My Favorite Gifts
I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas and a happy Chaunakuh. I very much enjoyed me two weeks off. It was so nice to take a break from email land and from my office to enjoy the holidays with my family. I tackled so many personal projects that I’ve been wanting to do since we moved into our new house. It was fantastic! I’ve decided that every 3 months I’m going to take a week (or at least a few days) off to rejuvinate and spend lots of time with Brayden.
Did everyone get the gifts they wanted? My favorite gift I got is actually one that I haven’t been able to use yet.
Santa brought me the Fuji Instax camera and I was so excited to try it out, but Santa (cough, cough my parents) forgot to buy the film. I ordered it last week and will hopefully be receiving it today. I can’t wait to try it!
Chuck bought me Rosetta Stone so I can learn Korean. Korean? Yes, Korean. Why? I don’t know. Because I think it would be cool. It would be a good party trick too 
I’m pretty sure Brayden’s favorite gift was all the trains he got. He finally got tracks for his Thomas trains and now has 17 trains. I really don’t think he needs anymore! I didn’t take a lot of pictures because I was videotaping most of the time we were opening presents, but Brayden took the responsibility of having big boy train tracks very seriously
He also very much loved his car
And all day he smiled a lot
And he said, “Yes!” a lot!
The favorite gift that I gave was an album of Brayden that I made for my mom, mother in law, Chuck’s Aunt, and his Grandma. It took a long time to make, but they all loved it so it was very much worth it! Here’s the cover (the back is on the left and front on the right)
I also got Chuck’s Grandma a digital frame and loaded it with a couple hundred pictures of Brayden from birth until now. She loved it!
What were your favorite gifts to give and receive?
PS 3 out of the 4 images I posted of Brayden were taken with a flash. If you’ve been reading Mom*tog for awhile you probably know that I’m not a big fan of flash. But, we opened presents so early that I didn’t have a choice. I’ll be talking a little bit about flash tomorrow!
About DrewB
I’ve started this blog as a way to connect with other moms who love photography. Whether you are a professional photographer who is looking for advice on how to manage your own business and your family or if you are a mom who is looking for tips on how to take better pictures of your kids, I hope that you can find some good information and be inspired!
Wow, you used flash? How does it look so natural!? I can’t wait to read more about flash tomorrow!
And its good to know that my son isn’t the only one that has TONS of wooden trains, but no wooden track! Maybe for his birthday
.-= Jess´s last blog ..A New Year… a Clean Fridge. =-.
How funny! My hubby wanted the Rosetta Stone Spanish version but I think Korean is more interesting. As for gifts given. Hands down, my best gifts have been photo books to my parents and grandparents. I do one every year for them as they live out of town and sometimes miss my boys milestones. This year I did something a little different. My oldest had an eventful year in football which family was not able to see. It was a journey all the way to the Pop Warner Super Bowl in Florida. I took many incredible championship pictures and combined them in a book. It made an incredible book and I’m sure the grandparents opened it up with tears in their eyes.
BTW what software or company did you use for your book? I use York for my personal photos but recently started using Blurb for my portfolio books. There are some tricks to making sure your images come out true that would be nice to share here for other moms who are into that kind of thing. Maybe another post for 2010.
Ohhhh! I want that camera!!! It sounds like you all had a great Christmas… love the pictures!
.-= Bobbie Brown´s last blog ..Miscellaneous Monday =-.
I got a Canon 50d for Christmas! I am a huge photography nut and want to improve my photography! I have been studying your site like crazy since Christmas! I want you to move next door to me so you can teach me all you know and you can tell me what I did wrong/right with my pictures! Are you game? LOL Seriously, you are amazing! Thanks for posting all of the tips and techniques!
My fave gift was some old vintage cameras that my sister-in-law found on-line…to decorate my studio with! So fun! I enjoyed my time off as well…and my two boys enjoyed receiving all their Thomas trains as well! Our entire family room is one big track and lots of trains! They are 4 & 6…so lots of trains & tracks between the two! Happy New Year!
Looks like a wonderful Christmas. Christmas really is so much more fun with little ones.
.-= Emmy´s last blog ..Okay–take a deep breath =-.
Korean is one of the easier ones to learn! Much easier than Chinese! Have fun with that!! : )
.-= rachel´s last blog ..what to do when the thermometer reads -19 =-.
oooooh I have my heart set on that camera for my birthday! It’s in February, so hopefully I will have one soon too!
I can’t wait to see the pictures you take with it!! They just look like so much fun! What a great gift for a photographer huh?!
I love the design to the album you made! Where did you have it printed? I always want to do photo books but never seem to have the time to sit down and work on pictures of my own kids! I need to change that! I have 100′s of pictures just sitting on cds waiting to be looked through from my own family. I spend too much time on client work and that’s going to hopefully change this year! I think a photo album is a perfect gift for family! I will keep that in mind for next year!!
As always, I love your blog!
Happy New Year!
My favorite gift was some super warm fleece comfy pants to wear around the house and some matching socks. I really liked Rosetta Stone Italian for learning a new language. The method they use really works.
Happy New Year!
.-= Kimberly Aardal´s last blog ..Outdoor Charleston Rocker =-.
I wanted the Fuji Instax camera but Santa got me my other camera want a mini Diana
It looks like ya’ll had a great Christmas! I love the cover of the album I bet the all LOVED it!
.-= misty smith´s last blog ..Merry Christmas =-.
I got that camera too!!! I just took my first photo and I LOVE it.
Thanks again Drew for all your awesome pointers, not all photographers are willing to share so much. I was able to use the tips from your unposing guide on all of my clients throughout the busy holiday season. Even though I have been photographing families for the past few years, it was still a great help!! Relating to your clients is one of the most important parts of photography and thanks to you and your ideas I was able to give my sessions a kick start and get the most from all my awesome clients!!
Looking forward to the year ahead
XOXO – Tracy
I’m married to a Korean man, I don’t speak it at all but it sounds like a fun language. I’ve been picking up on the sounds and learning the meaning that way.
Happy New Year Drew, as always, love to read your blog
from your friend Tammy who used to live in Boston now lives in Calgary, Alberta Canada (chilly)
Depends on where you live, Susan. If it’s somewhere cold, sorry. If it’s Hawaii or another tropical island maybe we can work something out
Have fun with your new camera!
Well…actually I live in a small town in Tennessee called Manchester. The only thing we are famous for: Bonnaroo. Oh well, I guess I will have to move on and just read your blog!
.-= Susan Helms´s last blog ..Sisters =-.
looking forward to tomorrow’s post! i got so frustrated with my pictures over the holiday that i ended up putting it on auto mode just to get a snapshot. i hope you’ll make recommendations on purchasing a flash. i’m clueless on what to look for!
i love b’s smile. it would melt anybody’s heart:)
.-= elizabeth´s last blog ..I’m dreaming of a White Christmas Kitchen =-.
Wow, I love the pictures! Where did you get the photobook printed? I always want to make a professional looking book to showcase my stuff, but really want to invest in a high-quality one. Glad you had a Merry Christmas!