A boy and his dog...

It's hard to decide who is cuter here - the baby or the dog! The dog looks scary but is really a sweatheart, and was perfectly happy to cuddle with his little owner.

Braylon (the boy) is so lucky to grow up with a furry friend. Dogs really can make your day better, just by wagging their tail and giving you a kiss on the cheek. Someday Braylon will be coming home from school and both he and his dog will be happy to see one another - and that's a precious thing!

Sometimes a dog just makes everything all right. Our dog of 13 years, (who recently died) was there for so many big things in our lives - the birth of our children, and the loss of a child. She was there when we weren't sure if we would ever be able to have children, and when I lost my grandmother. No matter what, she always seemed to know what to do to make it OK, even if just for a few minutes. We all miss her, but we're happy to have Max with us. Somehow he also knows what to do, and I like to think Mocha would approve of him cheering us up when we are down, just as she did.

Braylon is a lucky boy indeed!

Waiting for a little girl

This mom and dad-to-be stopped by this morning with the cutest little pair of pink sneakers. They are expecting their first child in June - obviously, a little girl!

There are so many cute things for babies to wear, and they somehow seem to outgrow the cute things faster than the ugly stuff with the vomit and poop stains. Maybe shoes will be different, and she'll be able to wear these for a while. I can't wait to meet her, she is sure to be a cutie.

Welcome baby Kye!

Kye is two weeks old, and what a cute little boy he is! He looks so precious sleeping there, so peaceful. Of course I'm sure he's really a handful when nobody's watching...

Kye is the youngest of 5 kids - 4 boys and 1 girl. I wonder who will be more spoiled as they grow up - the princess of the family, or the baby?

Congratulations and best wishes to Kye's family, enjoy your new little bundle of joy.

The surprise baby has arrived!

Last month I got to do a fun maternity session that was a bit different for me in that the couple did not know whether or not the baby was a little boy or a little girl. The waiting has ended! As you can probably see by the pink blanket, a precious little princess has arrived!

Congratulations to Reagan Aubree and her family, and welcome to the world. Try not to wake your parents up too often, moms and dads are much more fun when they've gotten some sleep.

A beautiful bride

It's that time of year...wedding season! In most places around the US, June is the big month for weddings. Here in AZ, the season comes just a little bit earlier in the year due to the heat.

Amber is getting married this Saturday. She was just gorgeous in her bridal gown, and I'm sure her fiance is going to be thrilled to see her walk down the aisle! Best of luck to both of them for their big day, and I wish them a happy marriage for many years to come.

Happy Birthday Elisabeth!

Elisabeth had a very lucky birthday on Friday the 13th. I've been taking her photos since she was just a little baby, and it's fun to watch her grow up. Of course, she's at that cantankerous toddler time when they don't want to sit still for anything, especially not some crazy woman with a camera! Luckily that period only lasts from about 18-30 months, so by her next birthday she'll probably be hamming it up for the camera.

Baby Preston - a coming attraction!

This mom-to-be is awaiting the birth of the first grandchild and first great-grandchild in the family. His name will be Preston and his arrival is much anticipated!

I love the texture and the shadow on this image. And of course, a little bit sexy is always fun! Just because you're going to be a mom doesn't mean you can't flirt a little. After all, isn't that how we ALL become moms?

Welcome to our family, MAX!!!

This is Max. He is a 1-year old Australian Shepherd mix. We are guessing Lab is the other part of his parentage, or maybe collie.

We spent a lot of time Thursday looking for the perfect dog. We didn't really find the one dog that we KNEW was our dog. When we adopted Mocha many years ago, we knew it was right. She had come up to us in the adoption center, curled around my leg and looked up as if to say "c'mon, guys - finish the paperwork so we can go home!" She was perfect for us and she knew it! That's what we were looking for this time around.

Friday evening I called a woman who fosters dogs up for adoption. She described Max to me - loves kids, likes walks, a little bit of puppy chewing trouble, but nothing horrible. Max had been with her for three weeks, then adopted out last week and brought back because he wasn't housebroken. It sounded good, so we went down to meet Max.

