To Henry

Hello, Sweet Boy.

Today you are 21 months old.  Today we are both sick and have been for three days.  Lucky for you (and me) we were at Grama's for the last two days and you were allowed to drag everyone up and down the stairs.  For some reason, it's your favorite thing to do.  When you're upstairs, you need to be downstairs and when you're down, you desperately need to be up.  And since Grama does WHATEVER you want her to do, it's up and down all day long :-)

You've grown out of all your clothes.  I thought I was pretty clever by buying things large last year and at the beginning of this year, but you still grew and everything is too small...  I went shopping with you and Casey the other day and on a whim asked you to try on a navy pinstriped blazer.  Casey and I thought it was ADORABLE and so did you!  You wouldn't let me take off you!  When I tried, you just crossed your arms over your chest and ran off :-)  So, needless to say, I had to buy it. My plan is to take some ridiculously cute pictures of you in it.

Everyone is still 'Ma'.  Much to daddy's disappointment; as he can't wait to be 'Da'.  You spend most of our days 'uh, uh-ing' me, telling me to do one thing or another.  I'm pretty good at translating, but I wouldn't mind a couple of words, ok?  

Before you were born, I swore I wouldn't have a house full of toys.  I KNEW then, that kids don't play with toys.  But, somehow, we have managed to accumulate a house full of toys that you DON'T PLAY WITH!  You know what you play with?  The frying pans.  The rug flippers (better known as spatulas), raw potatoes and the vacuum  cleaner.  Oh, and Boo.  How could I forget Boo?  And the tiny tractor that cost $1.99.  Both Boo and the tiny tractor must travel with us whenever we go anywhere.  Other cars are good, but tiny tractor is better.

Last weekend you spent your first night without me.  I was worried that you'd really miss me and it would be terrible for you (and Daddy), but you did ok.  Daddy didn't get much sleep, but you made it through!  It still amazes me that you love to visit with other people; that you don't mind if I leave you to play with Grama and Grampa or Nana and Papa or Logan and Erin.   Everyone loves spending time with you.  You're such a smart little man.  

NOTHING escapes you.  You can spot a tractor two miles away through the car window.  You can apply deodorant just like Daddy.  You can apply makeup just like me.  You can eat with a spoon and fork (with both hands, equally).  You really like to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Handy Manny.  You LOVE to eat noodles.  You love yogurt and carrots.  And broccoli and potatoes.  Couscous and fish.  Pretzels and Gold Fish.

There are a million other things that I would love to ramble on about, but you're now awake and you have serious issues with me and the computer.  So, I'll leave it as it is.

Lots and Lots of Love,

Mom

Diana and Carlos.

Last night was my first wedding with (once like a spark) photography! I had a great time hangig out with totally adorable Diana and Carlos :-)

Kristen & Drew {wedding}

The FULL POST is HERE!!  Kristen is dying to see these.  She has my undying gratitude for her patience (even though she says that she has none!).  Caroline has gone all out with this post and I can't be happier to share it with everyone!  Bear with me if I've already said any of the following.

Kristen and Drew chose the very awesome Grove Park Inn, in Asheville, NC for their December wedding.  And as I know I've said before, there was a foot of snow on the ground and Kristen and Drew, their wedding party and families, were the BEST SPORTS EVER!  You'll see why as you scroll through the images.

I thought I would borrow a page from Sarah Rhoades and list the vendors that Kristen used to help with her day.

Venue: Grove Park Inn  |   Dress: Pendelton Bridal   |   Hair & Makeup: Renae Fowler Hair Design   |   Flowers: Verlons Florist (soon to be Blue Willow)/Meredith Henderson

Getting ready. 

Drew waiting for Kristen...

First Look.  These two opted for a First Look, so that we could have time and daylight to work with.  I'm always so glad when couples choose to do this.  The best thing (besides extra images) about a First Look is that most couple are able to relax and enjoy themselves before they have to walk down the isle in front of their friends and family to say their 'I do's.  

Our beautiful couple.

Our handsome groom.

Oh, so pretty, our bride.  Kristen, you rock!  I should mention that Kristen single-handedly (almost) put this whole beautiful wedding together in about 3 months.  Am I right, Kristen, on the time?  Whether I'm right or wrong about the 3 months, it was an incredibly short amount of time!

Can you believe that we were freezing our butts off?  By this time (about 15 minutes in) I couldn't feel my fingers.  And I had a hat on, finger-less gloves, scarf, coat, pants.  Kristen was quite the trooper, to stand the weather, in just her dress, so that I could shoot in 'pretty light'!

See, I told you they rock!  The girls did the same thing, but they were BAREFOOT!

The ceremony.  Yes, it was outside.  In the freezing cold.  But it was so pretty, huh?

This one was totally Drew's father's idea.  But it's a good one, huh? 

Caked!

Thanks, Kristen and Drew, for letting me be a part of your day!  

(once like a spark) photography - part 2

Caroline rocks!  She's finished editing our favorite images from our shoot yesterday.  Ready? Here they come.

We started outside in a really cool, industrial section of Atlanta.  I have to mention that it was freezing.  It will never cease to amaze me that you can't tell how how hot or cold it is outside in the final images.  A-mazing.  These girls were freezing.  But, aren't they cool?

It was so cold, that I decided to see what I can could work out with what was available inside.  I'm happy with the final images.  Here's Cali rockin' it with and without her camera.

I knew, when we moved inside, that we would have to stay in the same location, due to the light and our other indoor location options (not to mention the weather), so I really wanted this set of individual images to be the same yet different.  Now, Darcy.

And Lauren.

And Leah.

I really wanted each girl to 'own' the chair.  To make sure that they looked comfortable and 'right' in each image.  Can you see their distinct personalities?

Last, but not least, Ashley.

Girls, I'm looking forward to the future!  I know good things are coming :-)

(once like a spark) photography

I have news.  Not really relating to my last post, but news never the less.

I met Ashley Steele, co-owner of (once like a spark) photography, at Kristen and Drew's wedding.  I immediately liked her.  She was out-going, sure of herself, complimentary of my work and LET ME EAT DINNER with her and her husband during Kristen's wedding (if you've been to a wedding as a photographer, you know how cool that is)!  During our dinner convo, she told me all about her cool photography business and wondered aloud if I'd be interested in working for OLAS.  I had what they were looking for, and she'd looked long and hard :-)  I was flattered and wondered if she meant it.  Did she really want me to work for them?  And did that mean that I would have to stop 'working' for SWP?  Well, it turns out that she was serious.  And I didn't have to stop working for SWP.  So, I'm going to be shooting weddings for OLAS.  As often as they need someone.  I'm pretty excited about it.  I will have my own weddings sprinkled in the mix, but for the most part, I'll be shooting a LOT for OLAS!  Yay!

This morning, Caroline and I got up super early and made the journey to Atlanta.  We were hired by the girls at (once like a spark) to take some 'cool, edgy' images for them.  I was so excited!  Caroline is working on the images - I don't have the originals to share, but I do have some cool polaroids to show you!

Meet Ashley. 

And her sister, Cali.

Leah.

Darcy.

And Lauren...

Caroline took a few of my shooting:

I thought this was worth posting; cute, huh?

Thanks, girls, for a great session!  I'll be back soon with some higher quality images!