Whitney Dupuis Photography

All is merry and bright!

2011-12-28T23:28:00.000-06:00

It's that time of the year again. I love Christmas. It is my absolute FAVORITE time of year. The songs that everyone sings. The decorations that are displayed. The traditions that are upheld. The joy in children's faces. The time when we remember our Savior came to Earth as a baby with the sole purpose of taking our place on a cross so that we may live eternally. It is truly a magical time.

One of the traditions that my family holds is going to Bellingrath Gardens to see the thousands of lights on display. To see more about the actual history of that tradition, please visit my personal website here.

We spent the better part of the evening walking through the 65 acres of gardens admiring the view. Of course, I took my camera along for the ride. Here are few shots that I was able to capture.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Fair Game

2011-11-11T11:51:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago, Craig and I decided to take Canon to the fair. We knew he couldn't ride anything or do anything, but we also knew that he would absolutely love the energy, the lights, the excitement of being there. We were spot on. This kid had so much fun. It was sensory overload for him. In fact, it wore him out so much that he slept until 9 am the next morning (he usually wakes up about 6:30). All in all, I'd say it was a hit. We may have to do this every year!

Happy Friday!!!

It's Time for futbol

2011-11-03T16:35:00.000-05:00

My brothers are, or were at some point, all soccer players. Correction, futbol. It is such an exciting, not to mention athletic, game! I hope that Canon decides to play one day. I will definitely put him on a team for at least a year to try it out.

We went to watch my baby brother play a game in Fairhope, AL a few weeks ago and had a great time - both watching the game and playing before the game, during halftime and after the game. Here are a few snapshots of the action.

Happy Thursday!

Mountain Time

2011-10-29T23:02:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know that I am terrible at posting regularly. Yes, I know that is the whole point of a blog. Yes, I will try to do better. Moving on...

At the beginning of this month, we took a trip to Huntsville, AL to visit some of Craig's old college friends. While there, we decided to take (yet another) road trip to Rock City in Chattanooga, TN. Admittedly, I was a little nervous to take a 1 1/2 year old up the side of a mountain. You see, heights and I are not the best of friends. I get that weak-in-the-knees feeling just thinking about Canon looking over the edge. I envision the worst. I panic. It isn't a pretty sight. However, I decided to suck it up and deal with it for the sake of a nice day. And some pictures. (That was Craig's argument to get me there. Pictures. The man is good.)

It took a few hours to go through the entire city of rock and was completely beautiful. The paths and alleys were so perfectly formed that it reminded me just how talented of an artist our Creator really is. The changing leaves were the perfect backdrop too. Gorgeous reds, golds, greens, and oranges flooded the entire area for miles.

As for Canon, he had SO MUCH FUN seeing everything, touching everything, climbing everything. I was relieved to find that the edges were pretty well guarded so it wouldn't have been easy for him to fall - if I happened to allow Craig let go of him for a second and a half. Seriously though, this kid would live outside 100% of the time if we would let him. This place was heaven to him.

Let's just say I am glad we went.

A Little R&R

2011-10-05T12:32:00.000-05:00

There is nothing like a nice weekend in the country to make your mind slow down and just rest. This trip, in particular, was good for everyone to try and get our minds off of some bad news we recently received. Laughter, it turns out, really is one of the best medicines!

Canon had a blast with a small bike that my brother found.

This little cutie loves having her picture taken - or so it seems since she smiles for me everytime we go up there!

Happy Hump Day!

Before The Storm...

2011-10-04T12:40:00.000-05:00

My father-in-law and his girlfriend came up to visit in August and we took them down to my husband's heaven, aka the marina. Craig got his love of boats from his father and apparently passed it on to Canon as well, so we figured it was a safe bet that everyone would have fun. This was, of course, mere hours before Craig and I both ended up sick as dogs, but that is another story all-together. Trust me, you don't want to hear it.

Anyway, back to the marina. There is really nothing to do here except, you guessed it, look at boats. However, we did run in to a very nice fisherman who fed the birds so Canon could see them. All in all, a successful trip. Can't wait to do it again!

Breaking free ~~from the chains of tyranny~~ from the grandparents to run to mommy!

Moments Like This

2011-10-04T12:06:00.000-05:00

You know that moment when you remember just how blessed you are? How it doesn't matter how much money you (don't) have or how clean your house is (not)? I had one of those moments the other day.

I had one of those moments and I captured it - to remind myself to forever be grateful because I am the wealthiest person on Earth.

Just a Day at the Beach

2011-09-26T15:36:00.000-05:00

Ok, not a whole day. Ok, not exactly the beach. More like, "one evening after work at the bay". That just didn't sound as great.

