I should be posting about how LJ turned one at the end of last month. Or about the fun rustic cowboy/cowgirl birthday party I threw for her and her dad. Or the photos I took of our Christmas decor. Or the sweet NYE photo we took with our friends the Pirates. Or a recap of 2010 complete with a gushing letter to LJ about how fast this past year has gone and that I can't believe how fast she's grown. Or her first word or first steps. Or the bazillions of pictures I've taken with full intentions to post them here. However, having come off the most insanely busy month OF MY LIFE, I feel as if I need to get everything down on paper or laid out in front of me just to sort through the mess that has become by brain.
One thing is for sure: I can't sustain the kind of pace I did last month and keep my sanity too. Looking back I've learned that I need to work on setting better boundaries to guard my time. I want to simplify things so that I can focus on the things that matter most to me: my work and photography, my family and friends, my home, my husband, time with the Lord, and this precious little face:
So on that note, this is my entry for this week's I ♥ Faces challenge: Absolute Best Face of 2010. How on earth I was supposed to narrow it down to one picture I don't know, but this is what I chose. This was taken in October at a campground east of the Valley- one of my favorite places to get away when I need peace and quiet and nature and stillness. 
No matter what, she will always be the Absolute Best Face of 2010 to me.
Baby Steps to Mom 
Andrea,
I love your heart. You are struggling with an issue that I’ve had forEVER. Please do get it under control now, at this moment in your life, because you don’t want to look back when you turn 50 😉 and realize your life is a blur of so much activity that you can’t remember the moments that made each day special.
Kind of a forest for the trees idea…
I will pray for you as you simplify your life… and when you figure it out, please share it with this gramma – because she strives for the same peace!
This is a really cute shot 🙂 I love your processing 🙂
Thank you for your prayers, Beth! It’s good to know I’m not alone, although I don’t want anyone else to have this problem either 🙂 I think that it’s a matter of learning the word “No”… I hate saying no to people because I feel like I let them down. I realize now that I don’t really want to be one of those do-it-all moms… mostly because I’m not good at it. It stresses me out. I’d rather stick to what I’m good at and what’s important, and the rest will follow! I’d love to hear your take on a busy life and how you have dealt with it!
Gorgeous! Your photos are absolutely beautiful and so is your little girl!