Summer Reading

My goal this summer is to post more on what we are doing as a family. Sometimes I wish I had more hours in the day. I know we all feel that way. :) But I really want to share this with you. My son Jackson spending some good reading time. I've signed the boys up at the local library for a reading program this summer. I believe they have to have 10 hours of reading complete by the 16th of July. It's coming up and I am hounding my boys to be responsible and complete all 10 hours on time. So just about every day we have some good reading time. I am so proud of my boys. They might be slightly motivated by the prize they'll get in the end (who knows what it'll be...) but hey, motivation is motivation. :) If our Nashville sun ever comes back out i'll take some back yard pool pics and share them. Oh I love my boys. Happy Summer!

J. Magnolia Crochet Designs

A while back I had been asked by a few people to do newborn shoots and I wanted to expand my newborn prop collection so I asked my super talented SIL Joanna to make me this baby nest. It is SO cute!! Doesn't little baby Kennedy look adorable in it?! Joanna makes a ton of different items from headbands, to hair barrettes and scarfs. If you'd like to order anything from her, check out her website. Thanks Joanna for helping me with this. I promise to put it to good use. :)

Mary Dawn Preview

This beautiful woman is Mary Dawn. Mary Dawn has been a friend of mine since I worked for a dental office here in Nashville. I think it's been about 2 years since I've worked there. My how time flies, but I just LOVE the people there and am so glad I've kept up with some of them. Mary Dawn has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and will start chemotherapy very soon. We've been talking about doing her pictures since I worked at the office but we just never made it a priority. I am so glad I could come spend the morning with you Mary Dawn. You are such a light in my life and I just appreciate all your positivity. Life is too short to take it for granted. You are a beautiful and caring woman and I am so glad to know you. Enjoy your preview!

This is art that Mary Dawn makes. Isn't it fantastic!?

















Caden came along on this shoot too. He just wanted to say hello. Happy Thursday!

In Honor of Mother's Day

In honor of Mother's Day, I wanted to share some photos I took at a baby shower I attended recently. I have quite a few friends who are about to be mothers in the next month. Some first time mothers, some it's their 4th time around, but it's all very exciting and each deserve ample amounts of appreciation for what they are about to do.... Birth is probably the very hardest thing I have ever done. It was painful, trying, sweaty, and just down right difficult. But even with all that pain, giving birth was the very best thing I have ever done. The most selfless thing I have probably done, (although at the time it probably didn't feel selfless because I just wanted that baby out!) :) On top of everything else, giving birth to that perfect little person leads you into motherhood. And motherhood is what we are celebrating today. Honoring the mother's who have shown us all the way. I applaud you all for your sleepless nights, for your feedings around the clock, for your chauffeuring to and from school or dance or soccer practice. There are no road maps in motherhood, but as far as I am concerned the world is still a wonderful place to be. 'All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.' - Abraham Lincoln

















Have a wonderful Mother's Day!

My sweet boy

My middle child, Jackson, walked in from playing outside, handed me this flower with a smile on his face and took off back outside. He is such a sweet boy!!



Happy Monday!

Jackson Turns 4!

So I have decided that I am going to start sharing more personal blog posts with y'all. I will hopefully be posting more often and keeping this blog up to date. :) Today my little man turned 4 years old. I can't believe it's already been 4 years. Time sure does fly when you are having fun (and cleaning, and teaching, and scrubbing, and playing, and yelling) (not that I ever yell of course....) Here are some pictures from our day with Jackson.


He is such a ham... I think he really enjoyed the special attention he got today. In our family we try to make sure the person who's birthday it is feels super special all day, starting with streamers and presents in the morning, to ending with what ever they want for dinner and what they want to do in the evening.



My sweet neighbor and friend, Michele, came with us out to lunch today. Jackson loves Michele. It just wouldn't be his day if she didn't come along.



This little guy came along too. What a looker he is!! He looks so stunned to be a part of today's festivities.



On a last minute whim, daddy was able to sneak away from the office to spend lunch with us too. Jackson was so happy that he got just a little extra daddy time today. Lately we haven't seen daddy all too often, so it is so great when we can make these moments count.









Look who spent his first meal in a 'restaurant' high chair. He loved sitting like such a big boy and eating with us. What a cutie! But I am partial.



Then we took Jackson to CiCi's Cupcakes to pick out his very own cupcake. He was so excited. I wish I had gotten a picture of the cupcake. It was pink. I do love how my sweet little man loves his pink. :)

Then we came home and played his new Indiana Jones Lego game on the PS3. We are very blessed to have Mr. J in our family. I couldn't have asked for a better kid!

'K' Family Preview

I met this family soon after this sweet little girl was born. So naturally I was thrilled when they asked me to do fall pictures for them. They wanted more of a fun family shoot, pictures that showed them as a family. I hope I captured that for you guys. Enjoy!

Boudoir Shoot

Recently, I had a client ask to do a 'boudoir' shoot. It was so much fun! And we were able to do it in a very tasteful way. I look forward to doing more of these shoots. The photos came out beautifully but this is all you get to see. :) Happy Monday!

More with Marissa

Here are some more pictures from Marissa's shoot. Love them. And now I am off to Arizona to spend the week with my sister. Oh, and flying with three little boys. Wish me luck and send good thoughts my way if you get a chance. I'll need it! :)











I just love these last two. I can't decide whether I like it in color or black and white. Which do you prefer?





Again, thanks Marissa! Now I'm off to find a sedative for tomorrow. :)

Happy Thursday!

More of the 'P' Family

How could I not share more of this face?! Isn't she beautiful! The whole family were so photogenic. Enjoy!











Happy Thursday!

Where have I been?

Well, I've been making this little guy. Of course he's not finished cooking, but he will be in about 3 weeks or so. I know I haven't hit the very end yet because I don't feel the need to nest. In fact, I have been quite lazy. Well, not lazy, but interested more in taking my boys to the pool than posting blogs. Needless to say, I do have some pictures to share before baby Caden makes his way.... Thanks for holding out for me. I promise I'll be here more often very soon.



Oh, there he is! This was taken back in March so he's grown a lot more. Kinda weighing me down. But in a good way. He is such a great baby already and I can't wait to meet him, snuggle him, and of course take pictures of him. Behind the picture is his baby book. Just something else that has kept my attention the past two months.



Here's a pillow slip cover I made last month. I felt so crafty! It will go in the rocking chair in Caden's room.



Another piece of fun that will go into Caden's room. A girlfriend of mine made it. I love it.



I'm all ready to go with my Kiddie-Col. This stuff is the bomb-diggity! Check out Dr. Christopher's web site for more info if you're curious.



Another thing taking up all kinds of time is organizing all these super cute clothes. We are so blessed to have everything we need for the baby, including this little number. Which if you ask me, is absolutely a need. :)



And then there's this little ditty. Yep, we're set. I just hope he gets to wear it all.

Happy Tuesday!! Stay tuned for two more posts coming soon!