Hello! I know, I know, I ignored this blog for how long and now two posts in a row! Crazy.

The truth is, I’ve been just overwhelmed with so much work, crazy kiddos, and everything else life has been piling on me over the past year. I sat down last month and started reevaluating EVERYTHING! I think I’ve got some good ideas for creating more balance in my life and I’m off working on them!

Anywho, it’s now time for me to attempt to get back on this! If you are one of my Super Wonderful clients and I haven’t put your session up here, yet, please don’t take it personally. It’s just becoming more difficult for me to get around to blogging. I do love you, I really really do!

Yeah, so, anyway, back on task! Meggie and Cory make up an incredibly wonderful couple. I have really really enjoyed getting to meet them this year. They are actually already married, but I couldn’t put up a wedding post about them before getting at least a couple of engagement pictures on here. So, here’s a couple from their great engagement session out at Talon Winery. Love you guys!

Off to bed. Sweet dreams everyone!

Isa

Hi Friends!

I started having contractions over the weekend, they’ve stopped now, but I’m at a point where I feel completely miserable. I really think it’s time for me to step back and say that I’m on maternity leave and try to “relax” as much as possible before baby #2 flips our world upside down! I’ve heard that the transition from one child to two is the hardest, and honestly, I’m really scared. Solomon was an incredibly difficult baby and I’m so scared that this next year is going to be even harder!!

So, over maternity leave, I’m planning on checking email as I can and I’ll reply to emails in order of importance. (Not that you’re all not important, I just know that there will only be so much I can do! I will have a toddler to take care of, I’ll be recovering from delivery, and nursing a tiny baby every two hours – and that alone is a full time job!)

Anyway, some of my wonderful clients are getting ready to have their first tiny bundles of joy and so I thought I’d leave this post with some things that worked for us with our crazy Solomon and a few pictures from some of my last shoots.

So….babies….well, a lot of them come out with their nights and days completely mixed up! I totally suggest getting the Happiest Baby on the Block to learn lots of super fabulous tricks to help your baby sleep! This was also our answer to Solomon’s 8-10 hours of screaming that doctors just called “colic”. This video seriously reduced the screaming to a total of one hour a day. It was heavenly!!!! Oh and I recommend the DVD over the book just because some times you have to see what they are talking about!

Also, the Dunstan Baby Language was really helpful at leading me down the path of not believing those doctors and figuring out what exactly it was that Solomon needed. I knew it was sleep, I just couldn’t get him to nap until I found the Happiest Baby on the Block. (I’ve met a handful of people who claimed that they could never distinguish the cries, but I started noticing that the people who couldn’t hear the differences were ones who haven’t had much exposure to other languages. I have a feeling that their “ears” aren’t used to listening for subtle differences.)

Gripe water works much better than gas drops.

A comfy glider and ottoman is worth its weight in gold! You will be spending hours – days in it when your baby is tiny and sick!!!!!

Nursing hurts. It’s really really painful, but it goes away 6-8 weeks into it. Just trust me on this. I know those lactation consultants say “it’s not supposed to hurt”, “you must be doing something wrong”, etc…. The hospital I delivered Solomon at had lactation consultants who hadn’t nursed anyone in 25 years. They don’t remember! Also, for a whole lot of women, those $300 Medela pumps don’t pump enough milk for mama’s who go back to work full time. You’ll either need to supplement with formula or rent a hospital grade pump. AND, yes, hospital grade pumps make those $300 pumps seem like little toys. Oh I rented mine from a pharmacy instead of a hospital and saved $20/month. The best hospital grade pump is the Medela Symphony. You will fall in love!!!!!

Keep track of what you eat that first month you nurse. Some foods you eat may alter the taste of your milk and/or make your kiddo sick. The biggest culprits out there are asparagus, cabbage, chocolate, spices, and depending on your child – milk products.

Be super flexible with everything! Little children change so quickly and can’t communicate like we do…so be ready to be flexible!

And some of my fabulous clients…….(I know I just pulled these off of facebook…right now my office has been pulled apart and is located in 4 different sections of the house! So, I’m using a laptop instead.)

Steph loves loves loves her pups!

Barb & Pat are engaged and their wedding is going to be super rad in July!

The Justin, Asha, & Yoda combo is the best! Seriously!

I think I have fallen in love with this family! And Michelle is truly a Belle!

And who couldn’t love a family that throws a mini-party for their “Happy Birthday Jesus” Christmas card?!

Thank you, friends, for making 2010 so much fun!!!!! I love you all!

Isa

We started out by playing at a park in Mason.

And then we ran off to a shaded area to get some more fun pictures!!!!!

This one reminds me of Greece. Sigh. I wish I was there!

Stay tuned for their wedding next month!!!!!!!

They are getting married soon

For anyone wondering how this shot went down….I’ll give you a hint! I used 3 flashes

2 flashes were used in this shot

They are happy together!

The end

Their wedding is just around the corner! I’m so flippin’ excited!!!!! It’s going to be so laid back and fun – it’s going to be a blast!!!!!!

So, anyway, we had to get a quick engagement shoot in while Nelson was in town visiting his beautiful Morgan! It was rainy and gross….but we still got this in

Thanks for the fun and see you soon!!!!

We started out with something simple

Who couldn’t resist playing in some leaves??? Oh and I caught Heather still checking out her engagement ring That is so sweet!

Then we went into the tree house to play around with some moody lighting.

I think this is my favorite shot of the day!

Yep, that is the tree house! Pretty sweet, huh? It’s actually a fully wheel chair accessible tree house! If you want to go there, go to Mt. Airy Forest! It’s totally cool!!!!

They wanted some ‘fallish’ pictures – check and mark!

And I just love the smiles on this one! They went down this slide like four times

It was super fun guys! I can’t wait to show you the rest and we can’t wait for July!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for looking

We had fun hanging out in a tree house!

More soon!!!

These two are super cute together!

and are the most laid back couple I’ve EVER photographed!

Love the motion in this one!

Just snuggle a little

Remember Kelli? Well, she needed to write a paper about a business that she shadowed, and, well, she chose my business! So she came along too! We had a great time together!

Stephanie and Matt are seriously seriously laid back! They are going to elope for their wedding to a very warm and secluded place! I’m telling you, that’s a great way to do it! Less planning (I was a lazy bride too ) and more fun together is awesome!!!!!!

I can’t wait to show you guys the rest!!!!

P.S. Some behind the scene’s monkey action

Meet Chris and Mel

Don’t they look swell? – okay I’m sorry, I know that was corny, but I just HAD to!

They were so happy for a super early in the morning session!

They waited until just four weeks before their wedding to do an engagement session because Mel had to get her braces off. Next time you see her tell Melanie her smile looks great

And their sexy image….

Their wedding is in about 2 weeks!!!! So look for their upcoming post I can’t wait to Par-Tay with them!!!!

Yes, I know. I don’t need to be reminded again

The truth is, July sucked for us. Just plain old SUCKED. We had too many stressors and too many people dying. What.The.Heck!

Anyway, to make up for it, and to wish everyone a much happier August….Here are some really really super duper recent pictures!

Solomon had his very first hair cut

He got all his head hairs cut.

Poor kid didn’t know what hit him!

These guys are getting married in August of this year…so August should be better than July!

And this is Megan. She’s going to be a Senior this year. Then she goes to College Woot!

August will be better than July. I am sure of it!