Baby B Newborn

Who doesn't love babies... seriously!!!

I LOVE shooting this little girl!!! She has her own personality but she makes it fun!!!

Cannot wait for this little girl to keep growing! But I can all at the same time!!!

Sidenote: Harper has the most optimistic mom ever!!! She knows why I'm saying that... and it's our little secret! LOVE YOU SUE!!!

Welcome Baby B!!!

Around lunch time on Tuesday October 8, I received one of the best calls ever... Baby Harper's doctor decided mommy needed to go to the hospital to be induced so Harper could make her grand entrance!!!

After spending some family time at home and my awesome aunts house (bc she agreed to watch Caitlin for me!), I loaded up my equipment and headed to the hospital... After a long night in some super uncomfortable chairs with Jared's mom and dad (they were some troopers!) and intermittent checks with the parents to be, dawn came... FINALLY, around 11... Momma felt it was time to push!!!

At 12:05, Harper Lee finally joined us! Weighing in at 7 lbs. 13 oz. and 20 in. long!!! 

After a quick visit with mom and dad, Harper was brought to the warmer for some official measurements... Followed by her very first bath! 

Finally it was time to meet the rest of the family!!!

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE ARRIVAL OF BEAUTIFUL BABY HARPER AND THE NEW "B" FAMILY!!!

Soon to be Mr. and Mrs. "A"

Engagement Session- Brian and Kathryn

Ok... I can't really type into words how adorable these two are as a couple... I mean really... Kathryn is soft spoken (even when you call her by her spy name... Lauren...) and Brian is the one to make her come out of her comfort shell and laugh... a lot!

These two have been together for going on 6 years!!! It's your typical love story... ya know... where they both work at the local grocery store... she was a damsel in distress switching up her routine from flowers to checker... he was her white knight that swept in to bag the groceries and keep her smiling! After a few movies... a couple orders of cheese fries... and a long hallway strewn with rose petals... they are now happily engaged... Waiting patiently for April 11, 2015 to say "I DO"!!!

Besides the whole movies shindig... these two like to cook... and surprise surprise... play games and have a good night with friends =)  Speaking of friends... side note... come to find out during the random chit chat during the photoshoot... Mr. Brian (aka Ducky) apparently is in the same social circle as my husbands best friends... and I was informed of a story involving my oh so adventurous younger brother in law, some mustard... and a bag of Tostito's scoops... small... small... world. 

It's pretty impossible whenever you spend time with them to not notice Brian's eyes light up when Kathryn smiles... Even without them telling me in my handy dandy survey that her face/smile is the best part of his day because it makes all the craptastic feeling go away instantly... I could've guessed it! 

Brian seems to give Kathryn this little push of confidence that she can only reach deep down inside her with his help... In the same way Brian lights up with her smile... she equally reflects a giddy little girl when he smiles back at her. 

Here's a toast to many many more years of partnership for you two!!! May you always have the innocence of a dating couple, but the knowledge of an old married couple!!!

Congratulations Brian and Kathryn!!!

"Everywhere I'm looking now

I'm surrounded by your embrace

Baby I can see your halo

You know you're my saving grace

You're everything I need and more

It's written all over your face

Baby I can feel your halo

Pray it won't fade away"  

Halo by Beyonce

Announcing Mr and Mrs "D"!!!

DATE: Friday June 27, 2014

You know those small social circles where so and so's great aunt's, husbands, cousins, daughter married another so and so's grandma's neighbors nieces coworker??? Well this is kind of a story like that... I am very fortunate to know Aly (the beautiful bride) mainly because (now stay with me...) she is my husband's, sister's, best friend... so kinda like the pseudo-sister type... OR we can say I know her because her dad (which now has the house that was formally his grandma's) lives next-door to me... See where I'm going with that! 

Ever since my husband and I have been together... Aly and Zach have been a budding couple! You can't really say one name, without saying the other... Now they are a married budding couple!!! I was VERY honored Aly asked me to be her paparazzi for the day and capture her transformation from the old creeper next door's (no worries... he knows this is his nickname =]) soccer daughter to the absolutely breathtaking picturesque bride!

PLACE: Pixie's Hair Salon

So Aly and her entourage were pampered at this very trendy little boutique called Pixie's Hair Salon in Maplewood.  From it's gorgeous chandeleir to the Marilyn Monroe pictures on the wall, this salon entices you with a very welcoming environment! Upon my arrival, Aly looked like she may or may not be related to George Washington... and the girls had their breakfast buffet of fruit, orange juice... and the necessity... champagne... laid out on a small table in the middle of the studio. My stunning sister in law Sarah was getting her hair done... Aly was nervously pacing... and Katy, Lauren and Sam were hanging out in the lounge corner chatting about the festivities of last night.

Right before Aly was going to have her makeup put on... She had a "surprise" gift... kinda from Sarah... but really from Zach... When Aly looked at the envelope she quickly snapped how it wasn't Sarah's handwriting... well duh! Inside this envelope was a masterpiece crafted my none other than her wonderful groom Zach! She held it together until she read a line about how much he loved her... "and even her toes"... which is a pretty funny story for another day. Way to go Zach... you successfully made Aly (and each bridesmaid) cry without even being there in person! 

Aly's statement piece was definitely her necklace (and shoes if you could see them while her dress was on... no idea how the girl walked in these... for an outdoor wedding!)... She also had her grandmother's beautiful silk handkerchief kept very close to her for the day. Mint and coral where the main theme colors... if I had to describe it all... vintage chic. 

