COUSINS

Filed under: babes,family,just because,kiddos,my family — admin at 11:34 am on Tuesday, May 16, 2017

In February – Jared’s cousins made a quick visit to the northern tundra!

My boys and their – cousin – I can never remember what the relation is – but Jared’s cousin’s son!

Jared’s mom and her great niece!

ISN’T SHE THE SWEETEST BABY!

OH MY WORD!

The boys!

With crazy kiddos – that’s the best we could get!

Enoch & Fitzy LOVED their little baby girl! They both said she is the cutest baby EVER!

Alyssa & Zeke – it was SO GREAT to see you! WE LOVE YOU!

*L* TURNS THREE

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,babes,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,portraits — admin at 11:31 am on Monday, May 15, 2017

I met with *L* last year for her 2 year photos – and she was NOT having it! Not a smile was seen – only tears!

BUT – this year! SMILES GALORE!

OUTSIDE – in NORTHERN PA – IN FEBRUARY!

ADORABLE!

We met at the PA Welcome Center – but the main part was closed due to the holiday! Thankfully – this little thing makes my job pretty easy – WHEN she likes me!

Those CHEETOS! She was eyeing them the whole session!

SO CUTE!

DO YOU SEE THAT EYE ROLL!!

I MEAN – SERIOUSLY!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE those shots!

She was reciting the Pledge of Allegiance! THE CUTEST THING!

And sometimes – when you smile for your whole session and are just the most adorable thing EVER – you get those CHEETOS you were eyeing!

Arica – thank you SO MUCH for asking me back into your lives over and over again! I can’t WAIT to see you this summer!

*K* NEWBORN

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,babes,family,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family,newborns — admin at 12:02 pm on Sunday, May 14, 2017

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!

BLUE APRON

Filed under: blue apron,chef fitzgerald,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family — admin at 11:13 am on Saturday, May 13, 2017

A friend posted on FACEBOOK about her FREE trial of BLUE APRON!

I messaged her and asked her how you go about getting one! Her friend is a member that uses it and had a few free trials to give away!

The first night – we made tempura fried cod and thai rice and salad! I don’t love fish – I’ve only ever liked it when my brother made it with about a stick a butter! But – it was YUMMY!!!

The second night – lamb and beef and mushroom stew with parmesan potatoes! Fitzy made most of it – and everyone but Enoch – ate every single bite!

The third night – grilled chicken and couscous – and I took some photos to document the process!

Fitzy wants to be a chef someday – so I encourage him to cook as much as he wants!

While the boys didn’t love the couscous – everything else was a thumbs up! And it was ALL a thumbs up for me!

BLUE APRON – we are LOVING this whole process and idea!

While I don’t think we will be weekly subscribers – from time-to-time we will probably sign up for deliveries!

LULAROE BY JENNA CLOSE

Filed under: just because,lularoe,portraits — admin at 11:11 am on Friday, May 12, 2017

You’ve seen Jenna and her family on my blog for several years – but this is the first time seeing ONLY her!

Jenna is a LuLaRoe consultant!

WHOA! SERIOUSLY! Jenna is wearing a Julia dress with a Randy tied overtop!

The Amelia dress – WITH POCKETS! It’s one of my FAVORITE pieces!

You can’t tell by looking at the photos – cus Jenna is AWESOME – but it was below freezing the day of our session!

Thankfully the Best Western Grand Victorian Inn let us warm up and use their lobby for a different look!

Jenna is wearing a Maxi skirt with an Irma top!

I LOVE THOSE SHOTS!

And like I told Jenna – when showcasing BEAUTIFUL clothing – I shouldn’t take away the color – but I love these shots in black & white!

GORGEOUS!

A Cassie skirt and a Perfect Tee!

I suggested that we save the best outfit for last – I tend to find that the last set of photos are my favorite – people are relaxed by then and just feel comfortable! Thankfully – we got FANTASTIC shots all throughout the session – but this outfit is certainly my FAVORITE!

This is a Carly dress with a Sarah “cardigan” – SO BEAUTIFUL AND COMFORTABLE!

Again – black & white – color – BOTH AMAZING!

I LOVE THOSE SHOTS!

Make sure to check out Jenna and her inventory out on FACEBOOK – if you missed the link – it’s at the top of this post!

Thank you Jenna! FOR EVERYTHING!

