This boy really belongs in our family....

This shoot was SO FUN!! Mommy "C" had a John Deere theme on the docket for the day...well she came to right place LOL!! If anybody knows our family you know about our love of green and yellow :))) Well C, here it is ~ my favorite of the bunch :) And....the contest...I know you have all been checking back in (I check that little number counter thingy on the bottom every now and again ;) Now it is time to show yourselves (ah ha!) and....show your knowledge of all things tractor. Name all the tractor dealers/producers you know and post them on this comment roll. (Hey I said I love John Deere didn't say I know all the right lingo) So there you go, I gave you one right off the bat. You must have at least 5 tractor maker names...then yup! You guessed it! I am going to have Caleb choose two winners again for now 25% off their next session fee. Alright go on, get started, and make me proud!! Have a GREAT weekend everyone!! Love, ~R.......:)) (Yes Dorothy we are FOR SURE back down in the country ;)

**Update! I realized I forgot to put the "time limit" on this contest!! You have exactly 9 more hours to post your contest entries on this blog as of now 1:16 pm on Monday, March 3, 2008. All comments will be copied, pasted, printed, separated, and the Caleb will pick two out of a hat tomorrow morning. Thank you all who have entered so far- great job!! (And I love that you are calling Case International "Case" - that's what Caleb calls it - too cute! ;)

Sleep little one...

{...here's little A...just a sleepin' on her mama} ...yes i am whispering :) her mommy and daddy just came in to view her slideshow...they loved it! i mean how can you not when you have a baby girl as beautiful as this one? really ~ my job is just the best! have a great day everyone! Love, ~R......:)

Sweet sweet baby...

Just look at this precious little girl...isn't she so sweet!!?!?!? Can you tell what her daddy likes to do?? This blanket was hand made especially for little A - a perfect personalization for her 14 day old session. Congratulations again to mom and and R and R, she's just beautiful. See at your viewing party soon! Love, ~R.......;)

Sneak Peeks!!

Oh my goodness!! Thank you thank you thank you!! Thank you to all of my wonderful, fantastic, beautiful, fabulous, and amazing new clients that I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing today!! Your little ones are just adorable...I mean just look at those eyes!! Here are some quick peeks for you (hey, these still qualify as being posted "later tonight!!" ;) Don't worry there are a couple more to come as I proof your sessions :)

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Also, I noticed that you all need some help coming up with contest ideas sooooo...I have one brewing...keep checking back - I'll have it up sometime this coming week!! Have a great night and rest of the weekend everyone - I have THREE minutes (I guess NINE according to blogger)to turn in!! ;)) See you Monday! Love, ~R........;)

Stripes are IN!! :)

Well at least in MY book anyway ;) This is little O again :))) Except awake and alert this time :) I do love the last post of him in his little doggie hat though :)) He is modeling the red, brown, blue, and grey striped hat too...my clients seem to just love this hat and sweater set!! :)) I think it's darn cute myself always perfectly complimenting my sweet and "O" so cute clients ;) I need to see if it will still fit my little B...I really need to shoot his 18 mth session to see what I can get. I may be contracting an outside photographer for those! He totally has his "mommy's got her camera out again" radar on most days lol!! ;)) Oh well..can't win 'em all huh?? It seems some of the best ones I get are of him just playing etc...using natural light and catching those special, quiet, and "him" moments. If you'll notice above...these were taken on my leather couch next to the window where little O felt more comfortable and he looks GREAT!! I feel a trend coming on here people!! I love having my home decorated for a studio with lighting and an "on location" sort of feel using natural light. If you are a future client, have ample natural lighting in your home, and would like me to do an on-location shoot of your kids at home - please let me know!! Otherwise we can accomplish that look at my place. I can't WAIT until it starts getting warmer so we can these babies outside again too!

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Well...H here's the rest of your peek~ these will be going out by Saturday!! :))) Have a great night everyone and please free to leave comments :)) I love to hear from you!! (I am so all about interactive blogging!!) (Also....I feel a little contest brewing...whatya think??? ;) Leave me some ideas on this comment roll and I'll pick one to host in the next week or so. You have 24 hours!! GO! Love, ~R........;)

Oh my goodness!! Baby E!!

