1.  I have only a few dates left between now and September 1.  Really, September 18, so don’t wait to book!

2.  If you’ve been my client recently you might have noticed that my packaging is kind of “eh”.  That is because I have been winding my way through the remaining packaging that I had from my last order – well over a year ago.  Well some new packaging is on its way to me since I am now basically out.  The first thing in yesterday were my new stickers.  Yay!!  I love stickers.  (The tins are what my lab gives with them to organize them – SO cute!)

3.  Apparently Layne likes my stickers as well.  While I was wedged between the couch on my left and the rocking chair on my right I felt a little someone pushing to get through my legs and see what I had on the floor:

4.  We are thinking of a family vacation in January or February.  The first thought was a Disney cruise before I realized that I would be in a 240 sq foot room with both kids.  Constantly.  For four or five or six days.  I nixed that.  The next thought was perhaps a Disney World vacation package.  That looks like a good option for us though we aren’t sure of Disney with a two year old.  Any other ideas for where to vacation?  It will be us, a five year old and a two year old.  Probably 4-7 nights depending on where we end up going.  Of course if it is photographically beautiful that is an added bonus 😉

5.  One from Saturday morning’s beauty – more to come tomorrow.  Is she not one of the most beautiful little babies you have ever seen?  Those eyes and cheeks!

6.  My summer part-time nanny / babysitter starts next Monday and I cannot WAIT.  I will have three days per week where I am guaranteed someone else taking care of the kids and I can work.  I can meet clients, I can do sessions, I can do editing, I can go get a cup of coffee, I can actually run my business like it needs to be run!  Yippee!!!

7.  One from the maternity Saturday evening.  This was the first from my belly casting call sessions.  Loved her!  Is the color fabulous or what?

8.  I have a few cool macro shots that I will share with you later this week on here.  Yes, it IS a spider for those of you who saw the FB page but it was so neat.  And come on – I got six inches away from it!!  That alone should make you look (this from the girl who used to clamber up onto the couch and use the floor lamp to attempt to kill the spider that was probably 1/2 inch across….)

9.  Speaking of the FB page – I have shot UP UP UP in numbers!!  As of this moment writing (Monday night) I am at 966 people!!!!!  WOW.  I do not know where they came from or how they found me and I find it so hard to believe that they all like me enough to follow me but only 34 away from 1000.  One THOUSAND people?!?!?!!!  Like my friend Lyndsay said, “It’s like xx number of people standing in a room looking at your work.”  I can’t imagine 1000.  I dreamed of getting to 500.  Now to be so close is so exciting.  No, it doesn’t mean anything but it is really, really cool.  To me.  😉  And to Matt when I make him listen to me and gush about it.  I am trying to think of something fun to do when I hit 1000 but I have no idea what!  Any ideas for me?  Maybe a giveaway that people have to respond to on the page…..

10.  I am going to be a busy lady coming up here soon!  I have a session possibly Thursday, I leave Friday for Philadelphia, back Monday then possibly two newborn sessions next week along with a toddler sessions Tuesday afternoon.  Whew!  Then I take off for North Carolina on the 4th.  Going to be a busy, busy few weeks but I love it!!!  (I must admit though, three nights in a hotel by myself with no early morning sessions is reallllllly appealing to me right now.)

1.  I announced it on Facebook but I have officially booked my summer travels!!  I am going to three fabulous cities – one each month as it turns out.  I do have special sessions and pricing available during these session dates.  The dates and locations are as follows, to book a session while I am in town or for more information just contact me!!  And if you want me to come to your city, just email me.  I LOVE traveling!!

2.  June 25-28 I will be in Philadelphia.  It is primarily to do two newborn sessions for former clients, but I have opened three spots for family sessions.  Only three spots.

3.  July 4-7 I will be in Greensboro, North Carolina.  Again, primarily for a newborn session but I will be glad to consider family sessions as well.  I will take sessions in Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Asheboro.  I also would consider sessions in Raleigh and Charlotte.