It was such a nice evening in July. The heat broke for just a few hours and we took Canon down to enjoy the sand and water. Going to the bay side in Pensacola is like going to your own private beach. There are so few people around that you can let your toddler run to his heart's content. We took a blanket, some sandwiches and of course, my camera, and had a wonderful time. Just our family.

Happy Monday!

Boys Will Be Boys

2011-08-16T22:09:00.000-05:00

Boys like to be outdoors. Boys like to show off their "assets". Boys like bubbles. Or something like that. Anyway, my boy was having a little fun with bubbles outside at his grandparent's house and I was lucky enough to document him having the time of his life.

It's a good, good life.

It's a Walk in the Park

2011-08-11T21:53:00.000-05:00

Canon loves to be outside. It doesn't matter what he is doing, he wants to be doing it outside. There is a park close to our house that we go to sometimes after school. Canon loves to swing, but on this day he was so busy watching the other kids that he was distracted from the magic of the swing. Still, we managed to get a few shots of us laughing and playing with him. We even managed a few pictures of myself with the little man. All in all, a success I say!

I hope you are having a great week!

Only a little behind...

2011-07-22T11:20:00.000-05:00

Yep, that's me. Behind on my posts. Behind on my photo editing. Is anyone surprised here? Well, I am definitely not.

Now that I got that submission out of the way, on to the post at hand.

Every celebration of our country's independence is spent with our family. We eat, laugh, and watch fireworks from the pier. There is nothing like it.

All the while though, we remember the reason we celebrate. Remember those that we honor. Those that fought, died, and still fight today. Those that sacrifice everyday for my freedom...for my family's freedom...for my son's freedom. My family and I are eternally grateful for all that you do. So even if it seems like we forget while we are eating, laughing and watching fireworks from the pier, we still remember. And we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Ok, so the last one isn't a great picture, but this is ALL the boy did all day. He ate peaches. Seriously, loved them.

Happy (late) 4th!

Senior: Walker

2011-07-21T21:57:00.000-05:00

My how time flies...

The sweet baby boy with the puppy dog eyes...

Watching The Lion King EVERY DAY for what seemed like years...

You've grown up into such a handsome and kind young man. I am so proud of the man you are becoming and I can't wait to see what's in store for you next.

Yes, he drew that. He is awesome.

See? I told you he is handsome!

I love you so much!

Down By The Bay...

2011-07-01T21:55:00.000-05:00

...where the watermelons grow...back to my home...I shall not go...for if I do...my momma will say..."Did you ever see a bear, combing his hair, down by the bay...

Don't you remember singing that song to the top of your lungs as a kid? Do you happen to remember your parents' eyes bugging out of their head because it is a never-ending song?! Nah, I don't either.

Anyway, we ventured down to the bay in Fairhope one afternoon with my mom to relax and soak in the sun. (That was my mom's intention only). What we came home with was a pretty sick little boy. He was acting very sleepy during the trip, but he had been running around and playing so much that we just figured he was tired. Oh no. He was running a high fever by the time we got home. Poor baby.

Down by the bay, though, he didn't have a fever so we watched the ducks, played in the sand and slept in the sun / shade. Overall, a very relaxing day.

And my favorite of the day:

...down by the bay...where the watermelons grow...back to my home...I shall not go...

It's stuck in your head now too, isn't it?

Who's Lookin' Hot Now?

2011-06-30T21:31:00.000-05:00

Notice anything new? Different?

My header image is FINALLY the same width as the blog itself. After ~~many hours of blood sweat and tears~~ several conversations via the Google Help forum, I received the golden ticket. The code that would overwrite all others. The holy grail of code. And Bonjour Tristesse is the one to thank. (Bonus: a foreign film blog is right up my ally!) So thank you from the bottom of my blog for making my site presentable to my readers (Hi, Dad!).

I couldn't have done it without you!!!

Go check out the blog that saved mine! http://specialdoseofsadness.blogspot.com/

We're Goin' On a Bear Hunt!

2011-06-29T14:35:00.000-05:00

Ok, not exactly, but we did go to the mountains for Memorial Day. Instead of a 10 hour drive to Naples, FL, my father-in-law suggested we meet at a cabin in Blue Ridge, GA for the extended weekend stay. This place was beautiful!

We didn't see any bears, though. I was a little disappointed. Not gonna lie.

Engagement: Dana & Jeremy

2011-06-29T14:22:00.000-05:00

Are you sure?!

This was all I could think of when Dana asked me to shoot her engagement photos. Was I psyched? Of course! Was I scared out of my mind? Understatement of the year, my friend.

Thankfully, Dana and Jeremy are friends of ours and they gave me a shot. That confidence boost. And I am so grateful. And honored.

They are such a sweet couple and I am so excited to see what life has in store for them. Congratulations you two crazy lovebirds!

And my favorite of the day...

Can't wait for the wedding!

