He's 2!!

My baby is 2!! Yes, still my baby. I realize he is growing fast, but I am not ready for this one to. This one will always be my "baby". I worked extremely hard to keep him, when in my first trimester, my placenta was only 50% attached to my uterus. I took special care for months that I did not lift anything too heavy, and I had a 3 year old! Nonetheless, I loved my pregnancy with him. It helps, that I actually like being pregnant :-) Two years and my life has never been the same since. When I was pregnant with Jojo, I used to wonder how I would love another like I did my first son. But I did! Your love doesn't split with additional children, it multiplies. This little boy has been my sidekick. I don't want to forget any part of one, and I don't want to miss any part of two. I guess that is why I take so many pictures of my own kids. Because, as many photographers with children will tell you, at the end of the day that is what it is really about. Capturing all the memories of our little ones in our cameras, and etching them in our hearts and memories for all time. Even though it is always bittersweet to watch my littles get older, I am excited for what lies ahead. I will always love him, and I will always be in his corner, cheering him on in life, even if it has to be silently when he is old enough to get embarrassed of his mama ;-) I will leave you all with some snapshots of my sweet little one's birthday party, the day before his birthday:

Oh, and just one more. He was in such awe of the butterflies at the zoo on his birthday :-) This year was the best mother's day because I got to celebrate it with my little one too!

Goodnight, My Little One.

Today you were 1 year and 364 days old. We gathered close friends and family and we celebrated with you. Tomorrow, we will wake up and you will be 2 years old. You were always my cuddler, the one who wanted to be close to me. The one who liked to be worn, the one who liked to snuggle up at night. It broke my heart when you stopped nursing at a year old. But you never lost that part of you that wanted to always remain next to your mama. So tonight, I will snuggle with you in our bed the way that we did on your very first night at home with us. I love you, my little one. Get some good rest, because tomorrow we celebrate you turning 2. I love you to the moon and back.

Baby Makes Three

Stunning, isn't she? Seriously, how did I luck out to be able to photograph this gorgeous mama to be? It was a joy to meet up with this couple and share these last few moments with them before they become a family of three! Time spent with them is always effortless :-) I can't wait to meet the sweet babe that will soon be in their arms! It is an honor for me to be chosen to capture these special moments in this family's story!

My girl

I conceptualized this shoot in my head, and have been longing for it ever since I got my hands on this vintage cradle. So tonight, just before sunset, I grabbed my sweet girl and headed out to the fields to capture these. My heart is melting! I love this sweet girl!

This one even made her Daddy blush :-)

The best part of the night was when she grabbed the camera, and started taking her own shots! She told me that she wanted to be a photographer too! These two were her very own. I, of course, had the camera set for her beforehand, but she looked at the lighting and framed the shots herself!

I believe there will be more of these shoots in out future together!

carolyn, one lovely mama

It was such a joy to work with this sweet mama yesterday evening! My little one came along to play too, and decided that he had made a new friend, too sweet! She has such a lovely, gentle soul. Thanks, Carolyn! I will be thinking of you in the next couple of weeks with the arrival of your sweet little one!



I just have to share these sweet shots of them blowing wishing flowers together!

Guest Post: ThisBusyMama Knits

As a photographer and a fellow mama, I have been blessed to meet these two souls. Besides being able to share parenting ventures, they make sweet baby knits that look precious in photos. I have even loved them on my own littles!

To spend more time with them, visit Sara and Lydia's Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ThisBusyMama-Knits/133318480052226

You can also visit Lydia's blog here: http://networkedblogs.com/wkuyQ





photos of this sweet little one taken by his mama



* What led you to the work you do now?
Sara: I started knitting with my local knitting/breastfeeding mamas group and slowly, friends started asking for custom items. I started TBMK after taking a few requests.
Lydia: I learned to knit from my Grandma when I was growing up. I began knitting more seriously when I began cloth diapering my third child in 2007.

* What inspired you to collaborate and start TBMK?
Sara: Lydia actually knit for my 4th baby when I was just starting to use woolies with our cloth diapers. As soon as I started TBMK I asked Lyd on board. What could be better than letting the other mama take the reigns when the other had a baby etc. Life happens and as mamas this has been a beautiful balance! We were both able to take a break when our 5th babies were born this past year and the other mama took customs during that time. Lydia and I have known each other since we were both pregnant with our 2nd babies, Dinah and Averie. She's been a great friend and it just made sense we'd work well together at TBMK. It has proven to be really seamless and fun!

