I’d like to introduce my littlest girl. Meet Ruby, just 13 days old here:

That’s what Violet calls her cousins, Hazel and Ellis, who were born in November 2009 at 32 weeks. We didn’t get to meet them until they came home from the hospital a little over a month later, but even then they were just beginning to tip the scales toward the five pound mark! They’re both so sweet, and Violet adores them. We’re hoping she is as fond of the new baby who will be joining our family in just a few days!

Baby Hazel

Baby Ellis

Seems I was so busy this fall, that what few photos I managed to take of my own little girl (she’s really not a baby, anymore, is she?) have lingered, unedited, in my Lightroom library. But with my last 2009 client order all packaged up to go out this week, I’m trying to catch up as much as I can. So it is that I find myself watching fat flakes of snow from my window while posting an image of Violet in my favorite summer dress from the last day it was warm enough to wear it.

Once upon a time, I dreamt of being a photographer. I dabbled, years ago, in film, and after Violet was born, finally dove into digital and tried not to drown myself in all there was to learn. So much of which can only be mastered through – what else? Practice. But to practice, one must have subjects to practice ON, and my dear friend Leslie supported me and supplied me with willing (sometimes!) subjects from the start. Suffice to say, I have photographed these sisters for several years now – the younger two since they were born – so it felt right to wrap up my 2009 client sessions with a sessionof all three of them. Stunning, aren’t they?

Miss K’s mom is a friend of mine, but I hadn’t seen this blonde-haired, blue-eyed big sister-to-be since she was a tiny baby! Where does the time go? Now K is two (”and a half!”, she’ll tell you) and full of personality. We had so much fun getting reacquainted (her favorite color is pink, she loves to sing “John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt,” and she can’t wait to share things with her little sister, who should be arriving any day now). And Miss K was even tough enough to don her favorite princess frock for a while, despite the not-even sixty degree temperatures that morning. Now that’s dedication. Hope you enjoy your sneak peek, K and family! Can’t wait to meet your new addition soon.

Mr. M made his mama and dad wait over week past the date he was expected to arrive to meet him! But this sweet little guy was clearly well worth the wait.

Seems like just the other day my sessions were all shorts and sundresses. But last weekend’s early morning session with Mackenzie and Nicholas was a wake-up call for me in more ways than one! Post-dawn, it was brisk enough out at the park to call for much warmer attire. And a few leaves had even fallen! Mackenzie, her mom, dad, baby brother and I had a great time exploring the changing scenery while scouting for frogs and ducks. This gorgeous little blonde girl and I go way back. Well, she and my daughter, Violet, go way back – which, for 2 year olds, means all the way back to infancy! Now those two are “so big,” and they’ve got younger siblings too. (Violet’s won’t be here for a few months yet, but she’s on her way . . .) Lil’ Mac’s little brother, Nicholas, is hardly little any more, though – check him out! Gotta love baby chub. Thanks for spending the morning with me, Mackenzie and Nicholas! Hope you enjoy your sneak peek.

I know I’m a little bit biased. My own daughter just turned two in August, and I am absolutely loving this age. So when Conor’s mom called to schedule a session in honor of his second birthday, I couldn’t wait to meet him and enjoy his two-dom, too. As you can see, Conor did not disappoint. This little guy was everything that is so great about two – energetic and enthusiastic, sweet and spunky, and 100% himself from the moment we met. That’s the thing I love most about toddlers – they don’t worry about what they think you want to see, they’re ready to show you who they really are as soon as you’re willing to let them. And that’s exactly the kid I’m looking to capture. Conor, I had a blast getting to know you last weekend. i hope you and your mom and dad enjoy your sneak peek!

After my own “summer vacation” of sorts (which did include some vacationing and celebration(s) of Violet’s second birthday, as well as less-relaxing but very productive work eliminating items that have lingered on the to-do list for far too long), I returned to one of my favorite parks to photograph this family last weekend. And had so much fun, I felt like I was still on vacation! Two (almost three!) year-old Elise kept us all moving – and more importantly, laughing – the whole time. Big sister Tess and her mom and dad were no strangers to silliness themselves; the smiles in this session were absolutely infectious. Thanks for a fantastic Saturday morning, B family! Hope you enjoy your sneak peek.

I had the privilege of photographing this gorgeous family last weekend. But not only were they stunning (and perfectly put-together!), they were such great sports about traipsing around downtown Meridian in near-triple digit temperatures! And they even brought along an assistant (who probably didn’t realize what he was getting roped into when he agreed to spend the night with 11 year-old Evan) – I put him to work warning me of traffic before I got run over as I stood in the middle of the street to shoot. Noelle, Lance, Evan, and Andrea, I had such a good time hanging out with you all. Enjoy your sneak peek!