Baby E you have stolen my heart!! E and A thank you so much for coming out on Saturday!! Your little guy is just so handsome!! And so sweet! Oh my!! It was a pleasure to capture him at 6 months sitting up!! There are so many many more..I just wanted to give you a quick peek ~ I will post more as I proof his session. Thank you again!! Have a great night everyone! Love, ~R.......:)

Currently

Got this from Mindi Bartell, feel free to play if you want :)
Yourself: calm
Your partner: Relaxing in front of a movie
Your hair: pony tail
Your mother: giving, supportive
Your father: loving - in his own way :)
Your favorite item: gosh that's hard...so many things....my kids' lovies (they make them so happy.)
Your dream last night: hanging wall portraits in every which way (I am totally serious!)
Your favorite drink: diet coke with ice and lemon (mmmm :))
Your dream car: probably a mini van with automatic doors on both sides and an automatic hatch door (just saw one this week! so cool when your arms are full!) + SUV :)
Your dream home: any home with my family in it with me...okay you got me. in Mexico :)...on the beach (only if there are never any storms or hurricanes though.)
The room you are in now: office (3rd bedroom which means that the boys are sharing ;)
Your fear: dying and leaving my family/boys behind without me (their mommy)
Where you want to be in 10 yrs: honestly? It would be a tremendous blessing to be a mom with children who are walking in the Truth...living lives pleasing to the Lord. I pray for wisdom and grace on how to be a mommy who can facilitate this learning....man what a tremendous weight this is...and to be an example of this...another pressure :) (But by the grace of God go I...) thank goodness we don't have to do this all by ourselves!
Who you hung out with last night: my wonderful hubby and boys :)
You’re not: Exercising yet. Need/want to start :)
Wish list item: Wall organization system from Pottery Barn.
Last thing you did: R and I took the boys to their very first tumbling class and then to pizza - what a blast!
What are you wearing: Addidas pants, (yay they fit again!) Stanford longsleeve navy blue tee, and SuperCamp zip up navy blue hoodie (trained for SuperCamp at Stanford in '03 http://www.qln.com/)
Favorite weather: semi cool, wonderful smelling autum...twinkly whimsy in the air winter (Christmas)...and green green spring and summer. Okay, that prob. didn't count. I do like all the seasons but I suppose Autumn has become my favorite for color and temp :)
Favorite book: So many can't think of one right now...okay...I'll think...okay found it - Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers:. Stayed up till 4 am to read this book!! GREAT READ!! (Had a headache and puffy eyes the next day from crying (the good parts) too ;) It was THAT good!
Last thing you ate: salad, pizza, and pepsi from Monicals Pizza
Your life: absolutely wonderful, blessed, full
Your mood: pretty good
Your best friend: always there, can always continue where we left off :)
What are you thinking about right now: this :) and all the things it's making me think of - and the fact that I can't go to a certain photog workshop b/c I live in this state :((.
Your car: great, works, is warm in the winter, cool in the summer. and fits my family :)
What are you are doing at this moment: this instead of proofing.
Relationship status: happily married (you know, committed ever after :)
What’s on TV: Nothing, we don't have "TV" only movies. R got The Simpsons from the libary - which is why I am doing this :).
Last time you laughed: tonight while "tumbling" in the 18 mth-2 year class with little B...that was so fun!! and then R and I had pure entertainment (in a very good way) watching C (3.5) participate in his first ever tumbling class. It was so awesome. He did a great job! Watching him get distracted and do his own thing at certain times until the instructor called him to reality was pretty funny..it was also so neat to see him do fairly well at some things and then he also made us smile with how hard he was trying to "stay in line" and follow instructions on other things. It was surreal being at a gymnastic/tumbling accademy after so many years of tramp work from diving...it brought back memories AND made me think "whoa - is this actually happening? Do I actually have a 3.5 year old doing somersaults (on the floor ;) and jumping on a trampoline????" not that it made me feel old..b/c I'm not (and "old" is relative anyway). It just made me feel so blessed and think of how fast time flies. My dreams of marrying (my prince) and having children (such beautiful and amazing boys) have come true...wow. I am so thankful.

Have a great night everyone!! Love, ~ R.......... :))

Naturally beautiful...

