19 weeks....

And my girl's still got it.  The "newborn curl", that is.  ;)

Can you believe those rolls??  She's just a bundle of squishy goodness to me.  This kid hasn't missed a meal, I can promise you that.  ;)

And for those clients out there who have ever apologized to me for their newborns "going potty" on my blankets or backdrops... let me just tell you again:  It's normal.  Don't worry, it happens.  (Almost every single session!)  It's really okay.  But, if it makes you feel better.... Lila peed on my bed just three seconds after I shot this frame.  LOL!

i know, kid, this is exactly how i feel today too.

 

:)  I thought this was too precious not to share.  From baby Adeline's session a few weeks ago.

Apparently, cell phones don't like sweet tea....

Can you believe that?!  Of all things.  ;)  On Friday afternoon, I was sitting in my car talking to a client on the phone (at least I was safely parked!).  When I went to flip the phone shut, it slipped out of my hands and sank to the bottom of my super-de-duper-size cup of iced tea that I had in my console.  Submerged would be a good word I think.  Soaked.  Waterlogged.  Ruined.  And such a waste of a good cold glass of sweet tea, too!!!  Needless to say, I've been having phone issues all weekend, so it's off to the Verizon store I go.  I don't think I've *missed* any voicemails; they just buzz in several hours after the calls actually come in.  Nice.  Hmm, maybe I should get the cell phone insurance plan this time, eh?!

In other breaking news, I'm digging my way out of my Christmas-session proofing cave, and I have several sessions to blog about this week!!  My last mini-session date was this morning -- and again this evening -- in downtown Clearwater.  Coincidentally, this was the morning that VP-nominee Sarah Palin came to our little town.  (I wondered if she'd have liked to jump in on a quick mini-session with the family?!  LOL!  I sure would've loved to get my camera on her sweet little baby.  :)  :)  :) )

Hush little baby...

Funny, isn't it:  I think I do a pretty decent job of keeping a newborn asleep during a session.....  throughout all sorts of bending, folding, squishing into poses, moving from person-to-person-to-beanbag.  However, it would seem that I am TERRIBLE at keeping my own little baby asleep in her bassinet these days.  Be it night-time or naps....  nah, Lila's just not interested in either one.  Now, she does drift off to sleep quite easily by herself (we've finally weaned her from falling asleep ONLY on a human chest), but STAYING asleep?  Well, I guess it's just not her thing.

Please tell me, blog readers:  How did you get YOUR baby to sleep through the night?  I'd love to know.  Actually, I'd love for you to come over to my house for a week and just do it for me.  So I can sleep in the meantime!!

When you're a little distracted and sleep deprived....

Your preschooler will try and trip you up.  Guaranteed.  He's already been acting out some (okay, a lot) with a month of much-loved company and a new baby sister in the house, all of which are, unfortunately, derailing his nice predictable routine. 

So here is the latest shenanigan.  The baby is napping.  I'm at the computer catching up on emails and lab invoices, trying not to fall asleep myself.  Parker is unusually quiet for a rambunctious 4-year-old boy in a kitchen.  I finally hear the clank of the steel garbage can lid and the triumphant smack of two hands dusting each other off.  I slowly turn my office chair around and cautiously ask my son... "Umm, what are you doing?"  He just looks sneakily at me and shrugs his shoulders... "Ohh, just putting a little trash in da garbage can."  And then quickly rolls his eyes and walks past me into the living room.  Hmmm...

Three seconds later, I hear a scratching-on-metal sound and then a muffled "mrrrreowwww".......

Busted.

Yes.... there are more....

I really HAVE been photographing my daughter the past 2-1/2 weeks.  I just haven't had time to process and upload them!!  Ahem, so it's been a little hectic, okay?!  ;)  No really I have to send a huge THANK YOU to my Mom, she and my Dad have been staying with us since right before Lila was born, and I would not have been able to hold my eyes open at this moment if it weren't for her.  She's made breakfast, lunch and dinner, cleaned our house, taken care of Parker, taken care of ME, and let Chris actually get some work done instead of being bombarded with all of the "helping out" on his own.  I secretly think Chris will miss her as much as I will, if not more!  

