it's MY party...

and i can cry if i want to! happy 1st birthday to an incredibly smart, sweet & sassy gal. thank goodness that norah's family is super patient. it took a while for norah to warm up to me. and if it wasn't for dad nearly standing on his head, mom hiding out in another room, and the mickey mouse club house song playing on the phone, oh and CAKE (((that mom made)))...i'm not sure we would have had smiles from this sweetheart. this session was clearly a group effort, and i'm thrilled to capture it. tears, cake, soulful brown eyes and all.
i'm loving the coordination on mom's part. gold leggings and a hot pink tutu?! seriously! and coordinating ONE letters that dad painted for his daughter's big day. watching this family grow is nothing short of amazing. i am beyond blessed to capture these moments! oxo

sometimes...

i still cannot believe that my little brother is almost 20. he will ALWAYS be my sunshine. he is the lil' guy whose smile would just light up when i pulled him along on wagon rides or built tents in the living room. he had the sweetest laugh, and we would laugh together until our bellies hurt. this kid always has been right hand man. when he was little, he was a RIOT but he had this simple charm that would just make you weak at your knees. the bond that i share with this kiddo is irreplaceable.
so fast forward to now. andrew has found an awesome gal who treats him like gold. and together they share an incredible home on the water. i was super excited to finally check it out. they have a little piece of paradise right in their hands. so here's to swinging in the hammock and watching sunrises from your pier. i am so proud of you! oxxo

catching up...

on christmas. so sometimes the hardest part of my job is when the portraits are a gift and parents request that i wait until after a certain date to post. maybe its not that hard, but sometimes the anticipation kills me.
since christmas has passed- better late than never, here is a cheerful christmas session that included two of my favorite little people. devin always makes me smile. this kid is wise beyond his years and can carry a conversation with you on just about anything. sweet lil' miss peyton surely kept her tradition alive of smiling, all sorts of big gummy smiles after hearing she was beautiful & gorgeous. i love these kiddos!