Favorite Photo of Myself

Day 17 of the "Blog Every Day in May" challenge:

"Favorite Photo of Yourself and Why..."

I hope you don't mind, but I skipped Day 16 (something difficult about your "lot in life" and how you're working to overcome it).  The topic just stressed me out.  I couldn't handle it.  First of all, what is my "lot" and why is it so difficult?  What the fuck does that even mean?  What difficulties am I overcoming?  How am I coping with what I've been given?  I don't know.  I just am.  Like everybody else.  I tried to come up with something, but everything I wrote sounded wrong.  There are some personal things I would like to write about eventually, but don't feel comfortable yet.  There are things I want to say, but don't have the words.  Everything I wrote sounded cliche or generic or whiny.  My lot in life right now is pretty damn fabulous and I worked hard to get it there, so I'm not going to bitch about it.  So I'm skipping that one.  I've been assured that the blogging police will not be knocking down my door to arrest me for it. So, I'm moving on. 

Instead, I really like this prompt to chose your favorite photo of yourself.  I'm picking two: one pre-baby and one post-baby.  I feel like my life will forever be divided into these two categories, so why not.  

The photo below was one of our engagement pictures.  It was taken 4 days before our wedding.  We're at Mormon Row, a historic homestead site in Grand Teton Naitonal Park in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  You can't see the Tetons in the back of this particular photo, but they're there.    There are so many reasons why I love this photo.  First, it was the beginning of one of the most amazing weeks of my life.  I'm totally biased, but our wedding was just MAGICAL.  The whole weekend was.  There was something about the mountains and having 60 of our closest friends and family members there to celebrate with us (and celebrate we did!) that made it perfect.  Second, Ryan and I had so much fun taking these photos.  We were madly in love (still are), about to be married and nervous and worried and just overall so damn excited we were silly.  Our photographer instructed us over and over to make-out in front of her and snuggle and hug and it was so awkward and uncomfortable we just ended up laughing through the whole shoot.  Third, I just think I look kinda pretty here - young and thin and madly in love.  And that's not a bad reason to love a photo. 

(Carrie Patterson Photography)

My favorite photo post-baby is the one below.  I just adore this picture.  I'm going to have it blown up on a giant canvas and hang in our room (eventually, when I have time, some day).  I just think it's a cute, fun photo that captures Mac and I being silly and playing, like we do a lot.  He loves being upside-down, I love those chubby baby legs in the air and I adore that he's touching my face.  I'm no longer looking young and thin, but still madly in love.  

(A Better Story Photography)