Daughter

Dear Maddie,

You are marvelous.

I don't know what brought this letter on, but I suddenly became overwhelmed with thoughts I needed to share with you. Thoughts that are overflowing from my heart.  Thoughts of how smart you are. How funny you are. How opposite of me you are... and how much the same. I look at you every day and am stunned at how interesting and beautiful God made you.



Your 13th month has been the best yet.  You've learned how to walk, you're picking up on words and sounds, your personality is starting to shine, and you babble all the time.  You have sticky fingers, too, and walk off with all my stuff!  Today, however, I asked you to go get what you took and bring it back and you DID!  You're a people pleaser.  :)

 One of our favorite traits is your sense of humor.  Before you were born, Daddy and I worried that you would be way more serious about things than we were.  God listens.  You are 14 months and fake laugh when we laugh!  Your actions and thoughts make us laugh and giggle and guffaw-- I considered "thesaurusing" laugh but I'm pretty sure you get the point..and that point is, you make us laugh....

And laugh....

And laugh...

And laugh...

There were signs of hilarity a year ago, but you just never know...

You have and continue to bring us absolute joy.  I'm so excited to watch you grow and become the person I will love forever.  So far, that person is pretty darn amazing....

Please don't ever lose that walk...


Oh, I almost forgot!  You give excellent kisses!  I pretty much beg for them on a regular basis...and you've learned to lean forward and plant one on me.  I think you know I need them...

Thank you, Bug, for being the daughter I need....and for giving me the family I always wanted.

We love you.  Deeply.  Wholly.  And unconditionally....

Love,

Mom

PS  It's 3:30am....  I have no idea what I just typed... but I meant every word.

Kobe

Ok, I'm FINALLY getting around to finishing this post!

I can't say enough about Kobe.  He is SO kind and so sweet, but a man's man at the same time.  Sarah has done a remarkable job at raising a great person!

Kobe was so stinkin' easy to take pictures of!  He took direction, but mostly just did it all on his own.  All I did was snap the picture and tell him where to pose.

Finally, his mom got involved and insisted we at least get a snap shot of his teeth!!!  What a gorgeous smile!

So, now a little about his personality. I told him to close his eyes and when I said 3, open them wide and smile... Typically people open them a little too wide, then you get the picture when they start to relax a little. He held this pose for about 5 seconds before I started gut rolling... hahaha

Also, I let him take my camera around and shoot some pics. Here is one of his beautiful mom! I put his watermark on there to give him credit! :)

I LOVE this kid.

Stacey

I'm finally getting around to posting some more of the engagements. I was so busy and so distracted that I couldn't find time to sit down and edit. I also had some weird mental block about how crappy of a photographer I am... I guess it comes with the territory...

Ok, here are some more shots....

And can I JUST say how BEAUTIFUL this couple is!?  For real, though.....

Reunited

I have SO many pics to share I don't know where to begin, but to break the silence, I'll post this...

The first few moments after 3 weeks away from our girl..

First Engagement!

Ok, so I left my very first engagement shoot feeling very... excited?... overwhelmed?.... ?   My friend Stacey, her fiancé, and her 2 boys were perfect subjects, so I was hoping I could do them justice...

Here's my first shot I'm sharing... I don't know how this is going to look to me tomorrow, considering it's 2:40 am and not too long ago we got home from watching a band, but here goes.

I love this shot.  These guys were so in love!  Look at how she's looking at him!!  More to come....

Kobe

I LOVE this kid. His mom is like a sister....we've been friends since 6th grade. We went out to eat and her lovely sweet dad paid for lunch. So awesome. MUCH more to come from this amazing guy.

Random

I'm going through and finding pics I glanced over the first time around.  I've taken so many pictures this vacation, I'm SOOOO glad I brought my camera.

Here's a random buggy love....  Her right eye is a little out of focus, but I still loved the picture...  ESPECIALLY her hair!

Don't worry, I'm FULLY aware of how adorable my daughter is right when she wakes up.  Just a diaper is bliss.

Now, it may look small... but this fly was HUGE!!!  Was.

Here are some more from the park with Mary.  I'm utterly obsessed with this outfit.  From top to bottom.  Her hair... her clothes....her SHOES!  Her little kankles!  YUM!!

In case you were wondering, yes, this little boy is ALWAYS happy...

My favorite.  Favorite.  Favorite.  She's such a sweet soul.

I really love this picture.  It's not totally in focus, but it didn't need to be.  There's nothing not beautiful about him.  Total baby love.

I have no idea how we got such a beautiful person inside and out.  The best thing I've ever produced....

Kolby loved her shoes.... and Maddie loved my old Starbucks cup...  It worked.

Right??!?  This little boy is EDIBLE.

I guess the Apple Apple® doesn't fall too far from the corporate, American tree...

Here's Kolby with another little girl Mary babysits.... (I can't remember her name!?  Don't worry, I can't remember most names anymore)

I LOVE this next  pic....  Such a sweet moment and I love the contrast between his pale, soft baby skin and her gorgeous, smooth cinnamon skin.  SO lovely....

Oh, I couldn't agree more, she's quite dilectible!

I BETTER get a chance to take some more pics of  Mary's brood.... The bottom middle is Marla.  She is one of the most hilarious kids I've met!  So adorable.  This pic is seconds before the pyramid crumbled...

Bottom left is another kiddo that Mary watches and Monica's son, or Bella's brother Tristan, is on the bottom right.

I will leave you with this. A masterpiece. Jer has been taking pics with my camera, but it's extremely difficult to use when it's on my manual settings. He managed to snap this picture of Maddie putting' out the vibe. She has no idea how funny she is haha