Kinley. 9 Months Big.
AND STANDING!
She braved the cold snowy weather for the perfect shot!
Frigid tempertures, you say?! This little cutie will just melt your heart.
And Mommy and Daddy feel the same.
Her boots.. I just can’t take it!
Then we headed inside for story time.
Momma said this outfit and hat makes her feel like Kinley is a little baby. I’d have to agree. She’s a living doll!
The Williams Family. Times two.
These little guys got new boots from Santa.
And this little one isn’t quite ready for boots. 
Claire Bear. 8 Months Big.
Oh my, those eyes!
Delaney. 3 Years Big.
Beep, beep. Who got the keys to the Jeep, vrrrooooom. (A little Missy Elliot for ya on this terrific Tuesday. Does anyone remember this song? )
So it’s cold. It’s snowy. It’s windy and brisk. Too cold for anything outdoors other than sledding and skiing. I do love the four seasons but it makes it terribly hard to do winter photo sessions. I’ve wanted to do a grocery store session for years now. Every winter, I’ll mention it to my clients and no one has jumped at the chance. Until Delaney…
And I’m SO happy she did. I’m just in love with her little personality. And we found lots of fun prop and cool areas to photograph this little gem.
She has the biggest sweet tooth. Just like her Momma! (I photographed her wedding, I know! Sweets everywhere!)
Scoping out all the cereal boxes and finding her FAVES!
Delaney was like a kid in a candy store.
I mean…REALLY…
I’ve been photographing this little girl since she was in her Momma’s belly. And she invited Lucy to come watch. Thank you, Kim, for always being so wonderful. For always loving my littles. For being you. It was so nice to catch up, to vent about our girlies and their tantrums, and to reminisce on the days when we didn’t have babies. XO bunches!
Favorite food, snack, junk food, candy, etc...
Delaney loves blueberry yogurt, mini muffins, macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, pretzels, fruit snacks and almost any kind of fruit!
Favorite song and/or book..
Her favorite book is Pete the Cat – she sings the Pete the Cat song all the time too! She’ll even point out your groovy buttons if you happen to be wearing any that day.
Favorite show and/or character…
She could never pick just one! She loves Scooby Doo, Dora the Explorer, Cinderella, Tom & Jerry, Super Readers, Curious George…what can I say? She loves her shows.
What is one thing Delaney can’t live without?
She always has a parade of stuffed animals and toys with her – she brings them down each morning and drags them all up with her before bed every night. If you try taking her up without them, she shouts out, “Nooooo! My seeengs!” (my things) Also, her iPad is a close second (it used to be her dad’s, but that ship has sailed).
Favorite memory from her second year…
My favorite memory from this last year was seeing her meet her baby brother for the first time. Ryan carried her into the Children’s NICU and up to Owen’s ICU bay – I was rocking him and she peered over the top of the rocking chair, still in Ryan’s arms to see him for the first time. She said, “Hims my brudder?” We told her yes and she had the biggest smile I’ve ever seen stretch across her face…she couldn’t stop staring at him. She said, “I’s so happy!” She has been so smitten with him ever since – it’s so amazing to watch them interact with each other. Wouldn’t trade it for the world!
Share her personality with us!
Delaney is incredibly independent and very, very busy! She has an insane amount of energy, but is not a morning person – totally a night owl! God help you if you try to wake her up when she’s not ready…you’ll definitely regret it! She loves playing with her friends at school and is incredibly social. She’s goofy too – loves joking around and pulling pranks (mostly on dad)! Delaney is also really, really smart – too smart for her own good sometimes! She loves writing her name, coloring, painting and watching her shows. Her current funny phrases are: “are you kidding me?” and “of course!” instead of yes. If you ask her what the fox says, she’ll tell you! “Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!” She makes every day fun, interesting and absolutely memorable – we love our Laney Love.
Franklin. 1 Year Big.
Don’t you just love his little fedora?
And those eyes… amazing.
Franklin, you are going to be one super cool big brother!
Thank you for letting me capture you at all of your little milestones during your first year. Franklin, you are a living doll! XO!
This was the first time we met when you were about two months old. Sticking that tongue out at the camera! Little ham!
The Weis Family.
Adorable as ever!
Looks like the doggies are going to kiss too!
I look forward to seeing these pooches every year around this time. XO, Murphy and Kirby!
Momma and her two boys.
I spy a photo bomber!
They are so handsome even if they do hate having their photo taken.
Henry. 6 Months Big.
Such a sweet little face!
Henry is scooting backwards on his little belly. Like a quick snake.
It’s Engine 23. One day soon his feet will hit the floor and he’ll have this thing speeding off to imaginary fires.
Brotherly love…
The Aljancic Family.
My session fave. She’s just so adorable in that hat, coat and boats!
I know I’ve said it before, but this is ONE PRETTY FAMILY right here. XO, friends!
Ohhhhh, sweet baby girl. It was FREEZING at just 30 degrees outside. She was such a trooper! And sometimes crying pictures are the cutest. 🙂
Charlotte. 4 Months Big.
SERIOUSLY….
Charlotte Camille Blyth. I just adore her name. And her beautiful nursery.
Twinkle, twinkle, little Charlotte.
How did you find out you were expecting?
We’d been trying for almost 10 months and I suspected I was pregnant. I took 3 tests. The first test was inconclusive which added to the excitement. Luckily I had more tests handy and the second was positive! I took one more just to be sure. 🙂
Did you find out your baby’s gender?
We chose to be surprised with the sex. Most people thought we were having a boy by the way I carried. I really never had a hunch one way or the other.
