The blessings we call children... Baby Ryan

I consider myself to have a strong nurturing personality. I want to help everyone and care for them. At only 5'2" I seem to think I can protect others from the unfortunate evil things that co-exist in our world. Weird, I know... But it is just in my nature to be caring and want the best for everyone around me. I think this is why I am practically a second mother to my younger siblings... I've helped to care for them since they were born so they are ultra-special for me.

As I sit and wonder about all the future blessings God has in store for me I often imagine what it would be like to have my own children. I think I'd be a great mother... my five chipoodles are basically my children and I care for them dearly. I can't imagine loving a chihuahua so much more than I do mine... until I think about what the love for a child must be like.

When I began this photography career I never thought I would be photographing babies. I love children, dearly. But the thought of holding a newborn scared me. I liked to carry them when they were big and easier to hold, made me feel safer for them. As I have aged, however, and many of my friends began to marry and have children, I have been exposed to so many newborns over the past year. So much that I love itty-bitty babies so much more now and I can't wait to carry my own.

At the moment, though, I am quite content with photographing many more of them so I can help capture irreplacable moments for happy and blessed parents - like Leiah and L.T. I've known L.T. for a few years now and had the opportunity to attend his wedding when he married his beautiful wife Leiah. The two of them, I think, balance one another. L.T. enjoys to talk and be funny. Leiah seems a bit more quiet. The two of them together have been blessed with a beautiful baby boy and I am more than sure he will inherit both of his parent's personalities.

Baby Ryan was born in August and because time did not permit, I was unable to photograph him until he was three weeks old. Regardless, he was itty-bitty and such a good baby, probably because his mommy did all the work and I just photographed him :)

Leiah and L.T., thank you for allowing me to photograph your sweet baby boy. Baby Ryan, I wish you every blessing in this world :)

Happy Saturday my dear friends!

Engaged ♥ Krystal and Larry

In elementary school while everyone was growing taller I stayed the same. Being short was some type of oddity in my school... everyone else was taller and I was little. After fifth grade, elementary was over and I was moving on to the bigger school... MIDDLE SCHOOL! Still, I was one of the smallest students and now it was so much more obvious because there was a ton more tall people, great. Then I joined music class and in I sit next to this little girl with lots of curly hair. Her name, she said was Krystal. We both played the flute and we were both oh-so-little. Actually, I am almost sure Krystal was smaller than me. Regardless, we became absolute best friends and I fondly remember giggling and doodling during band class.

Krystal taught me how to draw Mickey Mouse on my sheet music and I taught her how to play scales, I think. As the years passed we grew centimeters and remained still shorter than others. But our friendship remained and then we hit high school. Krystal and I no longer had every moment to hang out with one another but we always remained friends. After high school graduation this amazing networking tool was created, you may have heard of it... Facebook anyone? and it became easily accessible to reconnect with many past friends. Krystal and I soon became friends again and I am ever thankful because I had missed her.

After so many years, different things have changed in our lives although our height remains the same. Krystal and I shared many things in common many years ago and it makes me smile that in a way we still do. We both have an amazing person to love and love us back... Krystal is soon getting married to her high school sweetheart. And I find it creatively fit that we both ended up with a heart on our left finger ;)

I am beyond thrilled to be photographing her wedding and very excited for all the great things unfolding in her life. Krystal and Larry share an amazing love that is evident in their quite, intimate and timid moments. The peaceful stares and glances they share evoke simplicity and love. It's perfect. I am more than sure they complement one another. Don't believe me, see for yourself...

 Have a lovely Sunday and always keep your faith. ♥