“Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows.”

~John Betjeman

These two sweeties are just sooo precious!  I just love how they both are so different from one another!  Little Miss has the most gorgeous blue eyes, while her big bro has equally stunning eyes but of brown!  They are both so full of energy and curiosity, they reminded me so much of my own babies.    This little man took an immediate liking to my red chair (how could he not, don’t you love it?  He he!) and was happy to take care of my son’s toy airplane that I brought along.  Ironically, it was a Southwest airplane–where both of his parents work!  Fun!  It was a fun session of exploring and playing–thanks so much for an awesome session, B family!  Here are just two sneakie peekies to tide you over for now.    Have fun in Flagstaff–I’m sooo jealous of the weather you will have!

xoxo,

laura

“Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year:  The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again.”

~Menachem Mendel Schneerson

One.  So hard to believe.  My sweet Addison is one today.  Everyone tells you how fast time flies, but it is hard to really feel what they are talking about until you experience it yourself.   I have a mixture of emotions today.  I am sad that my baby is growing up, I am happy for her smiling little face, I feel content that we made it through that first, wonderful year that is also filled with challenges–a year of many sleepless nights trying to help her figure out a sleep schedule, countless hours of nursing, teething and getting used to having two very young children.  See, though, it is hard to call these “challenges”, because as I write this I just see the amazing blessing.  All those nights spent up with Addison in the wee hours of the night nursing her each time she awoke were precious, quiet moments that I got to spend with her and only her.  Moments that I already long for and miss.  I *almost* want to wake her up some nights just to rock her.  Notice I say almost.  Sleep can happen when I’m old.  Right now I have my beautiful children.  My mind travels back to laboring with her and wanting so badly to bring her into the world with peace and love and calmness and being present.  Realizing as she lie next to me in the still of the night with her big, wide eyes staring back at me and not making a sound, that THIS is how it is supposed to be.  THESE are the amazing first moments of having a baby.  Not being drugged up, not tears and sadness, not fear and worry, not wires and ventilators or not holding your baby for ten days.  Addison, you healed me.  I saw that those first days can be relaxing and exhilarating.  You make me so happy and I feel so incredibly blessed to have both you and your brother.  I love the relationship the two of you already have–you one and Jackson three.  Wow.  I have a one year old and a three year old.  How did that happen?!  The past three hundred and sixty five days have been nothing short of spectacular, my love.  Here’s to enjoying the joy of a million more.

all the love in the world,

mommy

“Life, love, and laughter – what priceless gifts to give our children…”

~Phylis Campbell Dryden

Wow.  This family rocked it.  What a fun, close knit family.  The twins are just precious and so full of energy.  They have such separate and unique personalities, it was fun to observe.  Their older sis was a natural in front of the camera–can you say model anyone?!  According to mom, one of the twins is the “mommy” while the other would be happy to jet off on one of her brother’s bikes!  It wouldn’t be so far fetched.  See, big bro is motocross champ Tanner Amarillas and has been riding since he was two!  What really threw me for a loop is that the older two are what six and eight years old look like these days.  I mean, I know babies.  I know two and three year olds.  From teaching high school, I know what teens look like.  But this is what 6 and 8 look like now?!  Whew!  Maybe it is just me, but they look much older and wiser than I remember myself being at those ages.  What do you think?    Thanks for such a fun session!  It was awesome to meet you!  Enjoy your sneak peeks!

“When you love your children from the moment they begin, you yourself begin all over again, in them, with them, and so there is something more to the world again.”

~William Saroyan

These are some of our dearest friends.  They are such beautiful people with such beautiful souls, really.  We met at a mommy’s group when our boys had just turned a year old.  Sometimes I feel we are leading parallel lives.   Our boys are six weeks apart and are such good buds–Jack always talks about his “Lukie”–and we welcomed our daughters into the world a mere seven weeks apart.   They were who we entrusted Jack to when I left him for the very first night in his life when I went into labor with Addison.  It is such a special thing to have someone who is experiencing all the same joys and challenges of motherhood as you, at often the exact same time.  It was a true pleasure to capture the love they have for one another and to photograph these two little beauties.  Jack is smiling at the computer screen right now, telling me, “Oh, there’s Lukie and there’s…”  He loves seeing his buds.  Thanks for your friendship, and thanks for a great session…oh and a yummy dinner afterwards!    Love ya!

“To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other’s hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time.”

~Clara Ortega

I just love this family!  The kiddos had so much fun exploring all of the fun things at our location.  They were wonderful sports about the whole thing…I don’t think that a bribe–I mean trip to the toy store–had anything at all to do with it!    I sure hope that little man was sweetly rewarded with the best rocket this town has ever seen!  They are so sweet and modeled so beautifully.  They really know how to turn those gorgeous smiles on on cue.  I just love to watch the bond that these two siblings have.  It makes me smile and think of how my own two children will be like that one day.  They already have such a bond, but it seems to get even more fun as they get older!  Thanks so much for braving the slight drizzle and chilly morning weather for our session, C family!  Love ya!!