Is there a nursery or shower theme you’d like to share?
Our nursery came together with a little inspiration from Pinterest. We received an old schoolhouse chalkboard from Charlotte’s grandpa and it’s one of my favorite things in her room. I painted Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on a large canvas that hangs over her changing table. She also has a 4 ft giraffe behind her crib.
Tell us about that first moment when you saw your baby
I had an emergency Cesarian because Charlotte was breech. My husband took a picture of her and that was my first view of her sweet face.
Is there a story behind your baby’s name?
Since we didn’t know the sex we never committed to a name. Charlotte was a name we both liked from the start and we gave it to her about 5 mins. after she was born. Camille is after Blaine’s loving, Italian grandma. He proposed to me at her Arizona home so we wanted to incorporate her name.
Give us the scoop. What has surprised you the most about parenthood?
I think the most surprising thing for me has been the emotional roller coaster. One minute I think I’ll never sleep again and feel so desperate and the next minute I’m on cloud 9 because she giggled. It’s an incredible adventure to say the least.
How did you find Crystal Jo?
My good friend and boss:), Heidi Bates introduced me to Crystal Jo. Heidi has 2 gorgeous kiddos and I love the photos Crystal takes of them. Crystal Jo is very warm and personable. My experience with her was delightful!
To see the video slideshow, click HERE.
A bun in the oven..
Thank you, Ana. For always capturing the best of times for us. XO!
Maternity.
And the last time this little firecracker was my only little girl…
Playing doctor and listening to the heartbeat.
Five years ago we said our vows. Here’s a little snippet from mine…
I promise to love you through youth and health, weak and old,
when among friends and family or just us alone,
when our babies are young and our kids are all grown,
and leaving home with kids of their own.
I promise through all that we see in our life,
I forever take you as my husband and I’ll be your wife.
…I will love you in every season we pass through, with our babies hand in hand.
It touches my heart to come back to this very special place. To remember these words. Those feelings. And now living it.
Oreos and milk. My pregnancy craving.
Roberta, thank you for being there to capture BOTH of my baby bellies. It really means the world to have your friendship. Love you to the moon and back!
We are building a house at the same time we are brewing a baby. Everyone kept asking, “is the baby here yet?” “is the house done?”. So a “two in one” post. The house and the baby, still growing.
Lucy’s Birth Story…
I went to visit Dr. Lindauer a day before my due date. She told me I was progressing and if I wanted to be induced, I’d go fairly quickly. I was very unsure and scared to do this, spending the ENTIRE day making my decision. Calling my nurse friend (thanks Amanda) and texting and bugging my friends and family that had been induced before. Jason was pro-induction. “Let’s just do it. You trust your doctor, you want her there. Plus, baby will have a cool birthday. (10/10)” So about five minutes before my doctor’s office closed for the day, I called and asked them to schedule my induction on 10/10. It really was the BEST experience. We arrived at the hospital and started pitocin at 10AM. I had an epidural at 1:30PM and had her at 2:43PM. Super fast, two big pushes and she was here.
We didn’t know if the baby was a boy or girl. I had hats picked out for both but I couldn’t decide if I wanted the girl to wear a new hat or the hat Pixie had worn right after she was born.
I love this photo so much. This is us googling “baby girl names” just minutes before I was about to push. The whole morning we talked about girl names. I so badly wanted “Story Lucille” but Jason was not having it. My mom was trying to bribe Jason with food and anything she could think of that would get my way. Notta. If the baby was a boy, his name would be “Declan Marvin Holt”. We’ve known this for months. But a girl name…we just couldn’t agree. I really thought I could convince him to go for Story. But, even more so, deep down inside, I really thought it was a boy. BOY was I wrong!
It’s time!
When she came out, I couldn’t see her parts. I asked… What is it?! “It’s a GIRL!”
And this moment I will remember FOREVER. Just breath it all in.
My beautiful Momma has always been my biggest support system. My best friend. There, right by my side, for everything oh-so-special in my life. I couldn’t live without her. She’s the most patient, beautiful person in the whole entire world. And I say this all the time..
..I can only hope to be the mother she was to me.
SOOOOOOOoooo very much in love! We decided on her name, Lucy Pearl, about an hour after she was with us. It’s pretty perfect!
This beautiful lady right here is my dear friend Cindi. She took all of the above birth photos, but she is no photographer, just a sweet soul with the biggest heart. I love her SO VERY much and it was extremely special for me that she was there to witness the birth of both of my babies. I told her to just hold the camera and fire away, it didn’t matter to me what the photos looked like, as long as she was there. Of course the photos are beautiful. But to me, it was even more beautiful that she was by my side. Xo, Pretty Girl, love you so VERY MUCH!
And this guy. I’m pretty in love with him too. He’s said all along he’d be the father of two little girls. And now, I really couldn’t picture life any different.
Big Sister meets little sister for the very first time. My heart may have just exploded right out of this world. And I love the excitement in her big eyes here…
This hospital visit was A LOT more relaxing. Second baby, second time around, she went to the nursery so Momma could get some rest. 🙂
This is Pixie on day one.
This is Lucy. Twinsies. The resemblance is a happy deja vu.
She has all of Jason’s little features.
Take home blanket.. my great grandmother made it for me and I came home from the hospital in it. And Pixie. And now Lucy. It’s so very special.
Big Sister and Mia decorated the house. Of course, all hormonal, I cried when we pulled up to the rental house. Lucy, my dear, you are so loved, the whole big world can see it right here…