4. August 6-9 I will be in the gorgeous city of Chicago!!  Since I am not pregnant this trip, I hope to have a bit more fun than I did last time!  I am (yes, again) going primarily for a newborn shoot but will make up to four additional sessions available in the main Chicago area.  Since I don’t know the geography, I mean not having to travel outside of the city 😉

5.  I hope you all had a great Memorial Day weekend!  We were off to NYC to celebrate my mommy’s birthday (I won’t tell how old she was 😉 )  We spent Saturday and Sunday there, and drove back Sunday night.  We got to visit some family I hadn’t seen in, oh, 22 years, and take in a game at Yankees Stadium.  Before the locals start an uprising, it was my sister’s plan to see the Yankees – she is the fan, I promise.  I will say though, the stadium IS quite beautiful.  The game was quite fun even though it was about 95 degrees and we were in direct sun the ENTIRE TIME.  My sunblock, sadly, did not hold up too well for me.  Ah well.

6.  A hint of what is coming tomorrow…

7.  I am booking LOTS of newborns again recently.  I think Rhode Island is having a baby boom!  So expect to see some on here.  I LOVE my newborns 🙂

8.  A hint of what is coming Thursday 🙂

9.  Tonight is Nolan’s end of the year concert at his school.  I cannot wait to see their little program!  He has told me that they are singing songs and that we “have to clap after each song.”  I certainly will 😀  I will also be taking pictures.  And video.  And figuring out if, in fact, I *can* survive the school concerts.  For someone who used to perform constantly, I have told Matt time and time again that i absolutely dread the school concerts.  The off key singing, the horrible instrument performances, etc.  I don’t even watch American Idol <gasp> because I just cringe watching people who are anything less than perfectly on key and talented.   But I have a feeling since it’s my kid, that will change 🙂  I’ll let you know.

10.  Jane Goodall pictures will be up later this week.  I hope!!  🙂  The Institute has everything they need from me and I believe they should have archived the shots by now so hopefully I can share soon here.

1.  First, the third Get Manual class has filled up, yippee!  The number that I want it to be filled up to, at least.  A nice small group, I am SO looking forward to it!  Maybe this time I will take a group photo of everyone 😉

2. We should hear on Thursday this week for sure on one of Matt’s job opportunities.  Please please please.  I hate this state of unknowing….

3.  Finishing up my editing for my clients I found this photo which I ::puffy:: heart.  Baby A. was trying to eat Samantha’s chin.  Reason number #1 why I don’t have moms hold newborns during a session – mommy smell equals FOOD 🙂  But  adore this picture SO much.  We all remember those moments with our own kids.  🙂

4.  I recently got onto the Photography board of TheBump.com (no I am not pregnant, it is just a board that I visit).  And due to some pretty seemingly-silly rules (ie you can’t say if you are a pro, can’t mention your biz or recommend people) I have been asked by several people on there if I am “really Amy Ro.”  First, I think it is hysterical that they don’t think I’m really me and second it is totally crazy to think that these women from all over the country even know who I am!  How did that happen???  And to that end, I am almost up to 600 fans on Facebook.  How did THAT happen?  Where do these people come from?  I mean I LOVE it, don’t get me wrong at all, but I am just overwhelmed and totally humbled (is that the right word) at the idea of people liking my photography that much.  Or maybe it is my awesome witty writing that gets them in?  And my cute kids?  😉

5.  I am officially coming to Philadelphia for two newborn sessions on June 25 and 26.  I will have time for an evening (5:00-5:30) family session on Saturday of that weekend, *possibly* Friday night as well if I can get into town during the afternoon on Friday like I would prefer to.  Let me know if you are interested.  Please note, previous clients will be considered first for this.  I am thinking some nice downtown / Old City shooting is called for!  While I don’t miss living in Philly, I do miss shooting in the city.

6.  I am also planning some other trips.  Woohoo!  I have mentioned them earlier but have a few more details now.  North Carolina is almost settled.  We are just trying to predict when my friend’s baby will be born.  And Chicago is happening at the end of July or first week in August.  I already have a newborn and two family sessions tentatively lined up, will let you know if I open more slots.

7.  My haircut is growing on me.  It really is.  It is still too short by about two inches, but it’s growing.  And it will certainly be cooler when I am in warm temperatures chasing after small children!

