Something to CELEBRATE!

Yesterday was a first for me, I was invited to capture all the fun and specialness of a first birthday. A few months back I took some family photos of this sweet, sweet family. When they contacted me to take pictures of their little mans first birthday party--- I was so very excited.

There is something extra special about a first birthday. Don’t get me wrong, I think all birthdays are reason to celebrate. However, the first birthday, it holds a special place in “milestones.” To be honest, I think it is more of a milestone for the parents. They have survived a whole year as parents, they have survived the first year. A year filled with newness and learning… Learning about each other and often times even more about yourself. Its a year filled with sleepless nights, sleepless days, crying, laughing, sweet moments, doubt-filled moments, and growth.

So, CONGRATULATIONS Josh and Melisa… you did it! You have an adorably sweet little man, and are great, loving parents. His party was everything a first birthday should be… filled with family and friends, fun, and of course CAKE!

Happy Birthday Jonah, you are sweet, adorable and getting oh, so big! I pray your second year is filled with more great memories and milestones.

Baby Soren

This post is about a week late, but I got caught up in all the Christmas excitement. However, more on that will come later… right now, we will celebrate life! It was so fitting that on the eve of Christmas Eve, I was able to spend some time with a very sweet little family and their newest member, Soren. It was a true blessing.

I am so glad my path crossed with this family. We have littles who are so close in age, Hannah is just a few months older than Soren’s big sister, Adda. And let me tell you, she is the sweetest. Soft spoken, sweet, and oh so darling. Hannah and I both love having her over for play dates. Now, with the coming of Soren, I envision many play dates that include the little brothers too. So very fun having littles who are so close in age and same gender at that!

And their mom, she is amazing. One of those people who you almost feel like you’ve known forever. She is honest, positive, and so very welcoming. That’s one of the best parts of play-dates for me as a mom. Getting to talk to another mom. Hannah, she has quiet the vocabulary, but its still not the same. Matt, he’s very supportive  and can listen well, but its still not the same. Another mom, they get it. They live it. And there is just something so comforting about that. I have loved my time getting to know Ashley better in the past few months, she is a sweet friend and has been such a blessing. I look forward to the prospect of many more mommy and little play-dates.

Boom Family, you are a blessing to so many. Thank you for  welcoming me into your home and this special time in your lives! Adda, thanks for being such a great friend to Hannah! You are already a great big sister. Baby Soren, welcome to the world. You are so sweet, and my little man cannot wait to build a friendship with you.

I figured some red and white pictures were necessary… since Christmas photos are oh, so fun!

Tis the Season…

I love this time of year… absolutely love this time of year. November is a month full of being thankful, full of family time, full of fall fun. I have so much to be thankful for and I love celebrating that… However, the day after thanksgiving is one of my favorite days. All things Christmas are fair game. The music, the baking, the tradition, the excitement, the feelings of peace and hope as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior. Christmas with little ones… its even better. We have soooo many fun things planned for this Christmas season to help Hannah (and Bryson) focus on the real reason we celebrate, while keeping the excitement and mystery alive. With all that said… I can’t wait, and as the weather gets colder, the days pass by, I am so very thankful, that is getting closer to the day after thanksgiving! ha.

Yesterday, I got out and took pictures of one of my most favorite families… The Story’s. Kari and her sweet family have been on the blog before. She is one of my dearest friends, more like family to me than anything else. She is the person I know will hug me when I need it, cry with me in empathy, support me in so many ways, be crazy enough to run in the freezing at God-awful times of the day…. she is amazing. I am so thankful for her friendship. I am thankful for the friendship that my family has with the Story’s. Dinner together, little vacations together… so many memories we have already made… and so many more to come. This year, they get to experience Christmas with their little girl for the first time. I am so excited for them! Story Family, you are such a blessing to my life and to my family. We are so thankful to have you as our friends. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving… and a magical Christmas season!

Here is a little blooper from our session yesterday! Their pictures were primarily for Christmas cards, so I don’t want to give anything away… but this interaction, it was just to sweet not to share. (im telling you, this family is so fun to be around and so fun to photograph)

Cook Family

Yesterday I was blessed to spend sometime with the Cook Family. They are the sweetest. I work with Ali and it as been so much fun getting to know her over the past few years. Part of this sweet little family has been featured on the blog before, but yesterday was the first time we were able to get the whole family together, and it was great!

They are in a super busy season of life right now… so busy that I am not ever sure how they do it. But they do it so well. Their littles are so incredibly blessed to have two parents who love them and sacrifice so much for them. Cook Family, it is a blessing to know you and was I was truly honored to take your family photos! I hope you have a great Saturday filled with much needed family time. Enjoy.

Walker Family

Typically when doing a post, I like to share a little bit of my heart…. along with a little bit of my work. However, after many nights of sleep deprived nights and days full of two children with unhappy hearts… well, my mind is mush slightly foggy. So tonight, we will get straight to the point. And the point is that today I had the privilege to get outside and photograph the Walker Family. Cody, Sarah and their three littles are the sweetest. It was such a blessing to work with them. So fun to capture each of their littles personalities, smiles and silliness's. They are truly a beautiful family, inside and out.

Walkers, you are great. I felt so honored that you asked me to document this fun time in your lives. Happy Saturday, hope you enjoy this little preview from our time together today. Oh, and hope the full moon passes soon, so maybe some normalcy will return to our homes! wink, wink.

This did not start as a choke-hold… but, they are brothers.

Check out these baby blues…. heart melting.