Baby T: 3 months

Lots of tears were shed during this session, both by big sister and little brother.  Oh the trials and tribulations of raising children!  We were able to pull off the session with a few smiling kiddos so festively dressed for the season!  I just thought I'd add one of Baby T to show you his 3 month picture.  It is amazing how quickly they change in just a short 3 months!

The A Family: Waveland

...just one more session...I glance at my husband with my face twisted up in a wince.  He just looks at me knowingly and responds, "I thought you were supposed to start maternity leave like a month ago."  He understands my passion, my drive, my motivation - and heck - when you're self employed every opportunity affects your payday.  The payday is constantly in the back of my mind since I'll be taking off several months for maternity leave AND not sure how much business I can take on with two kids at home...under the age of two.  But the Good Lord doesn't give us more than we can handle.  :) 

As for the A Family, I took on their session - as you can tell, other wise I wouldn't be writing about them!  ;)  I have to admit, I was nervous...not quite sure what to expect.  But what nerves lingered at the beginning of the shoot were looooong gone by the end!  The A Family has quite a sense of humor and the ability to make anyone feel comfortable and at ease in their presence.  They treat you as if you are real person and not just a photographer and 'let's hustle and get this shoot over with.'  And because of their ability to connect and relate, their pictures turned out awesome...imo.  I love nothing more than families (especially dads and husbands) who aren't afraid to show their affectionate side towards their children and wife.  I'm such a sucker, aren't I?! 

With a tough schedule to work with AND at the mercy of the weather - we were able to pull this session off outdoors.  Whew...I mean, I can shoot indoors, but I prefer outdoors WAAAAAAY better!  Luckily for us the 40% chance of rain held off until the next day.  Sorry for all you FBers who were complaining about ANOTHER rainy Monday, but it REALLY helped me out.  ;) 

Enough jabbering...here's the A Family!  :)

My Maternity Session

So my husband and mother are on the same page with maternity sessions...why?  As in, 'why bother?'  Sure, we snapped a few candid pictures of my growing belly from the past 8 months, but why bother with an official session with another professional photographer.  Insert sarcastic comment here from husband ----> "Why do we have to pay another photographer to take our pictures when you have a nice camera and tripod?!"  Oh dear...I just shake my head...he just doesn't understand!  And my husband and mom just don't 'get' the bare belly pictures.  Oh well.  I think it would be pretty hypocritical of myself to take pictures of other pregnant women, but not have my own maternity photo shoot.  ;) 

We used Ben Keeling as our photographer for our maternity session.  And he's going to do our newborn session as well.  I know, I know...I could probably do that myself, but I would like a family picture...and once again...my husband would use the 'but you have a tripod' excuse.  But I digress...seriously...I was SO unhappy with my son's newborn pictures I took that I was very thankful to have Michele Carlisle document our new family.  For those of you who have had children and remember those first few weeks (if you can remember anything at all), you know your brain isn't firing on all cylinders...or at least mine wasn't.  So the newborn pictures I took of him were less than desirable.  :(  So we look forward to the arrival of our baby girl sometime around Christmas and New Year's. 

*I've been referring customers to Ben & Michele during my maternity leave.  :)

PS  I'm still hoping praying it is still a girl...I still doubt the ultra sound since my husband's family has a track record of NOT producing girls.  Not to mention all the money we've invested in pink and purple.  There's always craig's list if the ultrasound tech was wrong...and store returns/exchanges!  And yes, the baby IS his...for you readers who have a sense of humor.  ;) 

Thanks again Ben for documenting this special milestone in our lives!  :)