just one

I've got a little guy with a fever tonight, so I've a long night ahead.  Think I'll try and get some sleep while I can!  But I wanted to quickly share just one image from a recent baby session...  this little ladybug completely stole my heart.

I'll be back with more from their session tomorrow!  Sweet lil' girl.  :)

two of a kind. the best kind.

I have been itching to post a sneak peek of my first newborn TWIN session!  Here are a few (who am I kidding.... here are a LOT), then I have to keep the rest under wraps for Mama and Daddy's gallery....  soon, guys!  Almost there.  :)

Camille and Ashton.  Just 6 days old.  The sweetest, sleepiest, bendiest, most-perfect little darlings.  And Mama took them full-term.  :)  How awesome is SHE?!

This sweet little Ivory Soap box was just lying in their sunroom, begging me to put it to use.  Much obliged!  And I HAD to use this fresh-picked cotton, what a find!  I think *someone* (ahem) might have jumped a fence in Mississippi (hmm, maybe Alabama?) to sneak this home with them.  ;)  And I'm so glad y'all did, LOL!  I love it behind them here...

Guess who's not the baby anymore?  ;)  I love the above-right shot!  Sweet little doggie... he seemed to want so badly to be included in all the fun... and how could I resist?!

Sweet story:  no matter how we positioned them, they always wiggled in and found each other and snuggled right back up together.  It was absolutely heart-melting to watch!

Thanks Chris and Monique, for a beautiful morning with your gorgeous babies.  Your sweet family is so very blessed!!!  xoxo

I heart them.

For one thing, they travel all the way from Tallahassee for their photo shoots.  (Ya gotta love clients who value your work this much!!)  They are positively sweet and so much fun at every session (and Dad is ever-patient while Miss Stacey teaches his son a couple of... well, unwelcome habits).  ;)  Christian is either a barrel of laughs or completely serious... sometimes changing from one to the other within seconds, which I LOOOOOVE.  I love expressive kids!  

And Adeline, well, it's always a treat to see her and her delicious chunky rolls.  She's in my Baby Plan, so I am lucky enough (and consequently, so are you!) to get to see them multiple times per year!  I cannot even tell you how much I love what I do....

I'll have your entire gallery up shortly, Angela!  I'm having a tough time narrowing down your beautiful proofs (as usual).  ;)  Enjoy!!

post-a-palooza

This poor blog.  It's been so neglected lately.  I've had so many sessions recently and so little time to share them with you all!  So today, I am attempting to catch you up somewhat with some recent client sessions, plus a little of my everyday life-stuff.  In no particular order!!  

First up, meet Tyler.  His daddy called me wanting a session that captured WHO Tyler was, not just what he looked like in this sweet little toddler phase.  Ahh, music to my ears.....

We headed to one of my favorite parks to play.  (You'll see this park in a lot of my upcoming posts too... it has been a very popular location request lately!)

One of my favorites... Daddy is learning to play guitar, and he might just have a little protege on his hands!  ;)

sweet girl!

Okay, before I begin, I have to tell how much FUN Baby Loves Disco was last weekend!  It was an amazing success, and it sold out within its first HOUR!  Yes, by noon, the Blue Martini was at max capacity, and parents and kiddos were waiting in line halfway around the patio area.  So many wonderful families, so many fun things to do, and such a great place to hang out for the afternoon!  I even had my husband to bring my crew so they could party!  I can't wait to show you the images I've captured from the day.  (Well, ahem, on the NEXT POST!!  I promise.) I have been meaning to share this sweet family for about a week or so.  This is one of my Baby Plan Graduates, and it's always a pleasure to play with her and see her adorable grin!  We started out at their home, playing in Rainey's room.....  

Mr. Bear was a fantastic conversationalist, let me tell you.

I have always loved the soft light in her room.  It makes for such dramatic black and whites... right up my alley, you know!!!  ;)

Then we headed to Fort DeSoto....

 

And a few pinecones and leaves later, we wandered out to the beach....

Such a fun way to end the day.  Although their Baby Plan has ended, I hope I get to photograph this little gal and her adoring parents for years to come.

NEXT POST = BABY LOVES DISCO.  Pinky swear.  :)

the most beautiful light. really.

I was ecstatic when I met this sweet family at their home for this session.  The sun was just getting ready to set over the lake behind their home.  And we took full advantage, let me tell you!!  

The sun wasn't the only amazing thing this evening, however....  I have never seen a brother-sister duo be so willing to give out bear-hugs to one another.  How many moms and dads would cut off their right arm to just SEE their kids be so sweet to each other, much less have the photographic evidence?!  :)

More of that delicious sunlight....

I can't even TELL you how much I adore my job.  :)

a fresh start.