And... we've had a breakthrough over the past couple of days!  Parker has relented it seems, and has been calling his baby sister by her real name for two days in a row!!  I'm so relieved.  I was just anticipating my little girl being confused about her name all the way until kindergarten.

He's already assumed the role of Protector, and has been keeping a watchful eye on her while she's in her carseat, so her tiny head won't flop over without Mama knowing about it... also putting her pacifier back in her mouth every time she spits it out in complete disapproval.  ;)

Oh how I love that shot.....  she's lying in my dad's hands.  :)

And of course I'm on maternity leave... but I'm still here.  :)  I'm returning all phone calls and emails as soon as I'm able... albeit on a delay.... catch as catch can these days!  Thanks for bearing with me.

I also wanted to send lots of hugs and appreciation to each and every one of you who have sent us such sweet love notes and comments here on the blog... to our friends, family, and clients, my goodness... to all of y'all who have emailed or called to congratulate us!  We are so grateful for this much care and support right now, and we love you all dearly!  Of course, Parker has been highly anticipating the UPS guy's almost-daily visit to our door now too... so thank you to everyone who has been so sweet as to send presents for Lila, and to Parker!  I can't tell you how much it means to us.  :)  xoxoxox

Happy Father's Day BABY!

Yes... she's here! Our little girl has arrived. She's simply captivated us, and has melted all of our hearts! Meet our newest darling.... Lila Kate Woods.

And she was the perfect Father's Day present for Chris... she was born on Sunday morning, June 15. She also shares her birthday with her Papa Donnie. And you can bet he was floating a few inches off the ground that day too. ;) I love this shot of my tiny Lila in his big hands....

Lila and I are both doing wonderfully, thanks to my amazing doctor, the angelic team of nurses who cared for us while we were at the hospital, and all our friends and family who drove 12-15 hours to be with us for her birth, and who are so generously giving of their time and talents to help us settle in. You'll never know how much you all mean to us!

Thanks again to my sweet friends Amy and Stacy, for coming over to "play" today. I had sooooo much fun! And I can't wait to see the gorgeous images you created for us! We love you both! xoxo

I promise to post more photos of our sweet girl later on... oh I've got tons to show you!!! :)

I'm officially too pregnant for this gig....

Yep. I scared Grandma half to death when I climbed to the second floor of the kids' fort, trying to "get the shot". Now photographers, tell me, was this sibling image not worth it?! YOU would have climbed the fort too, right?? ;)

I admit, I'm a very "physical" shooter, as my clients have witnessed.... they've seen me climbing walls, perching tiptoe on chairs and ladders, lying on my tummy in the middle of the street (well, not in the last nine months or so!) sitting down in fire-ant infested grassy fields, straddling a bathtub or two (or three), the list goes on and on. Given my history, I didn't even question climbing the stairs to sit in the fort with these three kiddos. (And oh my goodness, they certainly kept me laughing!!) The only downer was when the girls ran off to change clothes, and little Jack here ran off behind them.... I'm standing at the top of the fort yelling, "Um, Jack! Hey buddy, can you come help me down from here???" LOL! So, yeah, I've officially reached my limitations while shooting client sessions. Not bad though, for 8-1/2 months pregnant, eh? ;)

Even the dogs were fun, jumping into the pond and everything. As soon as I opened the door and walked into the Kennedys' home, this sweet St. Bernard lay right down on my feet. What a lover.

I can't even TELL YOU how much I ADORE this next shot of all the kids together.... The girls' sweet giggle and their brother's "bleh, GIRLS!"-face just melt my heart!! (Yeah, this shot was taken in the fort too!)

And one with Mom. Can you see where these gorgeous kids get their looks? They also inherited her totally relaxed attitude. (Which I definitely appreciated, lol!) It was so refreshing!

Loved this swing shot for some reason....

