Cutest Baby/Tot Contest: Chicago WINNER!

We just spent a wonderful week in Seabrook, SC with friends for vacation.  We had the best time and can't wait to do it again next May!  Kenna won my Cutest Baby/Tot contest that I held a few months ago and since we knew we would be going to beautiful Seabrook we waited until then to do their family session/prize.  Beach pictures are great but we wanted to do something different.  The house we stayed in overlooked a gorgeous golf course and I knew it would be the perfect setting for this gorgeous family.  I took these at sunset when I knew the lighting would be warm and "glowy."  Getting the perfect shots literally took no time at all :)  They want an album of their session and I am having so much fun designing it!  Thank you guys for the pleasure of doing your first family portraits!

Growing Up...

As Avery gets older we enjoy more and more "girl stuff" together.  We've been getting ready for a beach vacation and the other day she sat patiently while I braided her hair... well not too patiently which resulted in a rather quick and sloppy job on my part :).  I told her that it was the perfect hairdo for the beach and she then wanted to try on her new beach clothes.  LOL!  Then today I did my mani/pedi while the kids napped and when I got her up she saw my painted nails right away and started pointing to her own.  So I decided to give her her first ever manicure.  So sweet.

In not-so-little boy news, Ander finally had his one year pediatrician appointment.  He is now 20th percentile in weight and 75th in height.  Looking like he is going to be tall and skinny like his daddy ;)  Hard to believe that when he was born just over a year ago he was the tiniest peanut at 5 lbs 13 ounces.  Cliches are cliches because they are true... they really do grow up SO fast.  Mother's Day was wonderful this year.  I really could not be more proud and happy... with everything.  I am so so blessed...     

Glen Echo Park

This weekend my sister-in-law came to visit us so we made plans to do something fun which included a family day event at Glen Echo Park and then spending the rest of the day and night at our aunt and uncle's home.  Getting 2 kids ready for a full day and night away from home can be chaotic.  Then a misunderstanding regarding who (if anyone) was in charge of directions, my limited physical mobility being wedged in the backseat between 2 toddler car seats, and issues with my iphone navigation system that isn't the fastest... it MAY have taken about 45 minutes to arrive at a destination that was about 2 miles from our house.  At least I can laugh now :).  Once we got there the rest of the day and night was very fun.  I am amazed by how much there is to do here with the kids that is FREE.  In Chicago a day like that would have cost a small fortune!  I of course took tons of pics and had a hard time limiting what to share ;)

On another note, I am about to start getting busy with photo shoots again so stay tuned if you wish! :)

Ander's Birthday!

I am behind... I've been neglecting my blog.  I wanted to update first with Ander's first birthday.  He had a great celebration with family and absolutely LOVED his cake.  I had requested his daddy get a cake with white frosting and that's what I got... and pink polka dots too ("... well that was the only cake they had with white frosting...").  Ha!  But Ander dove right in and his expressions were priceless.  He even tried to stand on it but the cake held up pretty well!  I can't believe he is one and I am now officially the mother of 2 toddlers who are only 15 months apart!