8.  Lest you think my child is always happy and always poses perfectly for me.  She is working on perfecting her two year old stink eye.  At 16 months of age.

9.  I am thinking about designing new marketing materials.  I had coffee with my friend Heidi from Heidi Hope photography last week (week before?) and her marketing materials are just gorgeous.  They gave me marketing materials envy.  Big time.  (And she has assistants!  I have assistant envy, too.  Nolan doesn’t count.)  Right now I do so many things “green” that I have nothing pretty to put in people’s hands.  Well, I do, I have my wall display guide, but that seems to keep getting lost in the children’s toy room….  So I might be looking at a new marketing materials project.  And that means shopping for templates online.  It is a sickness that they don’t tell you about when you become a pro.  There are always goodies, always *things* that you need.  Templates, lenses, actions, programs, hats.  Too many things to count.  The hidden secrets of being a pro…

10. Are you thinking ahead to Father’s Day yet?  I am.  Matt and the kids did a nice job for me which okay, honestly I wasn’t expecting.  My husband, whom I love to death and is my best friend in the whole world, is the man that stops at the gas station on the way home from work the day that a card is needed.  Or creates an excuse to go to the grocery store the day of the occasion.  This is the man who wrapped up and gave me for Christmas something we had bought at the store together a few weeks earlier.  You get my drift.  So I don’t expect much in terms of special occasions.   But they did a very nice job.  I got to sleep in, they made me pancakes and gave me a very nice day topped off by one of the most delicious steaks he has ever made.  🙂  So that brings me full circle.  Are you thinking about Father’s Day yet?   If so, I am trying to come up with some cute little packages to do.  What better than pictures of you and your kid(s) to give as gifts?  I am thinking something along the lines of a day of mini sessions.  Or a weekend.  Stay tuned!

1.  Okay, okay.  It’s late.  I didn’t post anything today 🙂  But I have good reason.  Today would have been the day that I posted my photos from my Jane Goodall shoot.  However, for one, I took over 600 photos that I am culling through.  And for another, I have to edit them.  And for a third, they have to go to the Jane Goodall Institute to be archived first before I can share them.  But I will share them when I can.  It’s just going to be a while.  🙂  In the meantime, however, I can say that it was AMAZING.  To be so close to someone who is such a legend in the scientific and animal world was incredible. I got to photograph a meeting between her and 25 specially selected zoo staff – they had no idea it was coming so that was very cool.  Then some other shots of her speaking to the gathered groups from her Roots and Shoots program in the New England area and then her speech to the public at 1:30.  It was a very long, very tiring day.  I came home and essentially collapsed.  But it was so so worth it.  She is incredibly inspiring and I highly recommend going to see her if you ever have the opportunity to.

2.  Today was Layne’s first haircut.  We decided we were tired of looking at Cousin It 🙂  The girl was, well, shaggy.  So we packed them in the car and took them to the local kid’s haircut joint, Snip-Its.  SUCH a cute place for kids.  Lots of bright colors, cute little characters, etc.  And at the end they put a piece of their cute hair into a machine that spits out a prize.  That is Nolan’s favorite part.   Nolan went first to show Layne how it works.  Layne, in the meantime could have cared less and was much more interested in trying to climb into the stroller with the baby in the next stall.  Then was Layne’s turn.  She sat there suspiciously, tried to take off the cape and was in general none too pleased.  Until the introduction of the bubbles.  BUBBLES!!!  From then on, honestly I don’t think she even knew she was getting a cut.  With Nolan’s first cut, he screamed bloody murder from the first minute the spray bottle water hit his head.  Layne – not a peep!  In the end, they gave her beautiful little bangs and pigtails with ribbons.  ::swoon::  She looks like such a big girl now.  We went grocery shopping afterward and with her sitting in the seat I swear she gained a year with that cut.  My favorite part, though, was that Nolan and Layne sat together for me and I captured some quick shots that make me melt.  There are some times you look at each other in a marriage and you’re like “Oh my God why did we have another??”   This is why.

3.    As I mentioned before I am accepting sessions through mid July right now.  No further news on our future yet but hopefully soon.  Just keep your fingers crossed for us!  🙂

Yes, I slightly cheated with #3.  But it’s late and my brain is tired 🙂  See you tomorrow!

