Day One

Today marks Day One of our "honeymoon" vacation. While I do have a ton of other posts to blog, I'm totally exhausted and just wanted to share one picture with you today.

Can anyone guess where our travels took us this afternoon?

What Might've Been

My children awakened me around 5.30am this morning, shortly after the sun rises here in Iowa. I'm shooting a wedding here tomorrow and we arrived last night. We spent some time hanging out with some old friends while our children enjoyed playing on the swingset. I had just commented to a friend of mine, "I can't believe the kids haven't asked about the trampoline yet." And then they saw it.

Our kids have never been on a trampoline. At least, not that I know of. So naturally, they were a little confused at first. Sienna, being the daredevil that she is, took right to jumping in the middle. Keaton, the cautious one, found it more entertaining to run around in circles near the outside of the trampoline.

Reagan just hung out on the swingset.

I was just getting ready to post some pictures of my sweet munchkins and discovered that I have left all of my USB cords - yes, all....I have about 6 of them! - at home. Soo....until I get to borrow one of those from someone later, you'll just have to imagine the cuteness.

In the meantime, here's my daughter's latest dance routine:

Jacob and Benjamin | Indianapolis Child Photographer

Apparently all the baby boys in the Indianapolis area are turning 1 this month! Benjamin was the 3rd 1-yr old boy I've taken pictures of in the past week and a half! And I enjoyed every minute of it. I'm not really sure that I could ever choose my very favorite age to photograph kids, but I definitely love this age!

Benjamin came over this morning with his brother, Jacob. I was sad that it was pouring down rain, because that obviously nullified any outdoor pictures. But it all worked out. Both of the boys were very cooperative (except when they were together) and cooperation always makes for a great shoot.

I should probably also mention that these two cuties are my nephews. And...even though they look nothing like me and are totally not blood-related, I still like to pretend I have something to do with their good looks.

Hey, don't burst my bubble.

Baby R and Family | Indianapolis Child and Family Photographer

Baby R is turning 1 soon, so his mommy brought him in for his 1-yr pictures today. What a cutie! He wasn't too fond of the studio, so we wound up outside sooner than we had expected, but it worked out. When Baby R's daddy showed up for their family pictures, he was all smiles!

We survived the 80 degree temps for about an hour before calling it quits. Hope you enjoy...

As soon as he set foot in the great outdoors, he was ALL about the leaves!

Ryan, Angie, and Baby R...thanks again for such a fun day!

Is It Gorgeous Where You Are?

We have had the most BEAUTIFUL week of weather here in Indy! I admit that 85 is a bit over my comfort zone level, but nevertheless, it sure it gorgeous outside! And with all the rain we've had for the past few weeks, everything is looking especially green this week.

I hope it's green and sunny where you are and that you're able to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather!

She Is Getting SO Big! | Indianapolis Child Photographer

Some days when I look at my kids, I think of when they were babies. Some days when I look at them, I think about how they are growing up TOO fast. Today is one of those latter days.

Little S | Indianapolis Child Photographer

After finishing my studio a few weeks ago, I was SO excited today to have a real photo shoot that didn't include my own children. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my kids. But when it comes to taking their pictures, well...it's just...difficult.

Little S visited me last fall, but he is getting so big now! His first birthday is coming up soon and this age is one of my very favorites for pictures! They sit. They crawl. They stand. They sometimes walk. They smile. They cry. They are interactive. They love toys. They don't spit up or poop on you. Ahh, it's a beautiful stage of life!

Since my studio is so new, I hadn't had a chance yet to use all my backdrop colors....until today! I hope you enjoy these charming smiles, adorable blank stares, and precious brown eyes as much as I do!

Doesn't he just look like a little man? Love it!

What? I can't help it I'm so cute!



There's a secret behind this picture. But we'll talk about that later. ;)





This last one is my absolute FAVORITE. I normally crop out parents' hands, but this tickle just had to stay in to get the full effect of the laughter on his face...

Lindsey, thanks again for bringing him over! It was a pleasure!

