Home Sweet Home {A Newborn Session}

Not only was I lucky enough to be there for his birth I was also able to get this little guy in front of my camera several times during the week I was home in North Carolina. He was such a happy guy and had no problem letting me move him all over the place looking for just the right light. Lucky for us it was August in North Carolina which meant it was plenty warm enough for some outside shots too! 

welcome sweet baby corbin {A Birth Story}

"For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb." 

Psalm 139:13

I think that I maybe the only person who was excited that this little guy decided to stay a little past his due date. I had literally just arrived at my parent's house in North Carolina after 4 days of traveling from Michigan to North Carolina by way of Canada, New York, and Maryland when my sister called to say she was in labor and heading to the hospital. After a little bit of debate I was nominated family rep and quickly tossed my kids in the bed and headed out the door. When I arrived Gabi had just received her epidural and was starting to feel some relief. I was immediately amazed at how calm she seemed amidst the chaos that was swirling around her. Within just a few minutes she was ready to push and that is when things really got crazy. Corbin's heart rate started deceling every time Gabi would push and the doctors were very worried. As they started to prep her for an emergency c-section, she bravely looked at me and said, "it's okay. i'm okay. i'm not scared." As tears welled in my eyes I held her hand and prayed knowing that God was in control but scared out of my mind for my amazingly brave sister and sweet little nephew. 

Thanks to a cool-headed anesthesiologist who hung around in the room just to make sure that the epidural took the room was quickly calmed down and the OB allowed Gabi to try pushing again. Corbin was still not tolerating pushing very well but had moved down and with a few more pushes and a little help from the vacuum he arrived within just a few minutes with the cord wrapped so tightly the OB had to cut it before pulling him all the way out. He was quickly whisked away to the awaiting NICU team and we all held our breath waiting to hear that first cry. Within just a few seconds we heard that beautiful cry and new immediately that Corbin was going to be just fine. 

I am so thankful that my sister allowed me to be there with her. I was blessed to capture these images for them and I pray that they will treasure them for years to come.  

{coming soon} baby corbin

"no one else will ever know 

the strength of my love for you. 

after all, you're the only one 

who knows what my heart sounds 

like from the inside." 

so when i say coming soon, i mean coming really soon, like any day now! this beautiful mama is my younger sister gabi and i absolutely can not wait to meet sweet little corbin james because he will be the newest addition to our ever growing brood of cousins! i was so happy to be able to steal a few moments with gabi, brett, & my nephew ian on a recent visit home to north carolina. gabi is an inspiration to me for some many reasons and i am so happy to be on this journey through motherhood together with her.

as the final days of this pregnancy quickly come to a close i pray that you have a few moments to sit and enjoy this life growing inside of you. i pray that you can enjoy each kick, punch, and hiccup and even the heartburn, backaches, and swollen feet. i pray that you celebrate these days as you prepare for this new little life and all of the fun (and sleepless nights) that are to come. i love you so much and can not wait to meet this newest addition to our family. 

XOXO, 
your big sis

PS: If you could keep this little guy in until at least the 19th when I get there I would really appreciate it!! Not a big request right?

the anderson crew {pre-deployment session}

i carry your heart with me
(i carry it in my heart)
i am never without it
(anywhere i go, you go, my dear)
~e.e. cummings
before our big move i had the chance to hang out with the anderson crew early one morning in the field behind our houses. we were only neighbors for a few short months and with busy schedules, husbands who worked a lot, and toddlers to chase around we didn't get to hang out nearly as much as we would have liked. but lucky for us the anderson's are in the navy too and one of the biggest blessings of being in the navy is the chance to cross paths with wonderful people again sometime in the future so i am hopeful! 

the anderson's packed up and left bethesda just a few weeks before we did to prepare for a deployment so i am so excited we were able to capture these images to celebrate their time in maryland and this season in the life of their family.      

even superhero's need to snuggle with their mama every once in a while.

dear jennifer, having not been through a deployment yet i can not say i know what you are going through but i can say that i will be praying that the Lord may calm all your fears and bring you peace, i pray that the boys may show you love and grace and even let you sleep in once in awhile, and i pray that they Lord may hold Terrance in the palm of his hand protecting him as only He can. 

“The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing” ~Psalm 145:13b-16

jess+pat: in love in the city

Larger than the moon, my love for you. 

Worlds collide as heaven pulls us through. 

The secret of the world is written in the stars. 

I'm carrying your heart in mine. 

~lyrics by The Afters

So this is my "lil' sis" Jess and her fiancé Patrick. Jess is one of the "Ginas" and we have known each other for over 10 years now. She is my "lil' sis" from my sorority days and I am so thankful that she is now and forever will be one of my dearest friends. I was so honored to spend a few hours in the City with Jessica and Patrick just a few weeks before our big move to Michigan! The rain cleared just in time for us to explore their little neighborhood and one of Jess' favorite parks right in the middle of Washington, DC. The amazing Amy Free (more on my recent adventures with her coming soon) will be photographing their December wedding in Wilmington, NC; and I so super excited to be there to celebrate with them.   

the ryan crew.

"each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children." ~ charles r. swindoll

my sweet friend rian asked me to photograph her family this spring in celebration of her little guy turning one. we were blessed with a beautiful spring morning at brookside gardens in wheaton, maryland and had an awesome time chasing these two little guys around. i see these two little guys often but i am usually chasing around my own kiddos and don't really get to interact with them so on this particular morning it was fun to see their personalities truly shine. i also really cherish the opportunity to capture my friends who just happen to also be fellow mommy's loving on their little ones. as mom we are too often behind the camera and not in front of it and so i love being able to give mothers a chance to see themselves in action. so without further ado here is my sweet friend rian "in action"....

thank you 

welcome to the world britt.

"nobody will ever know the strength of my love for you, after all you're the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside." ~unknown

isn't my sweet friend catherine one beautiful mama? i was so blessed to spend a wonderful morning with catherine, tack and sweet baby britt in their gorgeous home in old town alexandria. there is so much love and pride poured into a first born child and it was so fun seeing my friend as she has embarked on this new journey. as you can see this little guy was much anticipated and is so very loved. 

catherine and tack...thank you for inviting me into your home, thank you for letting me get in some sweet snuggles from baby britt, and thank you for letting me capture these early days for you.