Maggie + Ryan + belly

I met up with the cutest couple on Saturday for their maternity shoot. We started out at Maggie and Ryan's adorable house with their sweet dog Bailey. LOVE the nursery that Maggie designed. I might just have to steal this wall idea for the next kiddo.



Next we headed to downtown Webster Groves for some shots in the cute shopping area. Love these ones in the alley.



I like to make clients dance. Its a sure bet for at least one cute shot.



Maggie is such a cute pregnant lady.





We ended our time together in Forest Park in some tall grasses. I heart tall grasses.



Thanks you two! Can't wait to meet him or her at our newborn shoot!

Graham 1 yr old

Last week Mr. Graham came over for his one year shoot. I've been lucky enough to photograph this little guy several times during his first year. His shoots are always fun because he is so adorable.

We went and hung out with my favorite chairs in one of my favorite alleys...





FAV! He is such a little man...



And then of course we came back to the studio for some birthday cake...



Oh Graham, you are just so dang cute. Happy Birthday buddy!
__________________________________________________________________________________

Sorry the posts have been scarce these days. Its the start of my busy season again and its kicking my butt. Sometimes its just hard to get back in to the groove.

Some things I wish I would have taken pictures of so I could blog about...

Trivia night this weekend in which my father in law won some peach scented tea light candles, my step-dad won a heart shaped mirror compact, and Shane's 90 year old grandma won a snow cone machine. It was awesome.

Marlie's self invented robot costume: A diaper box on her head, naked buns on the bottom and a robot voice.

The End

Margeaux + Dirk

This past weekend I met the always amazing Jen Wiemer in the cute little town of Hermann, MO for Margeaux and Dirk's wedding. Such a cute couple. Such a fun group of people. Margeaux smiled the whole time despite the crazy cold weather.





The ceremony and reception were at Stone Hill Winery. We had some fun playing around down in the wine cellar.



To see a slide show of the whole day click here.



Congratulations Margeaux and Dirk!

wise advice

The other day I was getting Marlie in to her pj's when she gave me some very wise advice. I was buttoning up her jammie top over her pudgie little belly. She was very quiet. Then she looked at me, smiled real big and said...

"Be yourself."

"What buddy?" I asked

"Be yourself!" she repeated giggling and jumping up and down

"That's right Marlie, you should be yourself." I replied

I would like to think that this is a sign that I am teaching Marlie great things but I'm pretty sure she got it from a Disney movie she watched earlier that day. Oh well, its great advice either way.

So, thanks for the reminder Monkey Pants. I will try my best to be myself.

Charlie - 12 days old

My brother and sister-in-law brought over little Charlie for his first photo shoot this weekend. He is so small and adorable, and they are such cute parents...





When I asked Gavin to take his shirt off he was a little worried. But I love how this came out...



I couldn't resist getting this little bear hat...



and I can't resist this little face...



and that hair! Love it.





Thanks for giving me such a cute nephew you guys!

bent

I can't believe its Friday already. This week flew by and I'm feeling a little like this bent fence in our park.



Sometimes mothering is a bit harder than usual and this week was definitely one of those times. It seems someone replaced my sweet, gentle little Monkey Pants with a screeching, angry spider monkey. She had an ear infection but by mid-week I realized you can only blame things on that for so long.

The easy thing to do would be to let her throw fits and get her way all of the time and let her run our little house like a queen. But I know that isn't what is best for her in any way, or for me. What is best for her is to be firm, consistent, and loving, and teach her how to behave. Teach her how to treat others and herself. Not just that, but show her how her behavior comes from how she feels in her heart. And it is so stinking hard.

I love my Monkey Pants and that is precisely why this week was so rough. I hate seeing her upset. I have hope for a fun and relaxing weekend with less crying so we'll see how it goes!

Today I'm off to a photo shoot in a bit and I got to spend the morning with some of my favorite people. Marlie is at Gunnie and Papa's today, no doubt enjoying some time away from me :).

Hope you have a good weekend!

our weekend

This weekend was tiring, but good. It was rough, but also fun. Somehow it was really long but also too short.

Shane was off in the woods shootin guns and whatever else males do to bond. Monkey Pants and I were at home playing and laughing and crying and nursing her ear infection. She was fine one minute and a melting mess the next. Giggling and then throwing herself on the ground. Poor thing. This left me fine one minute and then dreaming of mango margaritas in Mexico the next.

In the mix of things I somehow got more work done than I have in a long time. Albums and coffee table books coming your way clients! And also...I decided to paint the entryway and hallway..because maybe I am a little nuts. Seemed like a good idea until I remembered that the walls were big and the ceilings were tall and I was really tired.

It was pretty warm today so when Shane got back in town we all went for a walk/bike ride around the neighborhood. Marlie seemed to feel a lot better today, her fever seems gone for good.



She asked for a "special cookie" from the coffee shop and we aim to please.



And look what we saw along the way..





All be darned. It looks like we may have survived winter. I realize that it will likely get chilly a few more times before it really stays nice, but still...spring is on the way!

my new nephew Charlie

My brother Gavin and his wife Erin weren't expecting their little guy to arrive for another month or so, and neither was I. We hadn't even done their maternity shoot yet! But last night I got a call saying that he was coming very soon! What a fun surprise. Charlie Morgan, 6lbs 15oz and 19 3/4 inches long.

I popped by the hospital just for a few minutes last night to meet Charlie. Oh my gosh is he cute!



I got there just in time to see him get his hair washed. He really liked it...



We were all pretty excited to meet him.



Seeing my brother as a daddy is so cute. He just couldn't stop smiling...



I went back today for a little bit because I just had to see him again. Charlie has this amazing hair that is hard to show in a photograph. It is spiky and this awesome reddish blondish color.



I know I am a little biased, but he has the most perfect little round face...



Erin did so great and is doing well. I was late with Marlie so I can't imagine how shocking it is when you think you have a month to go and then all of a sudden you have a baby!





Welcome to the world Charlie! I can't wait to spoil you.