i miss this sweet warm sun, sand between toes, beach hair, and… beach bums. ;)

to every woman who is a mother, and who’s about to be a mother.

My wish for you:

May you know that mistakes are simply proof you’re human.

May the “I love you’s” out number the “Go to your room’s”.

May your heart, though full, always have a little room for a school friend or a neighbor child who needs someone to love them.

May you live to see the love you give your child in the form of the love they give their own children.

My most recent “Mom” client.

This session was special to me.  Catie was born two days after my little brother.  I remember when she was born, because her older sister is a friend of mine.  Then years later, I took Catie’s engagement photos with her then Fiance (now husband and baby daddy), Chad.  And now, there’s a very good chance that Catie’s baby will be born two days after *my* baby – and she chose me to take her maternity photos. :)

Catie and I headed out into a new yellow flower field last week.  We encountered these gross spiky thorny weeds that stick up in your pants and down in your shoes, and are just completely awful.  And bugs.  Yep, there were bugs.  Then the part where Catie almost fainted.  Um, twice.  Followed by me literally not being able to get out of bed the next day because of severe back pain.  See, this is what happens when two preggies in their third trimester go venturing out in a field taking pictures.

Thank you, Catie, for choosing me to photograph you and your perfect belly.  I feel like things have come full circle and it’s so awesome to watch you become a mother.  I hope you enjoy your sneak peek.

It was worth every thorn.

Happy Mother’s Day.

I don’t share a ton of family photos on here, but I couldn’t pass these up.  These make my heart happy.  This is them being them. <3

They were racing and I said “If you’re the fastest swimmer, smile for the camera….!”

Obviously Claire is the fastest swimmer.

Five times in a row she kept saying “One more time??? PLEASEEEEEEEEE?????”

And of course there was always “one more time”.