The minute we walked in, Max let us know he was the one. He was so much like Mocha, it was uncanny - he did the same thing, walking up to my leg and looking up to say "let's go! I want to go home!" He was great with the kids, gentle and sweet. Even when Grace played with his lips, he didn't show any signs of snapping. We filled out our papers and went to the van. As soon as I opened the van door, he jumped right in.

All was well until this morning. We discovered at 5:30 that Max had dug a hole under the gate and escaped. We drove around for 2 hours looking for him. We posted flyers everywhere. Everyone was scared and worried that we wouldn't see him again. I was glad he was chipped, but I dreaded calling the foster mom and telling her that he was missing.

Then, at 7:30, the phone rang. It was the foster mom, and she already knew Max was missing - in fact, she knew exactly where Max was! He had run two doors down the street to an open garage where a man was working on his car. The dog was so friendly, they put it on a leash and walked around the neighborhood at 11 pm trying to find a place where a dog might have escaped. They called the foster mom when they couldn't figure out whose dog it was, and she was so happy to be able to tell us he had been found!

We picked up Max and he's back home where he belongs. We've shored up the gate with lots of cement bricks. Our plans for the weekend include lots of playing and getting to know Max in the hopes that he'll realize he's here for the long haul, and there's no need to run off.

What pretty little girls!

These two little beauties are Hannah and Morgan. They came over for their portraits, but they also brought their bunny Fuzz. Fuzz was a very good bunny, but quite nervous with all of the children in the studio - of course, my own three kids just had to come torment the bunny for a little while! Fuzz wasn't all that thrilled about having his picture taken, but the girls were excellent and cooperative subjects!

Good-bye, sweet Mocha

Mocha died about 5:30 PM on March 26, 2007. She was a friendly dog, and often came out to the studio to greet customers. She never nipped or bit anyone, even when the most obnoxious child pulled her tail or sat on her fur.

We had Mocha for 13 years, and had rescued her from the pound when she was about 2 years old. 15 years is a pretty long time for a dog her size - and she had 13 good years with us, filled with love and joy. Now that she's gone, she's left a pretty big hole in our hearts. We got her shortly after our marriage began, and it's weird to not have her around.

We are lucky that she wasn't suffering, so we never had to make the decision to put her to sleep. She got to die at home, lying on our couch and surrounded by love. We all got the chance to say good-bye to her, it seems like she was holding on all day until I could come home from work. After that, it went pretty fast.

I like to think that she was greeted in Heaven by our son Nicholas, who died when he was 11 days old. I'm sure he would love a sweet dog who can now run and play with him without the problems of old age.

By far the COOLEST senior session ever!

This is my first senior of 2007 - the senior season is just starting up. Already, I have to say this was by far the coolest senior session I've done to date! John is going to be joining the US Air Force after graduation, so we were able to do his senior photos at Luke Air Force Base! What a neat thing, to be able to see the planes and use them as a backdrop for his senior photos!

John was a great subject - cooperative and interesting, especially compared to the toddlers I've been working with recently! I know that he will have a great career in the Air Force and I wish him the best. He was going to be sworn in by the commander of the Thunderbirds during the Luke Days celebration, which is another cool thing! I wish John the best of luck for his future, and thank you for serving your country.

The Thunderbirds!

We got the chance to see the Thunderbirds perform yesterday at Luke Days. We learned our lesson back in October when the Goodyear air show was mismanaged and a horribly bungled event...but the Blue Angels were still awesome. This time, we just found a nice empty parking lot and watched from afar. We were thrilled to see them perform, and even got some nice shots of them flying in formation!

Marie was excited today because she got a letter from "her soldier" in Iraq. Last month she sent a box of girl scout cookies to a soldier from Arizona, currently serving in Iraq. She got the name and adress from anysoldier.com and sent off the cookies. She got a letter back today answering all of his questions - no, he doesn't have a dog and yes, he likes pizza. We explained to her that some of the same soldiers who were serving at Luke had probably served or will serve in Iraq, just like "her soldier."

