Taking it to the next step

So I began getting serious into trying to improve my photography when we bought our first digital SLR, a Canon Rebel and I began taking pictures of our little Seth & Selah.  I was happy with the pictures we were getting.  Then I wanted to try my hand at digital scrapbooking.  So I bought Photoshop Elements (The full Photoshop version is expensive and not in our budget) which was all I really needed.  Of course I needed some classes to know how to use the program.  Now to share with you some of the people who taught me much of what I know.  I want to thank Jessica Sprague and Rita from CoffeeShop.  Through Jessica I became familiar with Photoshop Elements.  I also began learning that a trick that a lot of photographers used was something called "actions" for Photoshop.  I was feeling left out because it seemed not very people made "actions" for Photoshop Elements and those few that did of course charged.  Then I came across a link to CoffeeShop which offers FREE action for Photoshop Elements.  I love playing with these things. 

So then my pictures I feel went to the next step.  Let me show you a little that I can now do with Photoshop Elements.  Here is a little editing action.

Here is my little Selah.  A great picture straight out of camera (or SOOC photographer lingo)

Now here is Selah brightened up with a little color correction

And because I couldn't stop playing with this great picture I went on to try a little vintage look on her.  Now I can't decide which edit I like better.  What do you think?