Welcome to the world, baby Nicholas!

About a year ago Smokey, our dog (who thinks he's human), injured his leg somehow when I let him out to go potty.  It was late, so our vet's office was not open and seeing blood,  I made Glenn rush him to the emergency vet.  Luckily, the insanely expensive emergency vet peeked at his wound for FREE and advised us to just make an appointment at our vet's office the next day - claiming that he was a wuss and it was nothing more than a surface cut.  SO - the next day we followed up with our vet and once again were told that nothing was wrong.

A few months passed and the flesh wound had healed but Smokey was still not putting any weight on his leg.  Angry that neither vet had any answers for me and had dismissed his injury as a simple cut, I posted a plea in a myspace bulletin as well as on craigslist.  I received several offers to adopt our Smokey, and was actually considering it as a last resort just so that he could get help for his leg and not suffer any longer.  I cried at the idea of him not being in our family, yet cried at the idea of him being in pain as well.  Then, one of my brides messaged me and reminded me that she worked for a vet!!!  Larissa went on to say that her boss said she'd look at him free of charge!  HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!  I lugged my three kids and injured pup into the office and learned that Smokey had suffered from a torn ligament in his leg and left with a bottle of anti-inflammatories.  A few weeks later at our follow up, Smokey was feeling much better and was told to be crated for six more weeks...just to allow time for his leg to heal.  Today Smokey still doesn't use that back leg like he once did, but he is doing fantastic!  He puts pressure on it and is pain free!  

A week ago, I received a call from an excited new dad - asking to book a newborn session for his one week old son.  He said he was referred by Larissa and I marked him in the calendar for the following weekend.  Boy was I surprised to show up on the doorstep of my favorite vet!  I had been so wrapped up with Smokey and the three kids that I hadn't noticed her baby bump!  I suppose the fact that she's ultra tiny and probably NEVER got very big during her pregnancy helps my cause *wink*.   Welcome to the world baby Nicholas!  You have a big hearted Mommy!

(isn't this chair insanely AWESOME?!)

Makenna's ONE....well 16 months really.

Meet Makenna!  A sweet, but very sassy little girl that loves to dance.  Mommy's teaching her sign language, she just learned to walk and she almost has all of her teeth!  It's hard to believe she was only born a year ago!

As a first birthday gift, I promised a birthday session.  Mommy wanted to wait until Makenna learned to walk - so we waited, and waited........and waited!   She was in no rush to walk when she had mastered 'speed crawling'! hahahaha  Finally about two weeks ago, Makenna just took off walking and she's been running ever since.  So - 12 month portraits turned into 16 month portraits.  Isn't she a doll?!

My baby boy is one!

Boy oh boy have I been blog negligent!  Wedding season is in full force and that coupled with the fact I'm a mom of three under the age of six....need I say more?! *wink, wink*  I've decided to get a little more personal in my blog on Monday's.  A "get to know me" blog, if you will =)  Enjoy!.....

Chance - 2 months old

Ah, how time flies by!  It seems like just yesterday, I was on the operating table anticipating Chance's first cry.  Now he's one year old, saying a few words, cruising the furniture, belly laughing, eating table food and sipping from a straw!  

I'm learning to embrace the moment, but while designing his first photo birthday announcement composed of pictures from the last 12 months (which I never finished) I broke down and cried.  No, not just a few tears - we're talking loud sobs and crocodile drops...red face, runny nose and all!   I wanted to jump into the photographs and squeeze that velvet haired, tiny baby that he once was!  When did that baby morph into the 30 lb chunker he is now?  I'm afraid that even though I'm attempting to embrace today - somehow I'm not because of all the changes I seem to be 'missing'.  I love him today as much (if not more) than I did a year ago, but time seems to be in fast forward and it scares me.  Before I know it, I'll be sitting alone in a quiet house - staring at photo albums and waiting for the kids to come home for a visit from college.

To celebrate our little man's first birthday, we had a little backyard cookout with a few friends.  He loved it - and I did too ;)  

YUM!

Daddy with all the kids on the trampoline!

Thanks Grandma Shellie!

Here are a few pre-first birthday pictures I took on the beach about a week ago...

Law school....maybe?

