Roman's birth story

To be part of someone else's birth is always amazing.  I'll never forget my first invitation to a birth.  It was magical.  And if it could get any more magical than that, it would be if you were at your own sister's birth.  It was beautiful and she was strong and confident and intuitive. And FAST!  Little Roman was excited to be a part of this world and we were all very excited to meet him.  

And let me just say, that the only thing better than having a midwife that you love is having a midwife that you love that also happens to be your sister.  We have all been lucky to have Tiffany with us at each of our births, and she really is incredible.  I'm so happy I got some of these moments shared with her on camera!

Thank you for letting me be part of your big day.  Hooray for boys!

SONNET JAMES

I was so flattered that when it was time to make her dress website live, my sister chose to use my photos for her amazing new line of dresses.  She's seriously insanely talented, so much so that she received so many orders many of her dresses are now on back order or sold out!  I'm so proud of her.  

For her shoot she wanted to use her own kids (plus my sister-in-law and nieces) in real life mom moments.  I think they turned out beautifully. Go here to check out her site and order a dress here (good luck!)  She'll have a kickstarter video up soon so she can release her fall line.  Don't miss it!

np mia maids

 these girls.  they are so so so special to me.  like unbelievably special.

I've always felt like my place in this world is with teens, so when we very first moved to Mesa a few years ago, these girls were my very first twelve year olds.  they were just little babies with cell phones that wouldn't stop talking.  they were out of control.  the only way I could get them to listen in Sunday School was to tell them embarrassing and extremely animated personal stories and then quickly tie them into the lesson (somehow).  luckily I have enough embarrassing moments to go around and around and around.  so these girls know me.  and I know them and I love them.  

truly.

so I'm feeling a bit nostalgic

my baby was three months old yesterday.  did I get a picture?  nope. so I hope he doesn't look much different tomorrow because that's when the photo shoot will take place.  you can call me a cheater, I deserve it.

but just in case you're not a mathematician, three months is halfway to six months.  and that is halfway to twelve, which equals a year.  and then he's off to college.

so yeah, I'm feeling a bit nostalgic.  if anyone knows anything that will make the time slow down (or stop!)  let me know.  because as much as I can't wait for this little man to grow up and wrestle his older brother (who may or may not try daily to go ahead and see if he's ready for it yet), I just can't seem to slow each day down enough to soak in enough of this baby and his bright eyes and his perfect mouth and his little dimple.

Friday Favorites

i love these (huge, wrinkly, alien-looking) little feet.

still not quite sure where to put his head on his big boy bed.

the many faces

Queen Creek

because, you know, we're trying to live in every city/town/township and range in the greater Phoenix area by the time we turn 30.  

I love how rural this area is.  I loved that I could rollerblade only in our community because no where else had sidewalks.  I loved that I saw the same ladies biking every morning.  I loved driving for ten minutes and passing nothing but fields and fields of corn and grain and alfalfa.  

that is, until I needed milk.

which I probably could have just picked up from the goat farm next door, but I was too shy to ask.

these film images are virtually untouched, and its this top image that reminds me daily that I'd chop off and sell my right arm to be able to buy a camera and shoot with film again.

but until then, I'll just drool over the colors of these photos and dream of buckets and buckets of money being dropped on my doorstep.  (you know, I have one of those now!  it feels so fun to say "MY" doorstep!)

to order these prints or any others, go here.

a girl and her boys