Book lover

It could be said that I have an unhealthy obsession with books.

The colors, the smells, the words, the stories all of it is just a little bit intoxicating... hold on I'm feeling a bit woozy.

The bookstores in our local area have a mug shot of me behind the counter it says "Book Handler" beware of this customer she frequently comes in and handles your merchandise, smelling the binding and incoherently rambling.

Guess it's a good thing my significant other is an author eh?

So just before Christmas Jason had a signing at Winchester Book Gallery in Winchester, VA... great folks there. While we were there I did a bit of Christmas shopping you know for the little punks and their mom of course.

Well I found this little set of books that has rapidly become a favorite in our house. They are absolutely yummy. The creators are Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Jan Corace what a wonderful idea and fabulous illustrations.

Here's the set: "Little Pea", "Little Oink" and "Little Hoot".



Let's start with "Little Pea". You can't help but fall in love with something that is so darling.



Who doesn't like the candy that he must eat everyday... I need one of these at my house.



But who would much rather eat his spinach! Yes I'm pretty sure I love this "Little Pea".



Next we have "Little Oink". Cute little piglet that he is...



he HATES mess up time. Yes I think I could find a place in my home for him too.



You know what his favorite game is?

HOUSE!!! He loves to play house and clean up! "Little Pig" and I are good, good friends.



But my favorite my absolute favorite is...

"Little Hoot". I love him because I have a house full of "Little Hoots" sweet little somethings that love going to sleep.



Poor Hoot he has to stay up... he just wants to go to bed mom... let the little guy go to bed. I feel for you buddy I want to go to bed too.



But alas he MUST play for ten more minutes... this is Koleson's favorite part he counts with me.



And then finally he is allowed to go to bed... in his cozy little nest he slips off to sleep.



Yes I love these books, they bring me a bit closer to my babies, they bring them joy and they remind me that someday they will be reading to their own children. But for now they are mine to hug, hold and tickle. Sweet reading!

Baby fashion

Many years ago...

well enough years ago that I only think about it occasionally...

I was going to be a designer of baby clothes, I think it came sometime after having my first child, a girl, and realizing that cute clothes were not so easy to find. Anyway I had dreams of designing cute little outfits for baby girls and boys...

but alas you have to be able to draw something more than stick figures and I cannot so I opened the back door and nicely showed that dream on it's way.

Now that doesn't mean that I don't still oogle over baby clothes even though my babies are way past the baby stage... but I have several friends who are still having babies... this year I have 11 friends having babies and these are just the ones that know what they are having and guess what 10 of them are having girls... so it doesn't hurt anything that I oogle over baby clothes I just might have to buy something and give it as a gift.

So one day while frequenting one of my favorite shopping locations...

I got weak in the knees and things started to spin and all I could see was a blur of baby girl pink, red and white... it looked something like this



I sat down for a moment gathered my composure... I think I might have hit an older woman with my purse as she reached up to touch what now came into focus... but I can't be sure I might have just tripped her.


Underneath the sweater was this darling little dress... sweet little posies, wonderful material


and don't even get me started about this pocket... a perfectly placed posey under a sweet little saying not to mention what's in the pocket...


this sweet little bunny with the cutest expression and darling ears... I just want to crawl right in that pocket and cuddle with that bunny.


Okay let me pull myself away from the dress for a moment to focus on the cute little hat... oh so darling... at the top of the little hat is this...

tell me that isn't the cutest thing you have ever seen... a little tiny carrot attached to a posey it just makes that hat 100 times cuter that it otherwise would have been.

Okay now for this... this is such a minor detail but when you are someone who once dreamed of making baby clothes you think about your label. I love love love this label not only is it sweet but it's charming and inviting and I think I might have just bought if for the label but look at all the other fun stuff I got in the deal.


You have the name Bunnies by the Bay who incidentally have a website http://www.bunniesbythebay.com just in case you want to visit them.



... and then you have this 3 little carrots peeking up out of the dirt. Oh yes I LOVE THIS LABEL... did I say that already.




Now I think I told you I have several friends having babies so once I found the little number we just oogled over I continued shopping and low and behold I found another little gem... of course it's from the same company and I figured a girl can't go wrong... right?



How cute is that little sprout? Carrots and flowers and I think I might spy a little bunny again.


And ruffles on a baby's behind just send me into full tilt... "Um honey sure you don't want anymore kids?" He's running away now.


Oh and there is that bunny I was telling you about... he has his eyes covered playing peek-a-boo... or maybe he is hiding from the crazy lady oogling over him. "I'm with you buddy she's a little creepy... um wait that's me we're talking about."


And then there is the carrot... striped but I'm okay with that it gives it that little something that makes you want to go back for more.


But I think my favorite thing about this outfit is this tag... how stinkin' cute and clever is that tag. I was hoping there would be a little baby inside that I could grow in the garden... sure would be a lot easier on the body... right ladies?


but then you turn it over and I hate to admit this but I shed a tear or two because I realized that it is very true... they do soon grow up and it is very delightful indeed but sad as well.


So the moral of this story is, if I had started my own company making baby clothes this is exactly the kind of stuff I would have put into my design... a little bit of love and extra care in the details because after all the details are what make the outfit.

Love, Love, Love...

Nothing better in the world than a young couple in love and on Valentine's weekend to boot. These two are some of the sweetest people I know and I wish them a long hearty life together. I so enjoyed spending some time with them and can't thank them enough for being such good sports about sitting in the snow and trudging through the drifts. Here is a little preview I will have the gallery up soon. Enjoy!




Love this shot... they did exactly as I asked "Hey wanna go out Friday?"




In this next pic tell me that boy doesn't love that girl.

The sweet smell of babies...

This is one of the best things about my job... I get to hold and smell sweet little munchkins and then I get to leave them with their mommies when they start to cry and fuss. This little darling was so much fun... she was so patient and once she fell asleep it was just magical. Hope you enjoy this little preview... gallery will be up soon.

Totally cool new photo prop!

Okay so I am almost beside myself about this new prop. I have been looking everywhere for one of these and yesterday just happened to be my lucky day. But on top of all that I have a photo shoot on Tuesday involving a newborn and I am so excited I can hardly stand it. So many ideas and options I could just spend all day playing around with it but alas I shall be responsible and try to get done the things I should and just dream about Tuesday and the sweet little cheeks of my friends new baby girl and how gorgeous she will look in the pics. Have a wonderful day everyone.

Henry Family

Now this is what I call a family... lots of kids... a handsome group of grandkids and personality to boot. It was a frigid day but we had a great time and they were a lot of fun to work with. Enjoy your preview... so many great shots.

Time spent with old friends...

I love my new home and my new town but I do miss my old friends. I was so excited to make the trip into Ashburn to take photos of this family. I have known them since the men were boys and before they had the last four... not to mention the fact that I have a daughter who is the same age as their youngest girl and they got baptized on the same day... pretty special for them. So let's just say that this family is like family to me and I loved spending an evening in their home catching some of their life on film.

Good times...

Another wedding opportunity for me this past weekend. What fun to work with this couple... they are very much in love and very happy. Despite lots of stress (what wedding wouldn't be complete without it right?) all turned out beautifully. I was grateful to be there to capture their special day.