They normally enjoy several things; rolling, sitting, crawling, sucking on toes or jewelry or fingers or whatever else can be found, smiling, playing, giggling, and occasionally a pout.

I love six month portraits on the white, classic, clean, simple for your baby’s multiple expressions. Do not miss this age, again I repeat, you’ll be glad you made the effort in a few months when they’re running around…trust me.

Gracious….she’s so doggone cute!

I should add that she’s sporting a custom Tiffiney bracelet too.  We’ll have more of these at the Baby Fair for sale, on Saturday at the Shaver Complex in Seneca! My assistant Erica will be there, stop by and say hi!

They love the documentary style.

They very naturally just love each other and that makes it incredibly easy.

We’re a great match.

This locale, amazing. They’re always so extremely helpful and nice. It’s by far one of my favorite places to shoot. Just wish it wasn’t so far away.

Congrats Ashley and Greg, I’m so happy to share in your love story!

We ended with a lovely dinner together, just fantastic. Crab legs, steak, cheesecake…good company…need I say more. It was definitely one of those “I love my job” moments.

Fast forward to toddler-hood when the juxtapositions of their sounds, words, and thoughts become the stuff that parent comedies are made of.  A teacher by trade and coming from a family with assorted educational and developmental professionals, I understand that the errors that make my life so funny will soon pass.  And so I cherish the sweet, silly, and sometimes nonsensical stuff that the kids in my family come up with.

Take Marshall and his failure to grasp pronouns.  Upon seeing a friend in Chick-Fil-A he describes the scene as, “She with she mommy.”  Who really needs possessive pronouns?  Marshall also really likes to build “forks.”  You know- when you take all the cushions, pillows and blankets from the couch and create a hide-away for your imaginary play? That’s a “fork,” folks.  Helping verbs have got him stumped too at the moment.  What he means is “I am.” What he says is “I are.”  For example- “Are I gonna be 4? I are sweet. I are a great big brother.” I don’t think you officially learn to conjugate helping verbs til first grade or something, so no worries.  Poor Uncle Tom has “die-da-bee-tees,” but please don’t tell Tom cuz that sounds way worse than just plain old diabetes.  And when he’s drawing a picture of an “ol-vuh-cano” (volcano) it’s OK if he makes a mistake because he can always re-rase it with the re-raser on the end of the pencil.  Every once in a while he’ll ask to go to our favorite coffee- stop “Spargucks.” Gotta love a kid who can appreciate that mama needs a boost of caffeine every now and then. And then there’s my favorite- “LuLu,” the affectionate and darling nickname he gave his baby sister Lily!

Speaking of Lily, some days I am brave enough to face the truth, and I admit to myself that she has pitter- pattered her way out of babyhood and is learning how to be a toddler.  However, most days denial is a lovely place to be, so I choose to believe she’s staying permanently in infancy.  While I’m desperate to find a cure for my kids growing up, I am enjoying her first words with the charming and unadulterated cadence and timbre of that baby voice.  Haaaaaaah (hi) accompanied by a whole body wave to any and every one in her vicinity. Dada, bubba, and mama are often screeched at the decibel level of a fighter jet, but with that crinkled up nose, towheaded piggy tails and unexpected blue eyes, my delicate flower of a daughter can get away with it.

Truthfully, I won’t be sad when the all- encompassing MMMMM that indicates Lily wants something no one has yet thought to offer her is replaced with more meaningful vocabulary.  But, I know the day will come when I will miss the “mistakes.” Like the day my nephew realized he has a belly button and not a “belly tuppon,” and therefore banished that sweet substitution from his vocabulary.  I cherish the sweet and oh-too fleeting sounds and words of my little ones.

So for now, if you see me out and about with Marshall and Lulu just smile and say, “she with she babies,” and know that “I are blessed.”

-Heidi

eskimo kisses

a game of race

and flying through the air like an airplane….

oh, and a twirl for good measure….

Proud of her recent potty adventures. All of a sudden it clicked.

In just the last month or so her speech development has really moved along quite nicely. That’s the one thing that sorta lagged. I knew she’d catch on. She’s just so smart. I know, every parent’s child is the smartest kid ever…. #guilty

She is so stinkin’ strong willed. Can’t blame her. She fought for every breath, her first months. It will be to her benefit one day. Geez if she follows in the footsteps of Mommy and Papa, as a business owner, she’ll need that personality of “do or die” for sure.

Her first year of school is almost up. Had a little Mother’s day celebration in her class this week. Here’s a little snipit…

Bumble Bee Song Video

Teacher made a little photo album of her days at school. In LOVE. That was the best gift EVER!

I had been wondering why she was hooked on a couple of songs. Here’s her and I singing in the car upon her demand of course.

Baby Bumble Bee Song

Click here for Jesus Loves me… (be sure to watch your volume, she screams this one….I’m glad she’s so sure Jesus loves her. Ha!)