Playing At The Park

2011-06-29T13:44:00.000-05:00

Here in Pensacola, it is H-O-T! However, we brave the heat occasionally to take our little dude to the park to swing. This boy LOVES to swing. He cries when we have to leave. It is pitiful. Really.

Sometimes, he will actually venture onto the playground gym.

Makes me wanna sweat in the name of playtime today!

Backyard Buddies

2011-06-29T13:36:00.000-05:00

My husband and son have so much fun playing outside together. You should hear the cackling that ensues - from both parties! It is such a joy to have that laughter in my life. I cherish every second!

Happy Hump Day!

Mt. Cheaha - Take 2

2011-05-24T11:11:00.000-05:00

The cool mountain air. The restful sleep. The constant talk of our son (what? we couldn't help it!). We couldn't have asked for a better vacation than our trip to Cheaha State Park in April. We hiked, took pictures and just rested our souls. It felt marvelous.

I had hoped to show off a little of what I have learned since our first trip to Cheaha in 2009. Hopefully, these pictures will show at least a little improvement!

I am still working on formatting my posts so that there are multiple photos on one line. Be patient with me. :)

Happy Tuesday!

Just Another Day in the Country

2011-05-02T16:02:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday everyone!

Sweet Stella is One!

2011-05-02T15:55:00.000-05:00

My best friends little girl, my niece, is 20 days younger than Canon. We celebrated her first birthday at their house with many family and friends. We had a blast seeing everyone. Paige made the cupcakes and smash cake and they were fabulous as always! By the way, that girl can tear up some smash cake!

Pensacola Naval Air Station Museum

2011-05-02T15:10:00.000-05:00

As an American, I stand in awe of those who fight for this country. I am amazed at their courage, humbled by their love of their country and its people and grateful to those who sacrifice so much for so little reward. I can never express my gratitude enough to these men and women and their families.

When my father-in-law and his girlfriend came to visit us for Canon's birthday, we took them to the NAS museum in town. Sure it is a great place to go to spend an afternoon in the a.c., but it never fails to move me beyond words. The stories in just that one 'little' space can and do define our country, our greatest asset, our service men and women.

God bless America!

A Very Merry (un)Birthday...

2011-05-02T12:56:00.000-05:00

...And we're back!

While sparing most of the details, suffice it to say that I have returned to the blogging world. It is good to be back.

On to my baby's birthday party. Boy, did we have fun. Many thanks to all of those who made the drive to Pensacola to celebrate with my favorite little man. He had so much fun!

The party decorations were so much fun to put together. My best friend, Paige Hill, made Canon's smash cake and cupcakes. To say they were delicious would be the understatement of the century. She is amazing. Seriously. Oh, and while I told her the colors of the party were "blue, yellow, white and green", I didn't tell her shades of these colors. We were both so surprised that they matched perfectly! We should really go on the road with this reading minds thing.

Anyway, on to the pictures...

Bad News

2011-05-02T12:42:00.001-05:00

I just found out that I am running extremely low on bandwidth. Apparently, you have to actually pay for space. Who knew?! Anyway, while I scramble around trying to find out what to do, I will leave you with a teaser for the upcoming blog post. (Hint: It's pretty messy)

Happy Birthday Baby...

2011-05-02T12:41:00.002-05:00

As I sit here thinking back on the year that we have had, I am awed. I am amazed. I am humbled by our many blessings. My son was born in February of 2010 and since then we have experienced more giggles, more smiles, more love that either of us could ever imagine.

He turned one last month. He was born, I blinked, and he was a year old. A walking, "talking", crazy little dude. He is everywhere - chasing cats and taking names. I can't even remember life without him, nor do I want to try.

Ok, ok. Enough sappiness. Let's get to the good stuff. Craig and I decided to celebrate Canon's birthday - get this - ON his birthday. Genius, I know. It fell on a weekday, which we kind of liked, because it gave us the chance to spend time with just him and introduce him to the 8th wonder of the world: a chocolate smash cake. Oh yes, we were that brave. Let me tell you, it was nothing short of side-splitting hilarity. We got it on video AND still shots. Here are few of the...well I was going to say "outtakes" but that would entail that something else was supposed to have taken place. It wasn't. This is EXACTLY how I envisioned it would be!

Ok, so the next two aren't exactly "award winning" photographs, but they are pretty funny!

I will continue the birthday festivities with his birthday party in the next post. Have a great weekend!

Ah, Inspiring!

2011-05-02T12:41:00.001-05:00

Did you see what I did there, with the title? "Awe inspiring" turned "ah, inspiring!" No? OK, then.

Anyway, the purpose of this post is to show you where my inspiration comes from. Call it the big reveal. The answer to life (and you thought it was 42. Hmpf!) Come closer. Closer. Are you ready for it? I find inspiration...

EVERYWHERE!