The Beauty That Remains

My Mother's Day tulips are starting to fade away, so I salvaged the remainder of decent blooms and put them into a smaller vase. They are sitting in my kitchen window and making my life oh-so-happy. :)

Peek-A-Boo!

Enjoy this film strip of Reagan playing peek-a-boo around my ever-enlarging pregnant belly!

She Loves To Cook! | Indianapolis Child Photographer

Somewhat Cooperative

It's about all I can ask for, really. As long as my kids are somewhat cooperative for pictures, all is well in our home. Sure, Sienna has a giant dried glue patch on her forehead and sure, Reagan has food all over her face. But they're still adorable - even in their only somewhat cooperative state. :)

Keaton CANNOT sit still. Typical boy, I suppose.

Sporting her brand new leg warmers from Knotty Baby Wear....



Ehhhh. Reagan didn't really get it.



It is my goal to try to get pictures of more than one of my children at a time. It's a lofty goal, I realize, but a goal nonetheless. Today I managed to get a semi-decent one. (Yes, mom - I can get you a copy.)



Don't even tell me that Reagan looks like she's about to burst into tears. The point is that SHE'S THERE. She's IN THE FRAME with her brother and sister. Good enough for me. :)

Yes, I do have other backdrop colors. But when it's 1 on 3, I like to move things along as quickly as possible. :)

More to come soon, I'm sure....

It's Finished!!!!

Well, almost. We've been having trouble locating the matching base moulding for our home, but other than that, my studio is complete!

We just finished and hung everything late last night, so I have no natural light pictures for you yet, but here are my first two subjects:

I know. Some of you probably didn't even realize I have a husband. :) But I do! He volunteered to be my lighting-tester last night. When he told me he needed a prop, I grabbed the closest thing I saw - a Wii-mote. However you spell that.

Here's the setup with floor and paper:

This next shot is the full room. (The desk will be gone just as soon as we figure out where in the world to put it.)

We'll see if my kids will be up for posing in mommy's new studio today! If so, of course I'll share pictures with you. :)

Hope you all had a great weekend!

The Best Garage Sale EVER!!

What's better than 50% off specialty yarns? 75% off specialty yarns!

And what's better than 75% off specialty yarns? 90% OFF SPECIALTY YARNS!!!

Before you tell me that I don't even knit, let me just tell you that I've found myself a knitting mentor and I am just about to get started. Besides, even if I never knitted a day in my life, I know I could make some moolah on this sweet deal! (Helloooo, Ebay.)

I stopped by a garage sale today (well, okay - I stopped by about a hundred garage sales today) and found several amazingly beautiful scarves and shawls. I bought a few and went on my way. But this afternoon I found myself wishing I had purchased more of them. I managed to find my way back around 4pm and as I arrived they were pulling our TUBS and TUBS of yarn. I was told that a family member who had owned a knitting shop had retired and that all of her yarns were being sold for 10 cents on the dollar. (Retail stickers still attached.)

I. WAS. STOKED.

So I sat and looked through pile after pile for at least an hour until I finally decided I certainly had more than enough beautiful yarn! I can't wait to learn how to make hats and blankets and newborn cocoons and scarves and wraps and......well, let me just show you some pictures. I have multiples of everything I bought, but I just put one of each in this basket to show off the beauty of them all. :)

There is GOBS more of this stuff and I took the phone number of the people who sold it to me, so if you're a knitter (or a crocheter) and are interested in purchasing some gorgeous yarn at an awesome price, let me know and I'll hook you up. :) I hear it's going to be on Ebay soon.

Also...quick note on the studio:

My husband is touching up the last coat of paint right now. I went to the hardware store today (finally!) and got my supplies for hanging my backdrops, etc., so assuming everything works out as planned, we should be able to put those up tomorrow and I will post pictures of the new COMPLETE studio! :)

Far From Boring

Despite the fact that I have seemingly nothing to say when a friend calls me up and says "What's new?".......life in our home is certainly the farthest thing from boring.

Happy Friday!