I may have been a little obsessed with her shoes...

Her girls wore a a beautiful lace top summery mint dress with a pair of sassy tan wedges! It's really hard in wedding planning to find "the" dress to fit all the girls in the bridal party... but somehow this girl pulled it off! The dress complimented each girl wonderfully!

Aly's dress was a beautiful cap sleeved chiffon dress with a beautiful diamond shape open back topped with a four button closure. Very very classy!

Time seemed to FLY by... and before we knew it... Aly's George inspired bouffant was fading into a curly, elegant, up-do. Her bridesmaids kept her nerves at bay with little stories and jokes along the way. This group of girls was a great support system for their bride!

The time then came for Aly to sneak away to a small room to wrap herself in the carefully constructed pleated material... her wedding dress! With mom at the reins, step by step... and a couple of safety pins later... She emerged as a princess!

 Katy, Sam, Sarah and Lauren... pre and post!

The beautiful ladies of the Reynolds - Dangos wedding!

PLACE: The Music Stand

All day there must have been a gigantic umbrella over Aly... I saw lots of storms approaching the Saint Louis area on my radar... and as soon as they came close to wherever she was... it seemed as though they dried up!!! Their were only a few sprinkles when she arrived via limo bus to The Music Stand... but someone must've sensed trouble because it stopped just as quickly as it started!

Aly's ceremony was short... but it definitely did not lack any bit in delightful detail! The minute Zach saw Aly... words cannot even describe the emotion that overcame the crowd. She floated down the aisle to her anxiously awaiting groom and before you knew it, he was kissing his wife!!!

PLACE: Windows On Washington

After blinking my eyes, it was time to head towards her reception hall! Inside there was gorgeous red brick that complimented long windows.  A photographers dream location for natural light! Dinner, dancing and drinks to round off what turned into one of the best day in Aly and Zach's life!!!

Although I was a guest at the wedding and reception... I am very appreciative of spending the morning with Aly and her girls... It was a GREAT time... THANK YOU ALY!!! 

I wish MANY years of happy togetherness for you and Zach! 

Celebrate Good Times... C'mon!

Now that it has been Facebook official for a couple weeks, I finally can say I am so happy that one of my daughter's dear friends and his humans are having a baby!!! Of course I'm talking about Sue and Jared! I was EXTREMELY honored that they asked me to help share this beautiful news with everyone!!!

Gus is an adorable little dachsund that was born a few days after my daughter... so it was only natural that they become besties =) I have known Gus' human Sue since highschool! We used to have sleepovers and she still talks about my dad's omelet breakfasts!!! Oh the good days!

 Sue and Jared were married September 2012... She is an OT and he is a manager... Between the two of them, Jared is the BIG joker... he likes to live life on the lighter side... and by lighter side I also mean a little twisted too... Spending time with these two, one thing is clear... well two things... Gus is Sue's pride and joy and more importantly, they are definitely each other's soul mates! I cannot wait to continue this journey with them and Baby B... one thing is for sure though, between Sue's zebra obsession and Jared's pirate/ wolverine obsession... this kid is going to have some awesome wardrobe choices!!!

CONGRATS SUE, JARED AND GUS!!!!

The "R" Family

“What strange creatures

 brothers are!”

Jane Austen 

Meet Stephanie, Jerry, Ryan and Michael... I remember when this family just started out as a beautiful bride walking down the aisle...

*SPOILER ALERT... Beautiful wedding picture circa 1993!!!*

AWWWWWW!!!!

Now that Stephanie (and possibly Jerry...) are going to kill me for sharing that picture... back to present time!!!

These two lovebirds could not have been handpicked to be a better couple!!! They are raising two teenage boys... who are quickly turning into men... much faster than any of us anticipated! 

                

Meet Ryan... he is going into his senior year of high school and then whisking away to a graphic design college!!! This kid has so much talent in his left pinky it's unbelievable! He's rather reserved... more on the shy side... and can get lost in a comic book for hours... seriously hours... if he's not in his room reading those, he's generally in his tricked out man cave with his dad watching tv in his own personal theater... Ryan is my talker... I love to go on trips with him no matter how short or long they are just so I can talk to him and find out more about his life path and where it's going and how it went... 

Meet Michael... 15 going on 10... ok I joke... I joke... this kid is probably the most random person I know... He will usually tune into your conversation for about 2 minutes... and unless you keep it interesting... he's probably busy thinking about how porta potties (sp?) are made... or why they are made that way... Michael is INSANELY book smart... and can make you motion sick with how quickly he zooms around in the latest Call of Duty... He's a thinker though.... He will ask you some of the most thought provoking questions you've ever been asked... He keeps you on your toes though with his agility and playfulness... Just watch out for tree roots (sorry inside joke that I had to put in here...)

Those these two don't always get along... and yes... they think the same about the other... strange creatures... when they do work together on a project... it's a beautiful masterpiece... 

                                         

If you ever get the greatest opportunity in the world to meet these four... you will fall in love with them... They open their heart to anyone and can help you in any jam you are in... They offer four VERY unique point of views on whatever topic you have to come up with... but one thing is common in them... FAMILY BOND.  They talk to each other very openly and have a connection that most families strive to reach... They are each other's crutch when times are tough and each other's star when the sky is shining. They have allowed my daughter to steal their heart (therefore stealing mine and Jon's with how much they love her!) Their love for family is amazing...