6 months old.

Ahhh, my tiny baby Winston is now 6 MONTHS old. And about 21 lbs, just guessing. He's a healthy baby. Chubby legs. Chubby arms. Delicious double chin. 

 For the past 4 or so weeks, he's been showing definite preferences: milk over prune juice, standing over laying down, books over tv, country music over classic rock and roll (which is sad), and squirming instead of sitting still... here he is enjoying his pears/prunes. (pears are his absolute favorite food)

he absolutely loves to giggle and babble, nothing he says is understandable. He says Ewwwww and Gaaaaaaaa and smiles like he is saying something truly spectacular. He absolutely LOVES dan and his nose. He bites it. And growls at it. and sticks his tongue up dans nostrils and just GIGGLES, like this is the most hilarious thing he could possibly do. I too, think it is pretty funny.

Winston is changing every single day. Yesterday (on his 6 month birthday) I noticed his hair has gotten longer and lighter. He prefers to wear it spiked. He feels he looks most cool/hip that way.

Winston discovered his feet last week. he grabs them when he is laying on his back and tries to get them into his mouth. i love watching him discover new things. he has this bouncy exerciser that allows him to jump and move side to side and dance, and he jumps hours at at time. i love watching him just figuring it all out. He loves it. 
He doesn't however, love for any of his toys to fight back when he smacks them. This bumble bee on his baby walker pinched him and DANG was he mad.

Winston and I go on play dates now. While visiting my friend Anna, Winston decided to practice his "looking super cool" skills in this crazy masculine chair. LOVE. how cute is my boy? Anna was sweet enough to let me borrow a fancy antique pipe. And of course, Winston promptly stuck it in his mouth. Perfect!

6 months has just FLOWN by. the best six months of my life. Hands down.

Kidzu Children's Museum, Great Shoot out, part 2

I love repeat customers!

This is the second year that I have photographed this lovely family of 3 for the Kidzu Children's Museum Great Shoot Out. It's so flattering when people hire me more than once. Especially when they kiss on command, laugh out loud, and are willing to get dirty and have fun with me.
It is so obvious when parents REALLY adore their children. As these two do. Mr. S is a VERY lucky boy.
I giggle at these photos so much. These two kissed FOREVER. and EVER. and EVER.

Kidzu Great Shoot Out, part 1

For the past two years, I have donated my photography/time for the Great Shoot Out which supports the Kidzu Children's Museum in Chapel Hill, NC. It's easy for me, as all I do is capture some happiness with my camera at the UNC Botanical Gardens, and the proceeds fund the interactively cool and educational museum. Here is one of my favorite family photographs.And of course, I love doing individual shots of the kids (who were crazy about UNC).

more Winston, 1 month

It's been over a month since baby Winston was born, and good lord, the time has flown by. People talk about how quickly they grow up and they are right.
The changes are incredible, I just can't believe that my once tiny little man has:

• gained 3 pounds
• grown an inch and a half.
• HUGE hands and feet!
• the most delicious eyelashes ever
• sleeps 3-4.5 hours at a time
• has 3 dimples on his face
• and... makes seriously stinky poop.

I am loving watching Dan become a father. They have "man time" every morning while I sleep. Dan says they discuss very important things, like Nascar, the proper way to tie a small mouth bass fly, women and dogs. Dan gets Winston at 6 am which allows me at least two extra hours of uninterrupted sleep. Dan reads to the baby at night (even if Winston is asleep) and it makes me so happy to watch the two of them. Click Clack Moo is Dan's favorite book to read (I think because he likes saying Mooooo in a cowlike voice.) I mean, who wouldn't?

everything Winston, day 15

i am in love. like a crazy love stuper. With my son Winston. I just cannot stare at him enough, sniff his head enough or smooch his perfect lips enough. These past two weeks have been WONDERFUL. love love love. And I am not the only one in love. So is Dan:And so is my dad! He cannot get ENOUGH of the baby (which translates to 'no one else can hold him if dad is in the room')
My mom is also in love, and Winston loves for his Grams to rock him and talk to him and love on him.
And Dan's parents, Carol and Tony are pretty fond of him too. They have visited 3 times in 15 days. I love it!

my husband and son

Winston is now 10 days old. 1/3rd of a month. I am so happy and in love and enjoying my time at home with Dan and my baby. I finally understand what people mean when they say babies grow up too fast, I just want to capture EVERYTHING... like Winston's sweet lips (above) and Dan holding and smooching those lips (below). Sometimes, the sweetest moments have happened in the middle of the night. I love watching Dan soothe and comfort Winston. He rocks him, sings to him and gets on the floor and kisses his little feet.This is my most favorite photo! I love my little popeye baby.

More Gymnastics Buddies

I have alot to say about my most recent family portrait session with my friend Melissa. Melissa, was one of my most fierce gymnastics competitors (when we were 12). She was known for being tiny and cute and having perfect form in floor and beam. AND she was crazy flexible. Her splits were flawless. Her shoulder flexibility was FAR more than ANYONE else's in our gym. One of my memories is her laying on her stomach and bending her back over her head so far that her bottom touched her hair. NUTS. And this of course, made me crazy jealous.And, she was nice. I mean, NICE to the core: friendly and positive and kind.

And this is the type of mom and wife she is. I am so proud of people that I knew as pre-teens, who turn out to be professional, good to the earth, kind hearted and loving. Not to be all sappy, but she is still amazing. I admire the type of mom she is. I hope she doesn't mind if I call and ask parenting questions once my little boy gets here!

And this is her awesome son, who was so cute and active and elusive. He wasn't super duper into me taking his photo, but I did manage to get some photographs of his sweet smile.And here is the dad. He is an avid gardener. Their yard was so amazing and I wanted to actually steal some of their yard statues.

book design

soooooo excited to show this sneak peak of my newest press-printed baby book. This is Miss Kysa. And because she and her parents are awesome, I picked a whimsical, hip design for her one-of-a-kind memory book from our fall 2010 family portrait session.

LOVE

LOVE

LOVE.

more Ohio snow portraits!

Can you imagine having FIVE girls under one roof? The really good news is that there is probably always plenty of hairspray, cute sweaters and gossip. Remembering when I was the precious age of 10/11, I would have LOVED to have had an older sister, for advice, someone with knowledge (and coolness). Photographing sisters is always so MUCH fun, because girls this age LOVE having their picture taken. Or maybe it is just me... maybe I am suddenly super cool.

snow day portraits!

I am learning that it snows ALL winter, here in Ohio. On December 1, I think it snowed for 14 days straight. January has been similiar. I think the schools have already been out for 9 school days, which seems to be wonderful for the kids. And I love doing snow portraits on snow days. Because being outside is SUPER fun and snow covered yards are always so pretty. The kids get to play, make snow men and have snow ball fights.During each family portrait session, I try to get a few shots with everyone calm and happy and covered in snow. Here is my most favorite. Because it is so natural and cool. I love all the hats.