Little Lady

I had such a fun afternoon hanging out with this little sweetheart.  Her dad and mom brought her over today to capture her 6 month milestone and to have her Christmas pictures taken.  Love the combination of her outfit and the backdrop!

Her hair is just starting to grow in... how cute! 

Look at those legs!  Ooh baby!!

They also brought along this little fella - he wasn't as sure of the camera as his sister was!

It was such a pleasure to meet you guys and to capture this precious time in your daughters life. Hope you've enjoyed your sneak peek!  

Breathe. Keep Breathing.

Is what I had to remind myself when the neurosurgeon first stepped into the room. This appointment has been in the making for around a month and a half but to my husband and I it seemed like forever.

Trey was making great progress during his therapy sessions at Mary Free Bed. Great progress in all areas but in the crawling position. The therapists were noticing that he wasn't lifting his head up and they weren't sure whether it was due to weakness or if something was possibly wrong. A referral was made to see a specialist who reviewed the x-ray's only to give us news that there is a possibility of a couple medical conditions. Google was not my friend that night.

After seeing that specialist, it was suggested that we should have Trey undergo an MRI and a CT scan to take a closer look at the area in question. Last week we had an early appointment at Spectrum for his scans, thankfully we were the first scheduled so they moved along quickly. How traumatic it was I'm sure for Trey seeing all those doctors surround him. For me, traumatic doesn't even come close to what I felt seeing them put him under sedation.

We had the big appointment with the neurosurgeon early this week. The appointment that we have so anxiously awaited to learn what was going on with our little buddy. After reading up on the possibilities of what they were looking for I was scared stiff. If what they were looking for was found, we were facing surgery. Spinal cord/brain surgery. Just breathe...

He was a very nice guy. He sat down on his little swivel doctors chair, looked us in the eye and said, "It's not what they were looking for." I about fell to the floor. Praise the Lord! Then the "however" came out of his mouth. At that moment we learned that Trey has a condition which results in excess fluid to collect around his brain - Trey is Hydrocephalic. Thankfully Trey has a mild form of it and it is expected that his body will be able to absorb the extra fluid therefore not needing a shunt. They are expecting that by the age of 2 he will be developmentally caught up with the help of more physical therapy. That is our hope and our prayer.

We have another MRI scheduled in mid-December to look into a different area of concern with Trey but we are again praying for good results.

Thanksgiving could not have come at a better time. Being it's the day of giving thanks, I thought I would share what I am thankful for. Today I am thankful for life and for health. Life, because it is so precious. Health, because it can be gone so quickly. I am thankful I have 3 beautiful children that we love more than they could ever imagine. What are you thankful for today?

In light of all that has been going on and that continues to happen, I am taking a much needed break. Images of Essence will be closed December 6 - January 31. In January my husband and I are taking a much needed and well deserved vacation. December is for me to re-energize, to get re-inspired, to rest, and most importantly to be with my family. Please feel free to contact me during my vacation by phone or by email to set up future appointments. No worries my faithful readers/blog stalkers, I still have a couple sessions that got in by the skin of their teeth so keep checking back. I will show their faces so we can throw stones at them later. JUST KIDDING (seriously, do not throw stones at them... seriously) I love them.

Happy Thanksgiving - we all have a lot to be thankful for!

Try This...

In his preschool class this year the teachers interviewed all the kids and asked them how they would prepare a turkey for Thanksgiving.  I thought I would share Gibson's recipe, it sounds tasty!

"How To Cook A Turkey"  by Gibson Siereveld

Get a turkey from the fair.  Shoot it with a gun and bring the turkey home by putting it in a basket.  Have your dad do something to it.  He'll put it on the grill.  While it's grilling put four pieces of salt on it.  When the grill is done cooking put the turkey on a plate.  Take it inside and eat it.  Serve it with some salt and apples.  For dessert have some apple pie.  

Mmm.... sounds delish.  This is a must try for this Thanksgiving!  There's a new idea for you all you turkey hunters, just buy one from the fair and take it out back!  

Roomies

After much anticipation, the story of the squirrel poo.  

This has been happening for a good 3 months now.  Joe and I moved into an apartment with our kids because we are currently building our new house.  About a week or so after we moved in we met a new friend.  He lived with us for a while... in our ceiling.  

Really he was my friend. When I was lonely I'd hear him lovingly scratch at the vent to remind me that he was there, or when I was bored he'd slide down the cathedral ceiling like a slide and make me laugh.  The best is when I couldn't sleep at night I'd hear him on our baby monitor chewing on the drywall right above my boys' room - keeping them safe.  

He may be my friend, but he was starting to gross me out.  Maintenance came the night of the fork.  The gentleman went up in the attic access to hunt the mammal down.  Hunt he did, he not only scared the family of squirrels out, he covered the hole where they were getting in.  I knew when I went by the access how much my squirrel friend loved me.  He left me LOTS of little turds on the floor of my boys' closet.  Almost as gross as dealing with my husband foot. 

Fierceness

Yup...

She's got it.

Smitten

Maybe it's his eyes, his smile, or possibly his hair, whatever it is this child has me smitten. What a honey this little guy is with such a great personality!   Good friends of Joe and I came to hang out and get some Christmas pictures and 6 month pictures of this little buddy.   Hope you guys like them - thanks for the fun night!

What a smile!

This little guy is already showing signs of wanting to crawl and walk!  Busy times are ahead for the parents!  :)

Another request for the tie picture - LOVE IT!

All the hunters out there might appreciate this one.

Look at those bunners!

SALE!

From now until December 31st I am having a sale on all canvas prints!!  Whoot, whoot - who doesn't like a sale?  All sizes are included so shop 'till your little heart is content! 

15% off all canvas prints - just in time for the holiday!

