My parents have been in town since Wednesday. Anyone who knows my parents knows that any project that may have needed to get done around my house was finished within days of their arrival. They’ve built shelves, mended clothes, fixed meals, entertained the kids, given haircuts, painted…the list goes on and on. I’m so grateful for them and their love for our family.

This little lady has been doing 5.5hr stretches at night which is down right glorious for a week old in this family of terrible newborn sleepers.

My mom giving Kate a bath. She clearly hates being cold.

The cutest clenched buttocks ever.

My dad, painting in Kate’s room.

My parents brought supplies to make a pig pinata with the kids. Who doesn’t travel with art paste these days?

My mom also brought fabric to make pajama pants with the kids.


Isaac with his baby.

Darling Naomi Megan of Rockstar Diaries asked me to weigh in on what I have learned and am still learning about being a mother while she’s out being a mom to her new little bundle of love. Head on over and check out her blog if you’re interested. She’s beautiful, talented, uber cool and reminds me that a little red lipstick goes a long way toward making you feel like a million bucks. Congratulations Naomi!

Here are just a handful of images from Brock and Jenni’s engagement session where we tried to make it look like we aren’t in the bitter depths of winter over here. Congratulations you two!

Some Photoshop action for the day they are getting married.

This little guy came 3 days late to some anxiously awaiting parents, though I think I was just as excited as they were to have him finally come. I’ve had my phone on me 24-7 the past 3 weeks, just in case because I was “on call” for picture duty since Amy’s mom was going to be out of the country. I mentioned before that it was a sleepless night for all of us (though a whole lot less painful on my account). Amy transitioned super fast once she got to the hospital so I drove like a crazy woman to the hospital at 4:30 in the morning and sprinted all the way to her delivery room. I’m a little surprised no one stopped me to ask if I was in labor myself! After waiting 20 minutes for the doctor to arrive, the show got on the road. Three pushes later, we all welcomed Grant to the world. It was an amazing experience that I feel very honored to be a part of. Each one of Amy’s children hold a special place in my heart, and I know that I will always have extra tender feelings for Grant. We love you Grant, and can’t wait for you to start playing with your girlfriend when she arrives…

One day old.

I was downloading some pictures from a shoot I just did on a card I haven’t used in a while and came across this picture. I don’t remember taking it or what the context behind it was, but I’m smitten with that smirk.

I’m operating on about two hours of sleep. My best friend had her baby early this morning and I’ve been too wired since she texted me at 2am that she was on her way to the hospital to sleep. I ended up racing to the hospital at 4:30am, making it just in time to take pictures of baby Grant’s birth, something I’ll never forget. (pictures to come)

I came home realizing that my own child’s birth is around the corner. Around a very near corner (two weeks or less people). The last couple months I’ve refused pictures because I’m large and in charge and don’t feel quite like myself. But that all changed today. As soon as Isaac came home from school (pretty sweet that my six-year-old is my photographer), I begged him to take some pictures of me, chubby and all. I want to remember that my body was capable of nurturing this baby. That my stomach stretched to contain her. That my ribs are bruised because there’s not enough room for her in there. What a truly wonderful and amazing thing it is to be a mother, no matter how your children come to you.