A few weeks ago, I gave my kids a bath and we went out to take some pictures, because I love when there is really pretty winter light.  It was cool, but not crazy cold and the sun felt warm to our faces.  I convinced Sam we were looking for snakes and he agreed to take pictures.  Annabelle loves any excuse to take a bath, do her hair and wear a pretty dress.   I love some of these images.  I know I am going to get questions regarding their clothes, specifically hers.  Her dress is Right Bank Baby and her coat is Room Seven (one of my absolute favorite brands).  Here are the resulting images.  I can’t believe she will be 4 in a few weeks.  We are headed to “the happiest place on earth” Disney World for the actual date and then we are planning a precious ice cream party that I will post here later in the month.  I have an unhealthy obsession with children’s birthday parties.  I secretly wish I could put party planner on my resume as well.  I believe parties do not have to be super expensive, but you can do amazing details that make the party beautiful and unique.    I loved January – getting time off to be creative with my own children – AWESOMENESS!!!!

I always take time off in January in order to assess where I am and it allows me time to just be a mom.  I also get my camera out to capture my kids this time of year.  This year – I have been extra snappy!  Here are some pictures I took the other day of my kiddos.  These images will be for their valentine cards – which I printed, and then had to have reprinted because I put 2009 on them.  Anyway – I wanted to share them.  I feel like my daughter is changing daily.  I know I am her mom, so I am really biased – but she just gets more and more beautiful to me.  She stirs something in me and I am so glad I am able to capture this time!!!

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to photograph a very special little boy in our life who will soon be a big brother.  We had fun with a little bath time and then onto some kissing Mommy’s belly.  I can’t wait to meet this new baby coming in March.  Hope everyone is having a wonderful 2010.  We are trying to take most of January off, I just really needed a break.  We have made a few exceptions and I will be blogging those kiddos soon!

Today was a very sad day in our house.  We said goodbye to our 12 1/2 year old lab, Bailey.  She was our first dog after we got married, and I never knew I could feel this way about an animal.  I still remember the day we went to get her, she was the only puppy left of an entire litter.  In our minds – they had saved the best for last.  She was basically jumping out of the cardboard box she was in order to get our attention.  The first night, we put her in a crate in the basement – BIG MISTAKE!!!  She yelped so loud that the entire neighborhood heard her.  The next night, she got exactly what she wanted – she slept in between Tim and I and stayed there for many many years.  She stayed healthy and happy by our sides for almost 13 years.  About 3 weeks ago she stopped eating.  We tried to coax her to eat people food, but she eventually gave up on that too.  The vet said she was still healthy, but we knew better and this morning we held her as she left us.  We had never been through this before, and as a friend told us – it is just as bad as you think it will be – maybe worse.

On a business note – I am sorry if you have emailed and we have not gotten back to you in the past week.  We will be getting back to everyone tomorrow.  Thank you all for your support and love – we look forward to seeing everyone in this NEW YEAR!!

Here is the last baby I shot in 2009.  This couple was precious and their new baby boy even more precious.  I am a big dog owner and understand what is like to have your dogs before your baby.  I also understand what it is like to bring a baby home and want the dogs to love the baby and accept the baby as one of the family.  I got to photograph one of the first introductions this precious baby boy had to the family dogs.  I know this little boy and these wonderful dogs will be tight friends.