I met Kelly through her sister Richele – whose senior pictures I took this past fall!

Kelly and her husband just welcomed their sweet girl into the world – and called me to capture her first session!

She is so precious!

MY FAVORITE!

She is so tiny!

Kelly & Nate also have two pups that they love!

SUCH PERSONALITY!

Thank you again Nate & Kelly – can’t wait until we do it again!

What do you want to do with your life? What do you want to leave as your impression on this earth? On people’s lives?

What are your goals – have they changed with each year you’ve grown older – each year you’ve discovered new joys – new heartaches?

I’ve been inspired to make a list of the things I’ve wanted to accomplish in life : some very much under my control – most of them completely out of my control. Some can be checked off and some are still waiting.

Fall in love with a boy.

Get married to said boy.

Fly.

Own a photography business.

Learn to play the piano.

Learn to play the fiddle.

Ski.

Touch a manatee.

Be published in National Geographic.

Be published in a wedding magazine.

Conceive a child with above mentioned boy.

Give birth to a happy, healthy baby.

Introduce Jesus to someone.

Travel to Africa.

Photograph in the Amazon.

Enjoy cooking.

Photograph a wedding in Europe.

Dance with my husband in the rain in Times Square.

Listen to my child sing her love to Jesus.

Own a store front in Mansfield with a small studio.

Hope. Completely.

Sleep on a beach under the stars.

Sing on a CD.

Enjoy running.

Introduce Jesus to everyone.

Those are just a few I can think of – what are yours?

barden photography will have a booth at the Ithaca Mall on February 27th from 10am to 5pm!

Make sure to stop by!

I have a few open dates this spring and then not again until November – but 2011 is nearly wide open!

Melissa is barden photography’s cover girl at the moment – and Cody’s girlfriend!

She came along for a few shots during his senior session!

LOVE THAT SHOT!

MY FAVORITE!

Melissa & Cody – thanks so much for sticking it out in the cold!

Heather & Ben drove to Mansfield with their sweet pup for a photo session on Saturday – the 7th of November.

They think of their pup like their child – so we had THAT in common!

Thanks again Heather & Ben – can’t wait till next time!

I had been doing well – I wrote my letter to Enoch – knowing that we will see him in heaven.

Ten days went by and I hadn’t cried – I hadn’t really doubted our happiness or our lives – and then it started again.

One of our friends told us they were pregnant again – then another – and the anger returned.

Another couple we know is pregnant and now- five minutes ago – I found out about another.

I am so happy for our friends and pray for their pregnancies – but the anger just takes over.

I am so angry – not at the momma’s and daddy’s – not at God anymore – just ANGRY!

Please pray for me. Pray for us. I am so discouraged each month when I find out that we aren’t pregnant – another month of trying – gone.

I need hope – I am so afraid to hope – to even think that it might ever happen again – that we might have a pregnancy that doesn’t end in a loss.

I am watching all my friends hold my dreams in their hands … and I am losing hope …

I wanted to try out a few new ideas with Dave & Jenna – and they were such willing participants!

Jenna & I were so excited about the idea of being pregnant at the same time and having babies so close in age. As you know, this has been a really rough year for me – and this session was no different. When I look at Jenna – or any pregnant woman for that matter – all I see is what I would have been – what I want so badly. This session was very hard for me – but I wanted to capture the beauty and emotion of pregnancy – what it means to me …

They were such great models – and I am so thankful that they allowed me to share these photos with you.

Thanks again guys soooooo much for sticking with my crazy ideas!

Can’t wait to get some newborn shots of your sweetness!

I love my husband. He is the best support I could ever dream of.

I love this picture of him!

He is my best friend.

It has been a little over 5 years since Jared and I said our vows.

I don’t have any close up shots of our rings from that day – five years later they look a tad worn!

but still beautiful!

I can’t believe it has been 5 years! I love you Jared!

I don’t like birthdays – let me specify – I don’t like MY birthday!

I have never understood the “big deal” about birthdays – it is just another day.

Why do we get presents on our birthdays – shouldn’t our parents be getting the gift – especially mom?

I married into a birthday family – they LOVE birthdays!

I thought I would chronicle my past few birthdays …

2005 – my 24th birthday – I was working as an Aide at Phoenix with Jared’s cousin Alyssa and she pulled off QUITE the surprise!

She arranged for a cheesecake and Jared and his mom to come down over lunch to surprise me – pretty sure I cried but can’t remember why!

Then she took me for a surprise trip – I thought it was to get something pierced. It wasn’t.

We went to Old Navy – I think – and she bought me a few cute tops then to the Olive Garden where my parents, Jared, Jared’s parents, Cody (I think), Alyssa’s parents, and Sassy & Andy were waiting for us!

I hope I didn’t leave anyone out that was there – Jared’s parents got me the long lens that I had wanted to badly – it was one of the best birthdays ever!

2006 – my 25th birthday – I had started with my jaw pain in March and felt like absolute poo all the time – I am pretty sure we were supposed to do something on my birthday but I didn’t feel well at all.

I don’t have any pictures from 2007 and can’t even tell you what happened that year – I have no idea!

2008 – my 27th birthday – we had a meal with Jared’s parents …

Still feeling like absolute poo from my jaw – especially this time of year!

2009 – my 28th birthday – oh goodness!

This birthday is hard – I wanted to be pregnant on my 28th birthday so badly – my mom had me when she was 18 – I feel 10 years behind!

But seriously – it’s been a sad birthday since I wanted to be pregnant today.

This morning I did dishes and cut open my finger on my Captain Kirk glass and subsequently had to cancel my manicure – BOO!

I ran some errands and watched Indiana Jones – the newest one – ‘cus it is amazingly cheesetastic!

We went to dinner at the Chinese place tonight and saw Night at the Museum – and it has turned out to be an okay day!

Thanks to everyone for their birthday wishes!

Yesterday we had lunch with Jared’s parents and a little cake …

I still feel a little crappy this time of year with my arthritis in my jaw – but 100 times better than the past few birthdays!

THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE WISHES – I LOVE YOU ALL DEARLY!