Can You Stand Their Cuteness? {Grand Rapids Children's Photographer}

You've seen this cute bunch of kids on my blog before, aren't they just adorable? I've photographed them over the past couple of years and I just can't believe how big they're getting!!

I just love how this sweet little tootsie will let her mama do her hair all pretty with all those curls and cute headbands. Rylee won't let me do her hair in my definition of cute anymore, it's all about her ideas. You should see how her hair looks today, it's um.... interesting.

Look.... all three are looking and smiling!!!! Love those cute little kids, they did so good!!

Psst.... Still There? {Grand Rapids Childrens Photographer}

What I've been up to....

Since October when Joe and I first started the adoption process, we've been keeping busy with case worker appointments, and paper chasing - trying to finish up the dossier (the main set of paperwork that goes to Ethiopia to start the referral process). Finally, FINALLY we've finished up our dossier! It involves a lot of running around, appointments and money. Thankfully we were able to complete it without too much stress and hand it in to our agency last week. Currently it's being reviewed by the international adoption team at our agency and hopefully they don't find anything we need redone and then they can ship it overseas to Africa!! We are just so excited to add a new member to our family!

In late February me and my family have moved into a teeny, tiny rental home until the house we are building is complete - I'm hoping July. We are pretty much moved in but there are definitely boxes we still need to go through.

Between moving and the adoption paperwork, it's been an extremely busy few months! I'm currently limiting my sessions to 4 a month so please contact me early if you would like to set up a session. I'm still booking a few for April so you can email me if you would like book.

Feast your eyes upon these cuties....

Class of 2012 Model Search {Grand Rapids Senior Photographer}

Get ready class of 2012! Apply today for your chance to have a complementary senior session and lots of other goodies.

Want to apply to be the next model for the class of 2012? Click the link below and act fast, deadline for applying is

February 26.

APPLICATION LINK

Hello! {Grand Rapids Photographer}

If I were to describe life in a nutshell at the moment it would be "insane". Joe and I sold our house a couple of months ago and we are creeping up on closing time so we are planning on moving out this weekend. These past few weeks have been focused on packing, packing, and more packing!! We are planning on moving into a rental home until our new house will be completed which hopefully will be early Summer.

Paperwork for our adoption is almost complete! We had our fingerprint appointments the other week so we are waiting on clearance from those then our big pack of papers will be on it's way to Ethiopia!!! I'm just so excited to get on that waiting list I can hardly stand it. :)

1 week left to enter to be a Senior Model for Images of Essence Photography. See THIS post for details!!

I've been busy with sessions too. Here's only a few from the other week... I'll have more to share from other sessions when I get caught up.

Do you remember seeing her newborn pictures I took about 7 months ago? You can't miss her with all that hair!!

Here's one of my favorites from a 3 month session.

Remember my friends Matt and Lindsey DeYoung? If you haven't heard already we're asking for many prayers for their family. The DeYoung family set out for Tanzania, Africa in October to become missionaries. They took their sweet daughters Kia (4) and Lola (5) with them on this great adventure. Soon after they arrived in Africa Lola became sick and was progressively getting worse. Fast forward to February 12 when after the DeYoungs mission team sent them back to the US on an impromptu flight to seek treatment for their little Lola, they found themselves at the Helen Devos Children's Hospital where on Valentines Day Lola was diagnosed with Leukemia. Because they were only expecting to stay in the US for maybe a couple of weeks, the DeYoungs left almost all of what they had over in Africa and we're asking for your help. You can read more HERE on how you can help my friends while they look to settle in on this long journey they have before them. Want to send them a card or brighten Lola's day a little? Look HERE on how you can do that. Despite the situation they've found themselves in they seek to choose joy through all of this. That's why I love Matt and Lindsey and their sweet family, always looking to the positives and not letting anything get in the way of that.

Embracing Winter

I'm trying my hardest to remind myself that Winter is only temporary. I still think though that winter lasts WAAAAY too long. :)

I've been super busy over the past 2 months. Joe and I have sold our house (yea!) and are about to move out in a couple weeks to a rental until our next house is completed.

Adoption news.... Joe and I had our fingerprint appointment this past Wednesday and are sooo close to handing in our Dossier (the big pack of paperwork that gets us on the waiting list)!!

Tanzania Baby Shower - UPDATE {Grand Rapids Photographer}

A couple of weeks ago I wrote this post about my friend Lindsey and her need for supplies for the orphanage in Tanzania. I asked and you provided. Thank you, thank you, thank you for those that stopped by to donate the items needed and for those of you that gave a monetary donation. This truly will be such a blessing to those sweet little children over there that are living in that orphanage. I know Lindsey is so grateful too.

I've received huge bags of clothing full of wipes, diapers, outfits, lotion, diaper cream, blankets etc. To date total we've raised $405 to give to the orphanage which they will use to purchase formula and food for those children. Thank you!!!

If you haven't made a monetary donation yet and you'd like to, there is still time! Click the Paypal button to the upper right of my blog to donate! I'll take the Papal button down right before I meet the person traveling to Tanzania so if the button is still there, donate away!

Thanks again for your participation!

2010 Image Winner {Grand Rapids Photographer}

Last month I ran a contest for the best image of 2010 and this picture won by a landslide! With over 200 votes this lucky couple won a 16x20 canvas of any picture from that session.

This is the image that they chose and the canvas turned out beautifully!

Congratulations!!