Baby love...

I could have loved on this baby girl forever. She was SO SWEET on Saturday. She belongs to the wonderful and amazingly talented Susan of Whimsical Photo Design. We also had Jess of Jessica Hamlin Photography with us. It's so interesting to see other photographers work. I also love seeing the same subject/setup through different lenses. :)

Welcome to world Julie!

Two of my most favorite people...

I just love these two. This is one of my husband's brothers, Mark and his AMAZING wife, Serena. The brother's pretty good, but Serena is one of my greatest blessings. As in-laws go, I completely SCORED. My brothers-in-law are all good guys, but when you get the 4 of them together (yes FOUR, no I'm not sure how his mother survived ;)) they're such BOYS. Thankfully they all have spectacular taste in women. Mark & Serena were married less than a year after Jake and I were. So, since the very beginning Serena and I have been in the family together. Over the last few years she's become one of my nearest and dearest friends, confidants and best of all, she's family.

We got together in the middle of a stormy Sunday to grab some shots of them. One awesome thing about shooting people you know so well is that you know, without a doubt what a genuine smile looks like. You also have seen some of the special looks they save for each other. We had a blast, even if Mark and I did bicker the whole time. We clicked as siblings from the start! ;) Enjoy!

Yes, her skin is THAT beautiful. Don't hate her!

No, I did NOT ask what he was whispering...
Some things you definitely don't want to know about your siblings. ;)

tuesday tunes

This week's tune comes from an artist who's been featured before, Francesca Battistelli. I really like her. I need to add some of her music to my ipod. Very inspiring and thought provoking. I especially like the line, "Every day the choices you make say what you are and who your heart beats for." People are always keeping their eye on other people. I find this to be even more true of those who proclaim their faith. For those that have a different faith or none at all, they watch those who profess theirs to see how they live it. I'm doing my best to live it right... Every day is a challenge. I'm just thankful that I'm not expected to be perfect. ;)

It's Your Life by Francesca Battistelli

This is the moment
It’s on the line
Which way you gonna fall?
In the middle between
Wrong and right
But you know after all

(Chorus)
It’s your life
What you gonna do?
The world is watching you
Every day the choices you make
Say what you are and who
Your heart beats for
It’s an open door
It’s your life

Are you who you always said you would be?
With a sinking feeling in your chest
Always waiting for someone else to fix you
Tell me when did you forget

(Chorus)

To live the way that you believe
This is your opportunity
To let your life be one that lights the way

(Chorus)

Not the best recording ever, but to give you an idea....

So, on Tuesday... {seattle birth photographer}

I indicated that I'd be following up shortly with images from the birth of a little guy... Here it is Saturday night and I haven't gotten it done! After this experience I can say without a doubt that I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to do this everyday. There's something incredible about being able to witness and document the arrival of a new, perfect little person. Here are a couple of my favorite images, followed by a slide show of all of them. :) Enjoy!

tuesday tunes

I was inspired this week by the what will be my next entry. 10 days ago I was privileged enough to be present at and documenting the birth of a beautiful little boy. More about that in a bit. ;) In the meantime, check out this song from one of my favorite artists.

Two People Fell in Love - Brad Paisley

A baby's born in the middle of the night in a local delivery room
They grab his feet, smack him till he cries he goes home the next afternoon
'Fore you know it he's off to school and then he graduates in May
Goes out and gets a Ph.D. and then cures all sorts of things
Wins a Nobel Prize and saves a million different lives
The world's a better place for all he's done
It's funny when you think about the reason he's alive
It's all because two people fell in love

Right now at a picnic shelter down by Caney Creek
You'll find potato salad hot dogs and baked beans
The whole Wilson family's lined up fillin' their paper plates
They've drove or flown in here from fifteen different states
Well Stanley Wilson says that sixty years ago he knew
That Miss Emma Tucker was the one
Now five generations get together every June
All because two people fell in love

[1st Chorus]
There ain't nothin' not affected
When two hearts get connected
All that is, will be, or ever was
Every single choice we make
Every breath we get to take
Is all because two people fell in love

Well, I recall a young man who was driftin' aimlessly
And a young waitress who seemed lonesome as could be
But in a little cafð³ right off of fourteenth avenue
With a whole lotta help from up above
We met and things sure turned around for me and you
And all because two people fell in love

[2nd Chorus]
Baby, there ain't nothin' not affected
When two hearts get connected
All that is, will be, or ever was
I'm glad your dad could not resist
Your mama's charms and you exist
All because two people fell in love

[Tag]
You know, to me it's all so clear
Every one of us is here
All because two people fell in love

A baby's born in the middle of the night in a local delivery room
They grab his feet, smack him till he cries he goes home the next afternoon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHw3BX5MgPs

I think this week I'm going to let the artist (both singer and songwriter) speak for himself. Well, mostly. ;) He nailed me with the "talked too much" in school part. Was that ever me! Many of the areas of my life are in a wait and see place. Right now it's all about trusting in the plan.

Wait and See by Brandon Heath

"'Wait and See' is probably the most autobiographical song I've ever written. But I think that anybody can relate to this song, and be encouraged to know that God has a plan for us, even if we still feel like a failure at times. If we come to know Jesus as our Savior, He is going to change our hearts and lead us into a greater existence other than for ourselves. For me, the last verse of 'Wait and See' is really what my journey is all about, 'now's my time to be a man, follow my heart as far as I can, no telling where I'm ending up tonight.' Most nights, I am in a hotel room and I barely know where I am, but I know that I'm doing what I am supposed to be doing. I just have to wait and see what God is going to do with the rest of the story. I'm encouraged by what He has done already, but I know that the story will continue to unfold and I'll keep learning more about the purpose of my life."

I was born in Tennessee

Late July humidity

Doctor said I was lucky to be alive

I've been trouble since the day that I got here

Trouble till the day that I disappear

That'll be the day that I finally get it right

There is hope for me yet

Because God won't forget

All the plans he's made for me

I have to wait and see

He's not finished with me yet

I never really was that good in school

I talked too much, broke the rules

Teacher thought I was hopeless fool alright

I don't know how but I made it through

It's one of those things that you've gotta do

But I always had a knack for telling the truth

Chorus

Still wondering why I'm here

Still wrestling with my fear

But oh, He's up to something

And the farther on I go

I've seen enough to know

That I'm, not here for nothing

He's up to something

So now's my time to be a man

Follow my heart as far as I can

No telling where I'm ending up tonight

I never slow down or so it seems

But singing my heart it's one of my dreams

All I gotta do is hold on tight

Chorus