coming up roses.

So me & M worked really hard and spent more than I planned to on this rose blanket for a session I had planned with a 3 month old. It worked really well for my session but I wanted to see how versatile it would be for someone a bit older to try to get my money and time's worth out of it. Of course, I would prefer that my "model" wasn't wearing an orange sundress but as they say, beggars can't be choosers.

yup, seven.

Oh my goodness, my little bitty boy isn't so little bitty anymore. I can hardly believe it has been more than seven years ago that everything I knew about parenting went out the window. Bringing home a little one swaddled in blue was the beginning of a brand new chapter like nothing I have ever experienced before. He is sweet and wonderful and inquisitive with a terrific sense of humor, but make no mistake, he is 110% boy. The minute he could speak, all the time and energy that had gone into decorating his room with sailboats and light houses proved a waste of time. All he cared about were cars, quite often falling asleep with a hot wheels in each hand. Today we took some quick shots of him in studio since I can't even think about going outside to shoot in this heat...yuck! Even this experience taught me a few things. First, I cannot do his hair like daddy can. Second, that he is a total ham in front of the camera with many of these poses being of his own design. And lastly, that he can still melt me with those gorgeous eyes, long lashes and huge dimples. He'll always be my baby whether he be seven or forty-seven.

abercrombie girl.

Took some more pics of M today, she's growing up way to fast for me.

you can't have too many friends.

Volleyball is a terrific place to make friends.
Cousins make good friends too!

Friends are friends no matter where they move to (this one happens to be in for the summer after moving to Qatar).

she has friends too ya know.

Poor L just wants to be big like M so badly that she and one of her friends wanted to do what the big girls did too. How could blame them?? After demolishing L's closet for their fashion show, the girls decided on these two outfits.

peace be with you.

M's latest trend is to have me take pictures with her friends when they come over and tonight we had three of them. The matching pajamas are not a new thing, M is truly an addict and has spread her addiction to quite a few of her friends too.

The "geeks"

And for some reason, they all feel the need to try to cram themselves into my pettiskirts which are designed for kids under about 5 years old!

bump.set.spike.

Another Monday (even if they are being posted on Wed), another volleyball tournament until 9:30pm. M's game keeps getting better and better and she is getting proof of that with more court time. Her serves are now more consistent and powerful and in one game, she had 10 serves in a row not be returned! We are so proud of how confident she has gotten and can't wait to see her play for the junior high team this year along with her regular club tournaments.