favorite photos from 2011

Choosing just ten favorite pictures from 2011 wasn't easy. There were a few I remembered off the top of my head, those were easy picks. Then I started looking through last year's blog posts. I had to limit myself to just the pictures I posted, because if I sifted through every image I shot from the whole year, I'd probably still be sitting all glassy-eyed in front of my computer. I love each of these images for a different reason, certainly not because they are technically perfect, mostly because they hold a memory for me. In no particular order, these are my favorite images from 2011.

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My grandma and my "bid dirl" (as she calls herself) at my sister's bridal shower in April. I can't remember what they are laughing at, but this is the first picture that came to mind when I thought of my favorites.

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Laci in the evening sunshine. Another that came to mind quickly. I love her wild hair, the way the sun looks warm and golden, and the soaking wet clothes...worn out from running through the sprinkler.

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My baby girl, just one day old and surrounded by tubes, cords, and wires. Such an uncertain day for me emotionally, but taking pictures of her that day was so healing for me. Before she was born, I had so looked forward to capturing those first few quiet hours with her, then they ended up being anything but quiet. As selfish as it may sound, I felt robbed. The PICU was on the seventh floor of the hospital and her room had an entire wall of windows. I remember thinking how odd that this, of all places, would have such beautiful light, but also, with sunlight flooding in softly through the windows, that no baby could stay sick there for long. When she moved back to the NICU a few days later, her room was not nearly so well-lit and, while I was so relieved for her to be getting better, I missed her room upstairs. All that from one photo, I guess you can tell why it made the cut.

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Sunflowers - a miniature variety grown from seeds directly from Italy. I took this one September day when I wasn't feeling very inspired at all. I had no idea the blooms would last less than a week before shriveling and dying, making me so glad I forced myself out.

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Honey bee on the blackberry blooms. A favorite because the bee is actually in focus, the result of pure luck in timing, focus, and angle.  Please disregard the blown out blossom.

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Little Mia, just one month old. I have a thing for warm, golden light. And sleepy babies.

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Sleep smiling, still in the hospital.  Straight out of the camera and in bad need of some fixing, but when I first saw this one, I thought, "She has my mom's smile."  It doesn't get more special than that.

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Summer fun. I just like this one. Enough said.

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Laci and Maverick, the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

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And finally, our Halloween picture.  Because I can't look at this one without laughing at least just a little bit, or sometimes even a lot.  Sorry Mia, I promise you were only in that stupid costume for five minutes, I hope I haven't scarred you for life.

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I can't even begin to describe how hard it was to pick just ten pictures.  I've changed the above assortment at least a dozen times.  I'm sure that after I hit "publish" I'll find at least three more I would consider as favorites, but for today, right now, these are the top ten.
Are there any I missed that are your favorites? Tell me in the comments, I'd love to know.

And for other 2011 favorites, visit I Should Be Folding Laundry (on Thursday) and Love That Shot.