{ Welcome New Baby Stella! }

I love working with newborns - tiny little sweet things all bundled up. Evelyn was the first newborn girl we ever photographed, and now, a little over three years later, we got to meet her baby sister, Stella. Stella did an amazing job for her first photos! Fifteen days old, and a little over six pounds, she slept through the entire session, snuggling into posers, baskets and wraps, happy to be wherever we put her. Evy was a perfect big sister - interested in everything that was happening, and helping in any way she could. We were excited to try out a few new props such as our Flokati faux furs, dainty headbands, and new cheesecloth wraps. We have so many beautiful images from this session, narrowing it down to a handful for blogging was a difficult task, so be sure to stay tuned for a future gallery! Welcome, Baby Stella!

Welcome, New Baby Ryan!

Tomorrow is a day of Thanksgiving - a day to count our blessings, and nothing can quite get you in the mood for that as well as a newborn baby. Tiny toes, tiny fingers and a sweet little sleeping smile... there is just nothing like it. :)  Baby Ryan was a little older for his session than most of our newborns, but because he was an early arrival, it was just like photographing a week old baby. He was flexible, tiny and spent his entire session in a deep slumber.

 It is amazing to me how much he already looks like mom and dad; he spared no time in telling everyone that he is a part of the family.  Baby Ryan is lucky enough to come into this world with a brother and sister so excited to have him.  He arrived just in time to celebrate all the holidays with them and to be passed around the family so everyone can soak up the warmth and remember when their babies were that small.  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone, and congratulations to the {L} Family!

Isaac Turns 18 Months!

There is something special about Isaac that I absolutely love.  He is a people watcher - those bright blue eyes are always checking out what is going on around him.  He loves to laugh and play and run, but all the while he is watching.  It makes me guess at what he is thinking and all the wonderful things he is learning.  We’ve gotten to watch Isaac grow every few months for the last year and a half; we’ve gotten to see the new skills he’s developed and all the ways he has changed. (My personal favorite is the cute little gap baby teeth!)  It can be such a blessing to be a part of a baby’s life, documenting each little change as they grow up.  We get to notice all the transformations and create memories that allow mommies and daddies to hold onto them forever, and I think that’s pretty special.

David Turns Two Years!

David is a child so full of joy that it is absolutely contagious.  He is always smiling and on the go, ready for his next big adventure!  It was so fun getting to know he and his family for two year and family photos.  We chose a natural setting that would offer us beautiful backgrounds, and him a safe and fun place to run about.  Melissa brought along David’s cowboy gear and tractor - our favorite part being the little red cowboy boots grandma chose for him (aren’t they adorable?!)  Happy 2nd Birthday, David!

Personal Post : Memorial Day Weekend Up North

Everyone has certain places they feel connected to - certain places that automatically feel like home whether they are or not.  Since I was a child that is how it has been for me with the house my Grandfather grew up in at the edge of Baileys Harbor in Door County.  It is a craftsman style farmhouse on rambling fields that once were orchards.  The land is dotted with various outbuildings all fastidiously up-kept by my Grandfather, who I find to be my kindred spirit, always making the choice to preserve rather than replace.  And if a house needs someone to maintain the structure, it also needs someone to make it a home.  That duty falls upon my Grandmother, Claudia, who fills the house with the smell of baked coffeecake, the sound of well-meaning Scrabble banter, and the feeling of fresh linens.  She is the person who sees the good in everyone, and knows exactly how to express it.

When I was a child my brother Joshua, my cousin Danielle and I would run wild up there.  We would climb the big crabapple tree, get lost wandering the fields and create houses in the "cedar palace" as we called it.  The overall feeling was an intense sensation of freedom.

As I've grown older, the place has remained close to my heart, and it was such a joy to find that Ben saw all the wonderful things I see in it, and that it could become a place we could cherish together.  Memorial Day weekend is always our first trip up there, and this year we were particularly excited to bring Pieper up for the first time.  We knew she would love exploring the trails, nights around the campfire, and playing with Echo (the cute, fuzzy thing in the photo under the chair).

We packed the weekend with the Maifest parade in Jacksonport, breakfast at the Carroll House, ice cream at Wilson's, and an evening at Skyway Drive-In...  all surrounded by various games of Scrabble, bocce ball and many rides around the field on bikes, four-wheeleers and (yes that is a) golf cart.  Ben and I took our film cameras along in hope of sharing the timelessness of how we experience our time spent "Up North".

www.wilsonsicecream.com
www.doorcountydrivein.com