Gabby turns 5 today! My baby is really not a baby anymore….

I look at this picture and a flood of emotions overcome me. I could cry. I remember that day (2.1.07) like it was yesterday. The delivery was quick. The doctor handed me my little girl just after this image was captured. She was so warm, so wet, so beautiful. This photo takes me right back to that special moment. I have a lump in my throat.

When I look back at all the photographs Keith has taken of our children – I can easily say that my favorites are of their births. I have documentaries of both our girl’s births that are so beautiful, so thoughtful, so unbelievably special.

I am so fortunate to have such a fabulous husband, my girls have the best dad in the whole world and we all benefit because he also happens to be an amazing photographer.

Thank you Keith. I love you.

I love my kids, but every once in awhile I feel overwhelmed raising them. There are times when I am impatient or tired or think life is challenging. But then I try to put it all in perspective and realize that these frustrating moments are fleeting, just growing pains for Keith and I as parents and Isabella and Gabby as kids.  This is stuff every parent goes through at one time or another. And some parents go through much more.

A recent email reminds me of how lucky we are. These tiny little blips in our family life are so inconsequential to what some family’s grapple with on a daily basis.

A few years ago, Keith arrived at a family portrait session – 3 children and their parents. The kids were just adorable. As he was having fun photographing them – the parents mentioned that their little one, Henry had a debilitating condition called mitochondrial disease. The little guy could not eat solid food – he was fed through a feeding tube. “In his first three years, Henry had 12 surgeries and procedures, dozens of diagnostic exams, over one hundred doctors’ appointments (with over a dozen specialists), hundreds of physical therapy sessions, taken several medicines, and the list goes on.  And, of course, he had (and has) gear.  He has a feeding pump, a nebulizer, feeding tubes and other stuff, an IV pole, bags that depressurize his stomach, a back pack to carry his pump, leg braces, and . . . .  You get the picture.”

That’s about the time Keith took the above photo of Henry.

Since that time, Henry’s older brother has also been diagnosed with the same disease. Yet somehow, the parents have found the strength to start a foundation called Henry’s Hope, adopt another child (2 of Henry’s siblings are adopted), write a book called Three Candles and help other family’s with children that  have life-threatening conditions.

The email was from Henry’s dad – just keeping us up to date on the family and sending us a link to the Three Candles website.

Talk about putting it all into perspective.

A grand adventure is about to begin – Winnie the Pooh

Being pregnant is the beginning of something absolutely new – there is no doubt about it.

This couple is so happy in love and off on their new adventure. I love how in love they are. All the good adjectives you can think of describe them. Fun and Funny, happy and beautiful. I feel the first picture defines this – the trust, the love, the togetherness.

While this gorgeous mom to be has a lovely 10 year old girl (sparkly eyed with strawberry hair and freckles, just adorable) - her new adventure with baby girl #2 has already begun.

Gabby’s birtday party was a few weeks back. She decided that she had to have her party at Arcadia Park in Phoenix. One might wonder how she came to this big decision. Well one day we decided to stop by that park, we had never been there before. She noticed a hot pink T Rex pinata hanging under one of the ramadas. It was then and there that she decided her next birthday party would be at Arcadia Park. Because of her love of dinosaurs – she had made her decision.

Keith brings his camera everywhere. As a mom, it makes me really happy having a children’s portrait photographer as my husband because I have loads and loads of great pictures of my children doing absolutely everything. For this party, he decided to set up a mini photo set to take pictures of all Gabby’s friends. Just one light and a battery pack. The pictures came out great.  A great little thank you for the parents.

This particular picture I thought was just beautiful. This little girl really did not want her picture taken. But with a little coaxing she was kind enough to go along.

Keith seems to have that effect on children – he can always persuade them with the camera and is always able to get a great shot.

Wow – this is one amazing little girl. Seriously, there is not one picture that she didn’t nail. She was just so at ease during the portrait session – smiling and exuding happiness. An absolute pleasure.

I love that she picked out her own outfit. A fluffy red tutu paired with a Hello Kitty tshirt – adorable! (Hard to imagine, but I think Hello Kitty just celebrated her 40th birthday! Yikes I’m getting old.) Oh and she picked out mom’s beautiful fuschia dress. A great choice.

