The SMILE on that puppy!!! She is SO happy to have her humans!

They have a new baby SISTER!!

SHE IS SO ADORABLE!! Look at those arm creases! You guys know how much I LOVE squishy babies – right!?

THOSE CHEEKS!!

Her dad has a sense of humor!

BEAUTIFUL!!

SISTERS!! I can’t get enough!!

Kristi has been waiting a LONG time for this baby girl!!

Stay tuned for the rest of their session!!

THAT LITTLE FACE!!

I LOVE the black & white but I also LOVE the color – so I gave you both – which one do YOU prefer!?

I love that her little eyes are closed – ADORABLE!!

And his little hand over his mouth – and her eyes are closed again – THE BEST!!

DANIELLE – come see our club house! DANIELLE come see my jump! DANIELLE – COME SEE!!

GAH!!! I am so thankful that I have friends with little girls – because I REALLY REALLY REALLY want a little girl!!

So – does she have pig-tails or puppy-tails!? I vote pig-tails – what do YOU think!?

EITHER WAY – she’s just the sweetest thing.

MEGAN & SETH – I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!

Megan and I met because I needed a backup photographer for a wedding when I was pregnant with Fitzy!

Turns out – I didn’t need someone else to do the wedding – but Megan and I became friends.

I have a list of women that want to have a baby – grow their family – and Megan asked if I would pray for her.

Fitzy and her oldest are about a year apart and we’ve been good friends ever since!

That’s her oldest – on the right! He used to call Fitzy – Ipsy. And we ALL miss it!!

AND NOW – Megan has two little boys and two little girls – BE STILL MY HEART!!

I LOVE THAT SHOT!!

MEGAN & HER DAUGHTERS!!

LOOK AT THOSE SMILES!!

SO MANY SMILES!!

FISH FACES!!

So many hands to hold her. SO MUCH LOVE!!

SWEET BABY! You are so very very loved!

I met Shalane on the interwebs somehow – FACEBOOK probably! She has always submitted a family for BEAUTIFUL and has the sweetest of souls.

They’ve been married for 15 years and she’s been on my mommas in wanting list since I’ve known her.

AND NOW – NOW they have their own little baby in their own little house!!

I’m always amazed at how teeny tiny newborns are – even though I’ve had two of my own!!

When I told Shalane that her baby shower gift was a session – she said she would LOVE an “hour in the life” session once their baby boy was home!

That might be my FAVORITE shot!!

LOOK AT THAT LITTLE MAN!!!

I LOVE THAT – his momma can’t get enough of him – holding that tiny little hand!!

Stay tuned for the rest of their session – because – as usual – I took TOO many photos!!

The boys could not WAIT to meet the little miss!!

Well – Fitzy couldn’t wait! So – we took Missy & Cody lunch on a Sunday and spent the day watching cooking shows and snuggling that sweet little thing!

I have a SERIOUS problem!!

BABY GIRL – you’re such a sweet little miracle!

I spent the afternoon with Missy & Cody about a week after Grace was born – getting baby snuggles and taking some pictures!!

WOULD YOU LOOK AT HER ROLLS!!

I mean – honestly – LOOK AT THAT FACE!! ANGELIC!!

Hey baby girl – you better get used to the clickity click of that camera!!

ABSOLUTELY DARLING!!

Grace upon grace upon SO MUCH grace!!

THOSE SQUISHY LIPS!!

I just can’t stop!!

Those shots – MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE!!!

BABY GIRL!!! YOU ARE ACTUALLY HERE!!!!

THIS!!! THIS MOMENT!!!

Watching Missy bring this sweet girl into the world was one of the most impactful moments of my life so far!

I’ve walked the past 7 years with her. There has been so much pain and heartache – followed with so much joy and grace – and now – GRACE! It was overwhelming!!

Those are my favorite shots!!

Birth tricks you – you have your baby and it’s AMAZING – but then you remember that it’s not over!

THIS PHOTO – SO MUCH in this photo!!

LOOK AT THOSE FAT LITTLE FEET!!

AND – AND I GOT TO CUT HER CORD!!! SERIOUSLY – such a beautiful moment!!

OH BABY GIRL!!! I just can’t even deal with how much you are loved!!

SO CLOSE TO 8 POUNDS!!! WHAT!!!

Cody – holding his baby girl!! After she was born – I turned around and hugged him while we both SOBBED – SO MUCH GRACE in this picture!!

CODY & MISSY – I know I’ve written it so many times – I know I’ve told you SO MANY times – but thank you!!

THANK YOU for letting me walk so closely with you. Thank you for asking me to be there for her first breath on Earth!!

You guys – I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

I spent 18 hours in the life of Missy & Cody – 18 of some of the most intense hours in anyone’s life – and we still love each other – AND – AND – I didn’t miss it!!

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 …

I was anxiously waiting for news from Mary about her little bundle! He arrived right before Thanksgiving!!

LOOK AT THAT LITTLE FACE!!! SO DARLING!!

ISN’T HE GORGEOUS!!

Mary & Lance – I am SO very happy for you!!

THANK YOU for letting me capture this AMAZING time in your lives!!