A very great blessing...

This is Grady. He's 9 days old and already the light of his parents' eyes. He is a very special little guy - his mom is featured in an entry back in February, so you can read her story there.

Every birth story is different, but as long as the story ends in the arrival of a healthy baby, every story is a good one. Grady ended up arriving via emergency c-section. So often I hear women lament that their birth plans went awry at the last moment and they didn't have their chance to have a "natural childbirth." If they only knew how lucky they were...

I knew that Grady was going to be born on March 9, that was the scheduled induction date. All day I thought about his mom and I prayed that she would have an easy labor with a wonderful, joyous outcome. At her maternity session, she had told be about Grady's older brother - a little boy who had arrived too early and left too soon. So I was thinking of her a little more than I usually think of maternity clients and their impending labor - we have so much in common, having lost sons to prematurity and gone through difficulties to start a family.

I got a call on the evening of March 9 and my heart just sank. I recognized the number - it was the local coordinator for NILMDTS. She only calls me when a baby has died, or isn't expected to live. Immediately I thought of Grady and his family, and I hoped that it was not them. Of course, the odds were greatly against it - the odds that something would go wrong, and that I would be the photographer "on call" for the NILMDTS person that evening. And it wasn't Grady at all - it was a little girl at St. Joe's who wasn't expected to last long. So I packed my gear and set out for the hospital - grateful that it wasn't someone I knew, but sad knowing that some other mom was going through a horrible time. That mom had gone into the hospital expecting to come home with a healthy baby - and that was not going to happen.

So I am thankful for EVERY birth that has a healthy baby at the end of it - natural, "unnatural," with a midwife, with a doctor, induced, or c-section - they are ALL great options if the outcome is good. Too often I see women who are disappointed because their labor wasn't their ideal - but really, isn't the best outcome of all a healthy baby we can take home with us when we leave the hospital?

Spring has sprung - a tale of two rabbits.

Spring isn't even officially here yet but in Arizona it's already more like summer...five days in a row of record high temperatures, 20 degrees above average - it was 99 a couple of days ago! But even if it feels like summer, it's still spring in the studio and that means Easter eggs, bunnies and chicks.

I was so ready for the Easter thing. I got a bunch of fake animals - ducks, chicks and bunnies. They were perfect - very real looking and so very soft. Looking at the label, I discovered they were made from rabbit fur, dyed to be yellow and orange in the case of the birds. It was kind of ironic, wasn't it - they were using real bunnies to make fake bunnies! I put the animals aside and waited for the big day to arrive.

Then, when I needed the animals - all were accounted for, except one cute little bunny. I figured one of the kids had taken them - probably Gracie, she's 2 and takes pretty much anything she wants. The whole family was looking for our lost rabbit. We went through the drawers, looked under the beds, cleaned out the toybox - nothing. Finally, we looked in the backyard. That's when we found it - the lumpy remains of a poor fake bunny. It turns out the dog was just too interested in the scent of real rabbit, and was fooled into eating my props! Luckily, bunny #2 was fine and able to participate in our sessions.

The future O. Sidney, esquire

This cute little guy is named Oliver Sidney - what a big name for such a little fellow! Mom and I were joking that he could someday become a big lawyer or politician and go by the name "O. Sidney" rather than using his first name - it sounds so dignified, doesn't it?

His big brother is holding him and what a great big brother he is! O. Sidney is a lucky guy to have someone older to show him the ropes.

A new little sweetheart!

Welcome baby Blythe!

Blythe made her grand entrance on February 20. She is so cute and precious - a perfect little baby girl.

Newborns are so interesting to photograph. Even at a young age, they already have a personality. Some of them just want to sleep, some of them are alert and watchful, others are cranky and moody. It's amazing how each baby arrives with a temperament and an agenda! Sometimes I think they spend their 9 months in the womb plotting...how can I take over the family in the most efficient way? Of course, being cute and beautiful does work in their favor!

Congratulations go out to Blythe's family, and I wish Blythe a healthy and happy life.

