Ailee Petrovic

Personal December 28, 2015

Week in Review

I hope you are enjoying the holidays! Isn’t it always hard to get in the swing of things on the Monday after Christmas? I just want to be back at my parent’s house, enjoying their company, opening gifts and eating my mom’s delicious food!

The past week was very relaxed, which was a pleasant change of pace. As I mentioned, we celebrated Christmas in Katy, and decided to spend the night there after a Christmas Eve service at CityCentre for Bayou City Fellowship. That service is always my favorite – we sing my favorite carols and hear a good reminder about the real reason for the season. The rest of the week was very family focused – we spent all day, everyday together, and I loved it.

Some of the other highlights from the week include:

Going wedding dress shopping (not for me!) although I would love to do it all over again. We ran into my old high school/college friend who was trying on dresses and looked absolutely stunning! I love weddings!
Taking blog photos for two of my favorites, Destiny and Alex, at West Ave. I love those ladies! They’re so sweet.
Going to our neighborhood park, which seemed like a great idea (well, it was!) until Isla refused to leave. She was having the best time!
Watching Isla wear the dress that my sisters and I wore on Christmases when we were her age! I love special moments like that. My mom is the best to have saved them!
Updating my annual Shutterfly book (books, actually, this year because I take so many photos!) – it took ages to get caught up, but I did it!
Having a very bittersweet farewell to my best, best friend, McKenzie – we got blow outs at Dry Bar and then ate dinner at Benjy’s before heading to our friend’s house (she lives walking distance away – jealous!).
Going back to Benjy’s the next day to celebrate Meredith’s birthday (which is on Christmas!).
Eating lunch at Ruggles Green with one of my closest college friends, her mom, my mom and Isla – I loved every lady sitting at that table! It’s always great catching up with old friends.
Eating family lunch at Adair Kitchen and then dinner at Carabbas on Voss – two of my favorite places in one day. I would consider that a win! I love that Sasha loves the same restaurants as me! Makes picking places to eat very convenient!

How was your Christmas? Are you ready for NYE? Somehow it sneaks up on us every year!

Personal December 23, 2015

Isla at 18 Months

Isla turned 1.5 on December 4th, so I’m a little behind in giving an update (last one at 1 year!). My mom allegedly has a list of all the words I said at 18 months (yet to see this!), so I wanted to do the same. These are all things you think you’d never forget, but you do! Even reading through the update from 6 months ago was crazy! Alas, here we go – Isla at 18 months.

Isla now says: Duck, turkey, bear, bike, bee, owl, bird, “nana” (banana), “nack” (snack), apple, cheese, “nigh-nigh” (night night), bath time, thank you, no way, no (all too often!), book, ball, baby, bubbles, bottle, “bankie” (blanket), binkie, one, “mo-wee” (more), all done, mouth, house, nose, eyes, ears, shoes, socks, chair, watch, boots, doggie, cereal, Belle, Coco (neighbor’s dog), Dada, Tata, GG, ZZ, Deda, Baba, Mimi, Papa, Nana, Mama, Bob and Mummy. She will use sign language for: more, all done, one and where, but her favorite thing in the world is to make animal noises for: sheep, horses, dogs, cats, monkeys, lions, fish, owls, and elephants.

Personal December 22, 2015

Week in Review

The Christmas countdown isn’t funny anymore – only 3 days, and I haven’t wrapped a single gift! Yikes. I plan on doing that tomorrow!

The last week marked the end of family photo season, not that I won’t take any others, but the crazy busy weekends have come to an end, and I can actually take days off! I am so incredibly grateful for all of my clients – friends, family, friends of friends, total strangers who are now friends, etc. I am so tickled every time a Christmas card arrives in our mailbox with photos that I took! I love it.

Some of the highlights from the past week include:

Meeting Alex at Uptown Park for photos, then having coffee with Meredith at Starbucks afterwards!
Taking Isla to her 18 month appointment (post to follow tomorrow!) – of course, the shots weren’t any fun for either of us!
Taking newborn photos for Caroline’s babe, Andrew, who is so sweet! Check out her post here.
Meeting at Esther’s house for a fun styled shoot. Check out her post here.
Taking photos of Molly at the River Oaks District – she’s stunning and I adore her style!
Photographing Destiny at River Oaks District on Friday and then having an impromptu lunch at Ruggles Green at CityCentre afterwards with her husband and son, and Sasha and Isla met us too!
Meeting one of my sweet college friends, Desi, and my sister, Karine, for dinner at Downhouse on Friday. Lots of great chats and catching up!
Enjoying a family lunch after church at Sweet Paris – we love that place so much!
Taking my last set of family photos for my friend, Amy, whom I’ve known since we were in elementary! Her son, Brooks, is adorable!
Going to the Willow Crowns pop up shop at West Elm and meeting Stephanie for the first time! I’m so proud of these two boss ladies!
Eating dinner at Adair Kitchen on Saturday with my sister, then watching Spy afterwards, which is hilarious!

