she’s super sweet and sassy.  sugar and spice.  my sweet and sour.  the strong vines of a weeping willow.

i suppose that maybe that is how it is with most (almost) five year olds?

five is a whole new ballgame in the life of a mama.  it’s the cusp of sending your baby off to learn from someone new.  for so many years … you have been the one that is right.

all. the. time.

and now?  there’s a new person that does EVERYTHING RIGHT.  because … hello? … it’s a teacher.  and teachers KNOW everything.

i was so much more fearful of five with my oldest.  (but i’d be lying if i didn’t tell you that it still terrifies me a little.)  with stella?  i thought five was the end of the world.

cora doesn’t worry me.  that girl can hold her own.  she’s goofy and not as shy.  she fight for what she believes in.  even if what she believes in currently is that she wants to have the purple glass and she wants to play with that toy right now.  she will stand up for her sister and brother.  and she has the kindest heart that will hold you responsible for whatever it is that you promised her.

her heart shatters when a promise is broken.

my girl found her perfect party dress tonight amidst the aisles of a thriftstore.  it’s purple and sparkley with a velvety top.

i tried my hardest to talk her out of it … because i didn’t like it.

but she did.  she LOVES it.  it makes her feel like a princess and it now belongs to her … {and will be hanging in her closet just as soon as i figure out how to wash the darn thing} …

my cora.

it was so SO hard for me to choose one.  or two.  or maybe ten.

see?

not only is she just about the cutest little baby girl ever?  (yes.  you’ll probably hear me say that … for … um … all of “my” babies.  but still.)

but she has the sweetest name.  that has so much meaning for her mama and daddy.  and their entire network of family.

and she has amazing parents.

this is one lucky little girl … so. loved.

{thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to capture these little baby moments for your family.  enjoy!}

and i did.

these are my three easter bunnies.  (consuming far too much candy than should really be allowed on any given day.)

stella.  who is 8 (i still can’t believe i’m a mama to an eight year old).  cora.  4 (and three quarters … of course).  and the little blue caboose, finn.  2.

they are such a wonderful, fun, supportive family … you’ll find us sitting around a bonfire at least a few times every summer.  plus now?  our littlest ones are (almost) equals in baby age – which means they can totally keep each other occupied.  yay!

my oldest daughter, stella … is also just about the same age as their daughter … and they have so much fun together.  (isn’t she beautiful?)

i just love families.

husband and wife.  celebrating them and the fact that they hadn’t had photos taken since their wedding.  i loved her scarf.  and how it stood out against the black and whites of winter.  i loved how they laughed and joked with each other.  i loved how she leaned in for a kiss at the end of the tracks while they held each other’s hand.

moments like these are few and far between as of late.  mommy is often going to work or doing work … there are two sisters that steal the spotlight most days.  there’s laundry and housework.  organizing and talk of houses and the current home selling and buying markets.  there’s phone calls and knocks at the door.  all of that busy that comes in between these kind of days and mornings and moments.

it was quiet and peaceful.  sweet and lovely.  the sun was streaming in the windows and the world felt light.  i pulled my camera out of it’s hiding place.  and snapped a picture or two.

he says … “dere’s a dino-saur in dere, mama.”

oh yeah?  i answered questioningly …

“I SEE IT!  right dere!!!”

and he got closer and closer … blurrier and blurrier.  until he was right up in the glass of my lens.  squinting and looking … sure that he saw it.

i giggled and set aside my camera … he tumbled on me and tried his best to tickle me.  i laughed.  at the idea of he and i alone.  peaceful and quiet.  giggling and laughing.  teasing and pretending.  laughed at the lightness of time.  and how sometimes this extension of my arm.  and my eye.  sits quietly tucked away.  rarely capturing and remembering these moments.  my moments.

*our* moments.

and it’s so funny … because these three little ones that hold my heart hostage are the sole reason why my life has taken this spin.  i love what i’m doing … i love freezing time in the life of a little one.  i’m completely smitten with the families that i’ve photographed.  i pour my heart into your images.  and then feel disinclined to capture my own.

(i’m not even sure that disinclined is a word.)

so, i guess that’s just what i was stopping in to tell you.  i’m sorry i’ve been such a neglectful blogger as of late.  thank you thank you thank you for supporting me in this grand adventure.

and thank you for letting me share a little piece of me.  and mine.

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i swear … he was just this (from his newborn session).  and this one … from his 4 month session …

and this crazy world just keeps turning and turning and turning … and now this.

he hardly fits in the tub anymore. 

and this sweet sweet boy … he is still as serious as all get out. 

but mama and daddy can get him to smile.  sometimes. 

and those blue eyes. 

he’s bound to be a heartbreaker.

thanks, guys.  i had a blast with you all on this crazy windy day!  enjoy!

and then?  to ask me to photograph her again?  now that she’s one?? 

i won’t lie … having a client love their photos enough to come back to you … is priceless.  absolutely priceless.  and heartwarming. 

and then to top it off … they are a gorgeous family … with the sweetest little owl for a daughter.  it was a perfect day.  you’ll see why.

for one.  this little girl has the silliest expressions.  first shy.  then contemplative.  then downright silly. 

that wrinkled up nose is my absolute favorite.

when this little one was first born … i brought along my “nest”.  the sweet little thing just would. not. sleep.  we tried everything.  all she wanted to do was stare at her mama.  but then … we tried the nest.  which was seemingly perfect because her mama’s name, jenna, means small bird.  and grandma noted that there was a lot of meaning behind that name and definition.  so the nest?  perfection.

and the fact that when we finally placed this sweet little thing in there … she fell sound asleep.  super super sound asleep.  like … so sound asleep that i recommended that they purchase a nest ASAP so that they might be able to get a little shut-eye. 

so … like i always do … i brought along a little something that felt meaningful to their initial newborn session with me.  our nest.

and they brought along a new hat … it was totally meant to be.

is she not the cutest owl ever?

and then … of course … we had cake.

it was such a sweet cake.  lovingly decorated by mama …

i think she liked it.

thank you so much for sharing your beautiful little girl with me … xoxo. jen