is so dreamy. I’m sure to go far in this one.
* Tonight I had a shoot with an old friend and I left happy - that photography helped us cross paths again and that she is so happy with her sweet little family! Happy². Or would it be Happy³?
* The Switch was way better than I thought it would be. Better than The Switch? Having my sister there to see it with me. Tonight I was reminded of how happy I am to have her back in Indy. Love you B. Let’s crush on Jason Bateman and go to Tuesday night movies more often k?
Thanks to my buddy Micah for snapping this photo at Matt and Abra’s wedding. Happy Wednesday!
He was quietly smirking as I approached the counter. I ordered my popcorn and pop.
What are you going to see?
Eat Pray Love.
This time he smirks with accusing eyes. His laugh breaks and I sense he’s judging me a little bit.
Why, could you figure as much?!
His laugh breaks once more.
After replaying this in my head after the fact, I’m fairly certain this guy had a bet going with his only coworker that night and I’m okay with that. ”I bet that girl walking up by herself is seeing Eat Pray Love. 20 bucks!” . (For the record, I shamelessly love going to movies on my own once in a while. It is so, so relaxing!)
Is it a pretty formulaic movie? Yes. Predictable? Double yes. But, I really liked it. I was mostly reminded of the importance of letting go - of expectations, fears and unnecessary baggage in your life - and simply showing up for you, first and foremost. Everything else will fall into place.
I can’t count the number of times I’ve passed it driving on 65N. I’ve always just passed it and thought that it would be an awesome place for a shoot. It’s run down with broken window panes and old brick. I never knew there was actually an enormous two stories full of antiques inside. This place is literally overflowing with amaaaazing finds. If it weren’t 1000 degrees on Saturday I could have stayed all day. I was really just tagging along with my sister to help her find a coffee table, but ended up coming home with a globe for myself. Because really, it’s been at the top of my list for a while now
But c’mon, how happy is this on my nightstand? I love it so much my heart hurts a little.
I really hope you had an amazing weekend. Thanks for stopping by to visit.
I was voiceless the first half of the week. It was awesome. Partly because I sounded like a chipmunk (male, mind you) but mostly because my buddy asked if I had been to a Justin Bieber concert. No. But I may or may not have been singing along in the car. Just sayin
There’s a lot coming up. August is a busy Caity bee kind of month.
When things get busy, I tend to map things out in my head. Today will unfold like this and tomorrow like that. When things don’t go as planned, like most people I can get anxious.
Yesterday my roommate helped me on a project (one I’m very excited to share) and we finished up with some self timer shots of the two of us. I got home and scanned through the images and at first completely dismissed this image. You can’t see all of Kali’s face and I’m blurry. But then I gave it another chance. Though it didn’t come out as I expected, it makes me happy.
Here’s to letting life happen and embracing the unscripted.
When I was young, our family had season tickets to Pacer games. You know, back when the Pacers were a big deal and we had the dream team - Reggie Miller, Rik Smits, Jalen Rose (my favorite!), Mark Jackson, Travis Best, Antonio Davis…these names make my heart grin. They bring me back to my childhood and some of my favorite memories with my dad.
See, these tickets really were up for grabs to anyone in our family. They belonged to my dad and most times I would go with him. To say that I would be ecstatic for these games would be an understatement. I can remember one day in Mrs. Williams’ third grade class, sitting at my desk with my blue assignment notebook. Bottom right of the page under ‘Extra Notes’, I carefully wrote in big cursive letters Pacers vs. Toronto Raptors with DADDY. It was an extra note and a really important one at that.
We would drive downtown to Market Square Arena in his white plymouth sundance which, was really just a tiny box on wheels. First quarter of every game we would get a slice of Dominos pizza and every time we’d go on and on about how good it was. My dad loves the finer things in life. Give the man a plastic comb and he will sing its praises. Fast forward to the beginning of the third quarter and we would grab a snow cone. Always banana on one side. The other side was up for grabs - watermelon some games and strawberry others. Most games I’d start to doze off at the end of the 3rd. My dad would always elbow me to wake me up and at the time I’d get annoyed - but now, in hindsight, I can appreciate it so much because I see that he just wanted more time with his peanut. That’s what he calls me, his little peanut..
Dad - Boy did Ma hit the jackpot with you. Would it be cliché to say today that you are the greatest man in my life? Seams to cover all bases. Thank you for being a teacher and a friend - for instilling in me at a young age the value of kindness and honest hard work. Thank you for sharing life with me and always, always offering up a warm ‘Heeey Caitybug!’ You are so gentle by nature but your actions speak volumes. Your hard work and dedication to our family will never, ever go unnoticed and though you’d never admit it because you are incredibly selfless - you save lives every day at that hospital. Those patients are lucky to have you and so am I. I’m so proud of you and, I just want to remind you today that you are an amazing father. Please don’t ever forget that.
Love you to outer space and back x’s infinity. Plus a SNICKERS bar. Because I know those are your favorite…
Look at this, this is where I am living right now. All because of you. I knew before coming here that I was a lucky girl, but being in Italy only serves as a reminder of just how lucky I am. Miss you guys like crazy. I can’t wait to show you guys around. We are going to have a blast when you come. You guys are going to LOVE it. I hope you’re all happy and smiling a lot. I’m thinking of you guys always, especially Emmy. Give her a big fat smooch for me! Have fun, take care! I’ll see you very soon.