This is what makes family portraits so special – the story behind the portrait session. When the parents look back at these pictures, they will remember that story – how their little girl chose the clothing for herself and her mom. How cool is mom that she went along with her daughter’s choice? I love that!

Her choice was fun and bright. Just like her personality!

These twin 4 years olds are just beyond cute. Such sweeties with matching personalities.

It is funny when you start chatting with families and you realize how much you have in common. Luckily the twins were cooperative because after the family portrait session, the adults were able to chat at length about their mutual love for the Virgin Islands, both the US and BVI. Funny how paths cross. The conversation about the Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke and the surly customs officers  in St. John (I don’t get it, how can you be surly when you are surrounded by paradise?) brought me right back to one of the most special places in this hemisphere.

Keith and I fell in love a long time ago with that area of the world. We loved it so much that we were married on St John surrounded by 65 of our closest family and friends. We have made several trips to that tiny little island in the BVI, Jost Van Dyke. Any one who has ever been there (painkiller, anyone?) knows how easy it is for your mind to think for a minute about staying there forever.

As wedding photographers, we have also had the good fortune of being hired to photograph destination weddings on the islands. Keith and I often let that crazy thought of relocating to paradise cloud our heads. We think about setting up shop as a photographer in Cruz Bay (I can envision it now) – and then reality sets in. Where would the kids go to school? Could I live on an island? What happens if someone gets sick? What about the grandparents?

I’ll stop dreaming, I guess that’s what vacations are for!

While we are sharing family photographs here’s a few more.

Isabella had her really good friend from school over for a play date – boy do these two enjoy each other!  Lots of laughs, playing, just being kids. It is so refreshing to see children enjoying themselves – I don’t think there is anything better than the laughter of children.

Look at Gabby in the background blowing bubbles – she is so cute!

It is always handy having a children’s portrait photographer as a dad, I must say. Our children’s childhood has been very well documented. I have a huge smile on my face when I look back at all the amazing photos we have. My next personal project is going to to design and print an album per year. Since no one has a house that can display all the great images we have, I have decided to learn our album design software and put together albums for the past several years. I will share my finished project – year by year. I think I’ll begin with 2010 and work my way backwards.

Don’t worry grandmas, you’ll get a copy of each and every one!

It seems like we do not post enough pictures of our own children. I guess we are so focused on editing other family’s sessions or making sure that a bride gets her album in a timely manner – that we overlook posting pictures of our girls and the other adorable children in our lives including cousin Ava and our nephews Gage and Connor.

We celebrated Keith’s stepdad’s 70th birthday in Greer. I guess the family gathering in Greer has become sort of an annual tradition – one that the 5 kids (and adults) really look forward to. The Greer Lodge is such a great spot. We are able to rent an amazing house in a beautiful setting and have the family gather for a couple of uninterrupted days of great cooking, board games, laughter and tons of fun for the adults and kids alike.

If you haven’t been to the White Mountains, do yourself a favor and take a ride – you will not be disappointed. It’s hard to believe that in one day you can be in the dry desert golfing and then be skiing in the afternoon – just a short 4 hour ride away.

Well, what can we say? Is she not an absolutely adorable little girl? Full of life and love. To be five years old again – running around having a blast – not a care in the world. The perfect little subject on a picture perfect day.

The weather has been so amazing this past week. We could not have asked for more perfect weather for this late afternoon family portrait session. Papago Park (adjacent to the Phoenix Zoo) is such a lovely little spot. Besides two people fishing, I think we had the place to ourselves.

Great weather, a fun photogenic family, a quiet park and that great afternoon light – ingredients for yet another great family photo session!

What a handsome dog. French bull dogs, Frenchies as they are called, have a long history that started in England, made it’s way to France and then on to America. Now this little cutie thrives in Arizona with his dedicated owner.

It is amazing how varied dog breeds are. Apparently, a Frenchie really enjoys spending time with people, doesn’t need an excessive amount of exercise (just enough to stay healthy) and has a really hard time breeding. A C-section is usually used for delivering their puppies. Wow.

This little guy was a happy participant in his portrait session. A natural, really photogenic! It is just pure fun photographing a dog in a park – especially one that is as cute as this four legged subject.