Newborn Special: Our daughter

And then she was here.. Our daughter Selah was born almost one month ago. A few days after giving birth I took these photo´s.. She brings so much joy into our home! She is precious.. and we already can´t imagine life without her.

Världens bästa storebror, snaaart!

Min älskade Manasse, som kommer bli världens bästa storebror snart! Kommer bebisen var lika honom? Vi ser verkligen fram emot en liten ny människa i vår familj!

Jag är mamaledig och det kommer att tar ett par veckor/månader innan jag kommer att jobba igen. Ni kan boka mig ändå för lite längre fram!

När jag tittar på min fina lilla kusin Yenthe, längtar jag massor till jag har min egen lilla bebis!

Ni får ser fler bilder av härliga familjen Johansson, inom kort! Tänkte bara visa en liten sneakpeek !

Västkusten Day 3: Smögen

Thank God, for a day of blue sky, shorts and tshirts! Yesterday we enjoyed a perfect day in Smögen, one of Swedens most beautiful places(I believe!). With the sound of raindrops ticking on the roof and playing children in a too small cottage living room, I just wanted too share some pictures. Soon we´re of for a day of shopping in Göteborg(Gothenburg).. 

Västkusten

Right now I am sitting in a lazy chair, going through the pictures I have taken during these two days at the West-Coast. I´m excited to be spending even more beautiful days here, even though the weather might not be what you expect it to be during your summer holiday. I don´t care, all the ingredients I need are here: Family and Free time! 

Midsommar 2013

Just some little snapshots out of my own life.. flowers, food & my little handsome boy! In Sweden we had Midsommar, a lovely feast to celebrate the beginning of summer. Hoppas ni har haft en trevlig Midsommar! 

The day ended with rain.. but we didn´t care!

Autumn Fun

A little dedication to beautiful Autumn with it´s beautiful colours. Snow will be falling soon... See you next year!

Precious Moments

It is a rainy day here in Habo, Sweden. While working on photo´s for my client, I came across some shots I took of my little family while it was still summer. Just some precious moments that make me smile. Time goes so fast! 

Four years ago..

Four years ago I got the most amazing gift I could ever wish for.

A little man that enriched my life beyond my imagination. 

Because of you I know how to be mom.

Because of you I know about emotions, I never thought I had.

Because of you I know that caring ads to my life.

Because of you I know how to love unconditional, passing all limitations.

Manasse, you make me a better and in a funny way a more messed up person than I was before.

As if nobody´s watching

Manasse, being your mom is reason enough to dance!

Reflections of a mother

If I could say one word to describe January it would be turbulent! Very silent month concerning photography. Very busy month concerning personal life! We have had a lot of sickness going on this month. My son and I have been recovering from a streptococcus infection which we got during new years. Besides that we´ve been planning our wedding that´s coming up this summer, doing a bid on a house, working as a translator and a bunch of other stuff! 

And in the very end I am also just a little woman.. who happens to be a mom... of a vibrant little boy.. who just started kindergarden.

If no one has ever told you.. than I am truly sorry if I scare you by telling you this. Kids play. Kids run. Kids don´t think to much. Kids bump in to things. Kids fall.. and hurt themselves. 

We were doing great on this area! I have to say.. without being to pride.. my kid has a great balance and is very sportive(he has inherit that from his dad!). It caught myself thinking out loud a lot of the time ¨He almost turns 4 and still has al his teeth.. perfectly white!¨ Two weeks ago I remember telling some one¨My life is one big blessing at the moment. I mean planning a wedding, buying a house, perfectly healthy kid, good work etc.¨

Besides being sick for a few weeks, I really had nothing to complain about! 

Until, he bumped into a table...

Just a table..! Standing at very wrong place, at a very wrong time while he was showing how fast he could run.

After a week his front teeth turned grey. I can determine that his teeth has died, if I should believe was is said on the internet. 

Now.. this whole story is not so much about the teeth. I want to share the first thought that went through my mind when I found out his teeth turned grey. 

His perfectly white teeth won´t be perfectly white when we walk down the aisle this summer.

Wow. Stop! What crazy thought. I pondered on this thought the following days and felt so incredibly ashamed. What a selfish reason to feel sorry for him. 

Thoughts flew through my mind about what other people would think... That they would think I am a bad mom who doesn´t look after her sons teeth hygiene...

Why am I telling this. To tell you that there are worse things than imperfect appearance. Besides his teeth turning grey, he is not in any pain what so ever. So why should I care that his teeth turned grey?? Life isn´t perfect based on how a magazine says your family should look. How your house should look. How your wedding should look. 

Perfect is when you are filled with love which makes you blind for outward appearance and immune to false shame. 

A mother on the internet wanted to whiten her 5 year old sons teeth at a dentist. Somebody response on this was: what kind of a world are we living in when kids can´t be the way they are. It won´t last long until we forbid them to have scratches on their face which they got from having fun while playing football...