How was your week? Are you ready for Christmas? Bought all of your gifts? Wrapped them? Traveling for the holiday? Hope you’re having the best day! xo

Personal December 16, 2015

Caroline Harper Knapps’ Maternity Photos

I recently started working with Caroline Harper Knapp, the blogger behind House of Harper (which, if you don’t read, you should!), and last Tuesday, we had plans to meet up for regular fashion photos, but we decided last minute to take maternity photos instead. Caroline was 35 weeks pregnant at the time, and she delivered her son, Knox, at 34 weeks, so baby boy Knapp was already behind his older brother. Mother’s intuition should never be second guessed, as she ended up delivering her babe, Andrew Nolty, the very next day. I took his newborn photos today, and he is such a doll! I cannot wait to share more photos.

Caroline is seriously stunning, and I love the sweet moments captured of her and her equally good looking son, Knox. I didn’t have maternity photos taken, but will definitely consider it when we get pregnant with baby number two. Here are some of my favorite photos from the session!

Mom Talk December 15, 2015

Week in Review

Isla and I just got back from San Francisco yesterday evening after a long day of travel (why are my flights always delayed??), so I’m a bit behind (or a lot behind actually). Which means this post will be shorter than normal, as I have lots of emails and editing to catch up on. Oh, and Christmas cards too! Hoping to get those out by Thursday!

Our trip to the Bay Area could not have been more perfect. As it was my ninth trip in under five years, we skipped a lot of the tourist activities and focused on spending time with some of our favorite people, as well as meeting some of our online-favorites for the first time! We arrived on Thursday night and I met up with one of my best friends from college, Blake, at Union Larder, right across from my sister-in-law’s apartment. That night we picked up food for dinner and tried to have an early-isn evening. On Friday, I met Jillian of Sweet and Spark for coffee at Jane on Fillmore. We started emailing each other years ago, and she is seriously the sweetest lady! I am so grateful to have met her finally! I even went to a Spark Party at her gorgeous apartment on Sunday (and snagged a gorgeous gold necklace!). After coffee, Ivana, Isla and I headed to Half Moon Bay to look at the Ritz as a potential wedding venue – in short, it’s perfect. We’re obsessed. Sadly, Isla got sick on the way home, so we bathed her and then had a quite night in.

On Saturday, we woke up excited to meet the Benzers. We parked next to one of my best friend’s apartments, walked with Georgia and Thompson to coffee, where we met Kristy, Brett and Olivia (Livi). Isla and Livi were born a few days apart, and they are so incredibly similar – it’s been fun to watch their similarities on Instagram, but even sweeter to see them together in person (although Isla was quite cranky!! Ha!). After lunch at Little Star Pizza (which is delicious!), we walked to Alamo Square Park to see the Painted Ladies. Isla passed out quickly in the car as she was exhausted, but I popped into Wrecking Ball Coffee on the way back to get an expresso shot (also tired!). After Isla napped, we walked to Ghirardelli Square to meet another blogging friend, Annie, and her husband, Justin. I’ll sound like a broken record, but they were also so incredibly sweet. Annie was a baby whisperer, as Isla was not in an exceptionally good mood, but she managed to have her running around and giggling. That evening, one of my best friends, Georgia, came over with cheese and wine, and we had a wonderful night of catching up.

On Sunday, we went to the Spark Party in the morning, then Isla napped, and then we met Georgia and Blake for a late lunch at Blue Barn, then finished it off with some delicious frozen yogurt from Loving Cup. We went back to the apartment, started packing and called it a night early given that we had to wake up super early for our flight.

Okay, so that wasn’t actually short. Some of the other highlights from the week included:

Meeting Destiny and Truman at CityCentre for blog photos!
Taking Caroline’s maternity photos, then having her go into labor at 35 weeks the next day! Mom’s intuition’s should never be underestimated! I’ll share more photos tomorrow.
Meeting Molly of A Piece of Toast for first time and taking photos at Highland Village and then at her apartment.
Getting a keratin treatment and cut from Eric Vaughn and having Meredith stop by with coffee to catch up!
Meeting Santa at the mall – oh gosh, not a highlight for Isla (see below!).
Stopping by The Monogram Shop and getting to visit with Leah!

I’m sure there were other fun moments, but I’m braindead (so if we did something fun together and I forgot, I’m sorry!). 10 days until Christmas, and I have only purchased a few gifts. Panic! Ha. Off to tackle that to-do list!