thankful for good things in small packages

... was inside this small package.

{not the smallest package i've ever received, but still relatively small.

small by dimensions... not by the value it held.}

the box said STOP!

ummm...

i can't even tell you how patiently {most of the time}

i have waited for this upgrade and boost
to my photography inspiration and passion
{and hopefully to my livelihood, too!}.

or...

the af-s nikkor 50mm f/1.4g lens i have been wanting for so long!

bought mostly with money i received for my 40th birthday...

along with a little money i got from a design project i did.

it was soooooooo worth the wait!

i instantly loved my new lens

and couldn't wait to use it.

so that's just what i did.

i removed the kit lens that came with the camera i have

{which is what i used to take the above photos of my new lens}

and put the new one on

to start taking pictures of anything within a three-foot radius of me

{i was in the living room}...

like my favorite plant and isaac's new toy box

{toys are scattered no more... see last post}...

and my favorite guy's {mr. b's} guitar...

and my favorite snuggly blanket on the couch...

and issac's toys atop his toy box

reflected so whimsically in the coffee table glass...

and of course... little isaac.

admiring his dad's guitar here...

{he's gonna be a guitarist for sure!}

just hangin' out on the couch here...

well, i won't write too much more about my lens here.

i'm guessing {or hoping} my little photo series tells the whole story.

but i just have to say,

i could not be more grateful

that i received my new lens yesterday...

just in time for thanksgiving.

we'll be spending the day with mr. b's brother's family

and their mom and dad who are up from florida.

isaac will be seeing his baby cousin, lucy, for the second time.

what a great excuse to use my new lens!

i'm grateful to have the lens, period...

not just today, but EVERY day.

the above photos could not have been taken with my old lens

because of the low amount of natural light in my home.

they would have been blurry if i had tried.

but with this new lens, i've got so much more flexibility!

and it's giving me the most dreamy d.o.f.!

i'm so thrilled.

lastly, i am so thankful for the things you see in these photos...

my home.

my family.

isaac's toys.

mr. b's toy.

{guitar}

and my new toy!

even the blanket on the couch...

it represents warmth.

literal warmth, when snuggled up underneath it.

the warmth of a home that shelters us in the cold.

the warmth of the love we have for each other.

i have so much!

and i am truly grateful.

today.

every day.

what a wonderful "first thanksgiving" morning with isaac

it has been around our home today.

i woke up and got started on this post.

brewed a cup of coffee.

walked past the bedroom to see mr. b and isaac

sleeping in, content as can be.

when isaac finally woke up,

mr. b. and i went in to greet him

and wish him a happy first thanksgiving.

we had such a sweet time of giggling

and telling him how grateful we are for him...

that he is healthy, beautiful and happy.

asking him what he was thankful for...

"mommy kisses?"

"parents that don't give you away even though you wake them up a thousand times each night?"

{*wink*}

"all your cute baby clothes?"

"yummy food?"

"mommy and daddy?"

"toys?"

"how much you are loved?"

we had the nicest time,

just hangin' out on the bed for a little while.

now, we're all getting ready for our trip to the city to see family.

i'll be sure to get some photos.

and i still have more photos from my

"first photo shoot of isaac with the new lens" session

from yesterday.

but until then,

the best "good thing in a small package"
i have ever received
has a little message for you...

love, isaac

{and his mama, too!}