Too cliche? Eh, too bad. 'Cause I do. I see beauty everywhere I go. I see new and interesting things in every nook and cranny that I pass. Sometimes I capture it in my mind, bottle it away for a rainy day. Sometimes I capture it in my handy dandy camera. Thank goodness for that thing!

Here are some random inspirations that I found while living life. Enjoy!

Where do you find your inspiration? Tell me! I gots ta know!

Goodbye 2010...

2011-05-02T12:40:00.002-05:00

Wow. 2010 was such a crazy year. It is kind of ironic that we rang in the new year by relaxing with family, given how busy our lives were the entire year. I actually really enjoyed myself. My sister's birthday is on New Years' Eve so we celebrate every year. Normally, we head to downtown Fairhope for the annual Ball Drop and festivities. Due to economic reasons I assume, the celebration was cancelled so we were left with nothing to do. Queue my ever fabulous grandparents. They opened their home to us, where we partied like rockstars all night. Or laid around and took naps until 10 seconds to midnight. Whatever.

My beautiful grandmother.

Here's a toast to an amazing new year!

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!!!

2011-05-02T12:40:00.001-05:00

Ah, Christmas. It is hands-down, my absolute most favorite time of year. (Can't you tell just from that sentence alone?) I grew up in a fairly large family - I am the oldest of five children - so Christmas was always a big deal. I mean, BIG. Let's face it, with that many people in one house, it is bound to get crazy. And it does. Every year. And it's getting crazier as our family grows. The thing is - it gets that much better every year. No matter what we give or receive as gifts, we have each other there. We may be crazy and dysfunctional but we are family and we love each other.

In 2010, we had the privilege of spending time with almost all of our family. We spent a weekend in Reform with my father's family, then celebrated Christmas morning at my parents' house. Craig's mom, stepdad and sister joined us. It was truly wonderful having everyone in one place. I can't wait for this Christmas!

Have a great weekend!

I Finally Got It!

2011-05-02T12:39:00.002-05:00

My husband and I share a few traditions that we have started on our own. Those are extra special. One of them is going to Bellingrath Gardens in Mobile, AL every year to see the Christmas lights display. We went there on our first date, we were engaged there a year later, and we have made it a point to visit every year since. 2010 was a special year for visiting since it was Canon's first time going. We were so excited to go with my best friend, Paige, her husband, Brad and our sweet 'niece' Stella. Ok, so maybe 9 and 10 month olds aren't as amazed by the lights as we thought they would be, but at least the grown ups had fun. (Fun side note: Paige and Brad were engaged at Bellingrath also - several years before us!)

Anyway, I was super stoked (really?! did I just 'say' that?!) to go and practice what I had learned over the past year with my camera. I had been trying to take pictures of the swans on the lake FOR-E-VER! This was to be my shining moment or my embarrassing let down. How did it go? Well, they aren't perfect, but I am pretty proud of myself. Given the lighting situation (as in, there is none, aside from the actual Christmas lights), I think I did ok.

Here are our sweet babies...

Paige and Brad in the same spot where they were engaged years earlier!

And now for the scenery!

And here is the elusive swan...

I finally got it!

So Blessed...

2011-05-02T12:39:00.001-05:00

There are so many things in my life I have to be thankful for. My amazing husband, who loves me in spite of who I am. My precious son, who brings me more joy than I ever thought possible, just by being alive. My whole family (including those not related by blood or marriage), for their unceasing love and support. My cat, as crazy as he is I just love him to pieces. My health and the health of those I love. Last but certainly not least, my God. I don't know how I would make it through the day without knowing He is with me.

Speaking of being thankful, we went to Naples again for Thanksgiving 2010. In addition to the regular crew of my FIL Ken and his girlfriend Andrea, my BIL Kurt brought his girlfriend Kara to meet us for the first time. So glad he did too, because we love her! They live on opposite sides of these here United States, so I decided to take some pictures for them. Here are a few pictures from the weekend.

This little guy was not shy at all. In fact, he stayed with me for a good 15 minutes - at least - and actually posed for pictures. It was wild.

Canon loves his Grandpa!

My two favorite boys!

You never know what interesting characters you are going to come across in Naples, FL...

Ah, amore...

And because you can never have enough of the details...

Happy Friday everyone!!!

College Bound

2011-05-02T12:38:00.002-05:00

Ok, we aren't college bound, but we were bound for a college town to visit my sister. We drove to Atlanta for a weekend in November 2010 to show Canon where his Aunt Weatherly attends school.

As you can see, we didn't actually tour the school at all. Since we did that 2009 and we knew Canon didn't care, we decided to see some new sites.

Do you have any favorite things to do in the ATL? We would love some suggestions for our next trip!

Boo!