Contact me for pricing.

ENERGY!

Boy do these two have a lot of energy!  It was the youngest boy's birthday so we were combining family photos with birthday photos!  

 

Brothers... they look so sweet and innocent here.  Trust me, this was during a quick break from the wrestling and the monster truck racing.  These boys were full of energy!

5 is such a good age!

Here is the birthday boy - he turned 3 yesterday!  Happy birthday!

The mom brought out some goodies that totally "fit" who her 3 year old was.  He loves to work with his tools!

This is how we ended the session, with this scary creature.  Anyone know what in the world this is - my guess, Power Ranger?  Whatever it was, it made for a cute picture!

I had a fantastic morning with this family.  Thanks for inviting me to take your pictures!  Hope you've enjoyed your sneak peek!  

Don't call me if...

you are bleeding, have a broken bone, or something is oozing from a place it shouldn't be.  I don't do well with that kind of grossness.  Last night I was vacuuming up squirrel poo from my son's closet (I'll save this story for another day), when my oldest comes running in almost in tears.  He says he's so sorry for leaving toys on the stairs and that daddy fell with Trey.  I just told him to go apologize when I hear Joe yelling for help.  Great... 

I get to the bottom of the stairs where I see Trey laying on the floor, Joe crumpled in pain, and a really bloody sock.  Grimace, shudder, close my eyes, I am in a happy place.   Reality hits again and I make sure that Trey is ok - he is, then I turn to Joe and his bloody foot.  Eww.  We both scan the steps to see what could have caused this tragedy, a block - probably not, plastic piggy bank - unlikely, a fork - the culprit.  I go to grab Joe some gauze, tape and new socks.  Then like any normal person would do I start cleaning, frantically cleaning.  I am a worthless wife when I see blood.  Scrapes are ok, blood from deep inside, not.  I gather my thoughts and finally I get the courage to go by my wounded husband again.   

We had a fabulous dinner that night, pizza calzones (a delicious recipe that I will share eventually).  When I asked Joe to get Trey from his nap, Rylee decided to follow with fork in hand but left it conveniently on the steps.  

A trip to the urgent care, a diagnosis of a fork to the foot, 4 stitches and a 1" deep puncture wound later we were all home.   

I leave you with this pleasant photograph.  Much better than looking at a bloody foot. 

Ooooh Baby!

What a little buddy this guy was!  When he wasn't chewing on his shoe, chewing on my basket, or eating his hands and feet, he wanted to crawl!!! This little guy was full of life and just wanted to experience it all!  I had so much fun meeting him and his mom tonight.  Thanks so much for taking him in to have his 6 month pictures taken!   

Isn't his blond hair ADORABLE?  The mom told me he's already had multiple haircuts... so cute!

Check out those eyes!  LOVE this one!

More to come in your gallery! 

Serious With Style

Yesterday afternoon was SO much fun. This girl could work it!  Let me tell you, she's only 13 but you'd never guess.  Serious she was, but I have to say she is a natural behind the camera.  Thanks for choosing me to take some birthday photographs, I had a great afternoon!

She really enjoys riding dirt bikes.  I think this one captures who she is perfectly!

A favorite from the session... if my daughter looks like this when she's 13, she's going to be locked up from all those boys chasing her!

Hope you've enjoyed your preview!

Munchkins

Yesterday morning I got to hang out with these little munchkins.   All dressed in their Christmas gear and ready to go.  Oldest buddy was a little leery of me, in fact, every time I have photographed him he has been a little questionable of what the world I'm going to put him though!  Warming up toward the end, we got some great shots of him and his little brother together.  Enjoy your sneak peek!

All my clients so far are doing a wonderful job of dressing to have their pictures taken.  Is this sweater not to die for?!?  LOVE IT!

Is this not just the sweetest smile!  Love it because it's one of the few that I caught him laughing!

This little guy's eyes are just beautiful... um... er... handsome!

The mom was right in thinking that his shirt would photograph well with his eyes.  This is one of my favorites from the session!

The parents saw this shot I got of Trey and wanted to try it with their little buddy... another favorite of mine from the session!

Hope you guys enjoyed your time yesterday!  I know I had fun!  More to come this afternoon from me.  Yesterday afternoons session was just as fun!!!

Beauty Captured

Tonight I met with a great couple and their gorgeous baby girl to have some newborn portraits done.  Don't let this adorable, sweet, beautiful little girl fool you.  She'll give you a run for your money.  It took some time but we definitely got some keepers for her mom and dad.  

My personal favorite of the evening... perhaps of all the newborn pictures I've done... ever.  I really like this one!  :)

Only 3 tonight folks.  Why you ask?  Quite frankly I'm tired, really tired - your baby girl wore me right out!  Had a wonderful time tonight with you guys!  It was great to get to know you and I really hope you've enjoyed your sneak peek!  Until next time...

Great Weather

Thankfully it was a beautiful day today because originally we had this family's session scheduled for last week but as we all know, the weather didn't cooperate.   I'm so glad that I didn't already have a session scheduled for this morning so I could squeeze them in.  It was great to meet this family, they were so much fun to work with and had the perfect setting for fall pictures right in their backyard! 

I love it when I get to photograph husbands and wives together.  I don't think I have any pictures of just my husband and I since our wedding and I guess I feel that this is really important to do.  Love how this one turned out, such a cute couple!

Ugh, my favorite of the day.  One of the sweetest 7 year old I've ever met.  I could have eaten her right up!

Loved it in black and white too...

Told ya - she's a keeper!

I'm SO glad that we could make this happen this morning.  Thank you for inviting me to your home to capture this time in your life!  I'm saving the family pictures for your gallery, which I'll contact you when it's ready!  Hope you've enjoyed your preview!