Smile because life is good!

Look at these girls! Ahh so full of life.. Love it! Could not resist to share this with you all..

As I wrote the title of this entry ¨Smile, life is good!¨, eye migraine overwhelmed me once again. I have been having this for the past 2,5 years every now and then. Often when there is a lot of work to do, like now! It starts with dots before the eyes to a degree that I almost don´t see anything for about an half hour-to an hour, following with sometimes a day full of headache. Cause: stress. Sometimes it can really frustrate me because it feels like such an attack. Especially because it has to do with my eyes.. Without my sight I would´t be able to photograph let alone live my life the way I do!

When I was born they diagnosed me with an eye disease called Cataract. It comes in different forms but most of the time it is diagnosed with elderly people. This caused me to be near-sighted. A surgery would be the best treatment. The cataracts lens is removed and replaced with a plastic lens. The surgeon who operated me had not done this kind of surgery before. I can´t imagine what my parents went through. I really am thankful for all their care and prayers in that time. With the surgeries turning out well I could see almost like ¨everyone¨ else. I had to wear glasses the whole day. Which I didn´t always did like I maybe should have.. Anyway I had my check ups the years after and I was supposed to have another surgery when I was 16 to replace the plastic lenses for new ones. Because your body rejects fake objects. 

When I was about that age I had a check up. And miraculously my body had accepted the fake lenses as if they were real. So I don´t need a new surgery. Thank you God! Today, being a photographer.. You can´t imagine how much that means to me. Such a big contrast between then and now. And also returning to the title of my blogpost. Smile.. because life is good. It is! All the jobs I am getting, all the joy that comes with it.

Wow this blogpost became long, once again.. Sorry!

Down below I just wanted to show that I have been having a totally different kind of job offer the last 2 months. Photographing flowers at a funeral. I have to be honest that when I got the offer to ¨to photograph at a funeral' I had to swallow before I could speak again. I mean this was something totally different then families, weddings, children etc. But luckily for me I was asked to photograph the flowers and details that would honor the person that passed away. Following up with editing photo albums for the people left behind. 

I have to admit that I am amazed that I am enjoying this so much. Even though it maybe sounds so wrong! It is such a different aspect of life. Death. But contributing to helping people get over their loss by making an ever lasting memory of the day they honored their lost one. Just beautiful.

One more thing!
I took this picture a few weeks ago when my AWESOME sisters helped me with a wedding! After assisting me at the portrait session they dropped me of the party location. While shooting the wedding couples entrance, I noticed they hand´t left yet but stood aside.. I took a quick shot and am so happy I did that! Look at their faces shining.. How lucky am I to have them as my sisters!

I promise. Next time more photos and less talking!

Autumn Memories

One thing I have learned from my parents is to enjoy and embrace autumn. I won´t hide that summer is my favorite season of the year but, growing up I have some special memories of rituals we repeated every autumn. Instead of staying inside  in the weekends my parents took us out for long walks in the forrest. Now we may live in another country and there have come eight extra little family members, but thanks to autumn and it´s lovely colors and smells, the same good experience I had then, I can still return to today. 

Become a friend on Facebook: Anne Elisabeth Art page, to get the latest updates and impressions!

Salt water and Sea shells

 In case you were wondering where the flip I have been hanging out for the last two weeks. Everywhere, but not near my computer! For example, the beach in the Netherlands, Zeeland.. Last week we packed our bags for some vacantion time with Eric´s family. Wow I have to admit I have missed the salt water and the sea shells in the sand. Not to mention, the gooood foood.. Having the best weather we could wish for, I look back on a great week. My son literally was an angel during all the new experiences and adventures. I don´t blame him that since we are back he is a little burned out and reacts it all on... yes his mommy!

The Perfect Proposal

I was supposed to go down the beach near our house for a early morning dive.. but he had other plans.
I ran down the path, because I thought that once again he had to wait a little longer then we agreed on. While my eyes went up and forth the beach, my eye caught the end of the beach. Did I see there white chairs and a table? And wait, what? A picnic table and photo´s from our childhood hanging everywhere?
My heart skipped a beat. That moment was the first moment I suspected something was going on. And I have to say, you´re doing a good job if I don´t suspect anything!! I am so noisy.
Today I am the future Mrs. of the man who I admire, appreciate and love from the depths of my heart.

Breathing in Smögen

Oh how I have enjoyed a few days at the west coast of Sweden! Sun, sea, short pants, bikini and good company. Just a few snap shots to give you the feeling..

Peaceful

No matter how restless my son is, if I take him out walking, he turns back to himself. He loves to chat about everything he sees and asks me hundred and one questions about what this and that is called. When I think about it, I don´t think he is the only one who relaxes at the sight of nature and the fresh air flowing through your body. No wonder people believe the color green stands for peace..