Baby boy...

Scheduling itty bitties for their first session can be a bit tricky because they have their own idea of when they will enter the world. This little man arrived a few weeks early so when he came to meet me for the first time he was already 4 weeks old.  Not quite the squishy, sleepy, posable type of baby I'm used to for a first session.  He was so snuggly and in spite of being sleepy, he tried awful hard to keep one eye opened just a tiny bit in case he were to miss something.  After a few sips from the bottle and cuddles in front of the space heater we did manage to get him to that milk-coma and ready to work.

He is one lucky little guy to have such a caring big sister.  She couldn't wait for pictures with just the two of them and just HAD to see them on the back of my camera before they left.

I always say that having portraits made is such a personal experience and I think that is especially true when families come for a new born session.  I get to see how a family interacts both in front of the camera and while they are waiting in the wings.  Dad quick with the pacifier or bottle, Mom close at hand to ensure Baby is safe and warm, big sis excited to show off her new little brother and to show how helpful she is.  Welcoming a new baby is such a special time in the life of a family and I am so very blessed to see it in such an up-close and personal way!

Dreamy Cowboy

Oh my, the squishy sweetness that I had in the studio this week!  This little guy was zonked out when he came through my door a few days ago and he was perfectly content to stay that way even with me moving him around, turning him this way and that.  Such a good baby!  And those squishy little cheeks- I could eat them up.  I talked with his Mommy a bit when we scheduled the session so that I could get a feel for their style- what his nursery is like, what colors are in their home, etc.  When she told me that his room is cowboy themed with hankie patterns, I just knew that I had to find a saddle for some of his images.  I have to thank my friend, Amber, for bringing hers to me on such short notice.  It could not have been more perfect for him!  So here he is, a tiny little cowpoke...

Perfect little peanut...

I had another wee one in the studio this week...

Miss Sophia is so tiny, so alert, so expressive and SO sweet.  She is just perfect.  She was plenty sleepy but was worried about missing out on something fun.  She likes to have her hands by her face, which is completely adorable but adjusting them even the slightest bit to be sure they were just right would pop those eyes open in a hurry.  Miss Sophia also loves to be cuddled- which I would have been more than happy to do, but then how would we have gotten any of these precious little moments?

I think her parents are very blessed with this sweet little bundle.  Congrats again and thank you so much for bringing her in to meet me!

And special thank you to my friend Kristen at Baby Time for connecting me with this family!  One of the many perks of having a doula & baby boutique as my studio neighbor.  Be sure to stop in to her store if you haven't already, she has great gift ideas for Baby & Mom.

New Family

It is no secret that I love babies.  Their little squeaks and sighs, the way they stretch themselves out and then curl back up.  I could watch and snuggle a tiny person all day long.  So when this little guy came to visit me last week- I was in heaven!  He is absolutely perfect.  I think his parents would agree with me on that.

Congratulations on your new little love!  Thank you for bringing him in to meet me.

Oh You Beautiful Doll!

I think I'll be finding feathers in the studio for weeks after this session {and I will giggle every time I pick one up because I will be remembering the laughs we shared}.  We had lots of fun with this little beauty and her big sister.  With 9 month olds, you just never know how hard you're going to have to work but this little Miss was keeping that smile on her face.  What a sweetie!

Having his cake...

This little birthday boy was all smiles for his cake smash earlier this week.

Now that is a boy who enjoys his cake!

A new life to start the new year...

Happy New Year!  I hope you had a happy and wonder-filled Christmas and New Year celebration.  I for one, am very much excited for what 2013 is going to bring!  I already have some exciting events on my calendar, including my first Bridal show that will be in Manchester, IA later this month.  Lots of great new products in the works for this year too that I'll be rolling out over the next few weeks.

Since this is my first blog of the new year, I thought it was so fitting that it featured new baby, Emma.  She was born just before Christmas {is there anything more sweet than a new baby at Christmas time?  Maybe I just feel that way because my own babies were born in that season}.  She is tiny and precious and simply beautiful!

Special thanks to BabyTime for letting me borrow the tutu dress!  She has others in lots of sizes as well as other great baby items so stop in to see if if you haven't already.

Emma is {welcomed} by a big brother- although when it came time to lay with her for pictures, he seemed less than impressed.

A little princess turns 1...

She was a little unsure about this whole Cake Smash thing but once she got a little taste of that frosting, she got into it.  Those big brown eyes will be so hard for Daddy to say "no" to someday.  She is just such a little doll.

Sweet baby girl & her adoring brother

This little one sure is loved!  I can already see that her big brother is going to take very good care of her.

She was simply perfect.  She only needed a couple of little breaks to eat and to get a dry blanket under her.  Once she was ready to sack out I moved in to get some sweet, snuggly poses.  

Such a little love!  I could have cuddled and played all day long.  Love those new little ones.

Love, love, love this session!

This is exactly what I wish for as a portrait of my own family!  It would be a dream come true for me to have everyone looking so nice and loving and making great connections with each other and the camera so that I could COVER my walls in BIG, beautiful portraits.  I love this location, I have been using it a lot lately and I was so sad to go there on Saturday to find they had mowed down this lovely grass.  At least I got to do this wonderful family's session there, what a great one to end on!

We were also there to mark Miss E's 10th month so here she is in all her cuteness!

I still have weekday evenings available if you'd like to get a session in with the fall colors that are starting to show.  Be sure to call soon for the best selection!

Look who just turned one...

You may remember her as one of our best of 2011 winners in this image:

She came back in on her birthday last week with her parents to mark the occasion.  

I love watching little ones grow and their personalities form.  It is such a fun and exciting time in life.  And she sure is brimming with personality already.  The world is a wonder and she is determined to explore it!  We had a hard time containing her in the big open meadow with all those fun things to check out a space to run.  Thank you for making a visit with me part of your birthday celebration!  I'm sure this was the first of MANY happy birthdays for you.

Silly Little Monkey...

It is such a fun stage when little ones begin to interact with the world around them.  This little guy was all smiles the day he came in!  You can tell his heart really belongs to Mommy because his attention is easily distracted by her voice.  Such a sweet little snuggle bug!

I love that crazy hair!