I am so excited to be able to share these with my readers! I LOVE Lightroom. It speeds up my workflow and gives me more time with my family. One of the best things about it- presets. If you make the same adjustments on most of your RAW files, you can turn that in to a preset and apply it with a touch of a button. I use two presets that I created, Hadley and June, on 90% of my images. Now you can use them too- just download them here!

I would love to see what you do with them- so please leave a comment or link back if you post an image that you used them for!

I am honored to be featured on the Get Totally Rad! Blog this week. Check it out for my personal tricks on getting any kid to look at the camera and smile!

I have been patiently waiting for this little one’s arrival. I photographed the rest of her family back in July, and I could hardly wait to meet her. Of course, at that point I didn’t even know she was a her! Claire’s parents waited to be surprised at her birth, though her momma had a feeling the whole time that it was a girl. Claire arrived early last Saturday, and I got to meet her when she was 7 days old. Isn’t she just gorgeous?

I love capturing a little smile!

Congratulations, H Family! Claire is just perfect!

My Dearest Wesley,

It doesn’t seem possible that it has already been a year since I sat in the hospital, holding you in my arms, still in disbelief that you were mine. But no matter how many times I have tried to hit pause, you have been growing up right before my eyes. I am so proud of you, Wes. So so proud.

Right from the start you were the most easy-going baby I had ever known. Even strangers would comment on it. It is one of the things I love most about you. I love how you just go with the flow. How you are happy anywhere. How you smile at me when you do something wrong. I love the way you throw food to the dogs and then look at me and say “Uh-Oh”.

You are fearless and a daredevil. We joke that danger is your middle name. I admire this quality in you. I am a constant over thinker. You are more of a risk-taker. I think it is a trait that will serve you well in life.

I don’t think you understood why we were making such a fuss over you today. You made a pouty face any time we would say happy birthday, or sing, or make too big a deal over you. But the cake- oh, the cake- that you liked. While your brother was timid and barely made a dent in the frosting on his first birthday, you dove right in like a seasoned pro.  Naturally, the cake was chocolate- that has always been your favorite.

Wes, I don’t know what I would do without you. It is hard to imagine that you haven’t always been a part of our family. You are the perfect compliment to us all. Thank you for making my life better. Thank you for teaching me new levels of patience. Thank you for greeting me each morning with a smile. Thank you for being you.

I love you, son. Each day your personality shows through more and more. I can’t wait to see what the future holds. Whatever it is- know that I am always here for you, and I have loved you from the very start. From the very minute I laid eyes on you, I was proud to call you my son.

Love forever,

Mommy

The morning was just right when I met Miss June and her family for a picnic. I loved watching Junie and her big sister Kinsey laugh and giggle with their parents as they sipped water tea from china cups. The girls sang silly songs, had a tickle fight, and did twirls. The birds were chirping and the wind was blowing gently and the sun had just started to peak through the clouds. Basically- it was perfect!

Have you ever seen such a beautiful, happy family?!

Kinsey was so sweet helping June sip her tea. She is such a great big sister!

Nothing better than a kiss from Daddy!

As a parent, there is nothing quite as special as creating a little bit of magic for your children. Just the simple act of spreading out a blanket and sitting as a family to enjoy tea makes a special sparkle in their eyes. Moments like these are magic. Moments like these are the ones you will always cherish. Your own slice of sunshine for any rainy day life may send your way.

If there is anything that a new mother will tell you- it is that babies come out with a mind of their own. You can have the best of plans, and children quickly teach you to adapt and go with their flow. Today was actually Caleb’s due date, but he made his arrival a month early on August 11.  He had to spend some time in the NICU, and didn’t get to come home until last week.  He is my oldest newborn to date, but he did wonderfully, and I couldn’t get enough of his thick dark hair and cute little grin!

One of my favorite parts of a newborn session is getting to watch new parents interact with their little ones. Lets face it- babies don’t come with owners manuals,  and I know it is easy to feel overwhelmed during those first few days weeks.  But Jamie and Bobby are taking it all in stride. They were so layed back and natural with Caleb, and it is plain to see he knows how loved he is.

I can’t get over how tiny he looks in his Daddy’s arms. Before too long, Caleb will be as tall as his Dad- playing football with him in the backyard. No matter how big he grows though, he will always be his little boy. I know Bobby will look back on this picture and remember the day his son was born and his heart and life was changed forever.

Jamie and Bobby, thank you for the privilege of photographing your son. I appreciate you entrusting your memories to me!

Remember Anna? After we had so much fun twirling in the park, we went back to her house for a little tea party. She was very serious about making her tea just right!

Then her mom showed her how to sip her tea like a lady. I am not sure if she listened!

Teddy Bear’s make for excellent company, don’t you think?

Then Anna had enough of being prim and proper. It was time to bring out the cape. And the superhero goggles. It makes me want to be three again!

Yes, it is good to be three. You play all day. You drink tea with your mom, and go exploring with your dad. You get to wear capes, or tutus, or even a crown. The sky is the limit, and the laughter never ends. I know Anna will look back on these pictures someday, and even if she can’t remember being that young- she will know she was loved and she will know how special she was right from the start. And maybe one day when she is having a bad day, she will look at herself as a little girl and be able to once again see the world through those green goggles. Simple and perfect and fun.

I will admit that when I moved to Iowa City from Colorado 5 years ago, I was less than thrilled about it. Why would anyone want to live in Iowa? It was cold in the winter and humid and hot in the summer and it took me much too long to warm up to it. But I did. And then, just like that, our 4 years there were over, and we were in a moving van headed to Columbus. That 4 years that I had thought would drag by passed in a blink, and it took being gone to make me realize how good we had it in Iowa.

Last week we loaded up the car and made the drive back to our old home to attend the wedding of my childhood friend.  Evan was thrilled. The whole car ride he kept saying “Iowa! Just like where I was born!” And we told him about our old house, and our favorite apple orchard, and all the other things that had made up our lives for 4 years. I suddenly felt homesick for a place I had been reluctant to call home. I suppose it isn’t too surprising though- Iowa City is where we had our first home as husband and wife, where our first baby was born. Where we learned so much about being a family of our own.

Leaving Iowa had been a blur of selling our house, packing, saying goodbyes to friends, and then diving head first in to life here in Columbus. And did I mention I was 30 weeks pregnant when we moved? I never gave myself a chance to think about all that I would miss. As I watched the miles of interstate pass under our tires, I thought about my old home.  About rocking Evan in his nursery that I had painted just for him. About cooking his birthday cake in the oven that I had picked out. I thought about where I had been when I received the call that my Papa had passed away. I thought about all our old friends, and the countless barbecues and picnics we had shared. I thought of all the little places and things that had been woven in to the fabric of my life just by being there. And then, like that- we were home.

Our first stop was to Wilson’s Orchard, for apple turnovers and of course- apples. We were a little early in the season, but it didn’t matter. Evan had been too young to really understand apple picking the last time we were there, and my heart was just so full watching him explore the orchard. I think he knew he was home too.

It was Wes’ first visit to the orchard, and to Iowa. It is safe to say he took to it right away!

This picture is part of my 52 Weeks Project.

After the orchard, we headed to another favorite place- Isaac’s Creamery- for some ice cream and giggles. These just might be some of my favorite pictures of Evan, ever!

We have decided that we are going to make a yearly trip to Iowa to visit all of our favorite places. Without knowing it, I left a part of  my heart there- and being back just gave me a sense of peace I haven’t had in awhile. I will always be a Colorado girl, but I am proud to have Iowa City and Columbus on my life’s passport.