I'm Back! (from maternity leave) | Whitney Beth Photography
 

I can't help but bust out "Shady's back, back again..." It feels great to say that I am officially off maternity leave! I loved my time off (with some unofficial photoshoots thrown in) but now I'm back, recharged, (complete with a new sidekick) and read to kick off busy season! As much as I love my job, it was so great to not have to worry about it for the last two months. (Thank you automated system and tons of work beforehand!) I'm sure if you saw my Instagram stories you know that I couldn't stay away from the canyons and wildflowers and had to get some "mountain time" in for my sanity - and my family's for that matter. This postpartum has been the easiest of all of my pregnancies (#6 if we're counting miscarriages) and I think that a lot of it is due to having done this so many times and really. knowing my body. For instance, if I don't get out of the house at least once a day I go crazy and get cranky. Some days we did all the things, and some days it was just driving through a fast food drive thru to get some food, but it got me out. I also need some substantial "outdoor time" - mainly in the canyons or wherever there are pretty flowers. I made it up to Albion twice this year and a few neighborhood friends and I strolled through a U-cut flower farm full of Cosmos. It was so lovely. And finally - as clued in from my "unofficial photoshoots" while on maternity leave, I can't help it and have to shoot. I'm so blessed that my job and talents are what curb my postpartum depression. Add in a beautiful backdrop and some flowers and I'll be on cloud 9 for a week! So thanks to you all, thanks for reading my blog posts and engaging through social media. You all made it possible for this business of mine to run on autopilot so that I could take care of myself, my new baby and my family and still have a business to come back to. You guys are the best cheerleaders.