Hello everyone!! I have just finished this session and...I'm in love. Yes, I am in love. In love with this session for so many reasons....the kids, the family, the location (their house!), and the natural light!!!!! I am so so so happy with my new lens!! I feel so free!! I just love having the ability to shoot with just me, my camera, and my subject...in their environment. There are so many different ways to capture beauty through my lens...:::sigh:::I love my "job" ;)) (If you can call it a job - I prefer to call it plain ol' fashion FUN!!) Well, I hope you are all having an AMAZING weekend so far - I am off to bed! :) Until next time! Love, ~R.......;)

Willow Tree Ornament...

This is my rendition of a Willow Tree family ornament but with people ;) Aren't they just beautiful? Sorta just....takes my breath away. Have a great night everyone! Love, ~R........;)

Scrumptious baby A....

Here's little baby A...isn't she just beautiful? Thank you A and A for bringing her to me!! Her skin is so smooth and her eyes are just...oh my goodness! Thank you to all my clients who have been so supportive throughout this move and the adjustment period. We still have a little ways yet until we are totally adjusted but it won't be long now. I feel the day when I get my hammer and nails out to hang up my portraits etc. coming on soon... Have a great night everyone!! Love, ~R........:)

Hot off the press!!

Just in!! Two hours ago I got to spend my afternoon with these two ADORABLE little ones...H thankyou so much for bringing your beautiful children to me!! Little L was a pleasure as always and little O...my goodness he's so snuggly!! I am loving how little L's genuine Italian outfit photographed...just precious!! Just look at that cute little doggie ear hat and those scrunchy little cheeks - I could just kiss my display screen!! Thank you again and yes...I know this is the fast sneek peak I have ever done - get used to it everyone!! Well maybe not this quick everytime depending on what's happening at my house etc...but today I had the time ;) :::sigh:::: it's SO GOOD to be here ;) Thank you again!!! Love, ~R.......:)

Pure sweetness...

Here you are R :))) Your sweet little baby girl...there are so many more where this came from! I hope you are having a great day, these will be out in the mail to you tomorrow morning!!! Thank you thank you so much - the pleasure of photographing your sweet little girl was all mine!! ~R.......;)

Here you go JP!! :))

Just look at these little sweeties...you might remember them from my website! I just can't help but post them all over - they are so cute! Thank you J - these will be in the mail tomorrow at the latest!! :))) ~R.........;)

Dancing with Cinderella...

I heard the "Cinderella" song by Steven Curtis Chapman today in the car and thought about my wedding day and my friends (and sister) who have little girls...wow. The song is about a little girl wanting to practice dancing for "the ball" with her daddy and he calls her Cinderella and dances with her, holding tight because midnight will come and she'll be gone..and then she grows up and gets engaged and asks her daddy if he can practice dancing with her for her wedding day etc...um yah...I was in tears (while driving!! I'm such a sappy dork!) well, here's my rendition of that song in images (that I am actually proofing as we speak!) for today. Enjoy!! ~R..........:)

Another dollie!!!

Oh my goodness, this little baby girl just turned 3 months!! She was my "pink plate baby" if you can remember...isn't she just beautiful!? Thank you so much L and K...I hope you enjoy these - I sure am!! Still more to come everyone - keep stopping in tonight :) ~R........ :)

Doll baby....

Here is little C again...oh my goodnes...she is just so adorable!! R your session is done! They'll be out in the mail in the morning! Have a great night everyone!! Stay tuned...more to come ;)

Read this in the morning...

17 learn to do right!

Seek justice,

encourage the oppressed. [a]

Defend the cause of the fatherless,

plead the case of the widow

Isaiah 1:17

And couldn't help but continue to celebrate with and for the families I know who have brought their little ones home. After reading in Isaiah today I got to proof this session all day long! :))) I just received the kindest and most warm email from one of my clients. Her little daughter, A, is an angel. She is so special. I just wanted to post these for you M...they speak volumes to me on love, warmth, and caring for the orphaned...who in your case is no more!! Thank you thank you for touching my heart daily and thank you for the honor of documenting her growth and beauty.

Mommy's little girl.....

Just the girls having some girl time :)

Moving right along...

Here's another one for you S!! Little K is just adorable. I really love her "serious" images as well as her all out smilie/giggly ones. She is just adorable and those curls...my goodness!! Have a great day everyone - more to come as I am plugging away! ~R....;)

Polish connection...

Remember my Polish connection? Well, their session is done :) Here is the b&w conversion of the first image I posted and then a family one...too fun! Thank you again D and M!! They'll be in the mail in the tomorrow! Love, ~R......:)