* What is your favorite part of what you do? What us the hardest part?

Sara: Seeing a work in progress become a finished treasure never gets old. Watching a ball of string work itself into a snuggly sweater and wrap itself around your baby, it's priceless. When I knit for my own kids I tend to envision them wearing it, pray for them and think about them as I knit. Parenting is hard and sometimes it takes years to see a success or to feel as if you've accomplished very much. When I knit I accomplish a task, meet a goal and create something lovely. It has helped me through many moments of discouragement as a mom. And, lol there is nothing as precious as snuggling your little (or big) one in sweet little woolies.

Lydia: My answer is very similar to Sara's. My favorite part of knitting is in the process, not necessarily in the object itself. The selection of the wool and pattern and the hours spent working on it all bring me great satisfaction. I, too, pray and think about the little one wearing it. It gives me so much joy to create something from start to finish that is almost a physical manifestation of my love for the recipient. And, of course, there is nothing as cute as a baby in wool! The hardest part for me these days is finding the time! Sara and I both have five children for a combined number of 10 children of TBMK! We are truly very busy Mamas.

* Where do you get your inspiration?
Sara: I watch trends in clothing. I tend to take little bits of what I like away from popular sweaters/knitted I tend to take little bits of what I like away from popular sweaters/knitted items. I very rarely follow a pattern exactly and tend to add my own elements into whatever I knit. I have done this in crafting since I was little. I am just not a pattern follower, lol. I like to follow the "bare bones" and add my own details. It keeps my mind involved with what my hands are creating. Like watching art unfold out of my needles. And as in all forms of art, some pieces get "frogged" (or ripped out) and start over, but end up better in the end.

Lydia: I am drawn to natural lines, clothing that is simple but classic. I love knowing the basics of how a garment comes together and customizing it to create exactly what I've envisioned.

* How do you balance work and family?
Sara: I made a rule early in my knitting that I only knit when the kids are asleep. There are rare moments when I now knit during "quiet time" while my 5 year old chats with me, but it has helped me keep some sense of balance.

Lydia: I am a homeschool Mama, so I knit when listening to my little ones read to me or work on other projects. I also always knit in the car when my husband is driving. There is nothing like a long car trip to get some knitting done!

* Tell us a bit about your customers. We have wonderful customers!
Lydia: Our customers are often Mamas just like us, people who are drawn to heirloom quality items for their children and, sometimes, themselves! We are blessed to work with many wonderful families who have embraced our work and truly make knitting a joy.

Sara: I can honestly say I have made friends though knitting and come to really treasure some of these families.

And just for good measure I will add a couple of my own little one in TBMK!

This Way of Life: Let's celebrate April as Autism Awareness month!

After I graduated high school, I entered the nursing program at EMU. That is where I met a dear friend that would be my reference to my next job at an assisted living facility. There I would meet a sweet friend who has one of the biggest hearts I know. Just months later, she asked me to be with her in her birth room for her first child. When that birth day came, she called me to let me know she had been admitted to the hospital. That day I was honored to be there to witness one AMAZING little girl take her first breath! Since then, I have been present for two more of her children's births, all VERY special in their own little ways! All three of her children were diagnosed early on, and each time this mama worked feverishly to find the best early intervention possible. It is true, that we all want what is best for our children, and this mama is no exception! I am extremely thankful for the friendship that I and my own children have found in this gorgeous family. I consider myself blessed as I have had the chance to know some truly wonderful people in them.


(Photo courtesy of their mama, thanks so much!)
Please take a moment to meet this little family and get to know a bit about them by visiting her blog:
http://acorn-beyondconvention.blogspot.com/2011/08/measure-of-child.html
You can visit her on facebook also at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beyond-Convention/148595311891139

Isn't this mama AMAZING!?

If you would like to support a sweet family like hers and/or you like jewelry, please check this out! Premier Designs has their very own Autism Spectrum set and 100% of their proceeds will be going to the Autism Society!



If you are interested please contact Heather at heatherjolly7@gmail.com