I met Megan and Brian when I photographed their wedding in 2010! At least – I think it was 2010!

We’ve been praying for their sweet little baby for the last FIVE years!

I was SO excited to hear the good news of a positive test! The good news of a first ultrasound with a healthy little baby! The good news of finding out it’s a BOY!

THE GREAT NEWS OF – HE IS HERE!!

LOOK AT THAT SMILE! SHE IS SO VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THAT BABY IN HER ARMS!!

THOSE SQUISHY LITTLE LIPS!!

THOSE HAPPY FACES!!

SWEET LITTLE ONE!!

IT’S SO TIRED IN HERE!

I absolutely LOVE lifestyle newborn sessions!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THOSE SHOTS!! He will be so much bigger in just a few months!

It’s hard to remember that they were EVER that tiny!!

And these shots – MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE!!

LOOK AT THAT LITTLE FACE!!

He was the sleepiest and happiest and squishiest baby!

Megan & Brian – THANK YOU SO MUCH! For asking me to pray with you. For sharing your heartache and your joys with me.

THANK YOU for asking me to come back into your lives to photograph this little miracle!

My cousin Courtney had a sweet little baby girl in March!

She has the sweetest little face!

Her big sister was SO excited to hold her!

LOOK AT HER LITTLE HAND – holding right on to her sister!

LOVE LOVE LOVE that shot!

These little moments are the BIG moments! They are my FAVORITE to shoot!

I LOVE THAT LITTLE FACE!!

BLACK & WHITE! CHUBBY CHEEKS! Some of my FAVORITE things!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

SQUISHY BABIES and LOTS and LOTS of elephants!

LOVE LOVE – absolutely LOVE that last shot!

Courtney & Tim – and Debbie (she’s the smitten grandma) – thank you for asking me to take pictures of your sweet little girl!

WE LOVE YOU!!

As promised – the rest of their session!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

I ADORE THOSE SHOTS! Such a sweet moment!

Seemingly unimportant moments in time – moments in your day that you do over and over again. You never even think that they’re photo-worthy.

I LOVE THOSE SHOTS! I love when newborns fit perfectly right on your chest – next to your heart!

Rachel & Riley – thank you so much for asking me into your lives! I loved spending the morning with you!

I can’t WAIT to see you again!

My dearest friend Johna surprised her friend Rachel with a gift certificate when her daughter was born!

I’ve been fortunate enough to keep photographing them over the last two years!

Rachel and I had talked a while ago and she had asked if I could pray for them. They wanted another baby – and I have a list of women that I pray for that want babies!

Several months went by and she messaged me – she was PREGNANT! BUT – much to her surprise it was TWINS! Maybe we prayed TOO much!!

This little girl – she is so DARLING!!

THAT LITTLE FACE!

I absolutely ADORE lifestyle sessions!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

LOOK AT THAT SMILE!

I adore those shots – so real. Life with a toddler and twins – it never stops!

Stay tuned for the rest of the their session!!

 

When I met with Janelle – she told me about her little guy at home – and he reminded me so much of my Fitzy! I couldn’t wait to meet him!

That little baby leg on her momma’s hip. The small things.

OH MY HEART!

SUCH A SWEET LITTLE GUY!

I LOVE THOSE SHOTS!

And that last one – with his little foot out-of-focus!

LOOK AT THOSE SMILES!

OH MY HEART! I JUST ADORE THOSE ONES!

Janelle & Patrick – THANK YOU AGAIN for being so AWESOME!

I met Janelle after she saw Aszur’s birth photos! She was the first birth client that I hadn’t already known!

We had been texting back and forth and she let me know that she was being induced on Monday April 24th! We kept in touch all day Monday and my in-laws took the boys Monday night just in case something happened in the night or early in the morning! I went to bed around 10:30 and had my phone RIGHT NEXT TO ME! At 2 AM I woke up in a panic and checked my phone – I had a missed text at 11 PM and another at 1 AM – the one at 1 AM was certainly urgent. I texted her back and her husband said – the baby will be here in 5 minutes! It would take me 40 minutes to get there – so I knew I was missing it – but I went anyway!