WELCOMING BABY *M*

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,babes,birth,expecting,family,friends,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,newborns — admin at 11:32 am on Thursday, May 11, 2017

The first birth I photographed was of Aszur’s third baby – *J* – Fitzy was only 6 weeks old and everything was so fresh and new and emotional!

Her fourth birth – their first girl – was going to be a little different than her first three experiences! A home birth!

I asked Aszur if she would answer a few questions for this blog post!

This is your 4th birth but your 1st home birth, correct? What made you choose to take this route?

This was my 4th pregnancy. After our 3rd baby was born, a string of events led us to a more natural way of living. So, for almost 6 years we have been eating clean, haven’t used a microwave or even seen a doctor. So the thought of being able to go through my pregnancy and delivery without going to the doctors or hospital really appealed to me. Especially since I wanted to do a water birth and the hospitals won’t allow that to happen. We had also just spent 2 years building our home so a home birth was really exciting!!

2. How was this experience different from each of your previous births?

The home birth was more then I could have hoped for. It got pretty intense during the 15 min of pushing. I was able to work with my midwife and had zero tearing and felt the best I ever felt compared to my other deliveries.

3. Why did you choose to have your birth photographed?

I knew I had to have this birth photographed by a professional because that’s the only way you know you will get the shots! I wanted to be able to look back on this day forever and have beautiful photos that tell our story. Thank you Danielle, again, for doing such an amazing job!!

Aszur & Dave built their dream home last year – COMPLETE WITH FLOOR TO CEILING WINDOWS IN THE LIVING ROOM AND DINING ROOM – I say this because I was DREAMING about the light – the GORGEOUS light that would come through those windows while this baby was being born!

Aszur had texted me Friday morning letting me know that it was starting – but she labors LONG! So I took the boys to my parents and waited. I had a session Saturday afternoon – and she texted me asking if I could come up after that was over – hoping that it would happen soon!

Do you see that light – those BEAUTIFUL windows!

And the light – fading fast! I knelt down and said – I’m going to have words with this little girl! THESE WINDOWS! And she’s going to come in the middle of the night! HOW DARE SHE!

Such an AMAZING support system!

She was NOT happy about more hot water being added!

Aszur was struggling with keeping that washcloth on her head – so I ran upstairs and found a hair band – PERFECT!

Birth is so amazing! I’ve photographed a handful and done it twice – and yet it still amazes me that it can happen!

This is about the time that Aszur started to say – I can’t do it. Can you see her? I can’t.

When a woman starts saying that – you know it’s time!

When I sent the preview to Aszur – she specifically asked for some of the INTENSE pictures to be included!

And just like that – SHE’S HERE!

OH SWEET BABY GIRL!

Her cord was a little short – so she just hung out with momma – making for some GORGEOUS pictures!

OH MY WORD!

The boys woke up to meet their little sister!

If you’re a little squeamish – you might wanna scroll past the next photo! I think the placenta is AMAZING!

When a baby starts developing – we GROW an organ that sustains LIFE! AMAZING!

I LOVE THAT SHOT!

OH MY!!

Aszur & Dave – thank you SO MUCH for allowing me to capture this AMAZING moment in your lives!

I am SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!

 

*R* FAMILY

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,babes,family,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,portraits — admin at 10:59 am on Wednesday, May 10, 2017

I met Amanda and her family when little *J* was just a newborn!

ISN’T HE BEAUTIFUL!

And she is JUST DARLING!

OH MY HEART!

I LOVE THOSE SHOTS!

Amanda – I can’t WAIT to see you all again!!

DISNEYWORLD

Filed under: baby barden,bardenisms,disneyworld,friends,holiday,just because,my family,vacation — admin at 10:53 am on Tuesday, May 9, 2017

The summer of 2016 was AMAZING! We swam and played. And swam. And ate ice cream. And swam.

Ashley & Max came over one day in August for some swimming and ice cream. And she said – we should go to Disney! I said. Yes. Sure. Disney.

Disney is CRAZY expensive. I’ve never been.

Flying. HA. Flying. NOPE!

So we looked – just to look. And found out that we could actually share a room if we went before Enoch’s birthday – November 19th.

AND Enoch wouldn’t need a ticket for the parks. And if we drove – all 7 of us in our van – we could maybe swing it. Maybe.

But we wanted it to be a surprise if we did it. From the boys AND our husbands! WHAT!