Wow.  What a week!  As I sit here thinking about this week's happenings and activities, I can't help but think that this is a fresh start for so many of us.  Of course, the Presidential Inauguration was the spotlight feature.  So many Americans are filled with new hope and are whispering a prayer for change at this moment!  In our personal lives, my husband Chris started a new job this week (yay!), and we are all four in the middle of the awkward ballet that is our new routine.  Hopefully we'll get it all figured out this coming week.  And I, finally, am back on the Blog Train today!!!  Show of hands, did all (um, three) of you faithful blog-readers miss me?!  LOL!  I promise I'll be a better blogger in 2009.  :) Believe it or not, I still have sessions from 08 to catch up on showing y'all.  So without further ado... 

This little guy stole my heart.  I love this age...  curious, joyful, and so in awe of their little (big) world.

And isn't he lucky to have two parents who are so in awe of HIM?  :)  I love that.

Loved his little curled up toes by the pool!  ;)

Now tell me.... who in the world could resist that face?  Wouldn't it be soooo difficult to say "no" to those big melt-you-in-a-minute eyes?!  I'd have him spoiled for sure!

Thanks, guys, for an amazing session.  I had so much fun with your sweet family!!

our twelve days of christmas...

Santa gave to us:  33 hours of driving, 2,000 miles, 8 traveled-through states, 5 traffic jams, 6 road constructions, 2 tired parents, 2 relieved kiddos, 164 relatives, 194,857 Christmas presents, 3 much-needed gift receipts (wink), 1 spotty internet connection, 2 days of baking (and laughing uncontrollably) with the "girls", 7-degree weather in Kentucky, 1 bout of freezing rain, 4 sniffly noses, 1 stomach virus....  and a partridge in a pear tree.   We're back, folks.  Our little family took a 12-day Christmas road-trip (a 'la the Griswolds), from Florida to Kentucky (to see my family) then down to North Carolina (Chris' family) and then back down to Florida again.  (Yay for Santa bringing Mama her GPS.... FINALLY!!!!)  Everyone keeps asking us how the drive went.  Um, I wouldn't recommend it!  LOL!  Two children strapped into car seats for 6-, 12-, and 15-hour trips is not a fantastic idea.  Especially when one of the aforementioned children is just getting over a tummy virus.  (Total of 8 family members have had it now in the past three days.  Watch out.)  But sickness aside, we had a really lovely time spending our Christmas with family whom we adore, and who adore us right back.  Lila got to meet -- and get her cheeks and rolls pinched by -- all the aunts and uncles and great-grandparents.... and even a great-great-grandmother (photos of that to come later).  Parker had a wonderful time with his cousins.... and the Wii.  ;)  I don't know who liked the Wii more, by the way... Parker, or the "grown-up" boys in Chris's family (including Daddy!), who found the boxing and baseball games so much fun.  (I'm still on the lookout for the Wii Fit for myself....  gotta lose that "babyfat" while I can still blame it on Lila!)  :)

SWP is still closed for the rest of this week -- just trying to regroup from our trip and nurse the kids back to health.  I've got a few galleries to finish up from sessions right before Christmas break, so clients: watch for those this coming week while I'm behind closed doors and can proof-proof-proof away.  Shooting resumes January 5!  And I have lots of photos to come back and share with you soon as well.  Hope y'all had a beautiful Holiday, no matter what you celebrated!

Here's to a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous New Year in 2009!  *muah* 

**EDITED TO ADD:  My email is still really funky -- I can't see my new messages, or if I CAN see them, I can't reply -- so if you're waiting on a response from me, I will try and get this jam-packed inbox plowed through by tomorrow.  Thanks for your patience!!  :)

A love letter.....

Dearest Coco,   Oh how I adore you.  Thank you for being so sleepy and wonderful and squishy and bendy for our session.  You were a treat to photograph, as were your beautiful parents.  In your beautiful house.  

Give your wonderful, adoring family a big HUG from me for being so well-prepared for our little session together, and for having such amazing built-in props there, just waiting for me to take advantage of them....  :)

And for your Mama being sweet enough to GIVE ME that gorgeous cocoon we snuggled you up in for awhile.  The one that you apparently loved, because you slept so peacefully inside it!I know you'll never wonder for a single second if you are loved.  Because you will be smothered in kisses for the rest of your life.... I'm quite certain of that.  :)  You are surrounded by love, little one!

Hope to see you soon, sweet baby girl.  You were truly the highlight of my week.

Love, Your Smitten Photographer  :) 

Now for the boys....

So many families of girls I've photographed recently!  This shoot was 100% boy, however.  Trains (both Thomas and the authentic variety), soccer in the backyard, crazy animal sounds, lots of snuggling with Mama and Daddy, and laughs by the barrel-full.  See for yourself... I think they were pretending to be tigers here.  ;)  LOVE that Mom and Dad joined in, how fun is that?!

Such handsome faces.....  

Hailing Thomas...  ;)

Thanks so much, guys, for an awesome playdate.  I had a blast with you, and all of your boyish-ness!