kristianne koch photography----photo blog » milestones

[life] another birthday (party)

kristianne — Mon, 04 May 2009 03:43:26 +0000

Merrik turned four on May 2. Four! Four years go I had my first tiny babe in my arms. I had no worries about taking our little bundle home and was ready to hit motherhood head on. It’s really amazing because I could easily say that five years earlier I didn’t want kids. Jim and I set out for the Marquesas on the same date in 2000 and all I could think about then was a dream coming true sailing across the ocean with the man I loved. It sounds romantic but it was the farthest thing from it. The first passage was like being in prison with your lover. Sleep deprivation, physical exhaustion and no way to get off.

But we persisted and had an experienced unmatched by any other. On the passage north to Hawaii I had an epiphany and realized that I was one of those lucky people that was supposed to have kids. I decided that being surrounded by my own loving family with generations of family involvement a part of my life and because I already spent many years on wild, personal, satisfying adventures I felt I was ready to be the parent I wanted to be.

So here we are, two kids later and about as domestic as it gets. I know our landlocked life is setting up a good foundation for our family. I just don’t think putting on annual birthday parties is going to be a part of it. Once again I didn’t have enough time to take pictures the way I like and it whizzed by me in a blur. The whirlwind life rushing here and there just conflicts so many things that Jim and I believe in: most importantly to live simply both physically and financially.

did I ever mention that merrik loves trains?

kristianne — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:41:34 +0000

Awhile ago we went to the train museum in Perris, CA with Nana Papa (who has also loved trains ever since he was a little boy). It was a trek over the Ortega but well worth a day out of picture perfect SC. I had a blast photographing this place. It was like going to Bodie when I was in college. I discovered their fabulous little old time print shop and picked up a few of their custom posters for pennies.

Merrik was in heaven. The steamie was running and we rode in the caboose! It was like a dream come true for my little foamer. We also rode an old LA streetcar. Way back in time when LA was on the ball they had public transportation all the way to Newport Beach!! My mom used to ride it. Maliea enjoyed the day too walking around in her new shoes.

You can view more images of this great place at my online gallery (still trying to figure out what goes up on flickr and what goes up at smugmug!?!@

gap: maliea is 6 months old already

kristianne — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:53:08 +0000

thought: maliea milestones

kristianne — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 22:24:02 +0000

Maliea is hitting new milestones all the time so I am going to record them here when I have a chance. Last week she rolled back to her back from her tummy once but hasn’t done it since. She cut her first tooth on Friday, August 22nd and she found her feet! She now lays on her back and holds her feet in “happy baby,” a relaxing yoga pose.