We called work and got the time off. WE BOOKED THE TRIP! WHAT!

I don’t do things like this. I mean – NEVER!

NEVER. And yet – I did! WHAT!

Ashley informed me that we would get receipts in the mail – I said – don’t worry! I’ll make sure to get the mail before he comes home!

And then I got a text from Jared – while I was at my parents – we got mail from Disney? I said – yes – it’s just junk mail! He said – it has all our names on it and confirmation of a payment received? SHOOT!!

So – it wasn’t a surprise anymore. And Ashley spilled the beans to Matt once Jared knew.

AND we decided driving would be CRAZY! And we might not stay friends after DRIVING to Disney with three children and packed like sardines!

I found some good deals on tickets and we figured out transportation and hotels for the days that we couldn’t get lodging at Disney!

BUT – we kept it a surprise from the kiddos! And almost everyone else!

I packed the bags while Fitzy was at school – loaded the car – picked him up and we headed to the AIRPORT!

We stopped and picked up Ashley and her boys – Fitzy asked what was in the luggage – just clothes that Ashley was giving me. And we were just headed to the movies! Even when we got to the airport – NOTHING! I got our little sign that we made out – and read it to the boys – and they were excited – but didn’t FREAK OUT like we thought they would!

We spent the few days before Disney at a WATERPARK HOTEL!

I don’t have all the photos from our trip to put in this blog – but if you follow me on INSTAGRAM – I’m sure you saw them!

And then! DISNEY! All the photos here are from the DISNEY photographers – which is TOTALLY WORTH IT by the way!

Max – he was NOT feeling good – and spent the rest of Animal Kingdom day at the hotel. Poor guy!

Tuesday – HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS!

Enoch did NOT like Chewbacca without me being RIGHT THERE!

Kylo Ren was TERRIFYING!

Thankfully Max felt better for STAR WARS!

And our last day at the parks! MAGIC KINGDOM!

We were FIRST in line for Tinkerbell AND Mickey! SCORE!

So – this was my first trip to Disney – Enoch & Fitzgerald had never been either!

Jared & Ashley said – we MUST do Haunted Mansion! It’s great! SO FUN!

TERRIFYING! NOT FUN AT ALL!

You might notice that I am not in these pictures – it’s not because I don’t like Merida – it’s because I was waiting in line FOR 90 MINUTES to see Winnie the Pooh!

OH MY WORD! ADORABLE!

Matt & Ashley stayed at Magic Kingdom quite late! But we called it a night a night a little earlier!

While I LOVED Hollywood Studios – my FAVORITE part of Disney was breakfast at Beast’s Castle!

We had tried and tried and TRIED to get a reservation – but alas. No luck.

Tuesday night – we were lying in bed and Ashley said – THERE’S AN OPENING FOR BREAKFAST TOMORROW!

LET’S DO IT! So we got up early – and made it in to the park! Even got FIRST IN LINE for Mickey & Tinkerbell!

We made it to the Castle JUST IN TIME! And Ashley FOUND THE BEST TABLE IN THE WHOLE CASTLE! RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE WILTING ROSE! IN THE WEST WING! Fitzy did not enjoy the West Wing – it was dark and thundering and flashing with lightning!

We spent our last day at Disney Springs! Eating and a little shopping and EATING and building legos and EATING!

We had a GREAT time on our friendcation! And the BEST part – we STILL LOVE EACH OTHER after spending a week together!

CHRISTMAS 2016

Filed under: baby barden,bardenisms,family,holiday,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family — admin at 11:25 am on Friday, May 5, 2017

We spent Christmas morning here at our house!

The boys surprised daddy with a STAR WARS t-shirt!

Fitzy asked for TWO things – Rogue One and a Maui hook! He didn’t get the Maui hook and he was very very sad!

So he thought!

How many times has he actually played with that Maui hook? Let’s not talk about that.

My parents came over to Jared’s parents house for Christmas dinner – I love that our families can spend holidays TOGETHER!

As much as I really really LOVE the warmer weather – Christmas is certainly a WONDERFUL time!

Almost makes winter worthwhile! ONLY ALMOST!

CHRISTMAS EVE

Filed under: baby barden,bardenisms,family,holiday,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family — admin at 10:59 am on Thursday, May 4, 2017

We spent Christmas Eve Eve with Jared’s parents – which was LOVELY!

We had a VERY relaxing Chrismtas Eve with our family!

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