Archives: Life Update

They Say Best Things Come in Threes...

They say the best things come in threes, and the past three months have certainly tested that theory— in the most chaotic and transformative ways. Life, as it tends to do, has thrown a whirlwind of emotions and changes our way. From discovering that we are bringing a little human into the world, to closing down a business we poured our blood sweat and tears into, and making the bold decision to move across the country, the past few months have been anything but predictable.

A New Chapter: From San Diego to New York, Business to Baby

The past few months have been a whirlwind, and taking photos has been a constant in documenting all of it. From capturing my boyfriend in the middle of his million different car projects, to snapping photos of us moving out of our house, to obsessively photographing every pregnancy test and doctor’s appointment—it’s been a way for me to step back, detach from the chaos, and really immerse myself in the moment. Photography has given me the space to appreciate the beauty in the raw, everyday moments amidst all the overwhelming emotions and expectations.

Meeting my boyfriend a year ago has changed my perspective more than I could have imagined. From day one I knew he was someone i had to be around, someone that i very quickly fell in love with but what I didn’t expect the overwhelming sense of family love I started to feel and how it was starting to change me. I've always been a family person, my family to be is everything and will always be my priority but i also took pride in being the independent daughter that lives across the country, the crazy one that did life differently. But spending more time with Tony and building our relationship made me realize how much I missed out on by being so far away from my own family. My sense of time has been magnified lately... My baby sister has grown into a strong, independent woman who’s about to head off to college. My little brother is smarter than I could ever hope to be, and my older sister just got married and is starting a family of her own. These are all milestones I've been a part of but I've started to feel like I could’ve done more- be more if I’d been closer. That feeling only intensified once I found out I was pregnant. I knew it was time to be near my sisters. I need my mom and dad.

In November when I found out I was pregnant, I knew it was time to move to New York. Like urgently. I wanted my family near me, especially with everything changing. I’ve been in San Diego on my own for about eight years, and while it’s been an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything. I moved here right after high school and it was my first time alone living life for me, making friends, making mistakes, learning and growing. San Diego is my home. Growing up I moved so often that now as an adult I was thrilled with the idea of making one place my forever home. But recently I’ve started to feel like my time here is coming to an end. Which is so odd. For years, I was so firm on my love for California—the sun, the laid-back lifestyle, the beauty of it all—and I was certain New York was cold and mean in comparison. But over time, I realized that maybe I wasn’t as set on staying here as I thought.

In December, we flew to New York to share the news of my pregnancy with my parents in person and to explore a few towns we thought could become our new home. Looking back, those two weeks bring me so much comfort now as we work tirelessly to wrap up all our projects and make this move a reality. It reminds me to focus on the bigger picture and what’s waiting for us ahead. (pictures below)

To add onto the chaos, my business in San Diego wasn’t thriving as we had hoped after its first full year. Despite the support of an incredible community, the business wasn’t performing well, and I had to make some tough decisions—for the sake of both my mental well-being and my bank account. It’s a story I’m not sure I have the energy to go into yet, but I put everything into that business—more time than I left I had, money, effort—and when i boyfriend came into the picture so did he. We poured every moment, dollar, and ounce of energy we had for months into fixing up the place. We took on the massive task of building a 900-square-foot extension entirely on our own, all while continuing to run the business single-handedly. Closing the business was tough, and it taught me so much about not just business but relationships and communication. Running a small business in today’s economy is no small feat— definitely not for the faint of heart.

With new priorities, I made the choice to put myself and my family first. Even from a distance, my family has always been my biggest support system. No matter what I need, they’re there—not always physically, but emotionally, financially, and in spirit. Now that a baby is on the way, I want things to be different. I don’t want to keep this to myself—I want to share this journey with the people I love and who love me.

This baby isn’t even here yet, and they’ve already made a huge difference in my life. They’ve changed the way I think, the way I move, and the way I see the world and the people around me.

I never thought I’d sit down and write something like this, but here I am. This blog is my space to share not just the photos that tell the story, but the words behind them. While photos are my natural storytelling medium, I’m trying to push myself to write more, to express my thoughts and feelings in a new way. Some posts will be short and sweet, others like this one might be a little longer than expected. And as for the past 17 weeks of my pregnancy? Well, maybe I’ll save that for another post. For now, this is my little reflection, a moment captured in both words and photos, marking the beginning of a new chapter.

Capturing Moments, Sharing Stories

Photography is more than just a hobby; it’s about capturing a moment in time. Through my lens, I aim to share not just what I see but what I feel—the joy, the nostalgia, the excitement of the road, and the simple beauty in everyday life. Thank you for being a part of this journey. I hope these images speak to you as much as they do to me.