If you think finding your ideal clients is tough, try being transplanted from your stomping grounds to a whole new country, where you can legally only work with a small group of people, while dealing with a hubby that is sometimes gone for months at a time. Such is the life of a military momma business owner, and my dear client, the fabulous Alicia of Alicia Yarrish Photography has been living this scenario out in Germany since her husband was stationed there years ago. Take a peek into what a typical day looks like for her, and prepare for some killer baby cuteness overload from her adorable baby boy!
Day In The Life: Tuesday, June 27th, 2017
Time to get real, real quick. I’ve been trying to write this post for weeks because I was waiting for the perfect day. “Day In the Life” is written so many times in my planner, and crossed off so many, it’s unreal. This morning though something clicked. This is the perfect day to show what my life is truly like. Why was I waiting for the perfect Instagram-worthy day? Because I wanted my photos to be clean and happy like the house that I envision, but don’t actually have. I wanted people to see this shinier version of myself that might even be the version I wish I was. How icky!
Now, this below is actually a not so normal day. This week I have a hubby home from some serious dental work, a kiddo with an upset tummy and diaper rash from hell, and two German guys making all the noise in the world installing a deck. Although most days aren’t usually this crazy I ALWAYS have something that comes up. It’s just the perks of being a wife, stay at home mom, and business owner- and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
The joyous day when your baby sleeps through the night, and then miraculously does it again! And again! …Until the day when he doesn’t. Regression is real, and it’s real frustrating. Life in the Yarrish Haus starts around 3 am every day now, at least for the adults. Lucky baby boy Greyson gets to catch some more z’s if he so wishes (and we so hope he wishes). This morning’s photo didn’t get taken until later on because Grey came first of course, but don’t be fooled he woke us up before the birds could.
First thing after morning bathroom routines, and I’ll spare you photos of that, is breakfast. I wouldn’t normally point out something so mundane, but it’s one of my favorite parts of the day! Grey is at his happiest, and like his Daddy he is totally food motivated. So whether it be French toast, oatmeal, or fruits and veggies this kid is happy as a clam! (And he has recently mastered the art of making the dog happy as a clam too) Although weekdays don’t really allow for full on family breakfast time I have to say that on the weekends we are kinda cool. We crank our little blue Bose stereo and Teylor and I make fools of ourselves singing and dancing around the kitchen making breakfast while Greyson cracks up at us. It’s perfect. (And my apologies there isn’t a photo. There was some serious oatmeal throwing that got me off track)
I try my very best to get down on the floor with Greyson and Juno (the pooch) and play. Not work. Not watch TV. Not think about everything else I need to be doing (which is generally a massive list). Nothing else other than focusing on my baby and hoping the one on one time will benefit him in ways I don’t even know. But there are so many hours in the day, right? And I’ve yet to step foot in my office or get any work done.
Finally, it’s 1250 and it’s nap time. I’m not even a little bit ashamed to say it’s one of my favorite parts of the day. I love the few moments right before nap that I snuggle with my babe and get to smell that baby smell that is going away way too quickly. After his tiny body hits that crib though I run out of his nursery and into my office so fast I probably belong in some manly ‘cars going fast’ movie!
Now I can work. I have Teylor snuggled on the couch resting from his dental procedure, Greyson asleep, and the pup snuggled with one of them.
Hi, I’m Alicia! I’m a wife to such a great husband, Teylor. The Mom to puppy Juno and little Greyson. I’m the photographer and artist behind Alicia Yarrish Photography. And I put my family first in all things, but don’t be fooled I adore what I do and I give it all the possible hours I can. Naptime is my time to dream up new ideas for my business (which there are a lot of right now), communicate with clients on their upcoming sessions, and manage all the projects and everyday business tasks that need tending to.
The nap ends and the Mom hat goes back on. Most days it’s hard to get up from my desk in the middle of a task, but getting Greyson and snuggling for half an hour makes my heart so full and gives me the motivation to get through the afternoon.
We come back downstairs to playland, I mean the living room, and play and snack around until 4 pm. This is normally when Teylor comes home and when Grey starts to stand at his baby gate waiting impatiently for Da to get home. Today though, we have Teylor home so the Greyson has been bouncing between Mama and Da all afternoon.
The nightly routine begins now, at 1700, and while I’m usually exhausted at this point I’m also so excited it’s almost bedtime so I can either get back to work, have some quality time with the husband, or simply have some me time! It varies each day. Tonight the pick is work because I have galleries to get out- and I’m so excited to get that uplifting email back hearing how they feel about their photos!
Bath, bottle, book, bed. The four b’s as we call them. Teylor handles these every day, but today he is out of commission so the mom hat stays on until the little is asleep. He is so exhausted today from fighting at every diaper change and being in pain from this virus exiting him, to put it nicely. Getting him to sleep took a little more love and time tonight, but he is fast asleep now which makes a Mama happy.
Now for more work until I stay up way too late making myself into a completely mombie for tomorrow’s tasks.
I genuinely hope my crazy schedule and imperfect life encourages you. Too often we look up from our own lanes when maybe we shouldn’t and what do we see? Shiny perfect people that have showered today and don’t have yesterday’s spit up on them. Then we look at ourselves and our work and think, how. How are they doing that and I’m way over here? I have an answer!
They are in a different place in life than you!
I’m pretty sure that there is no one in my exact life stage or situation that is rocking it better than me. Maybe that sounds self-centered, but that’s what I need to hear to keep going. I’m a military spouse with a husband that works a ton, deploys, and oh, I’m in Germany away from my family. I don’t have my child in daycare. I don’t have a maid. I don’t have a chef. I don’t have my Mom coming over to help me when I’m overwhelmed. I literally do the best I can. Not everyone is in the same place as me, but everyone has their quirks and situations. Yes, there are some that choose to make their moment or situation perfect for the internet world, but I promise there is a much deeper story and more life behind that one perfect photo.
Isn’t Alicia a rockstar?! FYI our babies are likely getting married one day. She has such a giant heart and SO MUCH TALENT! To see more of her work, check out her website, hit her up on Facebook, and get to know her on Instagram!
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