Meet Rebecca; high school class of 2009.  Fun, spunky and a gorgeous smile (no more braces - woo who!).  She originally had the school photos taken but didn't end up liking any of them enough to purchase them.  I was more than thrilled when she called me!  What a compliment!

Rebecca enjoys the outdoors and opted to have our session at the beach.  It took a few minutes to get her warmed up to the camera but before long we were laughing and chatting away =)  At one point I asked what her plans were for after graduation.  Her dream was to be a wedding coordinator, but she's not so sure she wants to pursue it as a career.  Now she's thinking maybe law school!  Whatever avenue she chooses, I know she'll do remarkable if she follows her heart.  

Who knows - maybe modeling's in her future!*wink. wink*  Here are a few of my fav's (the first one I designed myself  *go me!* and ordered wallet size as a surprise for Rebecca and her mom - super cool huh?!).......

It's a shoot out!

This is my gorgeous cousin, Jess and she rounded up a few of her friends for a senior session 'shoot out'!  I am ten years older and have pictures of me holding her as a baby, so it was a little scary looking at her through the lens and seeing her as a woman!   

My Aunt Diane inspired me to start taking photographs.  Diane doesn't call herself a professional but there's hardly ever a day she goes without snapping a photo - and it's been like that for as long as I can remember.  Jess can almost see each day of her last sixteen years!   You could literally get lost in the sea of photo albums she has stored away in her house!  Flipping through the pages is like going back in time, from the simplest of moments and visits to the big holidays with all the family and generations gathered around.  When I think of Diane, I think pictures.  If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have been inspired to be who I am today.  Not only is she an awesome photographer - she's an awesome mother and my biggest role model.

I invited several photographers: my aunt Diane, Taylor - an amazing up and coming photographer still in high school, a friend and fellow photographer - Erin with Erin Kass Photography, and Glenn - my partner in crime, to shoot so we were able to split up and take a small group of models each and then rotate them.  It will be fun in the end to see how different our perspectives of the same location and same models are!  =)  Here's a peek...

Bo and Jenny - I still have more photos to edit so I will be posting the two of you next!

The gang:

CALLING ALL 2010 SENIORS!!!!! Spread the word!

A few months ago I posted a request for 2010 senior rep. volunteers.  *drumroll please*  Meet Tiffany!  

I actually met Tiffany 19 years ago - I was seven, she was two.  My mom used to babysit her and her brother, Billy.  You might be doing the math in your head - YES, she is turning 21 and is not a highschool senior, but rather a senior in college!  We have crossed paths on holidays over the years, but have not ever really 'hung out'.  Instead, we keep up with each other through myspace and facebook.  (Seriously, I have three kids and a full time photography career so by the time I get a free minute to socialize - it's the wee hours of the morning and it would be rude to call =)  SO, facebook has become my new addiction but has paid off as far as me becoming a little more intimate and in tune with the people that mean the most to me.  I love it!  It's totally on my time.  Anyway, Tiffany responded to my request with a note - "Do seniors in college count?"  I giggled and jumped at the chance to photograph such a gorgeous girl - inside and out!

I had a vision for a field with wild flowers.  We couldn't find one, but this worked =)

Isn't she gorgeous?!

At this point, I was like - "When did little Tiff grow up?!  She's a woman now! eek!"

The locals put bowls of milk out for the strays, so we had a guest during the session.  How cool is that?!

This is her prom dress - I wish I could still fit in mine!

Oh boy was it windy!  and cold!

I loved this one!

A Playdate On the Beach...

I have been on myspace for a couple of years now, but just recently joined facebook. I have not yet taken full advantage of the networking potential, but dabbled a bit by posting an offer for a free session/playdate on the beach.  Two families responded, so we dressed up the kiddos and packed some beach toys for play after the session.  Here's a peak at the evening - the sunset took my breath away!

Bri and Riley - sisters.  Poor Riley - suffering from 'little sister initiation'.  hehehehee

Aren't they just gorgeous?!

And here's Jackie - she's due in June with her second son.

Here's the future big brother, Caleb with Mommy!

and here are my munchkins =)

Thank you for a great time Christina and Jackie!  I will be posting other special offers and promotions this summer and everyone is invited to respond - don't be shy =)