Last week, after feeling like we’d been on the run and a little too busy for awhile, I said I wanted to just be at home with my girls. Hold them when they asked me too, read stories, play…and just be. (Of course I had a pile of other things on my ‘list’ that included work )
One afternoon I was sitting outside with them when Kennedy ran inside and came back out dressed up in one if their ‘Princess’ dresses. I realized it had been awhile since I’d seen her wearing one, and also realized that soon, she may not be interested in them anymore. So, in a moment of I-wanna-capture-her-as-she-is-right-now-in-this-moment I ran in and grabbed my camera.

Little Sister joined in too…and soon they were just swirling and jumping and doing their thing….with Tenley right in there with them doing her thing…and that is why I love these pictures.

Real life moments…captured.

Happy Monday!

Truth is, I don’t consider myself a ‘Newborn Photographer’. I don’t have a studio (one day, maybe…for now, it is simply a dream ) and I don’t have all the props, heaters, blankets, backdrops and other things that newborn photographers tend to have. I have not mastered the art of posing a newborn just perfectly, and I sure don’t have the editing skills it takes to pull off some of those amazing shots that newborn photographers get!  (my hat is off to all you Newborn Photographers!) I do, however, love to go and capture newborn’s in their homes. In their Momma’s arms, on a bed, with siblings… and even set up a few posed shots.

Tina, (a photographer herself), contacted me to take her sweet baby boy’s newborn pictures back in March. Be warned, this is one precious little baby, it is possible you could get baby fever just looking at him.  And Tina had some great props for me to use too…

Love these shots with the big brother leaning on his Mom…

I adore this next shot… I could not decide which I liked better, color or B&W….

We got the whole family together for a picture at the end of the session…

Tina, thank you for asking me to do these for you

These three girls.
Or Mom, or Mommy… I hear it a few hundred times a day (not sure if that is an exaggeration or not..)
“Moooom! She won’t get off my bike!”
“Momma, I need to tell you somfin important…I love you.”
“Mommy, can we have a snack?”
“Mom, where are we going?”
“Momma, what are you doing?”
“Mommy! I need to peepee!”
“Mooooom! Look what Tenley did!”
“Momma, when is Daddy coming home?”
“Mom, how do you do that?”
“Mommy, we found a frog!”
“Mom, watch this!”
“Mommy, do I look pretty?”

Being a Momma is the best, hardest and most important job I have ever had. I love my girls and feel so incredibly blessed to have them.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you Momma’s out there! I hope your day is wonderful

Kennedy, Bristol and Tenley… I sure love you.

…there is going to be a wedding!

That is what Kristen (bride, and my new Sister-in-law) would say when asked about the weather for her wedding day. And yes, she was asked a lot! They had planned an outdoor wedding – ceremony and reception -  filled with fun outdoor games and activities, a burger bar with every topping you can imagine eating on a burger, and a popcorn stand with all sorts of fun toppings.

All this took place at my parents house, and up to the day of the wedding we worked on making everything look just right…and each day was sunny, but we watched the forecast knowing they were calling for rain.

It held off till right before the ceremony, and then, it rained. A good steady rain.

But, it did not dampen the spirit of the day. The umbrella’s came out, and the wedding continued. And two people in love began a new chapter in their lives together. I even saw a few games being played several hours later when the rain stopped… I didn’t take many pictures (due to the rain mostly, but also because I wanted to simply wanted enjoy the wedding and company) but I did take some pictures

Molly was their wedding photographer, she seriously did an amazing job and didn’t mind getting wet to capture their day, you can see her blog post here…

Before the wedding I wandered around taking a few pictures…

Kristen’s Aunt made the cake and did an awesome job!

Kennedy was the flower girl and loved hanging out with the ‘big’ girls watching them get ready

Kristen looked absolutely gorgeous…

I think the umbrella’s add a unique charm…

My Dad stood up at one point to hold an umbrella for the bridesmaids

The one shot that I was asked to get was Russ seeing Kristen for the first time (Molly would be shooting Kristen as she came down the aisle) Thankfully, I got it

My Dad was sitting right in front of me, and when I noticed the rain on his suit I had to get that shot too

MARRIED!

From the minute Kristen asked Kennedy to be her flower girl it was all the talk and excitement around here…Kennedy was so excited. Till the night before. At the rehearsal she was suddenly nervous and I wasn’t sure she’d even do it. But, she made quick friends with the ring bearer (Cam, Kristen’s cousin’s adorable little boy) and together they did fabulous

Fast forward to the bouquet toss… Kristen’s MawMaw is a hoot! She and my Sister, Tressa Ann, had some fun with it

Rain or Shine…they had a wedding. And it was wonderful.

Thanks for looking!

My baby turns one year old today. As I type this I look at the clock to see that it is 12:01 a.m. Everyone is in bed sleeping, I am sitting here looking through pictures that take me back to one year ago. That special time when we welcomed our 3rd baby girl.

