< i love this >

My favorite thing is being with a family with a new baby. Especially a first child, though every new baby is fascinating and life-changing and perfect and new. There's just something so fresh about this new relationship that's so beautiful and unique and that I absolutely love to capture. It never stops amazing me to witness this miracle that happens when people become parents. No matter how that baby enters their lives, something so potentially scary and overwhelming just happens organically and these natural instincts kick in. No matter how awkward and they feel in the new role, they just know what to do--they just know how to love.

And this family is no exception. This dad and I actually sang in the same choir before we completed our undergraduate degrees back at BYU, and though we have a lot of mutual friends, and knew of each other, we never overlapped years. So I was SO excited to find out they moved here, and even more so to get to know his AWESOME wife. I love this family, and this little baby is so stunning and distinct. Are they not all such beautiful people? Such picturesque features. And their personalities are even more beautiful--if that's possible:)

Thank you so much for sharing a little piece this special time with me. And congratulations!

< 1 year >

This little boy turned a year back in July and, sadly, I've put these off until now. What a terrible friend I am. But can you believe these beautiful eyelashes? I like to call him snuffleupagus. It's unfair for all little girls in the world that a boy gets this set of lashes, don't you think? He's such a sweet little boy, and I had a blast watching him play. You know, you guys really don't have to move away if you don't want to ...

I'm going to miss that beautiful little face.

< 4 days old >

Sweet baby boy just came home the other day, and we were able to schedule in a newborn session before he lost that incredibly unique newborn-ness that I so adore. He was basically the easiest baby I've ever had during a session. Just slept and snuggled and didn't even have an accident! That's pretty impressive for a 4 day old baby:) And I was excited to get to squeeze in a couple pictures of his proud big brother (who happens to be one of my daughter's best friends), grandma, and mom.

Thanks again, guys! Your family is absolutely beautiful.

my favorite of the day

< in the hospital >

A dear friend of mine welcomed a her second son into their family just this past week, and I got to visit them in the hospital. He is sweet and  laid back, and looks JUST like his big brother, I think. Congratulations, guys! He's absolutely beautiful. And I look forward to getting to know him:)

< my kind of family >

First of all, for news from my end, we're having a 3rd baby! And it's a boy this time! We are all really excited, including our girls.

This news hopefully explains my long absence from my blogs. So my apologies there. But, I hope this session of photos makes up for it! I absolutely LOVED working with this family. They all have so much fun together and are all so natural with each other. With all of their completely different personalities and ages, I wondered if these 4 girls would present a small but fun challenge for me, but I was totally wrong! They just played and laughed and made each other laugh. And when I got the parents alone for a second, I realized why these girls are so happy. These parents love each other so much, and that's why these girls are so happy to be together. They really are all best friends. When there's a healthy marriage, there's love and appreciation for their children. And then in turn, we hopefully teach our children to love each other and themselves.

Anyway, enough of my family psychology theories, here are the long awaited photos.