Where Love Can Lead You.

I've been thinking a lot about when and how to post about the newest addition to my little family.  You wouldn't think it would be very hard--take pictures, post pictures, say a few things about how cute he is, DONE!  But I've had such a lot on my mind since his birth, every time I've sat down at the computer to do just that, it hasn't felt like enough to do justice to how much it all means.

I mean, I'm a wedding photographer by trade.  I do almost any type of photography, but weddings are definitely my specialty.  I'm drawn to romance.  I savor every sweet moment shared between two newlyweds as I chronicle that day for them.  But the wedding day--however iconic in a person's lifelong love story--is just one day.  Its the life that happens after that is the most important.

As I rocked my baby to sleep last night I thought a lot about how hard it had been on me to bring him here.  We'd tried for a second baby for quite a while with no luck, and when we did get pregnant, his due date landed right smack in the middle of my wedding season.  It pretty much cut out my two most profitable months--last year they accounted for at least a third of my entire years profit.  Last year I did eight weddings in the same time period where this year I did one (and that was only after a long consideration as to whether or not I would be up to it.)  Besides the logistical nightmare of trying to figure out how to make that work, my body slowed down to a point I hadn't experienced with my first baby.  Every ache and pain was enhanced, the fatigue became consuming.  It was hard to imagine what it would be like when the pregnancy was over while I was in the middle of it.

And then I had him.  And he was perfect.  He was ours.

Another part of our family that we didn't even know we had been missing.

And it strikes me every time I look at him, and at his sweet big brother, that this is what it is all about.  These two little boys...they are our legacy.  They are our love story made real.

When we married six years ago, I never could have imagined this future.  I have always dreamed big, so sometimes I get lost in the day to day comings and goings, the new crises, the stresses and challenges.  The little things.

Jamison yesterday.  Food coloring is not finger paint.

But it is perfect in its imperfection.

So here he is...

And I think...this is where our love has lead us.  And it is beautiful.

Puddles

Today was cold, but that didn't stop Jamison from dragging me outside for a while.  I love that we have a big backyard for him to run around in when the house gets to small to hold all of his mischeif.  Sometimes he is so sweet and funny and precious it stops my heart.  We have a little spot on our back porch that always collects water, and he was drawn like a magnet to it.  The clouds were reflected so perfectly his tromping little baby shoes sent splashes and ripples across the sky.

Let's just say...to me, he walks on water. :)

All mine

I would do anything for this little boy.  And its no wonder, because I would do anything for his daddy, and he takes after him in so many ways.

I don't need to ask anyone to "be mine" for Valentine's Day... The most important people are already mine.

Autumn Evening.

Last night was simply beautiful.

I was lucky to be able to go to the This is the Place Heritage Park for the first time ever for a bridal shoot with Jessica. She had worked there over the summer and so, when we bought our photography pass, she also was able to procure a key from a friend. It was after hours, so we had the whole park to ourselves. We walked up and down quiet, tree lined avenues flanked by picket fences and cozy stone houses. There were lanterns on posts that lit up as the sun went down, and on the slightly chill breeze there wafted the sweet smokey smell of a campfire from somewhere up the canyon. Because she had a key we got to peek inside some of the buildings, decorated with little pumpkins for halloween. As we walked between each shot, she recounted all the history associated with each building.

It was such a lovely autumn evening. I came home and made apple cider and snuggled with my hubby.

P.S. I have a lot of posts to do in the next few days (I haven't forgotten all of you!) Noah's blessing, Lara and Evan's Wedding, Jared and Chelsea's Wedding, the Rivas Family, and of course Jessica's bridals should all be up in the next few days! Whew! Good thing I've got a vacation coming my way...

Rainy Day

Carma came up for the holiday weekend from Arizona and we decided that we would do a mini photo shoot so A. I could get a decent photo of myself to put on my blog and website and B. so I could impart my vast photo knowledge to her eager young mind (not really, she already knows most of it, I was just teaching her a few of the tricks and tips I've learned in the last little bit). But it rained...and rained...and rained... which was fine for the lighting (it was SO GORGEOUS) but not so good for the hair. (But check out the black and white of Carma. I made it big because wow)

Window

On Friday I caught Jamison looking out our bedroom window. It was a beautiful time of day. It made me think about what it must be like to be a little child, when everything is so new. What kind of wonder must he feel when he looks out onto such a big world?

But it wasn't the big world he was looking for...

it was his daddy, who was out mowing the lawn.

When I finally pulled the little squirt away from the window, this was the shirt-appropriate look I got:
Every moment is precious...and priceless.

Jamison's Blessing Shoot

Is it bad that I think even his protests are adorable?

My baby...again

What can I say? I'm a new mother with a camera and a tolerant baby.