I’ve loved taking pictures of *H* and her little family!

ADORABLE!

Mary – thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to photography *H* and her first year!

In June – we took Fitzy to the zoo – in the Bronx!

My sister and her husband live in New Jersey – so it’s two trips in one!

Crazy boy!

My sister has lost over 150 pounds in 14 months! I can’t stop telling everyone I meet about her! She looks (and feels) FANTASTIC!

Fitzy is a pretty cautious little guy – he didn’t want to get too close – didn’t want to pet anything – just enjoyed the day!

It was a LONG but great day!

Fitzy LOVES his Sammy (or as he calls her – Hammy) and Xavier. Both mornings he woke up saying – HAMMMMMY! HAMMMMY! HAMMMMMMMY!

Thanks SO much for having us over for the weekend – we love you guys!

Today was our ultrasound appointment – to find out if we are having a baby boy or a baby girl!

Today marks the 20 week point in our pregnancy! I feel like this pregnancy is FLYING by!

When Dave Fitzgerald sent us the text –

You will get pregnant again. And even though you will default in your minds that you will probably miscarry – oh no. You will have a healthy child – possibly twins! It will be huge and massive BUT you must keep it to yourselves and announce at the END of the first trimester.

This is a promise from God and you will rename the son Enoch. God is NOT done with you. He’s just starting. You need to tuck this word on your hearts and cover it. The Enoch tattoo was intended as a remembrance BUT in God’s time was a prophetic act as to your next son’s name being branded. 

It will be a massive testimony and will restore relationships, friendships, and family ties in ways you never thought possible. It’s going to be mammoth. It will be full circle. Both of your families will be remarkably astounded at what God will do through you in this next pregnancy. BUT you MUST NOT announce it until the end of the 1st trimester. Not even to close friends or family. YOU MUST WAIT!

I honestly feel stronger about this than the word I gave you for Fitzy! You can’t even tell me when you first find out – I will already know. You can’t tell ANYONE! BELIEVE IT! RECEIVE IT! ACT! God is good and will be massively glorified through it. Save these messages for confirmation and documentation. Not for me – but so that we can honor Christ Jesus & God’s ridiculous faithfulness. He is good. He is really REALLY good!

ANYWAY – when he sent us the text – we both just assumed that our next child would be a son!

We are so excited to announce that we are having a BOY – our second son.

We would like to introduce you to Enoch Samuel Cody Barden!

Enoch – for obvious reasons. We tried to pick other names – and we did – but kept coming back to the fact that we HAD to name him Enoch. Enoch is the name we gave the first baby we lost (in October of 2009) and it means dedicated. In the Bible – Jared has a son and names him Enoch. But Enoch didn’t die. He walked with God and THEN God took him to heaven. He is only one of two people to just walk into heaven. AMAZING! Samuel means God hears or name of God AND we needed to honor my sister – Samantha. Cody is Jared’s cousin – and the best man in our wedding! Cody means helpful!

Our sweet little gift from God. Our miracle. Fitzy’s little brother.

I am so excited (and scared and nervous and thankful) to have another baby boy to hold in my arms. I cannot wait for Fitzy to meet his baby and for our hearts to heal. I can’t wait to be a momma to my boys.

Thank you for your prayers! WE LOVE YOU!

I love seeing Nicole and her boys every month!

OH MY HEART!

CANNOT EVEN STAND IT!

SO MUCH FUN!

Jackie and her family were one of the first BEAUTIFUL winners! I’ve loved photographing them through the years!

And a new little guy to add to the mix! He is SO cute and chubby!

OH MY WORD!

Jackie – thank you SO much for asking me to photograph your sweet family again! See you in September!

I love photographing families again and again! I met with Sabrina and her family RIGHT as a thunderstorm was rolling in – but we beat it!

SO CUTE!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE those shots!

It was so great to see you guys! Thanks again!

I can’t believe I’ve been photographing this family for almost 3 years! AH! Time flies!

Seriously – SO CUTE!

LOVE THOSE SHOTS!

Julie – it was SO great to see you again!

I belong to a local MOPS group – two of them actually – and the Covington group held a fundraiser a few months ago!

There are three photographers in our group – so – what better idea than to hold some mini-sessions!

Mini-sessions through barden photography have been a GIANT flop – but paired with MOPS – they were a GIANT success!

Our craft queen built a lemonade stand – the cutest EVER!

SERIOUSLY!

This is my friend’s little guy – he was sick for mini-sessions – so we had a quick session in my driveway!

We were able to raise an AWESOME amount for our MOPS group!

HONESTLY!

Fitzy and *A* – they are good little buds!

OH MY WORD!

Ericka babysat while I went to a session and the lemonade stand was still here – so I took a few photos of her little *J* to say thanks!

If you are a momma of a little guy or girl – you should check out your local MOPS group!

Last time I photographed little *J* – he was NOT a happy guy. We got some good shots – but I would have loved a big smile.

He totally brought that giant smile for this session!

SERIOUSLY!

I can’t even handle the cuteness!

LIttle *J* – it’s been awesome capturing your first year of life! Can’t wait to see you in two weeks to celebrate your birthday!

As I sit here and type this blog – a can feel the tiny little movements of a baby inside. Just the little flutters that make you realize there is indeed something in there.

We find out whether this addition is a boy or a girl on July 10th. Either way – this will most likely be our last addition. I love being pregnant and would be thrilled to have at least 4 children. But I have to remember that we have 5 – and for all eternity – we will celebrate with them! I love being a momma – more than anything I’ve ever done. Jared keeps reminding me that kids are WAY out of his comfort zone – although – he is a FANTASTIC daddy to Fitzy. While our hearts are so happy with this little miracle and Fitzgerald – we still hurt from time to time. I don’t have a great history of staying pregnant. And while I don’t want to live my life in fear – I DO want to enjoy what I have been given. It’s a hard decision to make – thankfully – we have time.

But especially with the 99% chance that this will be our last baby – I want to enjoy every precious minute I can.

I took a maternity leave with Fitzy . Kinda. Sorta. Not really.

And while I loved taking your pictures – I did miss that little baby.

So this time – I will be taking 6 months off. Seriously. From November to April – I will not be scheduling any sessions or weddings. When I do return – it will be on a 1 wedding a month limit – with a handful of sessions (most likely current clients) each month. I am still trying to decide what to do about new referrals outside of seniors – since they are mostly always new clients. And this might be the norm from here on out – until my kiddos are all in school.

I’ve known one thing my whole life – I want to be a momma. And God knew. And He heard. And He gave. And He gives. Again.

SO – if you know that you want a session next year once May rolls around – it’s not too early to let me know. I already have one wedding in September and an inquiry for May. And if I’ve taken pictures for you before and you need some done while I am off – email me – and I will recommend some great photographers to you!

Thank you all for your love – your support – your prayers. It means so much.