The leaves are all changing now, and so is my life. It has been one week since I began my new job/career/lifestyle, and to say that I am loving every minute is an understatement. There are no words to describe how I feel. I guess UNREAL is the closest word that comes to mind. I feel like I can breathe again.
By the graces of God, and luck, and the stars aligning, and who knows what else, I Finally woke up about 5 weeks ago. I realized that my life was not going as planned. I spent way too much time doing things that I didn't enjoy. I realized I’d rather focus my time and energy on a career I love, on my husband, and on the two amazing kids in my life. This decision will mean quite a few changes to what we would consider our "normal" lifestyle. These changes mean new challenges, and I am SO ready - no matter what, I get to wake up and have breakfast with my family. I get to kiss my husband goodbye (while he is awake, not still sleeping in bed), to drop E off at preschool, and pick him up. I can be there for every word C adds to her vocabulary. I am going to be home to kiss boo-boos and nurse sick babies back to health. I know there will be days that I will have to fight them both to take a nap (like today), days where I’ll be cleaning clothes, sheets, bottles all day long (like today, also)…and on those days I still won’t be able to get any of my photography work done until they get to bed (like now!)! But even with those days looming, I KNOW with my whole heart this is the right decision.
Cheesy song, but One Republic, “Feel Again” has been on repeat ever since this decision was made. Prior to that day I would leave work almost every single day crying. Crying because I wasn’t sure how I let my life get to how it was/couldn’t figure out what it was I was so focused on and WHY. Crying because my kids were growing up wayyyy to fast, and because I had not found the time or energy lately to put into my relationship with my husband or my true career/passion - my photography business.
Since that day, I have cried a lot more…but it is a different kind of crying, the tears that stream down my face now are PURE happiness and joy. I know that most people do not have the opportunity to make a decision like this, and for that I have no one but my husband to thank. He is the reason why we have any savings at all. He is the one who has supported me on every. single. path I have gone down. I thought that when we finally made the decision I would stay home to focus on photography and our babies, that “mr. savings/excel guru/financial mind” would undoubtedly hold a sort of grudge or be a tiny bit angry at me. Instead he showed up at home on the day I gave my notice with a huge bouquet of beautiful roses. He told me he believed this decision was the right one, and that I could and would make this dream a reality. He also immediately pulled up the Canon website and said it was time for me to get my dream camera. I LOVE this man. Not only because of his unwavering support, (for that I am the most thankful/humbled and feel like the luckiest person in the world), but also because of how he betters me. Because of him, and his support, I am more driven than EVER to prove him right.
I guess it’s not fair to say it’s only him I have to thank. I also have the amazing advice, love and support from all of my friends and family. You all know who you are, and the times we’ve shared discussing this. I am forever grateful to you all. <3
Lastly, to all of my amazing clients who have helped to grow KHI to what it is today – Thank you, thank you, thank you! You now have me 100% (when I’m not taking care of my babies). While I have always poured my heart and soul into everything I have done, it is just slightly different, because now I have more time to focus on THIS career and to provide only the absolute best end product to all of you!
I am currently in the process of editing my site and have about a million and one sessions to post about in the next coming weeks (Don't worry - pics for all sessions were delivered on time!! I just have not had the opportunity to post any of the sneak peeks all the way back to March!!! (I guess you could say life got away from me a bit!)). I also have quite a few holiday specials to offer, along with the debut of this BLOG! I will attempt to blog often and keep you all posted with previews, specials and fun stories that come with the daily life of a SAHM/photographer :) Be prepared for a KHI overload...
<3 Katie
www.katiehartigimages.com
By the graces of God, and luck, and the stars aligning, and who knows what else, I Finally woke up about 5 weeks ago. I realized that my life was not going as planned. I spent way too much time doing things that I didn't enjoy. I realized I’d rather focus my time and energy on a career I love, on my husband, and on the two amazing kids in my life. This decision will mean quite a few changes to what we would consider our "normal" lifestyle. These changes mean new challenges, and I am SO ready - no matter what, I get to wake up and have breakfast with my family. I get to kiss my husband goodbye (while he is awake, not still sleeping in bed), to drop E off at preschool, and pick him up. I can be there for every word C adds to her vocabulary. I am going to be home to kiss boo-boos and nurse sick babies back to health. I know there will be days that I will have to fight them both to take a nap (like today), days where I’ll be cleaning clothes, sheets, bottles all day long (like today, also)…and on those days I still won’t be able to get any of my photography work done until they get to bed (like now!)! But even with those days looming, I KNOW with my whole heart this is the right decision.
Cheesy song, but One Republic, “Feel Again” has been on repeat ever since this decision was made. Prior to that day I would leave work almost every single day crying. Crying because I wasn’t sure how I let my life get to how it was/couldn’t figure out what it was I was so focused on and WHY. Crying because my kids were growing up wayyyy to fast, and because I had not found the time or energy lately to put into my relationship with my husband or my true career/passion - my photography business.
Since that day, I have cried a lot more…but it is a different kind of crying, the tears that stream down my face now are PURE happiness and joy. I know that most people do not have the opportunity to make a decision like this, and for that I have no one but my husband to thank. He is the reason why we have any savings at all. He is the one who has supported me on every. single. path I have gone down. I thought that when we finally made the decision I would stay home to focus on photography and our babies, that “mr. savings/excel guru/financial mind” would undoubtedly hold a sort of grudge or be a tiny bit angry at me. Instead he showed up at home on the day I gave my notice with a huge bouquet of beautiful roses. He told me he believed this decision was the right one, and that I could and would make this dream a reality. He also immediately pulled up the Canon website and said it was time for me to get my dream camera. I LOVE this man. Not only because of his unwavering support, (for that I am the most thankful/humbled and feel like the luckiest person in the world), but also because of how he betters me. Because of him, and his support, I am more driven than EVER to prove him right.
I guess it’s not fair to say it’s only him I have to thank. I also have the amazing advice, love and support from all of my friends and family. You all know who you are, and the times we’ve shared discussing this. I am forever grateful to you all. <3
Lastly, to all of my amazing clients who have helped to grow KHI to what it is today – Thank you, thank you, thank you! You now have me 100% (when I’m not taking care of my babies). While I have always poured my heart and soul into everything I have done, it is just slightly different, because now I have more time to focus on THIS career and to provide only the absolute best end product to all of you!
I am currently in the process of editing my site and have about a million and one sessions to post about in the next coming weeks (Don't worry - pics for all sessions were delivered on time!! I just have not had the opportunity to post any of the sneak peeks all the way back to March!!! (I guess you could say life got away from me a bit!)). I also have quite a few holiday specials to offer, along with the debut of this BLOG! I will attempt to blog often and keep you all posted with previews, specials and fun stories that come with the daily life of a SAHM/photographer :) Be prepared for a KHI overload...
<3 Katie
www.katiehartigimages.com