Little Sisters Have All the Fun

I met these 3 beauties a couple weeks ago.

They were all so good with each other! Very patient, did not squabble - not quite how I remember my relationship with my brothers, (though of course brothers and sisters have a different dynamic...)

They shared lip gloss and giggles.

(My brothers and I shared baseball and bruises.)


And it's a shame the baby of the family was so shy...


Really. Can't you tell she doesn't like attention?

:)

Middle sister, W, is in Kindergarten, plays soccer and has such a fun little personality!

Two words about gorgeous big sister: heart. breaker.


I'm sure glad I got to meet you funny girls. You made me laugh.
:)

Holiday Variety

So, I went a little overboard with my image selection. I couldn't choose!

This fun family opted for part holiday home session/part park session.
I love variety!

Two-&-a-half-yr.-old W has the cutest, toddler smirk in this picture. A little mischievous - (not him though! He was so well behaved!)

C is on the move. He's 8 mos. old and ready to explore!

Oh my goodness. Could this be any sweeter?

Daddy's hand to guide him.
And look at that focus. He is determined to make it!

Piler

Hello, blogger world. I've neglected you. Not intentionally, I've said this before, and I mean it. Just busy. I'm happy that our "usual" relationship shall resume soon.
I've officially got 5 sessions patiently waiting for their at-one-time-would-have-been "sneak" peeks, but now have viewed their session so they can get them back in time for Christmas; therefore, once their blog's are posted, it will be a repeat viewing. (*I think that's officially not a run-on sentence.*) I really have goals to get those posted this week! You might be wondering why this post isn't one of those...I'm just going cross-eyed from editing, so I wanted to post non-photo related, just this afternoon, I promise this will not be a regular occurrence! But, I AM going to post a session tonight, but they're worthy of their own post. I didn't want to attach someone's precious pictures to my boring ramblings.

Le sigh... I am pleased though that I was able to turn around all of my clients' sessions in time to be given as Christmas gifts!

:) *take the positive where I can!*

Okay, so a little secret about me: I'm a piler. Just papers, not really objects. I have to have things out in view to remember to do them - pay bills mostly. I would take a picture of my piles, but that would be way too embarrassing! Of course this frustrates my husband. I have, however, gotten better about storing my piles in our guest room, out of sight of visitors! I don't know what it is, why I can't just get organized. It's also a matter of not knowing where to put things, but not wanting to throw them out. Like the Halloween card my sweet mother-in-law sent me, (yes, two months ago). I know most of you are saying "throw it away!" But, I like to hold on to those little things every now and then. Not every year, but this year's card was really cute! So it's in a pile because I don't know where to store it, but, yep - don't want to throw it away! I'm sure even she would tell me to throw it away. Her son certainly has...
I blame my father. It's in the genes. He's known for his effortless skillz among those in the "pack-rat" brotherhood. (No, not the Rat Pack - though that would be WAY cooler!) There could be a brotherhood. You either are one or ya ain't! It's good that I married an "ain't" member, can you imagine otherwise? We'd have to move from our pretty much empty 4 bedroom to a...I don't know how big....

It's mostly mementos. At my parent's house, my old bedroom is filled with my childhood belongings, and man, I could pretty much narrate my entire childhood just from the things I've kept, all labeled with the date, of course. I don't know why, but in high school I thought it was necessary to take menus from the restaurants we ate at on special occasions with our friends. Like birthdays, or after the homecoming dance. They're all dated, and some of them may even have the people I ate with. Is that sad?
Can you imagine when we have a kid? I'll probably keep it's first dirty diaper, just cuz it's a "first". I already know I plan on keeping the positive pregnancy test stick. Yes, it's full of my #1, but it's special, gosh darn it!!! Did any of you do that? Am I weird for wanting to hold on to that?

Well, maybe I do hoard objects, and not just papers. But, I don't keep the objects in piles! Just drawers.
Anywho, so there. A little "Julie-ism" that is not known among strangers. Which I don't know why I thought it necessary to be known, but I don't mind getting personal. Eh, we're friends.