I felt ABSOLUTELY AWFUL! I said – you should have called me!

But – again.

There was a baby already born and she was beautiful.

So I took the pictures!

I LOVE THOSE SHOTS!

I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THAT LAST SHOT!

OH MY HEART!!

Janelle & Patrick – thank you SO MUCH for being awesome and understanding and just AMAZING!

Thank you SO MUCH for asking me to witness this intimate moment in your lives!

I had told Ericka to remind me to come down for her newborn pictures – and then life happened.

I texted her when I had nothing to do one afternoon – not long after *R* was born. I asked if I could come down to take her photos – like now.

And she said. YES. I love these friends!

So – I dropped the boys off at Mom-Mom and Bacca’s (grandma and grandpa – who happen to live next door) and drove the not-even 3 miles it takes to see this sweet baby!

OH LITTLE BABY!

SWEET SWEET SISTERS!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that last shot!

*J* was NOT loving the smell of that diaper! I LOVE THAT ONE!

She was such a good little model!

I absolutely ADORE that last shot – and the next ones!

MY FAVORITE!!

THAT SWEET FACE!

I LOVE THOSE ONES! Such sweet little sisters!

Ericka – YOU ARE AMAZING!

My friend Ericka – she’s a ROCKSTAR of a momma! She asked if I would photograph the birth of her second sweet baby – OF COURSE!

We had this crazy idea that she wouldn’t make it to her due date – April 4th. On April 3rd – she came over for dinner with her older daughter. We ate and laughed and watched that little baby move around. And then. She said – I think maybe I’m leaking? Maybe. I’m just not sure!

It’s absolutely crazy to me that each birth can be so different and we can forget exactly what happens each time!

So – she texted me around 10 that night and said – she was going to the hospital. And OH! Her water was breaking – so be on baby watch!

I took my phone to bed with me and went to sleep. And waited.

Around 4 AM I got a text saying that she was progressing! So – I figured I would go over and HOPE for a baby before morning when Jared had to go to work! I ate breakfast in quiet. Got a shower real quick without checking on kiddos. And left my driveway at 4:30 – getting a text from her saying she was 5 cm. I made it to Wellsboro – about 20 minutes away – and parked at the ER – got my bags – and went to the desk. Where she told me that I had to go back OUT to the car and drive AROUND the building and go in the back entrance and ask to be let in. ARGH! SERIOUSLY!

So – I got in the room – at 4:51 and that sweet baby was born at 4:49 – YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!

I was so sad. And mad. And then sad again.

BUT – a baby was already born and she was beautiful!

So I took some pictures!

THAT LITTLE FACE! I can’t even deal with her!

AND – she was born on her due date!

Little *R* – you are loved. You are wanted. You were prayed for. You will do wonderful things.

Ericka – YOU are strong. YOU are beautiful. YOU are brave. I LOVE you dear friend!

I already posted her newborn session – OOPS! But I did go see here really quick when she was JUST born!

My cousin Vanessa was born when I was 15. She was the cutest – roundest – sweetest baby! She had curly blonde hair and the biggest smile!

And now – 20 of the fastest years later – she’s a momma! Her baby girl – *K* – is a redhead! And hopefully inherited her momma’s curls!

Thankfully her first birth was a quick and smooth process for Vanessa!

Jake & Vanessa – she is SO BEAUTIFUL! I am so happy for you both!

Vanessa spent one night in the hospital and then took her little bundle HOME!

I spent the morning with her only 4 days after she was born! SO TINY! It’s so crazy how easily you forget how small they were!

Vanessa is my first cousin – which makes *K* – my first cousin once removed – if you care about the actual relation!

I think she looks JUST like her daddy!

SO PRECIOUS!

I absolutely LOVE that shot!

Such a sweet moment that you so quickly forget!

MY FAVORITES!

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE those two shots! SIGH!

Baby girl – you are so loved and so special! Vanessa – thank you for letting me snuggle with her and capture her teeny tiny baby days!

I know I say it a lot – but it’s still hard for me to see you any older than about 8 – like the little flower girl in our wedding!

Watching you as a momma – you are certainly a natural!