{Haley + Cody} New Hampshire Baby Photographer

Yesterday I got to hang out with the super awesome Jessica + Ron, their incredibly adorable son, Cody, and their new baby girl {with cheeks that I could eat for days}, Haley. Oh how I wish these guys lived closer to me! We ate, we talked, we laughed, and I made a new best friend. Cody was all about looking at the screen on the back of my camera and completely melted my heart when he sat down on my knee so, together, we could flip through the photos I'd taken of him. I also got to meet the gorgeous new addition to their family, whose bright blue eyes, cheeks that will not quit, and a sprinkling of soft, red hair, would make anyone ooh and aah. I had such a great time with all four of them, as always, and can't wait to get together again!

Jessica + Ron, thanks so much for having me over and letting me capture your growing family! I adore you guys! And a HUGE thank you to Ron for all of his baby + kid wrangling, silly face-making, and doing whatever it took to make his kids laugh for me. You did a great job...and got your work-out for the whole week. ;o)

On to the pics...{click to view full size}

 Her LIPS!

 Why yes, there is a whale on the bed...shouldn't everyone have a whale on the bed?

 I LOVED this dress {bought by her daddy}

 In the immortal words of Jess, "I can't stand it!!" She is too cute!

Sigh...this kid slays me! Future heartbreaker, for sure.

{D'Amour Family}

On Saturday I ventured up north to a lovely house on the lake to photograph the wildly hilarious {and not bad looking either} D'Amour family. I'm pretty sure we laughed the entire time and yet they posed like pros. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect way to spend my Saturday and can't wait to work with this group again...seriously.

D'Amour Gang, thanks so much for having me out to capture your super awesome family!

On to the pics...{click to view full size}

{June 18, 2011}

My son has been legal to drive for about three months now, but we've been so busy that we haven't had a chance to put him behind the wheel. Today, however, that changed. After a quick trip to the bank I noticed that the parking lot was almost completely empty, so I gave him the low down on everything, and we switched seats. I'm teaching him the same way my dad taught me, which is that in the beginning he only gets to put it in "drive" and let the car "push" itself. Once he gets the hang of turning, braking, going in reverse, etc. we'll step up to using the gas pedal. This lesson only lasted about 15 mins. as there ended up being quite a few people cutting through the parking lot, yet he did really well. Even though it's a bit scary thinking about him being able to drive, I'd be lying if I didn't admit I'm excited about teaching him how.

Taken with my iPhone using the Camera+ app.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{March 27, 2011}

My baby girl, who would kill me if I called her that in public, turned 12 today. She wasn't thrilled about me taking this picture, and it took a bit to get her to pose even the tiniest amount, yet she knows I'll keep bothering her until she lets me take one. I know it's cliche, but it feels like just yesterday that I was holding her in my arms, a full five weeks premature, relieved beyond belief that she was completely healthy. Apparently she knew she was ready to come out and despite everyone else's concerns, Megan knew she would be fine. That fearlessness has not ceased--which is both good and bad--as she's grown older. She loves skateboarding, learned to snowboard last year, and is always on the go. While she's shy around new people it doesn't take long for her to warm up and make an instant friend. Megan has a great sense of humor, always making people laugh. She has a true heart of gold and will do anything for anyone. I am always impressed at her nurturing side, her quick wit, her ability and willingness to face challenges head on, and what a great person she is. Although I love watching her turn from a little girl in to a young woman, there's forever this part of me that wishes I could freeze time, if even for a moment, just so that I have even more time with her here. Happy Birthday, Megan...I am so very proud of you and love you more than you'll ever know!

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{March 24, 2011}

This kid is legally able to drive with us in the passenger seat. Granted, that hasn't happened yet, but it still blows my mind. I blackmailed him tonight by aiming my iPhone at him, saying his name, and snapping a photo when he had a "What?" look on his face. I showed it to him and said, "You can give me one where you're smiling or this can be my 'Photo of the Day.'" He chose the former. He tried to keep from smiling, but failed because I'm awesome and can always make him smile. I try not to think about the fact that high school graduation is just around the corner, or that the time for him to head off to college is right behind that. I'm not really sure what our house will be like without his quick wit, dry sense of humor, and smartness (smartness as in actually smart-ness, not smart-assed-ness, although that happens from time to time, too) surrounding our daily lives. For now I'll just pretend I have twenty more years before he leaves the house and revel in the fact that I can still get him to "pose" for a photo...even if it involves a bit of coercion.

Taken with my iPhone using the Instagram app with the Earlybird filter applied.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 18, 2011}

I finished the gloves I blogged about HERE on Sunday evening, much to Megan's delight. Adding five more stitches to the pattern ended up being exactly what I needed for the gloves to fit...well...like a glove! Time-wise it probably only took me about 2-3 hours of knitting, however I'm apt to put whatever I'm knitting down to do other things. But I am happy to report that they knit up fast and are super easy! Luckily (depending on how you look at it as I liked them too) she LOVES them! When we went to the lab yesterday, she happily sported them, along with a short sleeved shirt--despite the freezing cold temps--so she could show them off. It worked, too. The lab tech complimented her on them and asked if someone had made them for her. Megan smiled and pointed at me, "She did," she told the tech. The tech and I then discussed the pattern and how I made them. I have to say, the worst part about creating the fingerless gloves was the seaming. I truly hate seaming knit items. Give me some fabric and a sewing machine or needle and thread and I'm a happy girl. But knitting...iy yi yi! I had to rip out the seam on the first glove a couple of times before I got back in the hang of it. Once the second glove was finished being knit and ready to sew up I was much more confident--and did a better job. Still, I think they turned out nice and will keep Megan's arms, wrists, and (most of) her hands warm. I kept asking her if she was sure she wanted fingerLESS gloves, yet she was positive that's what she wanted. I'm just happy that I have a kid who asks for me to, and appreciates when I do, knit things for her. She is definitely "knit-worthy!"

On to the pics...{click to view full size}

{Cody + Family}

When I got an email from the lovely Jessica, I was reminded at how small the world really is. Turns out that Jessica attended a wedding I shot in Bend, OR about 6-7 years ago when we both lived out there. She eventually moved back home to New Hampshire, got married, and had a beautiful little boy named Cody. In her email she told me that she'd always loved my work, couldn't believe that I was now on the east coast, and could I come take photos of her family. I was both surprised and more than happy to oblige! At the shoot we talked about Oregon and reminisced about all of our favorite places in Bend. Her husband, Ron, cracked me up with his wonderful sense of humor--and Ron, I still love your "Good Will Hunting" accent. ;o) Cody was such a doll and adorably handsome to boot! I know I could have stayed there for hours taking pictures and chatting, but we've promised to get together again soon--and this time share a beer and maybe some football, too. Jessica, I'm so glad you "stalked my blog" all these years and truly loved capturing your family!

On to the pics...
 

{The Pyatt's}

My daughter, Megan, is best friend's with a wonderful little girl named Savannah. Through her we've had the pleasure of meeting her equally wonderful family who just so happen to hail from the west coast as well. Last month we got together for a family shoot in the park next to the law school (or as Melanie puts it, "Rob's 'Home Away From Home'"). The weather was chilly, the sun was bright and high, but everyone put on their best smiles and I got some great shots. Thanks Pyatt family for being such troopers!

On to the pics...