I LOVE those fresh newly married smiles!!

THAT SWEET FACE!!

JEREMIAH & VICTORIA – THANK YOU SO MUCH for asking me to spend the day with you!!

Jeremiah’s sisters asked me for a few shots of them together – ABSOLUTELY!!

QUITE POSSIBLY MY FAVORITE SHOTS!!

SWOON!!

Stay tuned tomorrow for the LAST blog post for Jeremiah & Victoria!!

To you. To me. To us. FOREVER.

BABY GOATS – AT YOUR WEDDING!!! WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE CUTER!?

THE BEST!!

THREE more blog posts for Jeremiah & Victoria’s wedding because I simply couldn’t narrow down my favorites to any less than 9 blog posts!!

It was raining the tiniest bit – but in the woods – we were covered!! AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!!

Newly married couples in the woods – a few more of my favorite things!!

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!

STUNNING!!

The rain didn’t stay long – just long enough to bring a promise!

A beautiful promise for your wedding day!!

JUST MARRIED!!

This picture – I cried. The moments between a mother and her son on his wedding day – they’re like looking into my future.

And I hope his bride greets us with a smile like that and he hugs me so hard his nose smooshes into my shoulder.

THREE GENERATIONS!!

That little guy – so adorable!!

That dear sweet puppy!! And their smiles!!

Right about now the rain started – just lightly – just in time for a few picture of Jeremiah & Victoria – NEWLY MARRIED!!

I met with Victoria and her mom earlier this year about her wedding – in May!! It seemed like there was so much time till the end of May – but it snuck up like time does!

This little sweetie – she was SO MUCH FUN! And made for some great shots!

She asked – can I get my pretty dress on now!? What about now!? Maybe now!?

THE BEST COWBOY BOOTS EVER!!

What about now!? Can I put my pretty dress on NOW!?

How often do you handwrite your love!? How often do you put letters to paper to say thank you!?

Victoria gave her mom this letter – handwritten – and she will always have this to open and read.

To remember how loved she is. And how much she love she poured (and continues to pour) into her beautiful daughter.

THE VOWS!!

Can I put my pretty dress on NOW!?

I took SO many photos – as usual – so you’ll have LOTS of blog posts to look forward to!!

MY FAVORITE SHOT!!

Their life is about to get a little more interesting – adding another sister to the mix!!

Kristi & Patrick – THANK YOU so much for coming to Mansfield and trekking around my FAVORITE spot with me!

I CANNOT WAIT to meet your baby girl!!

EVERY GIRL NEEDS A SISTER!!

I ADORE that shot! PERFECTION!!

BEAUTIFUL!!

ONE MORE POST!!

Missy was able to rest (as best as you can while in labor) for a small chunk of the evening into the early morning.

Cody, Missy’s mom, and I were able to drift on and off in the hospital chairs as best as you can imagine …

But then it started!

And she says baby … it’s 3 AM and I don’t want to push out this baby!

December 27th – 3 AM – let’s start pushing. I say us like it’s a group effort!

So tired – so very very tired – and so close to meeting her little girl – but it still seems so far!

There’s not much I feel like I can do to help. She’s going to be in pain no matter what. That pain WILL end.

BUT until then – I CAN get cold washcloths!

And it REALLY starts!

These photos – this part was hard for me.

I don’t have much sympathy and empathy in general – but watching my dearest friend be so close to meeting her daughter and feeling the contraction come and knowing that she has to push but doesn’t really want to … ooooh – that was hard to watch!!

AND THERE SHE IS!!!

AND I very seriously got so wrapped up in the emotion of the moment – that I forgot I was taking pictures!

The focus isn’t where I would love for it to be – but I think you can still feel the emotion in this moment!! In fact – I KNOW you can!

OH MY HEART!!! She’s here – after 2 hours & 18 minutes of pushing – about 33 hours of labor all together – and 9 years (yes – years) of waiting for this little girl – SHE IS HERE!!

That tiny tear – that FRESH baby – that beautiful MIRACLE!!

You’ve seen me post about Missy. And her husband Cody. And their kiddos.

When their youngest when born – Missy and I were just starting our friendship. I had planned on photographing his birth but he came early and I wasn’t in town.

I could have made it. I could have rearranged my schedule. But – I didn’t. And they’ve never let me live it down!

Missy and I have grown so very close over the past seven years – and when they found out that Grace would be here – the big joke was that I would miss it.

Missy & Johna are my dearest friends. Missy was due December 30th and Johna’s adoption ceremony was December 21st. I couldn’t possibly miss either. Johna was there when my boys were born. My two dearest friends were laboring and I HAD to be there for them. I told Missy that she could go into labor anytime – Christmas Eve – Christmas morning – just NOT on the 21st!!

Thankfully – she didn’t!! WHEW!!

And I was able to be there for Johna’s “birth” and make it to Missy’s!

She was induced on December 26th and I came up after my morning session!

Missy labors loooooooooooong. I got there at 11 am. And we waited. And waited. And waited.

And played some UNO to pass the time.

And face-timed with Aiden.

I LOVE THAT PICTURE!!! Women are AMAZING!

We help create life. We carry that life. We bring that life into this world. And we nourish is. But man oh man – or woman oh woman – does it HURT!!

Missy’s mom and I thought that we might have a baby by 8 pm. Surely she’ll have a December 26th birthday …