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.

I documented Brady’s first year of pictures, so when his Mommy called and told me she was pregnant so soon, I was thrilled.  Then, she let me know that she was pregnant with identical twin boys.  I think I squealed.  Be looking for these little boys to grace the pages of my blog many more times over the next year.  I was able to get a few of Brady while the twins were eating.  Here are two of my favorites of the twins.  They have to tie a small colored thread around the babys’ ankles to tell them apart.

As promised, here are the images from my Christmas card session.  Of course we waited until the last possible day that would work to shoot, get the images edited, design the card, order the card, address the cards, and get them in the mail.  This day happened to be the coldest day we have had since last winter.  The high on this particular day was 22 degrees – COLD for anywhere, especially Texas.  I had great dreams and tons of ideas; however, once everyone got home from school and my husband got home from work, we only had about 30 minutes left of reasonable light.  No problem I said – we are dressed – let’s do this thing!!!

We all piled into my husband’s truck with Anica, my assistant who hates the cold, but who loves me enough to agree to endure this situation.  We basically find the first field that has a green tree – everything else is dead.  It is muddy and I have on some really awesome healed black suede boots that I am freaking out about because I am sure that they will be ruined.  Mind you – the boots you do not even see in the pictures, because the dead stuff in the field is waist high.  We had wrapped some fake gifts and put them in a basket to take with us.  I make my husband carry the basket through this field.  We finally all get to the spot where the only green tree is located, and Annabelle promptly announces that she has to pee.  Well, it is 22 degrees and I am pretty sure that peeing on that green tree is not going to work – so I tell her to hold it.  Anica takes a few family pictures and then hands my camera to me and I shoot my kids for no more than 10 frames and both of them start to cry that they are too cold.  Yes – call CPS – I do expose my children to harsh environmental conditions to try and get a Christmas card shot.  Session is officially over!  After putting the kids back in the truck, Anica is able to take a few headshots of me, that I needed for a workshop that I will be teaching at and a few shots of my husband and I – you know those shots always make our parents happy.

My point in telling you all this is that I so often have clients who are stressed and who think their children misbehave when we have their session.  Well, I can promise you that my kids are hands down, the most difficult children I shoot.  I have tried everything – bribery, sugar, begging, guilt – nothing works.  But even through all that – I got some images that I will cherish forever – they are images of us now – where we are as a family.  I will remember from this day how Annabelle begged me to braid her hair – and I did it, even though I did not have time.  I will smile when I see Sam’s toothless grin – he will only look like this now – next year he will have those too big for his head teeth that desperately need braces. Mostly, I will remember that my husband and love of my life did not complain once through this entire sacrificial situation.  He gives me this gift once a year, for that, I will love him forever!!

Merry Christmas to everyone in blogland!  May you cherish this time and love the one’s who are dear to you!

I am still on the blogging my life band wagon.   Sorry – but I am really enjoying spending more time with my kids and I LOVE when my house is decorated for Christmas.  Of course, I have a million sessions from the past few months to blog and I promise to start putting some of  my favorites up soon!  Hope everyone is getting in the holiday spirit.

This trip we had the opportunity to meet some of my parents good friends.  They own a beautiful old stone home built in the 1800s and can basically live off of their land.  They own chickens and have an incredible above ground garden.  My kids had such an amazing time feeding the chickens and then gathering the eggs.  They also have a precious little granddaughter who Annabelle thought was the coolest “big”girl she has ever met.  Thank you Nancy and Tom for an incredible evening.