I feel my eyes fill with tears. Happy ones, of course. There is just something so wonderful and fleeting about those first days, weeks, of having a new baby. Oh, it’s hard. The healing, the hormones, the night-time feedings, the changes in day-to-day life as we adapt to having a baby to care for 24-7. But, it is also beautiful and wonderful and truly a blessing. Hearing “It’s a girl!” at the time of birth (we didn’t find out the gender of any of our girls - and I LOVE that moment of finding out when they are born!), seeing them for the first time, feeling the weight of their little body as they are placed in my arms, the soft baby skin, those first cries, the way they look at you…oh, yes…it is beautiful.

As I sit here tonight, I go back and remember these firsts, these feelings, these special times. And I wonder, how did it all go by so fast?! How did my Tenley go from a tiny little baby in my arms to an adorable climb-on-the-dishwasher-every-time-it-opens little girl?!

It goes by fast… and having a ‘good’ baby seems to make it go by even faster! (Tenley has been a very good baby…but I have experienced the ‘cry-all-the-time’ baby too!)

I have come to love the pictures taken at the hospital with each of our girls…even the ones of me looking awful! (my hubs is very good at grabbing the camera and snapping pictures…) Here are a few of Tenley as a newborn, and then in the past few weeks.

She weighed in at a healthy 9 pounds, 6 ounces when she was born

one of my very favorite pictures…

Tenley, Happy Happy Birthday sweet girl. We are so totally in love with you!

Yesterday, I gained a new Sister-in-law  And this is some (okay, a lot!) of pictures from her bridal session… as I’ve mentioned before, I love bridal sessions. Since I don’t shoot weddings, it gives me the chance to get a little ‘wedding dress fix’ so to speak

Kristen looked stunning in her gown…

Kristen, I am so happy that you are ‘officially’ a family member! XoXo

I love these simple black and whites of my baby girl…runny nose and all!

As I mentioned on Monday, we are busy (busy) ’round here right now…I know; who isn’t?!  I just can’t seem to make the time to blog a photoshoot. So instead, I am sharing these of my sweet Tenley and a promise to be back next week

I hope your week has been fabulous and your weekend will be even better!
Thanks for looking XoXo

When I feel overwhelmed I crave cleanliness and organization. And right now, my house is neither. Well, Tenley’s closet is clean and organized, but that just happened Friday. I have a feeling that when three certain little girls discover this ‘new’ closet they will successfully un-do each little thing I did

Meanwhile, two laundry baskets (full of clothes) and the vacuum cleaner has been sitting in the exact same spot since Friday. And we have added more stuff (camera bag, jackets, toys, shoes, two containers I bought at Walmart for storing winter clothes in, diaper bags, blankets, the iron, box of cookies, random dirty cups, baby dolls, dress up shoes, hair bows, etc.) as we ran in and out over this busy weekend. Then, I slept through my alarm this morning. Sigh. And I had big plans of getting so much stuff done before I head out again. Hey, at least I caught up on some sleep – the mess will still be here when I get time to clean it up, right?! Yep, I’m afraid so.

Oh, and my ‘feeling overwhelmed’? Nothing big or bad…just life is busy at the moment

Now, I give you an odd assortment of photo’s today (all of my girls). Random pictures from files that date back to (gasp!) October. Hey, it’s my first step in organizing on this Monday morning, I am getting these files off my computer!

Bristol has a great laugh, can you tell?

And a little peek at two shoots I had last week…love these! If you follow me on Facebook, then you may have already seen these….

Thanks for looking…and have a fabulous Monday!

As mentioned here, my brother is getting married. A few facts….
Fact #1. Russ does not like being in front of a camera.
Fact #2. He bullied me during this shoot and told me everything I should do to improve.
Fact #3. Taking pictures of family is not always easy.
Fact #4. I actually did enjoy this shoot.
Fact #5. I lost count of how many times he said “You’ve got to be kidding me” when suggested to do something…such as wrap up in a quilt for a picture.
Fact #6. He was a good sport and may have gotten a new tent by the time we were done.
Fact #7. I am so very happy for these two

I liked this shot in both b&w and sepia…

They are both coffee lovers so we had to include some coffee

Russ and Kristen… Thanks ya’ll XoXo

Have I mentioned that I will soon be gaining another Sister-in-law? Well, I do believe I failed to mention it..but, I sure am – in just two short weeks! My brother and his fiancee will be saying “I do” April 27th, and we are so excited and happy for them! My sister Tressa Ann hosted a shower for Kristen (whom we often call Kiki, nickname from my girls ) and I took a few pictures. I decided to share some of those with you all today, since I still haven’t managed to get their engagement session blogged. It was supposed to happen today, but seeing how it is late afternoon and I am in the middle of a bunch of other stuff (one being a baby who is refusing to go to sleep!) I decided to focus on a shorter blog post and at least get something up today. ha!

Enjoy

First, the bride (left) and Tressa Ann…






Here is the whole bridal party; Tressa, Sarah, Kristen and Kristen…