31 days + 365 days = You really need more things to do?

I love a full plate.
I hate a full plate.

I know, I know, I'm awash with contradictions. I live by double standards. While I find this 365 project really inspiring, at times I find that it's just another line on my 'to do' list. And then I read this post. 
The author begins, noting that all her childhood pictures could fill 1/3 of a shoebox. All my childhood pictures could fit in a small envelope. I think I have 7, and that's including a 35mm photo slide from the 80's.
 
This part of her post stuck with me: 
"You've gotten a tour of some of the meaningful images in my life, now it's your job to capture them for those you love. Together, I hope we can learn how to make your images great, so one day your kids and grandkids will have more than part of a shoebox of images."


When my daughter was born I made it my mission to make sure that she would have more than a shoebox of images. A few people made fun of my photo-pilgramage, but they didn't know why I HAD to take so many pictures.
"Does she look like you, or your husband, as a baby?" I dislike that question because I don't know. I don't have any baby pictures. The youngest picture I have is when I'm about 3.

I'm not here to complain about that; I look with love on the pictures I do have of my muse. Photography Mission Accomplished.

Capturing her special moments has become an automatic response, almost like sneezing into your elbow; something you had to remember to do at first, but now do it without thinking. Unfortunately sometimes I am so caught in capturing the moment, that I am not present in it. Eeep. One problem solved, and another begins.


So, my tack-on project to my 365 project is my very own 31 day project; to be more present on a daily basis, but mostly while I am shooting.

So, I made breakfast with my muse this morning, we made pancakes. She stirred the batter, she poured in the ingredients - with a little help from mom. It was a really beautiful morning, a really beautiful memory. I didn't capture any shots during the stirring or the cooking because I was enjoying every second.

So, a memory has slipped by without me capturing it, but I did capture the aftermath, I hope that these will be enough to spur on the memory of the first time she made me breakfast.

babies are notoriously bad at cleaning up after themselves

raspberry and blueberry pancakes

she sat on the counter and whisked everything together