I want to challenge you...

[Megan Turnidge]

This morning I got to thinking, "what if I died tomorrow?" Terrible thought, I know, but I was thinking about how I feel I've really been documenting my kids' lives fairly well with photos, blogging, and scrapping... but then I realized that my kids have hardly any pictures with ME in them. I want them to look back and know that I loved and cherished them. So, I'm on a mission to document the relationship between my kids and me. Two times a month I'm going to pull out the camera for this very project. I want more than just "smile at the camera" portraits, but photos that really capture how I feel about them and the connection between us.

Anyone want to join me in the project? And anyone have a good name for this project? I can't think of a good one. lol

So, twice a month (or more!)... grab that camera and use the timer or the remote, or have a friend/family member snap some photos for you. Today I put my camera on the tripod and had my 3-yr old press the remote button (my remote isn't wireless so I couldn't do it). They're not perfect, but I love them.

[digideb]

Meegs, these are seriously beautiful! If I had kids, I would totally join you.

[Megan Turnidge]

Originally Posted by digideb

Meegs, these are seriously beautiful! If I had kids, I would totally join you.

You could totally do this project with your hubby!!

[nun69]

this is an awesome idea...I am in and how about "My Life in Pictures" for a project name?

[MamaBee]

wow... those photos are amazing!!! I'll join... ... I need the push to take photos of me... my hubby never remembers to take any of me so most of the family gathering don't have me in them...

[AmyG]

Originally Posted by nun69

this is an awesome idea...I am in and how about "My Life in Pictures" for a project name?

^^^^^^ Great name!

I'm in too. As morbid as the thought it, I was *just* in the shower not 20 minutes ago thinking the same thing. What if? My bff is coming into town. I have not ONE photo of her with me and all our kids together. I don't have one photo of us and our 3rd bff together or even one with just the two of them. Made me think about my kids and photos. My Mom passed away in Aug.2009 and the photos and her handwriting are worth more to me than any monetary thing she ever could have left behind. I like the idea of it being "more than a snapshot". I've been good at doing those but I want them to be more. I'm totally in! Fab idea!

[digideb]

Originally Posted by mturnidge

You could totally do this project with your hubby!!

So very true! We used to take pictures of us ALL the time! Now, I'm lucky if I can find one shot for each month.

[MandaT]

There are only a handful of photos with me in them, ever since I became the wife/mom. Such a great idea. Not with the kids, or with the hubby or friends... almost never.

[newfiemountiewife]

I never have any pictures taken of me, but since I've lost 30 pounds, I let Tony take some. Sometimes. LOL

I write each of the kids a letter once in awhile and put it, sealed, in their baby box. I have never read them after I've written them, and I figure it'll be some kind of treasure for them later in life, or after I'm gone.

[Megan Turnidge]

Originally Posted by apphotos

There are only a handful of photos with me in them, ever since I became the wife/mom. Such a great idea. Not with the kids, or with the hubby or friends... almost never.

Seriously. Before today, I have like 3 photos of me with my kids from this year and only 2 with me & hubby. Last year I was practically nonexistent in our photos! Sad.

I'm revising my project to include pics of me with hubby too.

[Megan Turnidge]

Originally Posted by newfiemountiewife

I never have any pictures taken of me, but since I've lost 30 pounds, I let Tony take some. Sometimes. LOL

I write each of the kids a letter once in awhile and put it, sealed, in their baby box. I have never read them after I've written them, and I figure it'll be some kind of treasure for them later in life, or after I'm gone.

Letters: what a neat idea!! Love it

regarding weight: I know it's hard to get in front of the camera when you don't feel like you look great (I know, I've got a nice squishy, postpartum belly) but I can guarantee you that when your kids look back at photos of you, they are not going to care about your weight. They're just going to see their beautiful mama.

[lovely1m]

I don't do it this often, but I actually try to hand off the camera to someone else and ask them to take a picture of my son & I together. I always see a million reasons why I could have taken a better picture, but I, too, have thought that its something my child will love some day regardless. Yeah, my hair is in a ponytail, I didn't put make up on and I need to drop 25 pounds, but whatever, my child won't care. I should get a tripod and remote and take some myself, too.

