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!

this family is...

hands down, super awesome. i love how they each have such unique personalities. mom makes the whole "two under the age of two" look effortless. i didn't even need to bribe dad to smile. biggest brother evan would rather being throwing baseballs with his dad, but was so helpful when it came to rounding up the little ones. hannah was smiling already and waited ever so patiently. brandon was having more fun throwing leaves and playing with the cat that lives on the farm. and lil adam, well he is just the squishiest lil guy that just goes with the flow.  and somehow, all these personalities just mesh. i love working with families. they are a sweet reminder of just how incredible life is. thanks again guys...i'm lovin' your family!oxo

you would never know...

from their warm smiles that these gorgeous gals were freezing. it was so cold & windy but they were such good sports. we were able to find some relief from the wind in downtown leonardtown. their mom wanted some portraits of the two of them since big sister is home from college.  i have said it before, but it is really an awesome feeling to work with families again & again.  i am blessed to watch these gals grow up and capture a few fleeting moments.
to me, the highlight of the session was not a single image, but when mom was watching over my shoulder as i was posing & clicking, looked at her girls and said, "well at least i know i have done something right." mom was just beaming with pride. why yes, mom you have. you have raised two amazing girls that are sweet & strong, just like you! i hope that when you look at your portraits you are reminded, just in case you ever forget. oxo

this family went...

down on the farm! i was so excited when this awesome group wanted to do family portraits at the tree farm. these guys were loads of fun and kept me laughing. the awesome part about what i do is that i get to see behind the scenes. the love that this mom & dad have for each other is truly remarkable. when they look at each other its like i can see the hearts in their eyes. they are still lovebirds. and this is why i love what i do. oxxo

i hope that...

EVERYONE has someone in their life that means as much to them as my sister does to me. i cannot begin to even put into words just how blessed i am to have her. this gal never ceases to amaze me. she is a constant source of support and inspiration. her hubby is one incredible guy too; clearly they were made for each other!  i think of him as an older brother; he always has good advice and so easy to talk to. i am blessed to have them both in my life.
i was ecstatic when she asked to do some christmas portraits. they kept the furbabies at home this year and we met at a local tree farm. this adorable couple was ready for any crazy idea i had. her hubby had some pretty awesome ideas too. i could not think of a better day than thanksgiving to share this session. i love you both, to the moon & back. oxxo