1.  I don’t think I will make it to ten.  Just warning you.  So to assist me in my quest, I am using this as number 1.

2.  I am one tired mommy photographer lady!  Over the past week, both kids have been sick, Nolan went into the hospital, and Matt and I have both come down with the kids’ colds.  Of course.  But as my friend said, you can’t say they never give you anything, right?  So I am trying to recover and feel better.  Hit by a truck is more like it in the morning.  As a result I had to put off both Sunday’s session and Monday’s newborn.  As a result I now have sessions Wednesday, Thursday (both newborns), Friday and then Saturday and possibly Sunday.  Want to see how tired I’ll be after that??  🙂  And by the way, Nolan is doing much better.  Thank you to all of you who expressed concern, sent good thoughts, etc.  He was released Monday evening and came home.  His breathing is SO much better and not scary anymore.

3.  My mom and dad are coming this weekend.  It is my goal to get pictures of them with the kids.  I don’t think I have a single photo of them with both of the kids.  And the “baby” turns 16 months old this week.  Eeeek!!  I hope I am not the only photographer who is horrid at photographing their own family…

4.  I recently added a new lens to my arsenal.  The Nikon 35mm f/2.0 lens had been on my list for a while and I got tired of throwing money away renting it so I bought it!  Yay!  It is a sweet piece of glass, nice and quiet, sharp and just gorgeous.  Because my D700 body is so big however, it looks like a littly tiny baby lens on it.  🙂  But it’s awesome.  And you will be seeing many pictures with it.

5.  I also added a new camera bag.  I had a Jill E small brown bag which I do love but my lens collection was making it bulge at the seams and I plan on adding more glass soon.  And with it being so pretty, it just wasn’t practical to run around a park or outside.  So I am now the proud owner of a LowePro Slingshot.  Not nearly as pretty.  Not nearly as feminine.  But incredibly comfortable and holds all of my equipment.  I love bags.  Since I don’t spend money on purses it seems I will spend it on camera bags instead.

6.  Have I mentioned that I am photographing Jane Goodall this weekend????  I don’t think I have.  With my work for the zoo, they wanted an additional photographer for her visit to the zoo this coming weekend and they asked if I would be interested.  Of COURSE I am!!!!!  How cool is that?  She will be here this Saturday at the zoo.  She is doing some visits with the regional Roots N Shoots (kids) programs and then giving a talk and then doing a book signing.  If you are in the area and want more information you can click here:  http://rwpzoo.org/calendar/goodall.cfm  I can’t wait!  It will definitely be one of the cooler things I have done to this point in my career.  And if you see someone that looks vaguely like my photo but with glasses, hair possibly up, a white top and pants and a camera stop and say hi!

7.  I am officially traveling to both North Carolina and Philadelphia in June which I am SUPER psyched about.  The North Carolina trip will be either the weekend of the 5-6 or 12-13 and the Philadelphia trip will be the weekend of the 26-27.  I am currently slotted to do newborns on both of those trips (the reason for the trips) but if I make other sessions available I will be sure to let everyone know.  I just have to think long and hard about the amount of energy I will have.  Newborns, while you don’t really DO anything are exhausting sessions.  So perhaps a newborn in the morning then nap and a family session in the afternoon?  Hmmm.  Have to think about it.

8.  If you are a Facebook fan you may have seen that I am currently only accepting sessions through mid July.  The reason for this is that Matt has decided he wants to be a generalist and has left his fellowship.  He is currently looking for a position as an OB-Gyn attending.  As RI is a bit of the small state, the job pickings here are pretty slim.  This means that there is the potential that we will be moving, though we are trying very hard to stay in the state or at least the area so that I can continue to serve the RI market.  It will all depend on where his CV gets shown and where he gets interviews and offers.  Of course I will be sure to let you all know as I know things.  Here is hoping it is a smooth and quick process!

That’s all for this week.  Just a few short of ten.  But I have a good reason, I promise.  It’s Monday night and I am the class volunteer tomorrow at Nolan’s school.  I have a long hour of bagel bird feeder making ahead of me so I need my sleep 😉