Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Devin & Michelle - Engagement Session!


First of all, you may be noticing some changes here on the 'ol blog! I'm attempting to mix things up a little bit, but it's after midnight and I must go to sleep. So my apologies! I hope to have something new & fresh going on here soon!

Devin & I first met many many moons ago & I can't begin to express my EXCITEMENT for him and his love, Michelle. I think you can tell alot about a couple by the time spent with them during an engagement session.... You can really see how they interact. I was blown away by the absolute head-over-heels love that the two of them share. It is really a beautiful thing. Michelle is SO SO sweet & I am so happy that Devin has found her. Bless you both & thank you for asking me to take your photos!







Thursday, September 25, 2008

Sarah & Andy... soon to be parents!

I've had great fun these last few months photographing so many friends of mine in such exciting times in their lives.... Sarah & Andy are expecting their first child, little Wyatt, in November & are SO excited about his upcoming arrival! (As am I!) With alot of parents-to-be you sometimes see one parent who is very nurturing and one who is very fun-loving... These two are very equally balanced in both of those areas! Andy is possibly the most excited dad I've been around... even about getting up at 2:00am to change dirty diapers :o) They will both be amazing parents to Wyatt... he has no idea what a lucky little guy he is!




Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Lydia's Newborn Session

September is a month that I have been patiently (okay, so not so patiently) waiting to arrive. I didn't schedule anything during the entire month because I didn't want to miss a very big day that I knew would sneak up and surprise me.

I am blessed to have a couple very close friends whom I consider sisters. Cora is one of those. You may remember some photos from her maternity session a few weeks ago where I mentioned her son Landon calls me "auntie"... Well, this auntie was VERY anxious to have a new little niece :o)

Cora & her family live back in Oklahoma, so I knew that making it there in time for Lydia's delivery would be a challenge. When would she go into labor? How much notice would her body give her before Lydia entered the world? Would I be able to find a flight quick enough? It was very important to me to make my best effort to be there to welcome her into this world. Through God's divine timing, Cora and I were chatting one Wednesday night & decided I should hop on a plane the next morning... Just incase. I arrived in Tulsa Thursday at 11am.... Cora's water broke at 5pm & Lydia was born at 5am on Friday. Thanks, God for that blessing! It was SO amazing. I was able to spend the next 7 days helping Cora & her family out & tending to little Lydia's every need.... Well, almost every need. Couldn't really help in the feeding department if you know what I mean :o)

Of COURSE lots of photos had to be taken during this amazing time & I wanted to share a few with you. I still have sessions to blog from before this trip, but I just had to show of my new little friend. Her auntie is very proud :o)

Beautiful Cora & her baby girl (finally!)


The best big brother a girl could ask for...

Sweet moments with daddy...

My absolute favorite...

Friday, September 5, 2008

Heather & JP - Wedding

Heather & JP rock my world :o) No, really... Heather was the Maid of Honor in a wedding that I shot last year & she and JP were two dating lovebirds at the time. A few months later on a cold winter night, JP got down on one knee & gave her a beautiful ring. I shot their engagement photos when I lived in Tulsa and while I was traveling back to Tulsa a few months ago I met up with Heather again to do her bridal session. Then August rolled around it it was time to pack up & go to Wisconsin for their wedding!

They're just such a fun couple & I have really enjoyed my time in getting to know them since we first met last summer. The wedding was just gorgeous..... Heather's dress was perfect, the colors were perfect.... Really, it was just an amazing day! They both have such great families backing them in this new time of their life. I am having a majorly hard time lately at weddings with crying..... It all started with Laura & Ryan in July (thanks to Ryan for that one!) but it's continued! And I think I've figured out one of the reasons why..... I watch these loving parents "give" their children away and can't help but think that they must be thinking "Wow, all these years... they've gone so fast! Where has my baby gone?!" Which makes me think "Oh my God.... it's going to seem like overnight that I'll be here..... doing this same thing.... watching my little Noah get married!" ........and then I just can't stop crying.

It was especially hard on this beautiful August day because Heather & her dad (who's also the Pastor of their church there in Kenosha) made this AWESOME video to be played right before she came down the aisle.... I can't even begin to describe it because I know I can't do it justice. Basically, it was to this song... something about a dad singing about dancing with Cinderella (his daughter)... Honestly, I had to block it out after a while & just think "you're working, just work...." or someone would have had to scrape me up off the floor.

Fast forward to yesterday.... I'm headed over to Best Buy to purchase a new laptop and am flipping radio stations.... It comes on! So I (now no longer working, obviously) can actually listen to the song in full.... I was picturing Heather & her dad... and that video.... and I started weeping. Holy moly. It was bad. I literally had to turn it off because I was becoming so red & blotchy that surely the dudes at Best Buy would think I had just been beat up or something (Yah, I'm NOT a pretty crier....)

ANYWAYS, let's get to the good stuff :o)

Congrats you two! Much love from Ohio! :o)

These photos are sort of small on this blog (if you know how to make them bigger by the way, email me!) Anyways that slideshow they're watching says "Grow old along with me..." I just love this photo!
This cake was AMAZING. Biggest cake I've attempted to fit into a photo for sure! 13 cakes large, it was just beautiful & tasted oh-so-good!

Heather's nephew.... The ring bearer... SO adorable!






JP & his backup singers "serenading" Heather....


The amazing old truck they left in...


Monday, September 1, 2008

(...drumroll please...) And the Winner is.........

I had my trusty sidekick (Noah) draw the winner of the Birthday Give-a-Way this morning..... Here's the play-by-play action!
Receiving the special Flinstone cup with the names inside!
Checking out the cool cup...
Slightly confused about his job....

Finally figuring it out!
And the winner is!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats, Meg! I'll be emailing you shortly!
For everyone else that submitted an entry, I would like to give you as your "parting-gift" 10% off of your next package :o)
Happy Labor day to all!