BTW, love the ones you did and I absolutely love your avatar! Your hair looks amazing in it!

[Kara]

Love this idea! I need to do this more often!

[cardinalskate]

I vowed to do this as one of my New Year's Resolutions and still haven't done it very well. I've been TRYING to take a family picture on the first of every month. We don't get dressed up or make a big deal about it...just whatever we're doing, I try to get a picture of ALL of us doing it (including me. bleh). I agree, our kids will appreciate this at some point in their lives.

[Jengerbread88]

That's a really good idea. I definitely want to participate as soon as Zacharoni gets here.

[joelsgirl]

I'm pretty egocentric, so I'm in lots of photos. ; )

I'm looking forward to seeing more of you, though, Megan, since you are so crazy beautiful!

[Megan Turnidge]

Originally Posted by lovely1m

I don't do it this often, but I actually try to hand off the camera to someone else and ask them to take a picture of my son & I together. I always see a million reasons why I could have taken a better picture, but I, too, have thought that its something my child will love some day regardless. Yeah, my hair is in a ponytail, I didn't put make up on and I need to drop 25 pounds, but whatever, my child won't care. I should get a tripod and remote and take some myself, too.

BTW, love the ones you did and I absolutely love your avatar! Your hair looks amazing in it!

Awww thanks! I like my hair curled, but I have so much of it that it takes an HOUR to curl it...

[Megan Turnidge]

Originally Posted by joelsgirl

I'm pretty egocentric, so I'm in lots of photos. ; )

I'm looking forward to seeing more of you, though, Megan, since you are so crazy beautiful!

lol! When I saw that you replied to this thread, I immediately thought how you are so great about being in pics!! That's awesome!

And gee, thanks.

[KristinCB]

I am NEVER in pictures.. i have a bit of a complex about having my photo taken so I know I need to work on it its just so hard to get past. blah. Can I just pretend you are me megan? I'd take pictures of myself all the dang time :P haha

[Angie4b1g]

Originally Posted by mturnidge

regarding weight: I know it's hard to get in front of the camera when you don't feel like you look great (I know, I've got a nice squishy, postpartum belly) but I can guarantee you that when your kids look back at photos of you, they are not going to care about your weight. They're just going to see their beautiful mama.

I agree 100%. Have you looked at pictures of your grandmother / great grandmother and been like "man she looked like crap!"? Of course not, you cherish every photo!

[aly321]

I follow a blog that does this...
http://andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.c...june-30th.html
She is adorable, and I love the concept. I think that as women we are so self concious about EVERYTHING! I have been trying to be more present in the photos. My are now where near as gorgeous as Megs, but I am at least starting to be in some photos! AWESOME idea sweetie!

[kim21673]

What a great idea! I have very few pictures of ME and the boys...mostly because I am always the ones taking the pictures b/c DH never thinks about it. I am totally going to try and take more pictures of me and the boys!!!

[jovi_girl]

I'm absolutely in on this. I have barely any photos of my son and I. Not many of dh and I since we got married either cos he's a sook about having his photo taken. Now that our daughter is here I totally want to focus on photos of all of us together and me with the kids.

[LibbysMommy]

What a great idea Megan!! Your photos are so precious and beautiful!!

[clearskies]

Originally Posted by joelsgirl

I'm pretty egocentric, so I'm in lots of photos. ; )

Ditto.

(Extra baby weight and all.)

[Megan Turnidge]

Originally Posted by KristinCB

I am NEVER in pictures.. i have a bit of a complex about having my photo taken so I know I need to work on it its just so hard to get past. blah. Can I just pretend you are me megan? I'd take pictures of myself all the dang time :P haha

GET IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA, WOMAN!! And I hate taking pics of myself too... my nose is huge and I'm really self conscious about it. But I figure that's part of who I am and it's not a good reason for me to avoid the camera.

[Jengerbread88]

Originally Posted by mturnidge

my nose is huge and I'm really self conscious about it. But I figure that's part of who I am and it's not a good reason for me to avoid the camera.