2011-05-02T12:38:00.001-05:00

Did I scare you? No? Yeah, I never was good at scaring people. Maybe because I don't like being scared myself. Maybe I think it is cruel to scare people on purpose. Maybe. For this reason, Halloween has always been kind of tricky to me (get it, tricky? Yes, even I groaned at that one.) See, I love to dress up in costumes, become someone I am not just for a night, but I don't like the scary stuff that generally goes with the holiday. Instead, I prefer to become lovable characters, be it fictional or non, just to live in their shoes for a while.

I decided (and thankfully Craig went along with it) that we wouldn't have scary Halloweens in our house. Halloween would be a fun time of dress-up. No ghosts or goblins. No Jason or scary clowns. Nope. Disney, animals and history would prevail. Wow, that sounds fun. Really it is, however nerdy that last sentence came out.

2010 was Canon's first Halloween. We took him to a small pumpkin patch by his daycare for fall pictures, and he had a blast. Of course, when the actual holiday rolled around, he was the CUTEST mouse that has ever graced the surface of this planet! (I am not biased, I swear.)

What do you guys think of Halloween - do you like scary or no?

Have a great Monday!

Third Year's A Charm?

2011-05-02T12:37:00.002-05:00

I don't know about that. Our third year as husband and wife was pretty crazy. We had a baby (high), a serious illness (low), and death in the family (low). Seems a little out of balance, doesn't it?

No matter, we still had a great year. We were so excited to celebrate our third anniversary. Because we are all "romantical" and stuff, we decided to spend it...playing mini golf. Yep, we are so sexy.

We had a wonderful time spending quality time together - just the two of us. Funny how life just sweeps past you before you can even take a breath. It's nice to be reminded that you still can have fun together.

Oh, and guess who sucks at mini golf?! That would be me. Big time.

Following in Faith

2011-05-02T12:37:00.001-05:00

In October 2010, Craig decided to follow his profession of faith in baptism. We were all so proud and excited for him. Our church, Jubilee Shores United Methodist Church, is a non-traditional church and held the baptism in a member's swimming pool. It was a very intimate time with the family and friends of the three people who were following in faith. It just felt so real.

I am so proud of the man he has become and I am so honored to call him my husband.

The Big Easy - Part Deux

2011-05-02T12:36:00.002-05:00

So after my big girls weekend in October of 2008, Craig and I decided a weekend away was in order. Where did we go, you ask? New Orleans of course. We made the loooooong trek of 3 hours in December 2008. Again, I had not yet acquired my camera, so I was playing around with a point-and-shoot. We had a fabulous time and can't wait to go back!

Happy Friday everyone!

The Big Easy - Part Une

2011-05-02T12:36:00.001-05:00

Ah, New Orleans. It never ceases to amaze me with it's interesting characters and photogenic scenery! My husband grew up there so I feel a closer tie to the city now. Even though it is so close to home, I feel as if I am in another country when I go there. I can feel myself relax as soon as I see Cafe Du Monde. I can taste the beingets and cafe au lait now. Sounds like it's time for a little road trip. Any takers?

I went with my girlfriends to NOLA for a weekend in 2008 and we had a blast! I still had my point-and-shoot little camera, so the quality of pictures isn't that great, but I kind of like the actual shots. Can't wait to go back and try my hand again!

The next trip was two months later...stay tuned!

Laissez les bons temps rouler!!!

2011-05-02T12:35:00.004-05:00

Happy Mardi Gras!!!

Let the good times roll!!!

JSUMC - Say What?

2011-05-02T12:35:00.003-05:00

As promised, another post chock-full of 5th Sunday Serve photos. This time our church went on location to a housing complex and set up a face painting station, a volleyball net, a band, balloons, popcorn, and TONS of food. Heck, even Dora the Explorer showed up to play with the little ones. It was a gorgeous day and the faces of the children interacting with everyone was priceless. All in all, a success I'd say.

Reach Out!

2011-05-02T12:35:00.001-05:00

I have learned over the past few weeks that weekend != blog post. (For those of you who did not take programming in college, != means 'does not equal'. Yep, I am a nerd.)

Anyway, apparently I completely space out on the weekends. I guess I think that weekends are just for family time, and I really enjoy that. Therefore, you get an overload of posts on weekdays to make up for the weekends. Who knows, maybe one day I will make time to do a blog post a day, everyday. Here's hoping!

We are members of a church that has a really great way of reaching out to the community. For every month that has a 5th Sunday in it, we hold a "5th Sunday Serve" where we have games, food, entertainment and even some services like oil changes and building ramps for homes. We really try to reach the community by going out into the community. Over the next couple of posts, I will share some of the good times we have had.

It's Oh So Quiet

2011-05-02T12:34:00.001-05:00

Ah, the sound of quiet. A place where you can actually see the stars. Nature at its best. I am talking about the country. Reform, AL to be exact. After my grandfather passed away, Craig and I vowed to visit my grandmother one weekend of every month. We always have a wonderful time and Canon is good medicine for Grandmamma. She is always good medicine for us too! Here are a few shots from our many trips in 2010.

