Shannon Montez Photography Blog » San Jose's Family and Child Photographer, Shannon Montez, captures all aspects of family life: Families, newborns, children, babies, high school seniors, and weddings.

I love the fresh taste of a brand new year. It makes me happy… it feels like anything is possible and I have a clean slate. I think the fact that the last few months of the year are so busy for me, plus the fact that I have a birthday early in January, combine to make January a momentous month for me.

Last year, I got all excited, made a bunch of resolutions and goals, worked real hard to make them happen, and ended up crushed with disappointment in myself by the end of the month! That’s not good, right? Goals should make me feel better, not worse!

So this year, I’m going to be gentle on myself. No new goals, just keep working on the same things I’m always working on, and understand that I’m limited by time and energy, and I can only do SO much, and not beat myself up that my same old struggles are STILL a struggle.

Still, I’m feeling inspired. I’ve gathered some of my favorites from my pinterest board to share here. (fyi, the original sources are linked in Pinterest)

Here’s to a new year, a new chance to try again, and to keeping it realistic!

I hope your Christmas/Hannakuah/Kwanzaa/New Year/Festivus or whatever you like to celebrate is/was/will be wonderful!

Now some of you may ask… Aren’t you a photographer? Is that the best picture you have this year? Your boys’ smiles are fake and you had to photoshop Shelby’s face from another image. And everyone is looking at the camera! Don’t you like the more relaxed, natural images?

Well. Yes. But sometimes you just work with what you have and realize that done is better than perfect. This image was from a family vacation this summer and happens to be one of the only images we took together this year. You know what they say about the cobbler’s children! So, for that reason, I love this image. It was from a happy week of our lives. It may not make it to the wall, but it was great for our card! That is going to be my mantra this year: done is better than perfect.

My oldest child turns 14 today. FOURTEEN!

She’s only 2 inches shorter than me. Her feet are the same size. She’s a texting machine. She’s getting really good at the piano. She’s got her own style. She’s a fun and loyal friend. She’s smart as a whip. She’s funny. Like, really and truly. She can do her own hair, showers without being told, and CAN clean her room and make her bed by herself. She cooks us meals and desserts. She is a true JOY to have around. Always has been, really, but it’s so fun to watch her grow and become even more HERSELF as she gains more interests and talents and abilities. I’m in awe of this child. Completely.

I really thought life was nuts with babies. And it was. But there’s something about the last few years that seems even MORE nuts. I just can’t keep up. Is it because I’m missing so much of their time? They go to school for much of the day, they have their own little lives, their own thoughts, their own little networks that I’m not a part of. When they were small, I knew EVERYTHING. I heard almost every word they said. Which, granted, made me nuts sometimes. But still. I knew them in and out and sideways. And now, there are things I don’t know. Hopefully nothing huge, and I really can’t keep up with everything anyways, so that’s ok.

But I just feel like time is slipping through my fingers and I just can’t grab a hold of it anymore. I can’t seem to wrap my fingers around everything and cherish it properly. It seems like life is such a mad dash… sometimes I barely get the chance to put my hands on my knees and pant for a little while before it’s off to something else. I just want to slow it down a bit… maybe even rewind a little?

She starts high school in the fall. I can count on one hand the number of summers we have left before she leaves for college. While I know that a birthday is exciting and fun, there is something about my first and last child that makes me feel a bit weepy on their birthdays. Is that normal?

OK. I’m going to wipe my tears and put my smile back on. I’m going to go buy this girl some presents, plan a dinner and make a cake. I’m going to hang the birthday banner back up (Dave’s bday was Friday, and I just took the banner down yesterday!), and make this a very fun day. She deserves it. I’ve had my mommy moment. The rest of the day is about my BIG GIRL!!

p.s. It’s come to my attention that my Family website is broken. I’m hoping to get it up back up soon.