Sweet little Alex…a happy little bundle of joy that just happens to be that perfectly sized fit into the crook of your arm!!  After about 10 minutes of smiles, a diaper change, a bottle and a fresh outfit, he was completely tuckered.  One minute he was awake, and the next, he was completely out and just as angelic as any baby ever could be.  We couldn’t resist packing him up in a cozy little basket (not too little, mind you!) and taking him outside for some fresh air and sweet shots.

It’s interesting to imagine the various items or events each of us may claim as a treasure in a day.  Or even how many days may pass before we realize an unclaimed treasure lay dormant on our path.  I treasure almost every kiss from my children, but there are times I absently accept those wet lips on my cheek while talking on the phone or editing a gallery…I regret those absent moments of mine that were meant to treasure.

More than slightly amazed, I watched this butterfly dance and float around his treasure for two entire days before I had a moment to capture him.  He went on to treasure his pink blooms for several more days too, completely undeterred by our intrigue or the stir we had imposed on his hushed, whispering world as we pointed and giggled and sneaked as near as allowed.  We are human and bound to fail to treasure all that God puts on our path to encourage us from one moment to the next, just never fail to remember the treasures are there, it is but for us to lift our chins and see it!  I wonder what treasure I will choose not to miss today…

When I found out I was going to be shooting a wedding on December 31st, I was sure there would be plenty of “unlikelies” such as warm weather and perfect lighting.   BUT, when all the listed unlikelies just completely melted away and dripped off the list and all the stars aligned perfectly and the sun shined its warmth at JUST the right temperature and the perfect location truly was perfect, I could only say one thing.  That it really WAS…an unlikely day…a DAY, unlike any other!

Tim and Kami, your day was hands down one of the most beautiful winter days I have experienced in years.  The weather was perfect, Kami, you were a raving beauty, and Tim…well, I’ll just say it.  You were as handsome and amazing as ever and you totally rocked your gangsta shot, lol!  Thank you both for allowing me to share in one of the most important days of your lives together.  I wish you both happiness beyond imagination!!

Dreamy newborns…there’s nothing like them…oh, but add the curls, dark lashes and silky smooth skin and the session goes to a whole new level!  I don’t typically get to a sneak peek on the day OF the shoot but I just couldn’t keep my hands off of just one little photo…I think when you see this little sweetheart, you’ll know why!

Okay, so contests are FUN and I guess I take them a little mores seriously than I realized.  I mean, I AM 34 now…you would think some of that spirit would have matured into grace and, I don’t know…more adult like behavior??  So here’s the story…Sandy Puc , my ALL time favorite master photographer whom I MUST credit with my first true vision of what photography really SHOULD be, decided to have a little contest!  She’s doing a summer tour teaching other photographers how to get an edge on their skills, focusing (this time) on infants and toddlers up to age 4.  Well, you know us photographers…we’re all visual…VERY visual, so what better way to really get that lesson across than to do a live shoot on stage for all of us to see those tips in action!  Well, a live shoot means she needs a live body…baby dolls just don’t cut it…so that’s where we are now…Sandy’s big search for little living, breathing sweethearts to photograph at each city she is visiting went out to all photographers!  There’ are only a couple requirements…first, you must purchase your ticket…second, the child must be within a certain age limit…third, you must let Sandy photograph the child you entered in the contest, should s/he win!  (okay, if you twist my arm!)  Of course, there are plenty of perks she is offering in return (as if her photographs of your child weren’t enough)…  SO, I did it.  I entered the competition with a photo of Chloe from this past spring.  Starting off the whole process already 88 comments behind the competition was a bit daunting to say the least but I attacked with the same determination Chloe had while “walking the dog”!  Yup.  That’s when I realized I was WAY over the top competitive…STILL. at THIS age!  Every time I check the votes (yes, like every 3 min.) and every time I add a new post about getting more votes (yes, like every 5 min), my heart starts pounding harder and my breath quickens and my hands get all shaky!  You’d think it was a foot race, lol!  As huge a revelation as that was about myself, I have decided that it’s a good thing that I still have fight in me…and it needs to last till I’m at least done raising kids because Lord knows you need some sort of spirit to raise a basket full of crazy red-headed, freckle faced kids!  (love them all)