A Few Lost Months

2011-05-02T12:33:00.002-05:00

In July 2010, we lost a great man. My grandfather had battled cancer and was actually in remission. He finally felt strong enough to drive his beloved old truck, which he hadn't been able to do for quite a long time. He was so excited that he decided to take the "long way" home (5 minutes instead of 2). However, his reflexes were not back to their normal state and when he lost control of the truck, he didn't react quickly enough to gain it back before hitting a tree. Amazingly enough, he held on after that for another couple of weeks. Unknowingly, the wreck had damaged his head and brain. My grandfather, the studious, Godly man who had fought cancer and won, finally succumbed to injuries sustained in the wreck 1 minute from his home. We all miss him, but can't wait to see him again in Glory!

In August 2010, Craig got really sick. His body temperature kept dropping into the low 90's, which in turn made him act really confused and disoriented. He had night sweats and was horribly weak. We had to rush him to the ER not once, but twice with extremely low temperatures. So low, in fact, that they couldn't register the temp without warming him up with a special blanket that they have. The doctors couldn't figure out what was going on. After a very scary two weeks, we finally got a diagnosis. Cytomegalovirus (CMV). Very rare. It generally lasts about 6 months. Despite this timeline, we were both so relieved to finally know what was going on and to know that he would get better. Prayers work, people!

Due to his health, however, we did not make our annual Labor Day trip down to Naples to see my FIL. Instead we stayed pretty close to home and took things day by day.

Below are some pictures around Pensacola, actually taken before Granddaddy passed away and before Craig got sick.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

2011-05-02T12:33:00.001-05:00

But what do May flowers bring? Well, not corny jokes from this girl, that's for sure. No, May flowers bring Naples. Or more accurately, they take us to my father-in-law in Naples, FL. We make the 10 hour drive down every Memorial Day Weekend for a Dupuis family mini-reunion. It is always fun, always relaxing and ALWAYS FRIGGIN' HOT!!!

In any case, we enjoyed the time spent with the newly minted Grandpa, Grandma and Uncle Kurt. Well, see for yourself.

2010: A Dupuis Odyssey

2011-05-02T12:32:00.002-05:00

Due to my complete and total inability to post every single day to my blog, I am making up for lost time today. Forgive the many posts. I do hope you enjoy them. (Yes, I actually DID just say that sentence in my head. With a British accent.)

2010 was a crazy year for my family. Some crazy highs and a few scary and sad lows. Over the next whoknowshowmany posts, I will share the year with you.

As you already know, Craig and I had our first child. His name is Canon and he is the center of our world. We really do have so much fun with him. He was born in February so our first holiday with him was Easter. We went to church and followed that with my very first crawfish boil (Canon's too but...DUH).

So, I had a baby...

2011-05-02T12:32:00.001-05:00

Surprise!

Ok, not really. Canon has been here for a year, but I am now ready to blog about him. He is such a cool little dude. He loves to laugh. He loves it when someone jumps from around a corner and it makes him jump. He loves to wrestle with his dad. He loves to hug my legs. He loves our cat, Ange. He loves to eat. I mean, the boy can EAT! He loves music - he starts dancing every time he hears a song. In short, he loves life. He is only 1, people. We could all learn a lot from him. Here is a VERY condensed look at his first year.

This last picture is not posted for its artistic qualities, I assure you, but you will laugh. Out loud. Promise.

Hotlanta2009

2011-05-02T12:31:00.002-05:00

My sister is in college in Atlanta, GA so my husband and I like to go visit her every year. We find something new and (hopefully) exciting to do with her, and of course we go to IKEA.

In November of 2009, I was pretty pregnant with Canon and we did a lot of walking. I mean "don't-care-if-you-are-a-track-star-that-is-a-lot-of-walking" walking. Needless to say, I took a lot of rest breaks. We decided to spend the day at the aquarium and it was AMAZING! Seriously, it was worth the miles and miles that we walked. (An exaggeration?! Not to this soon-to-be-momma!)

The first few pictures are from my sister's college grounds.

The Georgia Aquarium was wonderful!

A rare moment of me being in front of the camera instead of behind it. Many thanks to Craig for one of my favorite pictures of the trip with my baby sister!

Have a great day!

Mt. Cheaha 2009

2011-05-02T12:31:00.001-05:00

Craig and I love to take trips. Craig loves to hike and camp. I had never done anything like that, but I felt it was time to step out of my comfort zone - a little. We decided to visit Mt. Cheaha, the highest peak in Alabama. My grandparents have gone there every year for as long as I can remember and always talk about how beautiful and peaceful it is. It did NOT disappoint.