Following up on the Wall of Hope news, the ladies at GHS and some of my close friends were scheming to get Sadie Mae on the wall with all of those other lovely kiddos. I found out about it, long story short, I’m printing her portrait now for the wall. So excited that they thought it important, and were working to make it happen. Honored really. The story they wrote for us is so super nice. I’ll share when it’s on the wall.

So here we are.

She’s almost three.

Hard to believe.

I love her more than words could ever express.

Glad to be a Mommy.

When Tif told me she wanted me to guest post on her blog, I thought she was joking. I run my own little blog over at Mommy Needs Pockets http://www.mommyneedspockets.com, where I talk about poop, tantrums and the joy of being a mom to a former preemie/NICU baby turned toddler, but guest blogging in Tif’s world of beauty and photography, I am a fish out of water.
 
Motherhood is hard. With every hug, kiss and smile comes a lot of work. So much work, some moms decide to stay at home with their little ones. I am not one of those moms. I love to work. I love my job. And, if I am honest with you and myself, I wouldn’t survive being a SAHM.
 
Work allows me to be around other adults. But it also means time away from T. Since returning to work after maternity leave, my husband and I have played a tricky game of rope balance. We haven’t perfected the art of home, work, marriage and rearing a child, but we have found a way to make it work for us.
 
For us, one of the time savers was meal planning and freezing!
 
I did an entire post with recipes on my blog http://www.mommyneedspockets.com/2012/02/freezer-meal-planning.html, so I won’t bore you with all the details, but here’s the skinny:
 
·         I sat down one day and realized we spent way too much money eating out.
·         After doing tons of research (on Pinterest) I decided on meals, how I would cook them and how many.
·         I shopped at ALDI! I got our entire meal selection for under $200!
·         I spent one Friday night making all sorts of great meals that lasted us many, many weeks!  
·         Now I come home, pull the meal out of frig, pop it in oven.. BOOM. Dinner is served.
 
If you would of told me a couple of years ago that I would be a meal planning/meal freezing Nazi, I would of called you a dirty liar. But there are so many benefits to meal planning. I really encourage you to try. The biggest one for us..
 
The time we get to spend as a family as a result of me not slaving over dinner for an hour when I walk in the door.
 
This summer will be tough test for us. We aren’t huge casserole people during the summer. I have found some summer casseroles that I am really excited about! If you have any to share–please, hook me up! 

UPDATE: FYI  Tiffany is hosting an Oreck GIVEAWAY on her blog! Go enter! http://www.mommyneedspockets.com

PIMPING FOR CLUBERS:

Yep I’m pimping two of my baby club babies for this weekend’s March of Dimes event.

Sweet Timothy – this year’s ambassadors! Such a little ham this sweet boy. Be looking for a guest blog post from his Mommy soon! She’s the bomb at cooking and freezing meals, a huge time saver for busy Moms. Must be her Italian heritage shining….we all know an Italian can cook! GIVE QUICK HERE: http://www.marchforbabies.org/s_team_page.asp?seid=1740076 GO TIMOTHY’S TROOPS!

Sweet Elly – last year’s ambassadors! Elly was born almost identical to Sadie Mae’s birth, 25 weeks, so scary. She is doing great now. Thanks to the Bryan NICU and the great work of the March of Dimes. GIVE QUICK HERE: http://www.marchforbabies.org/personal_page.asp?pp=3592418&ct=4&w=5211884&u=ellyfaithsmom GO ELLY’S WARRIORS!

Quick heads up Baby Club Moms: I’m preparing a spa day at the office for you all! Be looking for the invite. If you have some spa-like services, businesses, you already enjoy message me and maybe we can get them on board!

Next weeks posts, all about being a Mommy. Stories from me and a few other Moms…..

I love great receptions. Pretty sure Maggie nor Justin came off the dance floor very much. This meant the guests stayed on the floor too. So much fun!

I tell all my brides, if you’ll just have fun and love on each other, I’ll get great images.

For sure, these dancing pics are some of my favorites.

Daddy’s little girl…. Mama’s sweet boy…The last dance of the evening…

I remember mine. Although only about 5 minutes long.

I cried through the entire thing. It.meant.that.much.

Many churches are turning to the “no photographer on the floor photographing during the ceremony” rule. I completely understand.

If you’re hiring a photographer ask them where they’ll be during the ceremony. They should have the right equipment so that they don’t HAVE to be at the alter with you. Especially in the situation of a smaller aisle like this church. I was in the back the entire time and still captured some great moments.

Shame on you photographers who are interrupting ceremonies with your shinanigans. You make us all look bad. Ha!

I also used zero flash. The digital equipment available to us now is so great!

Again, beautiful Maggie and Justin in stunning St Luke United Methodist Church in Walhalla, SC. One of the prettiest Oconee churches and the priest is super nice. If you’re looking for a church you should visit them!

Below are some favs…and this is just from the preceremony! The reception was stunning as well…more to come!If there’s one place you cut corners on wedding day…don’t let it be photography. How else will you remember…and your children be able to see, such lovely details for years to come?