Girls 2, boys 0

My streak of boys is coming to an end...for a while! I got to "meet" two girls this weekend - one who has arrived and one who hasn't yet been born.

I don't usually do a lot of black and white - but this image just has so much texture and gorgeous shadow that I couldn't help changing it!

This was such a fun couple to photograph. They were in Surprise to watch a spring training game and have a "babymoon" before their little girl makes her grand entry. What a smart idea!

Babies are a blessing, but they do tend to change your life in ways you never anticipate. It's so important to remember to stay a couple, and not just be a parent 24/7. There's an old saying - "If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!" That is so true, and all the dads should remember it - keep your wives happy, and everyone in the family will benefit. Moms, keep in mind that you aren't just a mom, but also a wife - and your husbands will love you all the more!

A truly deserved miracle...

I have worked with so many pregnant ladies recently, and every one of them has been full of joy and anticipation. But one of the sweetest and most kind expectant moms came through my door recently and I had to share with you my experience.

Laura is such a beautiful soul - she teaches first grade, and she is sweet as can be. Her little boy is scheduled to join her family tomorrow, March 9. Right before she arrived at the studio, I received a call from the local coordinator for NILMDTS. There was a family who had lost a newborn, and would I be able to go to the hospital to take the photos of their child? I had to turn it down, as I had already scheduled a session. I did feel bad - but then I found out more about Laura and I know that things have worked out the way that they should.

Laura told me that she had lost a baby last year, at 28 weeks. So she knows exactly what that family is going through - the loss of the hopes and the dreams, the profound shock and grief when what is supposed to be a happy day turns horrible. This pregnancy, she was enjoying every single minute - because she realized exactly what a miracle it really is.

A cynical person might ask how miraculous it can be - how many billions of time has the "miracle of birth" taken place throughout human existence? And yet, for anyone who has lost a child or had a pregnancy go wrong, there is no denying that it IS a miracle - no matter how many times it happens.

So tomorrow I ask that everyone keep Laura in your thoughts as she goes in to give birth to her son. If you're a praying person, pray that she has a good labor and that all is well. I know that I really can't wait to meet her little boy, and that he will be loved and appreciated all the days of his life.

Waiting for a little brother

Jadyn is a sweet little girl who I first met when she was still in her mommy's tummy. Now she's just about 18 months old and is soon going to be a big sister! She was so cute, showing me where her little brother is. Of course, being so young she may not realize what she's in for - but soon enough, she'll find out how lucky she is to have a little guy to share life with.

For right now, the little boy is "Anakin." So grandparents - you will just have to wait to find out who your newest grandson is!

I love a surprise!!!!

Yesterday was a first for me - I worked with a couple expecting their first child, and they did not know whether it was a boy or a girl! I've worked with many expectant couples, and this was the very first time that it was going to be a surprise on delivery day.

When I was pregnant with my second daughter, we considered the possibility of being surprised. But I guess we just aren't patient enough to wait 9 months...I caved in and had the ultrasound technician make a little video for us, typing in "boy" or "girl" and then not watching the video until we could all watch as a family. We liked knowing ahead of time that it was a girl - but a surprise would also have been fun.

Medical science has advanced so much that I sometimes wonder how previous generations made it through pregnancy. There was no way to check for a heartbeat or make sure that all was well early in the pregnancy - you just had to wait and see. No way to know that your baby had all the important parts, or was developing and healthy - just wait 9 months and find out in the delivery room. Some surprises probably weren't for the best - if a baby has medical issues, it's better to be prepared ahead of time. But the surprise of "it's a boy!" or "it's a girl!" - those are great surprises.

If I had to guess, I would say this baby is going to be a girl. I don't have any insider information - I'm just basing this on the fact that I seem to get a whole bunch of boys in for maternity & newborn sessions, and then a whole bunch of girls. I have just ended my run of boys, and started a new run of girls. So that's my guess...but don't hold me to it! I'll have to be patient, and I will say that I am looking forward to meeting this new little one and being surprised myself.