I had just gotten my Canon 40D, so this trip was a way for me to get to know the camera and practice my shooting. There were so many picturesque moments that I didn't know what to do with myself! I did try to catch the essence of this place, though I came up very short. My pictures just don't do it justice!

Here is the pathway leading to our cabin.

The stairs in the tower, which boasts the highest altitude in the state of Alabama.

Along one of the hiking trails...

Down by the small lake...

There was definitely not a shortage of scenery. From beautiful grasses swaying in the wind...

...to remnants of winter on the small waterfalls...

...to strategically placed chairs that cast a great shadow. (No, I did not put the chair there for this picture)

Of course, the "rocky outcroppings" were everywhere. (Sorry, Craig and I make fun of the term "rocky outcroppings" so it had to make it's way into this post.)

Last but certainly not least, here is my handsome man, sitting on Pulpit Rock.

We are headed back to Mt. Cheaha in just a couple of months and I hope to see the difference in the quality of pictures from 2009 to 2011. As for the area, we highly recommend it to anyone who loves to relax and enjoy fresh air.

Have a great day!

Memorial Day 2009

2011-05-02T12:30:00.002-05:00

As with Labor Day and Thanksgiving, my family and I visit my father-in-law each year for Memorial Day. We always have a wonderful time.

The ride down provided some opportunity to practice shooting light in a dark space.

Naples, FL has some very interesting vegetation.

My father-in-law's dog, Nicky, proves a good model.

An old firetruck was parked outside the house for a while.

The Naples Pier is a beautiful place.

During this particular visit, we took a boat ride where we encountered many interesting sites.

Labor Day 2009

2011-05-02T12:30:00.001-05:00

Every year for the long Labor Day weekend, we visit my father-in-law in Naples, FL. The 10 hour drive is horrible, but we always have a wonderful time once we are there. Although Naples is H-O-T, it is beautiful. There is never a shortage of picturesque moments.

A Weekend Away

2011-05-02T12:28:00.000-05:00

Soaking in the smell of the salt water air. Relaxing in the peace and silence of the beach. Spending time with family. Ah, what a weekend.

Our family shared a house on Dauphin Island. We laughed, we played, we rested. Isn't it wonderful to just be?

Apparently, we came across the great hermit crab migration. I wonder where National Geographic was for this one!

Yes, this would be my dad. Note the sign and the fact that there was, in fact, no drop off. The perfect opportunity for a photo op.

Here is the house we rented for the weekend. It was really lovely.

We also had an impromptu photo shoot with my parents. They were having a blast!

Comments and criticism are welcome!

The Three C's

2011-05-02T12:27:00.000-05:00

The C's are such a sweet family. Little M is a precocious girl with an infectious smile. The C's asked me to take some family photos for them so that they could use them as gifts and on their Christmas card. To say that I was honored would be an understatement. To say that I was nervous - well, that would be dead on. I had never had an actual photo shoot with someone who wanted to use those photos in any capacity other than facebook! However, I agreed, all the while reminding them that I was NOT a professional photographer.

We spent the day at a park in Pensacola relaxing, watching M play and just spending quality time together. It was so much fun and the pictures reflected that. I am so pleased with how they turned out and they were too (thankfully).

Any and all comments are greatly appreciated and wanted.

So much to say...

2010-04-27T10:26:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it has been 6 months since I posted a blog. I am shameful! I always vow to do better, to write something everyday, to give myself that "out". I am serious this time!

So much has happened in 6 months that I am ashamed to have neglected to write it all down. The biggest news, of course, is that I am now a proud mommy to a 3 month old perfect little boy, Canon. He is such a joy to be around. Seriously, Craig and I will sit around and watch him instead of t.v. We will do anything to make him smile, which he does from ear to ear and lights up his eyes, and the room, in the process. The ridiculous things we will do to see that. We have found ourselves singing and humming constantly now, and I have been told that I have already mastered the "mommy rock". You know, the rock that you do to soothe your child--even if someone else is holding him. It is weird, I know, but apparently I have mastered it. Yay, me!

An update on my grandfather: he is cancer free! We are so thrilled. His situation is a true testament at the power of prayer and we are so blessed that he is doing so well.

Speaking of doing well, we had quite a scare with my daddy. He was lethargic and just not himself--ALL THE TIME. It turns out that there was a problem with the valves in his heart. He had to have open-heart surgery to repair some valves that weren't working properly. That in and of itself is scary. However, after the surgery, when he was supposed to be feeling better, he was still lethargic--had zero energy, could not walk across the room without getting winded. Turns out that it is somewhat normal for your heartbeat to become irregular after open-heart surgery. Who knew?! So, he had to go in and have his heart shocked. With a defibrillator. I was not excited to hear this. Since the procedure, though, he has been in top-notch shape! He is working on the house and in the yard, going to soccer games and traveling for work. Praise God!