What the @#%^ are you talking about? You are one of the most gorgeous women, I swear... I mean, I know we all have something we dislike about ourselves (like my chubby bunny cheeks), but dude. You're frickin' pretty. Hush your face. :P

[Megan Turnidge]

Originally Posted by aly321

I follow a blog that does this...
http://andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.c...june-30th.html
She is adorable, and I love the concept. I think that as women we are so self concious about EVERYTHING! I have been trying to be more present in the photos. My are now where near as gorgeous as Megs, but I am at least starting to be in some photos! AWESOME idea sweetie!

Awesome! Pamela Donnis linked me up to her blog earlier today! I wish I could commit to once a week, but I know I won't stick to it. lol

Originally Posted by Jengerbread88

What the @#%^ are you talking about? You are one of the most gorgeous women, I swear... I mean, I know we all have something we dislike about ourselves (like my chubby bunny cheeks), but dude. You're frickin' pretty. Hush your face. :P

Thanks. You just made my day.

[jaylensmom]

this is a great idea...my goal was to take a picture of my son and a family member each month but i like this idea too...

[pomi]

I'm in. You are all so right, girls, and Megan, your pics ARE perfect. You are really beautiful and I had to laugh when you wrote about your huge nose, because I really didn't notice anything like this, I think you have a beautiful face.

And that's right, when our kids see the pics years from now, they'll probably don't care about some weigh or bad skin or whatever.

[eranslow]

Sounds like a fabulous idea Megan!

[HeatherKS]

Fabulous idea! <3

[Keely~B]

I think it's a great commitment to make. I try to force myself in front of the camera just for the reasons stated, but it's still a pretty hit or miss thing for me.

[Nettio]

Originally Posted by joelsgirl

I'm pretty egocentric, so I'm in lots of photos. ; )

LOL, Kellie.

This is an AWESOME goal. Your pictures are beautiful!

We're pretty good about making sure we're both in photos and in photos together. But I'd really love to get more candid-type shots, especially of us together. It's hard when there's only two of us though. Maybe I just need to finally invest in a tripod...

[krystalhartley]

You look gorgeous!

Great idea! Did a project name surface?

[Leila]

I'm definitely going to have to start this with the boys once they're back from my mom's. JP has almost no pictures of him and his dad, and that tears me up. I don't want it to wind up that way for me, too.

As for a project title...Me, with You. That way, the you can be anyone, not just my kids/husband.

[Megan Turnidge]

Originally Posted by krystalhartley

You look gorgeous!

Great idea! Did a project name surface?

I'm still thinking. I want it to convey something along the lines of cherishing our relationships, but I'm totally blank! lol

[Megan Turnidge]

Originally Posted by Leila

I'm definitely going to have to start this with the boys once they're back from my mom's. JP has almost no pictures of him and his dad, and that tears me up. I don't want it to wind up that way for me, too.

As for a project title...Me, with You. That way, the you can be anyone, not just my kids/husband.

Oh I like that!

[scrapsandsass]

Originally Posted by mturnidge

Oh I like that!

I like that too. (Leila's "Me, with you")

I might have to join in. Ugh. It makes my tummy hurt to think about pics of me. I just had an acquaintance take some (she wants to start a photography business and needed to build a portfolio) and they all turned out horrible. That didn't help with my camera-avoidance factor.

[mummytothree]

I have tons of pictures of myself...but that's cause I'm a wierdo and I love taking self portraits...seriously since I got a digital camera I have over 600 pictures of myself and I still have to tag 2007 & 2008 photos!! Told you I was a wierdo!!!

And while I do take photos with my kids....I could be way better!! I'm always including them in my self portraits, but I need to get better at handing the camera over to hubby when we are out as a family and have him snap photos of me and the kids!!!

[FeeJardine]

Megan...amazing idea! I might even start doing it with DH too...there are probably even less photos of us.

Fee

[Megan Turnidge]

Alright, ladies! I blogged it. I'd love if you'd join me and I'll posts threads every couple weeks to check in with you here.

[Jengerbread88]

Awesome!!! I can't wait to participate in it! (Well, I kind of have to... DS isn't here for another few days or so! LOL)

[TeriBeary]

They are totally perfect! Beautiful photos.