So that’s the story and that’s why I need your vote…cause if you don’t vote, I fully believe I could just fall out of a panic attack or something with all this adrenalin running through me all day!!!!  For all of you that HAVE voted, you’re seriously the best!  I couldn’t ask for better friends and it’s always amazing to see the outpouring of response for things like this…you are all truly selfless friends and I look forward to returning the favor someday to all of you!

In case you missed the past 100 posts on my page, just visit this link and leave a comment under Chloe’s photo.  That’s all it takes…unless, of course, you would like to encourage your friends to leave a comment too! http://contest.sandypuc.com/Contest/Atlanta/17552382_qJz6K4#1371952847_fCktDKB

It’s been a wonderful weekend so far, to say the least…the provider of our home decided to take time off for a much needed mini family vacation!  Yesterday marked the much anticipated first day of play and OHHH BOY, did we pack it full of memories!  Even Chloe left her print on the day by abandoning all floatational assistance (including ME!!) and swimming like a dolphin discovering the great blue ocean…be still my heart!  Ah, but even a vacationer needs to eat, and what better place to eat than a kids-eat-free hot spot!!!  Insert cheers from mom and dad…  In spite of all the great fun and cheering from over half the family, one little “I” in the back seat decided it was a disastrous idea of a place to eat, seeing as how his “heart had been set on pizza” and this other location would “ruin EVERYTHING”!!  …and then it began…funny how complaining just leads to more complaining and all the fun of the past 8 hours fades to nothing in the blink of an eye…temper, temper, temper!

*SIGH* Even a vacationing parent can’t let a temper tantrum go unnoticed, especially when there is kicking involved; so the little “I”, who had previously been determined to eat his pizza, ended up with no supper at all.  ugh.  Cue the tears…buckets and buckets of tears…and apologies….and desperate promises…  For the next few semi-quiet minutes, we continued to head toward our destination with our four little “I’s” in the back, not realizing that one of them was making a very important transition to a new letter…

When we arrived, Brent and the girls eagerly jumped out of the van, having worked up a delightful appetite, and walked right in.  Being the more in-tune of the parents, as moms often are, I expected a slower approach from one of the two remaining “I’s”…but not from both…  I peered around the backseat to see what would hold up the littlest and was stopped short by the sight of big tears running down the cheeks of  little Devon…  Cautiously, I asked him what was wrong (you see, many times he finds himself on the end his brother’s angry fist).  Brokenly sucking in air, he took some time to finally be able to speak…”I just don’t want Ian to not be able to eat…can he please eat my food instead?”  One of my “I’s” had just become a “U”.  I was without words for a bit.  I had just witnessed the truest form of love take place between the two that I would have never expected…

It was a powerful moment; one of my proudest moments as a parent.  Oh, I know it had absolutely nothing to do with Brent and I or our parenting skills.  It was much greater than that…  It had everything to do with a tender heart and the willingness of a six year old to change just one little letter…

Who doesn’t enjoy being around a couple in love…especially in its young love days!!!  *sigh*  Well, I had a fantabulous time doing an engagement session with Tim and Kami on THE only day this week that it hasn’t rained!!!  Never mind all the broken bottles, cut feet (shudder), well used couch cushions, gawking tenants and pit bulls on heavy chains…we were just glad it didn’t rain!!  Of course, we were more than happy to see a patrol car come through a time or two too!!  I think we could all 3 say that it was an experience we will never forget, lol!  In all seriousness though, it was a joy to photograph them as they prepare to start their new life together.  It seemed as if they had already been married for several years, they fit so well…I guess it’s just a love thing….