All in all, it has been a busy year, and it is only April! I can't wait to see what is in store for the coming months!

Here are some pictures from the past few months. Please comment with constructive criticism!!!

My husband loves reading to Canon. Canon is fascinated when he does!

This picture is from a "photo shoot" I did with him when he was 2 weeks old.

My grandfather is such a strong man!

My parents are so photogenic. Seriously, why couldn't they have passed on that trait?!

Life...or something like it

2009-10-19T13:06:00.000-05:00

It has been quite a while since I have posted so I thought I would update everyone (though I have no photos to post as of yet but I will come back to post when I have them).

Things have been quite crazy lately. My husband and I are six months pregnant with (drumroll please) A BOY!!! C is due February 7th, 2010 and we couldn't be any more excited. Time has been flying by and we are just amazed at the process of being pregnant. So many things change that you just don't think about. My energy level and ability to do things has decreased (which is very annoying for me because I don't feel like I need to stop!) However, once he arrives, all will be worth it and we can't wait!!!

My grandfather has been deemed "in remission"!!! He was diagnosed with cancer and went through quite a rigorous treatment regimen over the last few months, but he is a fighter and has pulled through. Of course, he is not completely out of the water and he still has about 5-6 months of recovery before he is back in tip-top shape, but we are praising God regardless!!!

My sister is enjoying college--and when I say "enjoying", what I really mean is, if she never has to come home ever she will be ok with that. SHE LOVES IT! It is really amazing to see how much she has blossomed in just the few short months that she has been there.

My husband and I just returned from a cruise--our "Babymoon". We traveled to Cozumel and Progresso, Mexico. Of course, we just go for the food and the sleep so the stops were ok, but not our favorite part of the trip. However, it was a very relaxing time and well-deserved on C's part because of his many stresses through work.

Speaking of C, he is the most wonderful man in the world (aside from my father, of course). I am so lucky to be married to him. I seriously don't know what I did to deserve him, but I thank God everyday that he is mine.

I believe that is all for now, but I will return with pictures at a later date.

Thanks for reading!!!

~Whitney

Happy Memorial Day!

2009-05-27T09:44:00.000-05:00

My husband and I just got back from Naples, FL where we were visiting my father-in-law and his girlfriend for Memorial Day. Let me tell you...it is H-O-T down there!!! The kind of hot that is uncomfortable to sit outside or to exert any energy at all. Unless of course you are cruising on a boat. So of course, that is what we did.

We had a fantastic time just being together and "fishing". There were so many people on this tiny beach where we parked to fish that the biting was nonexistant! No worries. I was happy to take my camera with me the whole time.

I hope you enjoy these shots. I know there are a ton, but I couldn't decide which to add. I had already settled on these few compared to how many I took over the weekend. Sorry about that!

Any and all comments and criticisms are greatly appreciated!!!

All grown up...

2009-05-20T13:41:00.000-05:00

I felt the lump in my throat. I willed myself not to cry. I remembered that it didn't mean she was gone forever. She just wasn't going to constantly be around anymore.

I remember the night she was born like it was yesterday. My grandparents were visiting us and the whole family was waiting anxiously at the hospital to hear that first cry. The sweetest sound in the world. My grandparents took my brother and I home for the night and we ate cheese grits. They were, and still are, the best grits I have ever had in my whole life. I was so excited. At 9 years old, I didn't realize what a miracle we had just received. That precious child came into my life and changed me forever.

She came out a spitfire, a completely independent soul. She is incredibly talented and creative and beautiful. She has made me a better person--just by knowing her.

My little sister is all grown up. She graduated high school last night, and I, the oh-so-proud big sister, was there to document it. I couldn't get close enough to get real shots but I tried my best to capture the moment for her.

I want nothing but the best for her always. I hope she enjoys college as much as I did. I hope she follows her dreams and lives with no regrets. When she is joyous, I hope she calls me to share. When she has heartaches, I hope she knows I will drive 6 hours to cry with her. All she has to do is call.

I love you!!!

Dance Like No One is Watching...

2009-05-12T12:47:00.000-05:00

I teach dance to children of all ages. They are all fun, but the babies are the best!...Watch this Mrs. Whitney!...Look what I can do...Yes, the babies are the best.

I am fortunate enough to have some mothers who will allow me to post photos of their child on this blog so that you may see the joy in their sweet faces when they come and dance with me.

My big girls are great too...although they don't feel the need to impress me all the time...i can't imagine why?!

My first blogging experience as a photographer...

2009-05-06T16:13:00.000-05:00

Well guys, I don't really know what to say. I want to be a photographer when I "grow up". I am teaching myself and I would all the feedback I can get.

Periodically, I will post sessions that I have with family and friends, but mostly it will be my day-to-day sights.

I hope you enjoy my blog!