Well hello dear readers!! Like most of our bloggy blog friends, Jeff and I took a small hiatus from the blogging world as we celebrated the holidays with our families. I know blogging has been scarce for us this past month or so, but we’ve got tons of awesome stuff coming up that we can’t WAIT to share with everyone. Just to share what’s been going on with us during our holiday break:

1) We had a wonderful Christmas in our new home, and yes, we still have Christmas decorations up. In fact, we’re doing so much traveling in the next month, that we may have them up until Valentine’s Day… Jeff is definitely rooting to have them up all year.

2) I gave Jeff the coolest Christmas present ever. Like, EVER. I was really unsure about the whole thing, but it proved to be a monumental success. Lots of photos coming soon…

3) Jeff’s side of the family gathered in Ft Lauderdale, Florida, to soak up some sun and beach for the week between Christmas and New Years. We spent our time sipping Pina Coladas, hanging at Tiki Bars, laying by the pool, and jumping the ocean waves on jet skiis! Wahoo!

We took tons of pictures of our family while everyone was gathered together, but I’ve decided to spare everyone the vacation pictures! Instead, we headed down to South Beach in Miami and Jeff and I went nuts in the Art Deco district. All these were taking with one of the new goodies that Santa brought us this year - the Canon 35 f/1.4 L. Yummy.

Everyone we talked to before leaving for Florida told us that the weather was going to be nice, but not THAT nice. They said it wouldn’t be beach weather and to just pack as if it was San Diego. Well, when we arrived, it was a balmy 85 degrees and total beach weather! Buried in my jeans, sweaters, and t-shirts, I had only a few items to last me the week. Luckily, Jeff’s cousin, Sarah, is the coolest person I’ve ever met and let me borrow her stash of Anthropologie pieces. Love you Sarah!

Sarah, Jeff and I (aka total suckers) stopped at a restaurant that was boasting 2 for 1 drinks and half off appetizers, so we decided to get a little bit of food to hold us off until dinner later that evening and just people watch on Ocean Drive. The appetizers were fabulous and the drinks were incredibly tasty. However…

…the drinks were ENORMOUS! I think our eyes popped out of our heads when we saw them coming towards us! So we figured that they had simply combined our two drinks into one because of the 2 for 1 drink special. But when we asked for our check, the waitress gave us a strange look and asked, “Don’t you want your second drink?” (!!!!) So we had to get our second round of ENORMOUS (and particularly strong) drinks in to-go cups and walk down the street with huge cocktails, looking like drunken tourists. So when Miami Beach says 2 for 1, they’re serious!

We still had tons of fun with the neon lights.

We met up with the rest of Jeff’s family at A Fish Called Avalon at the Avalon Hotel a little later and had a fabulous dinner. Needless to say, I only had a small glass of wine…

And no, I wasn’t long gone. Jeff dared me to look like I was eating and drinking alone at the table next to us, and I got a little bit too into character!

Well its official, Jeff and I are the crazy aunt and uncle!! My sister, Lynn, and her husband, Jared, just had their first little boy, Noah Alvaro, yesterday at 1:03pm in Seattle, WA. He weighed in at 8lbs 3 ounces and 21.5 inches long. I flew in to Seattle this past Wednesday to help Lynn and Jared finish all of their preparations - nursery, last minute errands, etc. - but I really didn’t think she would have Noah while I was here (although I was hoping). She was due this next Monday, and most first pregnancies go well past the due date. But Lynn broke all of the rules with a first pregnancy and had Noah early and quickly!

I was there for the labor and delivery and photographed as much as I could. Not only was it incredibly meaningful to capture all of the most precious moments for my sister and bro-in-law, it was one of the best lessons in true photojournalist photography I’ve ever had. I was forced to create solid images out of rapid events in very difficult hospital lighting (soooo flattering…) with not much room to work with. And of course, I had no control over the action! But I loved every minute of it and had to share my favorites moments with everyone

Lynn went into labor at 3:15am and we were in the hospital by 5:15. I remembered to actually record the time at 5:51am.

Lynn just as we arrived and right before major contractions started. She brought the headband because she wanted to be cute during her labor! I loved it!!

Lynn had an epidural, which seriously, I don’t know how anyone did/does it without one. I applaud every woman in history that gave birth with no meds!!

Everyone says that its an amazing experience watching someone give birth, and I was so emotionally overwhelmed by it. Its a good thing I was behind the camera, because I was losing it!! Here’s Noah seconds after being born and Lynn seeing him for the first time. There’s plenty more images of Noah at this stage, but I decided to be nice and show one of the less “gooky” ones!

My absolute favorite image that I think I have ever taken. Everything was happening in a whirlwind and suddenly my view was completely blocked when Jared was about to cut the umbilical cord. I quickly ducked at the last minute and only had time to shoot off two images before Noah was whisked away. I was praying that at least one was in focus and I just about died when I saw that I nailed it! I feel like this image says it all - Lynn holding Noah, Jared’s hands with the scissors, his ring on his hand, the blood on her gown - it all says that he’s finally here.

Big boy!!

Getting cleaned up by the baby nurse.

It always shocks me that they come out with finger and toenails!

I’m a dad!!!

Daddy holding Noah for the first time. Uncle Jeff, don’t cry at this one. I know you are!!

My mom had been driving out from Idaho to Seattle and had spent the previous night in Oregon. When Lynn went into labor early, my mom raced the rest of the way to Seattle and ran through the hospital door just minutes after he was born! Great timing!! Here she is seeing her first grandchild for the first time. I think she’s planning the next hundred gifts she’s going buy him already!

Mom and baby boy.

A few hours later, Noah had to get his first bath, which I think was the cutest thing I’d ever seen!

He got his head scrubbed, which was more like a head massage!

Aunty Erin!

After a little rest and the lovely headband, Lynn was the cutest new mom ever!

And yes Jared, you’re the cutest new dad ever.

I didn’t get pimples until I went to college. By the time I donned my high school graduation robes, I thought I had managed to avoid the facial curse that had plagued so many of my friends. Yes, I got zits every once in while, but they were nothing to get panicked about. But somewhere between after-graduation parties and packng for college, my skin got some serious attitude. In three short summer months, I went from zero to mild pimples, to full blown might as well wear a mask all day acne. The worst part being that it meant that I had the worst of all acne problems - Adult Onset Acne. Yes, not only did I get major acne, but it happened when everyone else I knew was growing out of theirs!! Their skin turned into beautiful swans while I regressed into an ugly duckling!