Our wedding day.
Ohhh, take me back. I’m still on cloud 9... And I don't know when I'm coming back down. I know a lot of you have been asking and we are so excited to finally be able to share our day with you! A handful of these photos, I snapped with my phone quick and most of the others are from our photographer. It was exactly what we had imagined. Thank you to you all who were a part of our day or helped to make things possible. And a special thank you to those who have supported us since the very beginning.

We had many long talks about the difference in budget and everything we would get out of having the wedding we had vs. a wedding here back at home inviting a lot of people to help celebrate our day. The choice was easy and we wouldn’t have chose to have it any other way.

Friday, September 22, 2017

“Remember when binge watching movies and tv on vacations was totally a ok? Remember when moms weren’t expected to create bucket lists for each school break? Remember when hanging out in the house doing nothing was not only the norm but the expectation? Remember when everything wasn’t documented and shared so you felt like you weren’t the only one not creating epic adventures? Remember when being a mom wasn’t scrutinized it was just lived as each day came and doing your day was enough? Just remember that never has being a mom been so complicated, just remember it doesn’t have to be, just remember that you love your mom because she’s your mom and she made you feel happy and loved. It wasn’t the bucket lists, or the adventures or really anything else, it was just because she was Yours and you were hers.” - Cat and Nat

"Home is wherever I am with you."

I was so honored to be able to have met this family, who have created their temporary home in the Ronald McDonald house near Lurie's Children Hospital in Chicago. As it was not their choice or plan, like many others to be living here, I also know that this is not 'their home.' But it is their home for just right now, in this chapter of their lives, caring for their sweet baby girl and there are still memories that are being made. Being together is truly the best place to be, and even though they are not in their house, or where they want to be, they are together, in their perfect place... just for now. And that will always be Home.

I loved meeting you Meg + John. Thank you so much for allowing me to come into your sweet journey and love on your precious babes. You guys are so strong and amazing. And from someone who didn't know you walking in that single room, I will tell you that I did NOT want to leave. It truly did feel like home. xx

This family is a favorite of mine. I don't know what it is but every time they book, I'm on cloud 9 and get so giddy! Joni's smile within itself is the most contagious thing in this whole world and the single hour I spend with them, all of my worries in life disappear. I just love them.

You should love on them too, so here are some of their peeks from their session. Keep in mind, it was so. freaking. cold. during their session... can you even tell??

Um... they ROCKED it!

I. Love. Them.

I've been playing with these cowboys since biggest brother Graham was a newborn. I loved seeing their personalities really come to life this year, out of the baby stage and really talking like big boys. As much as they loved running around, being rowdy and loud, it was precious to see them love on each other too. I don't know what mama was thinking during this shoot, but I was hoping that her heart was melting the same amount as mine was taking all of these.

Enjoy some of their sweetness.

These babes were just darrrrrling.

The last session this year that truly felt like fall. The warmer sunset and some of the last good leaves falling. Can we just talk about how fast October flew by? It came and went. I haven't seen these loves for a while and have never met the littlest yet before their session, but we had way too much fun together running around and throwing leaves!

Here are some sneak peeks from their session, and just like every single session, I wish I could just post them ALL!

What started off as a bonding time between Paisley and I quickly turned into something much more meaningful...

My mom taught me how to stitch when I was around her age, and remembering the moments of learning from her and making things together, I thought it would be fun to bring up as something that we can do together. When I mentioned this idea to Pais in the last few months, as a new kind of project to do around the house on some free time, she ended up loving it more than I thought she would.

This is the first time I got to meet this family and I was just in love! Big sissy was more than excited to help out and for me to be there playing with her and saying she was proud to be a new big sister would be an understatement. She glowed. Sometimes you don't know what to expect with a younger (but older) sibling, and I always reassure the parents to just please allow them to 'do their thing.' If it gets out of control, I'll take over. But I promise you, they are going to naturally do what I want them to without even realizing it. That happened just perfectly during their session, and you'll see what I mean when you see some of the photos.

Their moments and their room told the whole story themselves. I'm so honored to have been there to capture these first moments for them. Sweet Erin, we still need to have our coffee date ;)

Here are a selected few from their session.

Oh, these guys...
I love these girls and this family. I get to see them every year and this is the first year that they have started looking 'grown' to me. I've captured them since big sister was 18 months old and it's been just the sweetest thing watching their growth as a family and their story unfold.

This is such a good session for me to show you because not every family is smiling and ready to go for pictures. These girls are very shy at first, even though they know who I am. So, the sequence here will give you an idea on how I go about my sessions with you and your babes. Marie (mom) and I joke around saying that it's magic. I sprinkle my 'magic dust' on their shyness and by the end, I sneak aside with just the girls and capture their magic. Who they are individually and together. It's the best feeling to know that they do trust me and allow me 'in' after a few minutes together. I'll work my butt off to get what I want for you, to ensure that I can capture your family in the best way, just as you are together. This is my promise to you.

Of course, I couldn't post them all, but here are a selected few favorites...

This was the first time that I got to capture this family and we had so much fun! The weather was perfect and we ended with a surprise sunset peeking from behind the clouds, the kids were so darn polite, the boys had fun together and mama and her girl had fun twirling in their pretty dresses! Miss Devon is a friend of mine, but it was so sweet to watch her love on her family and be able to capture some priceless moments for them to look back on.

Here are some peeks from their session.