And possibly my favorite...... a perfect way to end a photo session, right? :)

Did I mention how RELAXED this family was?? :) I LOVED that Mom let the kids jump into the pool, clothes and all! Look what sweet faces I got after the girls jumped out..... priceless, I tell ya.

Thanks, Wendy and Company, for the super-fun, awesome evening!!! I feel like I went out with a bang!!

I'll be taking off the rest of June and most or all of July (except for some last-minute editing, placing a few orders, and delivering clients' prints, etc.).

Keep your eyes on the blog for announcements of when my little girl makes her grand entrance, and when I'll be back to shooting! It won't be long, I promise!! :) By the way, I'm already booking for August, September, and Christmas sessions for October! Shoot me an email (stacey@staceywoodsphoto.com), or drop me a line (727.698.0344), and I'll put you down in my schedule!

THIS is what Family is all about.

I really meet the most wonderful families in this blessed job of mine. This particular family was such a treat to work with, and so unique. We held their session at a local beach, and at their former home, which tragically burned in a fire several months ago. It was a way of personal healing for them, I think, a way of remembering and documenting a life that WILL very soon be rebuilt! Although in a different way, I'm sure.

One of the things that touched me the most was how the Chaboudys truly KNEW that a family is not about the home you live in, or the "things" you possess; rather family is about EACH OTHER, and being grateful for life and love. I can honestly say that I left this shoot so incredibly inspired by their strength, courage, and determination.

LOVED her shirt. :)

We kept "discovering" subtle symbolism everywhere. (Don'tcha love when that happens?!) Really, what an upbeat, positive, strong family this is. Just amazing!

The FUN part... a local beach at sunset! :)

And YES, I absolutely made them tromp through the muck and mud for this shot, while my big ol' pregnant self stayed up on the drier sand. LOL! Well, my Cole Haans did get stuck in some goop once or twice. ;) But I think that we all would agree that it was TOTALLY worth it, even if only for this next image. (My faaavorite!) Just look at that fabulous sunlight!

Last one.... so appropriate, I think. :)

Thank you, Chaboudy family, for allowing me into your hearts for this session! It was truly my pleasure.

xoxo, Stacey

I'm SO gonna miss this time with my "boys"....

You're gonna miss this.You're gonna want this back. You're gonna wish these days Hadn't gone by so fast. These are some good times So take a good look around. You may not know it now But you're gonna miss this. ~Trace Adkins

Yesterday I had a PERFECT Mother's Day. We all stayed home and just relaxed and enjoyed each other's company. And I, actually, did NOT work a single minute! Yep, a whole day off. I slept late, and even took a nap. We blew up the kiddie pool and let Parker splash around the backyard to his heart's content, and I must tell you... it was so refreshing to actually sit my big, overheated pregnant self down in a pool of cool water. Even if I was surrounded by little plastic sharks, alligators, whales and squirt guns. It felt like Heaven. :) The smell of confederate jasmine and honeysuckle filled my backyard. Chris grilled steaks, shrimp, and corn on the cob. We ate yummy watermelon and drank the absolute BEST lemonade, and it just tasted like summer. I didn't even cook it! Chris did it all. It was perfect. I got a homemade card, time to myself, and lots of snuggle time with my two favorite "boys" in the world. Quite certainly the best part, after all that splashing and playing, my sweet boy fell asleep in my arms, wrapped up in a beach towel, while I rocked him in the patio chair and sang this song to him, which happened to come on while I was gently rocking him and stroking his face and hair (which still puts him to sleep, just like it did when he was a tiny baby).... to be honest, I sang this song *to* myself, as I tried like everything to burn this image of him, curled up sweetly in my arms, all sunny and warm and smiling sleepily, into my memory forever. Sometimes, just sometimes, you don't need a photograph to remember the most amazing moments in your life....

And to help your imagination here, and so you can understand why I went all mushy and nostalgic in that moment... have a listen... And yes, it's country music. I'm from Kentucky, what do you expect?! ;)  (The video's embedding has been disabled below, but you can still view the video I intended to show you by clicking here.)

Hope you ALL had a blessed and happy Mother's Day!! (I love you, Mom!)