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.  

jack turns one

joy is the realest reality, the fullest life, and joy is always given, never grasped. God gives gifts and i give thanks and i unwrap the gift given; joy.

- ann voskamp

meet sweet little jack! from jack's toothy little grin to watching his parents helping him as he learns how to walk, the joy in this family is obvious and overflowing. God truly does give us so many gifts and I am very thankful simply for joy. 

my amazing and talented friend amy free photographed jack as a newborn and i was so excited and honored that she would pass along my name when his mom meridyth called looking for someone to capture jack on his first birthday. it was so fun meeting meridyth and her adorable little family and we had a lot a great time braving the still very chilly temps here in dc hanging out on the national mall. jack was quite the trooper and didn't seem to let the cold bother him. he immediately started hamming it up for the camera and very quickly became my little buddy. 

thank you guys so much for letting me photograph your family. i hope you enjoy your little preview of our time together... 

chloe turns 2

i am a princess. all girls are. even if they live in tiny old attics. even if they dress in rags, even if they aren't pretty, or smart, or young. they're still princesses. all of us. didn't your father ever tell you that? didn't he? - sara crew, a little princess

i can guarantee you this little girl is told everyday that she is a princess especially by her daddy. meet the absolutely adorable miss chloe. she belongs to one of my bestest friends in the world and you may remember her from last fall. she is a feisty little thing, definitely takes after her mama and she has her daddy wrapped right around her little finger, just like her mama. she was more interested in playing in the yard with her daddy than getting dressed up for photos but she humored us for a little while and even let us put a bow in her hair. 

chloe madison i can not believe you are already two! happy birthday sweet girl!!

thank you my friend from letting me capture your beautiful little girl.

let's celebrate~evie turns 2!

i was excited to be invited to this little girl's second birthday party a few weeks ago! i met her mom through a mutual friend and we have gotten to be friends this year while in the same mops group. it has been a lot of fun watching evie grow up over this past year. she is a super spunky, happy little girl who never sits still (or wants to pose for photos). she loves to smile and laugh and play and is always on the move. 

evie's mom put together a super-fun, colorful party complete with bubbles, sidewalk, and balloons. she catered the entire party herself including baking a very hungry caterpillar-themed cake, cupcakes, and the amazing cookies you see below. 

Gabriel turns ONE

may you grow up to be righteous

may you grow up to be true

my you always know the truth

and see the lights surrounding you

may you always be courageous

stand upright and be strong

may you stay forever young

~bob dylan

i am playing major catch up here but posting photos that were taken weeks and weeks ago! you may remember gabriel from his sneak peek a while back, his parents neal & lisa are some of our oldest friends going all the way back to college. since graduating we have lived close enough to each other while the boys were in medical school and residency to be able to occasionally get together for dinner or brunch or a birthday party here or there. we are so thankful for their friendship and have been blessed to have lived so close for all these years but those days are over (yay, for neal being finished with residency!!) and they are off on another adventure as lisa starts grad school at harvard (yep, we have some pretty smart friends).  before the big move they asked me to take some photographs of gabriel and their family. i am was so honored to spend this time with you guys and i hope you enjoy the photos.

lisa wanted to be sure to capture the details, like the little indentions on his knuckles, his pudgy little toes, and those beautiful long eye lashes. they also brought along some special mementos to be included in the photos like the silver rattle, UNC hat, rubber ducky, and maternity photo.

in honor of our alma mater. rah, rah, carolina-lina!

we will miss you guys but are excited for you as you embark on this new adventure.

may the road rise up to meet you. may the wind be always at your back. may the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. 

and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand. 

sneak peek { gabriel turns one}

just a quick little sneak peek at some of my our oldest and dearest friends and their adorable little guy....this little family's love for each other is pretty evident and i can not wait to show you more. 

Growing Up...