9 days old

Baby feet. Baby toes. Can you have too many photos of your baby's feet and toes? I don't think so. I wish I had more photos of my own boys' baby toes. I'm not sure why I love them so much but I gravitate towards the toes when I'm taking newborn images. Maybe it is because you realize how quickly they grow up by how often you have to buy new shoes for them. I know my own kids need new shoes every few months (thanks, Mom!). Maybe by taking so many images of baby toes it captures and preserves those sweet, precious and fleeting first few weeks. Maybe it is a reminder of those early days for you to hold onto when you are tripping over BIG shoes in your hallway. I'm not sure how many images of baby toes you'll frame and hang in your living room, but you'll have them and you can look back on them and remember how sweet it was to kiss them and hold them in your hand and you'll remember just how small and precious your little one was. Ahhhh, I just love baby toes.

Brett and I had a quick visit with baby David today. He's 9 days old. How did that happen? 9 days old. He's still small. And sleepy. We got LOTS of sleeping images of him today. And Emily let me explore my creative ideas with him. I have so many ideas of photos for newborns that only work in the first 1-2 weeks. That's when they are so sleepy and can be posed easily. David obliged and we got some cute stuff!

I made a quick slideshow of my favorite photos. He's oh-so-sweet. Thanks, Emily, for letting me be creative! Oh and get ready for lots of baby toes! I especially love how you can still see the heel stick marks. You can really tell how new he is by those. Here's the show: http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewshow?fl=3098131&alb=0

Cascades Exhibit thru June 30th

I've been so busy lately I've neglected to post about my new library exhibit in Cascades. It will be on display through June 30th and is on the main wall as you walk into the library. These are new enlargements I had made for this exhibit. A "small world" experience as I was hanging the display happened when a librarian shouted "Oh, that's my neighbor!" referring to the gorgeous blonde college student I had taken photos of with her family back in November. I love the shot and wanted to put it in the exhibit in hopes of doing some senior shoots this summer. Anyway, the librarian lives across the street from my dear friend from the Birthing Inn, Christy, and she was quite excited to see the photo!

So, if you get the chance, pop into the Cascades Library and check it out...you can also check out a book while you're there! (the glare in these pictures is terrible so you have to see them in person!)

Season Wrap-Up

Jake likes to win. He likes to play sports and he likes to win. Last spring his flag football team played for the championship title and lost and he was grouchy for a week. This season was a bit different from last. They lost their first game and Jake gave a very moving (moving for his parents anyway!) "talk" to his teammates that they shouldn't be down about the loss because his team last year lost their first game and went on to win the remaining games and play for the title. We thought that was great...showed such leadership in our 8 year old.

Well, this season had some ups and downs (Jake was always happy when he scored touchdowns) but they didn't win a single game. That was really hard for our kid who likes to win. He did somehow manage to keep his head up and not get too upset, but it did take its toll. Some lessons were available to the kids...sports isn't only about winning. It is about supporting your team; encouragement; perseverance even when things are tough. It was a good season in that Jake had his dad as coach and his best friend on his team. After the final game, Coach Matt reminded the team and Jake in particular, "the fall season starts right now." Jake will play tackle in the fall. I'm not so sure I'm ready for that...stay tuned.

Jake, I'm proud of you for keeping your head high and trying to stay positive. Not all teams will be championship teams. I'm proud of you for trying your hardest when giving up might have seemed attractive. I love to watch you play and I look forward to many, many more seasons of cheering from the sidelines. You are always a winner in my book!

Here are some images from the season: http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewshow?fl=3097365&alb=0

He's HERE!!

Wow, little David Paul decided he was in a hurry to greet this world and meet his mama and daddy so he made his debut at 12:56 today after only a few short hours of labor. And oh is he precious! And gorgeous! And perfect! It was such an honor to be present when he arrived. I get goose bumps just thinking of how special it is for me to be asked to share in such a momentous event.

This is just a sneak peek at a couple photos from earlier today. I'll put the birth photos to music in slideshow format for the parents. I have plans for so many more photos of this newborn. You'll be seeing lots of baby David on my site. :)

Congratulations Em and Ricky! And welcome to the family David. We love you so much already!

Pre-wedding Church Visit

I am very excited to be photographing a wedding in a couple weeks. The Bride is an "old" friend of mine from high school and we also worked together for a few years after college. We basically lost touch with each other and then she found me on our high school reunion site last fall. She contacted me about her wedding and I was thrilled to be asked to be part of her special day! I can't believe we are only days away from the big event. We met on Saturday at the church and took a tour of the inside and I scouted some gorgeous areas around the church for pre and post wedding portraits. The wedding will take place in Aldie (as a side note, my husband grew up in this little town and went to elementary school with the bride-yes, it is a small world!) and it is such a quaint and historical town with so much charm. I borrowed the bride's fiancee's daughter who will be the "Maid of Honor" to check out the light inside and outside the church. Isn't she cute? I can't wait to see her in her cinderella pink dress on the big day. Stay tuned for wedding photos in a few weeks!