Rewards

I'm up late (on Sunday) burning CDs for a session, so I figured I should use this time (while I wait for them to burn) to finally post!
Christmas portrait mayhem is about to start slowing down. I had my last 2 Christmas sessions yesterday and this is my last week of major editing/getting orders out. While I still have three sessions and a wedding to photograph in the next couple weeks, there won't be the Mommy panic of "we have to get this right to be done in time for Christmas" that just comes with the holiday portrait territory. And by the way, I applaud all you parents out there! Picking out coordinating outfits for yourselves and your kiddos, keeping the kids clean on the way to your session, trying to not let your anxiety show to your kids during your session, and holding up your end of the bargain for their "rewards" at the end is not that easy! (Leaving any pressure on me? Nah!)
Of course, I hope I've held up my end of the bargain by presenting all 28 of you families I was blessed enough to meet this season with precious images of your little ones.

Meet little Z and his family who I photographed a couple weeks ago. They have a beautiful home with just the right nook for a family session.
I love Z 's curls. Both of the boys have them! Usually baby curls cease after the first haircut, but these cuties are lucky enough to get to hold on to their's! (Or should I say, their mommy is the lucky one?)

C had a goal to work towards, and he did a great job! He was promised cookies, milk, and candy if he behaved well for his pictures. (In rations...)
Well, he remembered every bit of those rewards coming his way because every few minutes he'd ask, "am I getting cookies, milk, and candy?" He deserved it after being such a good boy.
I always tell parents that the reward system works for a productive session! No, not bribes... rewards!

They had just put the lights on their tree the night before, but no ornaments yet. The boxes of ornaments can be all sorts of things when you use your imagination! Z and his big brother scooted those boxes all over the place - thank goodness the ornaments were plastic, and not glass!

Camp Boo & Jaja

This is four generations right here.
Wow. That is so special that these babies get to know their great-grandmother!
(Can you spot the grandmother? Because all night I kept having a hard time remembering that she was the grandmother and not one of the daughters. Not only does she look so young, but she is so full of life!)

My husband and I came to their home for their (extended) family session Thanksgiving weekend.
The kids live across the state and one family lives out of state, so this was definitely a memorable time worthy of capturing!

AND baby O's first birthday!!! Such a happy, little prince!
(This shot is from the pre-party - yeah, baby O definitely knows how to throw a bash!)

(And that's why my husband came with me to the session. Boo, (the grandmother), was so sweet to invite us to the birthday party/cookout taking place after our session!)

These cousins don't live too far apart, so they are blessed to get to play with each other often!

I'm tellin' ya! Don't they look like sisters?!

This little sugar was so sick all night. She did not feel good at all, but when her Jaja mentioned playing pool, she perked up enough so that a little twinkle got back in her eye.

Probably one of my favorite images of the night.
Just because you're a mommy, doesn't mean you're not still someone else's baby.

Baby G was all snuggled in the pillows! She just looked like she needed some stuffed animals all around her to look like a toy collection. Precious!

Father & sons-in-law. I'm not sure if they're celebrating the mass amounts of football going on, or just having a good time - (or I guess that could equal both!)

Now: Thoughts of baby O...

"Yay, it's my birthday! Everyone is singing to me! This is so much fun!

Wait. What? First the singing stops, and now you want me to stick my hands in this mush? I don't wanna, it's squishy! Can't we just keep playing?!?

Oh, Mom. It was horrible! The mushiness, everyone staring at me, then they started laughing... can I just take a bath now?"

:)

Slacker

I just want to publicly apologize to my clients still waiting for their blog posts!
I'm officially about a week and a half out! During the non-Christmas season, I usually post the night of the session, but that is just not possible right now!
My shooting, (Yes! I still have three Christmas shoots left this week!) and editing are just in overdrive, so the blog takes the slack even though it is one of my favorite things to do! I love sharing the sneak peeks with you guys and letting mommies feel the relief of "we got one!"

I'm catching up! Promise!

Well, I'm about to post a fun session!

Stay tuned...

**Every single sentence in the post ended with an exclamation point. Like I'm typing on Red Bull...**

Turning the Cold into Warm & Bright

Remember that yucky weather outside one week ago today? Cold, windy, spitting rain, very, VERY, non-outdoor-photo-session-weather!!!
We found a solution!

This beautiful family had their holiday session here, which was perfect since it is indoors, but still has natural lighting, and not to mention, Christmas decorations!

It had many places to explore, which was the highlight for 21-mon.-old, H!

4-yr.-old, (*almost FIVE!*), S, is so mature, it's funny! She is witty and uses funny sayings in the proper context - a very bright little spirit!

Look at this little guy! Such a ham!

Peek-A-Boo!
I love that pop of color for Christmas, (and also my favorite - knit hats on little ones! The perfect, simple accessory!)

Though not as perfect as this little moment.