It’s official!  My very first ever newborn to photograph is now a big sister…and you guessed it…I had the honor of photographing her new baby brother this week.  *insert melting heart here*  He was perfect in every way.  I could have sat and held him all day for no other reason than to soak up his sweetness!  Alas, I did have to put him down from time to time to capture these tiny days that fly by all too quickly…

And while little man took a moment to fill his belly, big sister Piper and I went out for a little walk and some fresh air…besides, we had some catching up to do!  She’ll be 3 by the end of the summer, don’t you know!!

I can’t help but leave off with one last image of sweet baby Chevy…

Wow…meeting Erika…just a couple of words that really mean so much to me now!  When I sat down across from her at our consultation, I sensed immediately that she had a lot to give of herself…to those that were truly worth the giving.  I love those kinds of people.  You don’t run into them everyday, and if you do, chances are likely that 5 min with them won’t even begin to touch learning who they REALLY are…  I knew from that first “hey there!” that I was ready to take all the time it took to get to know who the real Erika was…  We chatted about many things for the first 10 min or so but when the conversation turned to her future plans, Erika began to open up.  I was delighted as I listened to see her eyes start to sparkle and her grin begin to warm…but NOTHING made me happier than her eager hug as we parted ways until session day.  A few words to sum up Erika would be:  unpretentious, ARTISTIC, unassuming, Loyal, fun, trustworthy, shy and SURE.

This girl is going somewhere with her life and, like with Lynette, I plan to be there every step of the way to cheer her on.  Here is just a bit from her incredible session…

Erika, I had so much fun “working” with you…I am SO looking forward to completing your gallery.  Every image of you is stunning!  Your beauty runs as deep as your talent…

Why does childhood pass so quickly for only the all-grown-ups?  I’d give anything to go back and enjoy a few days I lost as a child, thinking I would NEVER grow up…but I can’t.  My childhood is done.  It’s just a memory now.  I’m fine with that, but a couple of weeks ago, it hit me, I mean really REALLY  hit me how quickly time and the innocence of childhood really does pass.

I had the honor of spending an afternoon two weeks ago with my bigger than life hero of all time ever, my big brother, Doug, and my practically perfect in every way niece, Maddy. (LOVE that girl!)   We were having a great time exploring an incredible location when I happened to capture a moment that to me, said it all.  But I’m getting ahead of myself…

After exploring, we decided on a great place to start shooting…and that’s when it happened.  I picked up my camera, looked through the view finder and instantly became that little sister again.  It was totally unexpected…I was flooded with childhood memories, like being hauled through the house in a laundry basket, and careened through the yard in a wheelbarrow; being left to hang from the basketball goal and cuddled at so young an age to stop the tears of sadness before dropping my hero off at college.  He was always the ultimate big brother in my eyes…but then I saw one more thing while looking through that lens…  I hadn’t missed it before, I had just accepted it…it was not only the passing of MY childhood that I observed from my perspective behind the camera,  but also the passing of HIS childhood and the soon to be passing of his daughter’s childhood that I saw for the first time.  It was just a fleeting moment, but there we were…all of us wrapped up with our own memories and thoughts of years gone by.

This is the image that says it all…

Of course, with Doug around, these serious moments are all too easily traded in for the fun side…so here’s a few of those as well.  I MUST interject here and proudly state that I KNOW if have the most incredibly handsome brother EVER!  Don’t even waste your breath arguing.

Okay, who knows the rule…for every incredibly handsome parent, there is a child equal to or greater than said beauty.  Well, my niece just happens to be blessed by not only a good looking dad, but also an amazingly stunning mother.  Oh, to have Maddy’s skin and silky hair and glittery eyes!  This sweatheart of a girl is one that I can never spend too much time with.  Every word out of her mouth is spoken with an elegance and peacefulness that exudes maturity beyond her years.  I have never felt that I was in the presence of a child when in her company and have always enjoyed engaging in conversation with her…I have no doubt that her future is very bright!

So here’s a glimpse of my beautiful niece, Maddy…my little lady in the making…

I consider it an honor to call Doug my brother and Maddy my niece.  Love you both so much and will cherish the afternoon we spent together forever!