Improvising on a hot day

Who would have thought it would be 95 degrees on April 25th? The warmth did feel great and we spent the day mostly outdoors with a flag football game in the morning and then a little water fun in the afternoon. Brett loves anything that has to do with water. I've found him more than once standing in a bathroom sink with the water on full blast; he loves to put toys in the dog's water bowl and splash water all over the floor; and today was no exception with lots of hose and sprayer fun. The water coming from the hose was COLD despite the 90+ degree air temperature but that didn't keep him from spraying himself in the face, body and head. He loved it. I had planned to get him a plastic pool for the summer but since it is only April, I haven't gotten around to that yet. So we improvised. A snow sled was still in the backyard and he occasionally calls it a boat and sits in it. I let him fill that up with water and he played in it just like a plastic pool. He still called it his boat so at some point we will have to teach him that filling boats up with water isn't actually a good idea! But, today it was a perfect idea and made for a couple hours of fun!

Serious, determined, thoughtful, flirty, bashful-all in one

Too cute for words!

I have been wanting to photograph my neighbor's little darling forever and even though we see each nearly every day of the week at the bus stop and have numerous playdates, I've not had the opportunity to really catch her little spunkiness in photos! She came to play with Brett today for a little while and I grabbed my camera and took them outside. Her mom left me with two hair bands, some clippy thingies and a brush "just in case I wanted to take some photos." Well, let's just say this mom of 3 little boys doesn't know much on the art of fixin' up girls' hair! I tried! She's a cutie pie even if a inexperienced mom fixed her hair!

The two were having so much fun in the backyard that "Yanie" as Brett calls her, didn't slow down a bit for me to get any portraits so we went for the action shots. I discovered that even little girls like big yellow Tonka trucks! They filled it with rocks and dumped out the rocks and pushed it around the yard. They also stood at the back of the yard and Brett would yell "GO!" and they would run down the hill and back up the other side. So much fun to watch two little ones interact. She's actually 3 months older but Brett outweighs her by probably 10 pounds and has at least 4 inches on her. He is such a big boy!

I'm going to have to get some more camera time with "Yanie" this summer w/o Brett competing for the shot! She's too cute for words!!

Successful Baby Shower

A little Mama-to-Be scare the day before the shower landed Em in the hospital for a night and gave us all a little concern she might miss her shower. But, with reassurance from the good doctor and determination on her part, the shower went on as planned and was a success. I think she's set for at least a few months (well, maybe weeks knowing babies!) with diapers, wipes, clothes, books, and all the necessary new baby items. Now if he decides to come a little early, she'll be ready!

We had guests from Richmond, VA who will be this little baby's GREAT, GREAT Aunts. That's 4 generations!! How wonderful!

I wanted to post a few photos from the afternoon of all the details that have kept me busy (in a good way) for the last few weeks. I totally enjoyed planning and putting together this shower and a big thanks to everyone who helped me! We definitely can't wait to meet the newest addition to our family in a few short weeks.

Non-traditional Easter "Egg" Hunt

The boys and I headed out for some Easter photos and some fun on a warm day during spring break. Brett insisted on bringing his basket (you may remember his obsession with buckets...that also applies to baskets). Instead of hunting Easter eggs, the boys hunted pinecones! Brett had a great time picking them up and putting them in his basket. Then he discovered the water...and then the pinecones found their way into the water. And so did some twigs and some rocks! What is it with boys and throwing things into water?? That makes it three for three with my kids and wanting to throw objects into any puddle, pond or lake!

I had quite the challenge trying to get all three to cooperate and let me have a photo of them together. Didn't really get what I wanted...why do my boys think I take too many photos?? They don't like to sit together or be close in anyway if I ask them to. So, I got some candids and some individual shots but nothing for an Easter card. There's always tomorrow!

Anyway, hope you are having an enjoyable Easter weekend and the Easter Bunny is good to you tonight! :)

Waiting for Baby Part II

A few more from our maternity session including the turtle family!

Waiting for Baby

I had a fantastic shoot with an adorable and "totally in love" couple last Sunday. They have been married almost 3 years and are expecting their first baby (a boy) in late May. Needless to say, there is quite the excitement around the arrival of this little guy from everyone in the family. The Mama-to-Be happens to be my hubby's cousin whom I've known, well this will make me seem VERY old, since she was about 6 years old! I'm thrilled for them and can't wait get some camera loving time with the little man when he arrives.

We went out to Isaac Walton and walked around the pond and enjoyed the great spring day. On the way back towards the car I happened to spot a daddy turtle, mama turtle and baby turtle all in a row on a tree branch rising from the pond. It was such an appropriate and completely sweet way to end our session!

Enjoy these photos of gorgeous Emily and excited daddy-to-be Ricky. And stay tuned for baby's debut on my site in a few short weeks. Can't wait!!