I met Dillan while we were attending Liberty Church! He needed a place to crash in between semesters at college and stayed in one of our many rooms for a month. He is a great guy!

When he and Jessica got engaged and asked me to photograph their wedding – I was SO excited!

OH MY WORD!

LOVE THOSE SHOTS!

The POWER of prayer.

You may kiss your bride!

The picture on the left was taken before the ceremony. Dillan & Jessica wrote letters to have the other read before they walked down the aisle. It was a BEAUTIFUL moment!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Thank you both SO much for asking me to capture your day!

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!

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’ve known Ashley since high school! We went to church together growing up and she graduated with my sister!

I was so excited when she asked me to photograph her wedding!

Have I mentioned that I LOVE details? I do. I really really do.

And sweet moments.

And cute flower girls!

GORGEOUS!

Let the party begin!

A perfect end to a perfect night!

Ashely – I am SO happy for you and Tom! Thank you SO much for asking me to capture your day!

Jared and I share blogging duties on the marriage fight.

If you haven’t checked it out – please do so!

Today is our 9th wedding anniversary and I had about 15 mintues (thanks to a next door G who loves her sweet grandson) to write what that means to me.

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.

We were with my parents for Fitzy’s birthday. He requested eggs for breakfast.

So he got eggs. Of course. I say that jokingly – he really isn’t a spoiled child. Except with love. Just a good one. He is helpful and excited and appreciative.

He loves to help feed the baby cows – so we fed the baby cows.

And sat on Pa’s shoulders.

Oh that face – that chubby little face – it’s changing. Too quickly. I could have edited out the spots on his face. The red and the dirt. But I wanted to remember that moment just as it was. Perfect.

He was NOT in a picture mood that day – but I took some anyway.

Truly my FAVORITE pictures EVER. Oh – that smile and that laugh. And he just adores his Gramma. Both of them!

This was his – I’m serious momma – NO MORE PICTURES – face.

We went to the airport to pick up Jared’s parents and all ate brunch with my parents at Friendly’s for his birthday. He wasn’t too excited. The fountain at the mall was much more interesting. Fitzy was MORE than excited to spend the afternoon with Gramma Barden – since they had been gone for two weeks! He went to sleep at 5.30 that night – with a little stirring here and there – but slept till 5.30 the next morning! Living on the farm TIRES HIM OUT – but he loves it!

On Tuesday – the 30th – Gramma Barden made a little cake for our new two year old!

And I discovered that he can drink out of a cup. WHAT! I had no idea!

He LOVED blowing out the candles – he talked about it for days!

Cards and some presents – a puzzle and a train – perfect for Fitzy!

He’s in LOVE with his numbers puzzle! He carries around his birthday cards proudly!

Fitzy’s birthday party will be at my parents at the end of May – so until then – this was a wonderful way to celebrate our favorite little boy!

Two years ago – I took these photos of *H* – and I still LOVE them!

We met again in April for another session!

CUTE! CUTE! CUTE!

That’s the same jacket from our last session!

OH MY WORD!

You guys were AWESOME! I can’t wait to see you again!

I have a BEAUTIFUL contest every year. This year – a family was entered several times. A family that lost their firstborn child. Their strength and love and commitment to their faith and each other – that’s what people wrote about.

It was a hard email to write. I’m writing to let you know you that you’ve been submitted to our BEAUTIFUL contest – and you’ve won! A photo session with your family! And I know that this is bittersweet – to say the least. Please let me know how to make this a memorable and comfortable experience for you. Dana was awesome. We wrote back and forth and she asked if we could have the session on Gabriel’s 13th birthday. April 20th.

Please go to their FACEBOOK page and spread awareness of the “choking game” – and say a prayer for their family.

Dana – your family. You guys are incredible and beautiful and amazing and I’m honored to have taken photos for you on Gabriel’s birthday. I pray that your spirits are strengthened and encouraged every single day. I pray that through Gabriel you will be able to reach other families and spread prevention. That people will come to know Jesus through this.

I can’t believe that little *G* is one month old already – I SHOULD believe it – it’s the way it always goes!

Hello sweet boy!

SO HANDSOME!

That might be the BEST smile that *E* has ever given me!

Nicole – I can’t wait to see you next month and see how much your little man has grown!