We're back!

I'm home from China, and Katie is the most amazing little girl. I am in love, and just slightly overwhelmed with having a toddler in the home again. I am relearning baby gates, bottles, toys, and having to keep those itty bitty legoes up off the floor!

I have a list of items due to you, my wonderful clients. If you are waiting on something and do not hear from me in the next week, please contact me as I might not remember I promised something to you! I am placing an order with the lab this weekend, so if you need something please let me know.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and are preparing for the best year ever for 2008! I know I am gearing up to make it wonderful (and why wouldn't it be with a new little girl in my life).

Those of you with girls, I appreciate any and all hair advice, shopping for cool clothes advice, and any way to lessen the effect of having Daddy wrapped around her little bitty finger would be nice as well. ;)

Leaving for China!!

The time is finally here! We are going to China to get our daughter, and as such, we will be closed from Wednesday December 5th through Wednesday December 26, 2007. Your emails and phone calls will be answered as quickly as possible after the 26th of December. Thanks for your understanding during this time!!!

If you would like to follow along on our journey, then follow this link to our family blog.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday season, and a very Merry Christmas!!

For some reason I love this one

I love how you can see everyones feet, I love that you can see the baby, drinking his milk, and how you can see big brother watching something (obviously not looking at the camera). It's a picture of feet. All on the bed. To me, it's a picture of family.

One of my favorite images from when Samuel was a baby, is my husbands feet, JM's feet, then Samuel's feet. They were sitting together, and the difference in size amazed me.

I'm going through, pulling my favorite images for the website update, and enjoying this chance to see so many favorites again! I know I should be packing, but this is fun too.

Last session for 2007...

I just finished proofing my last session for 2007*, and wow, what a year it has been! Thank you, all of you, for everything. From trusting me to capture those special moments in your life to caring about my own special moments. I truly appreciate how much each of you care about how our adoption plans are coming along. I have been touched by your sadness that it has taken so long, touched by your willingness to be flexible, and awed by your wanting to know how things are going so badly that you send me emails to ask!

While I won't have sneak peeks of clients until after I am home from China (and recovered from jet lag), I will be posting some of my favorite images from this year, some favorites that were taken just for me, and some of my own family. I will also be working on updating the blog layout, the website, the portfolios, and getting ready for 2008!!

Do not forget that I will post a link to our adoption blog so you may follow along on our journey and see photos of China, and most importantly Miss Katie!

*as always baby planners and newborns who arrive can be worked in

Holiday Deadlines

It now comes down to this, I really do not like deadlines. I don't like enforcing them. However, my own print lab, the jewelry supplier, the card makers, and the mail all have deadlines in order for me to get things back by Christmas. Which is all well and good, but I still need to then get it you!

So, the deadline for ordering anything for Christmas delivery is due by November 30th.

What about China? Well, we are hoping to travel no later than December 13th. We've had to adjust our schedules more than once during this process, and the latest adjustment puts us leaving either 12/6 or 12/13. Personally I am hoping for 12/6. Since we will be in China for 2 weeks, you can see how close that cuts it for getting prints and special orders delivered. I do have a plan, and it involves you all meeting either some great dear friends OR my amazing brother. Please, though, try to have all orders in quickly as it will help me to get them back to you quickly.

Those with orders already placed, I'm waiting on the rest of deliveries and the Holiday has interfered with normal turnaround times and shipping times!

What are you Thankful for?

I've been thinking about this for the past week. What am I thankful for? I keep thinking about my children, and the health that we enjoy. God has truly blessed us until our cup overflows.

These two babies were wonderful, and I ended up with many shots that I love. They were supposed to have their session earlier this month, but I caught a cold and I did not want to give it to them! I loved spending time with them for their session, and the parents were so with it for having two newborns in the home. Their big brother is so very proud, and took me immediately in to see them. He pointed out which baby was which, and I could see just how proud he was of his new brothers. I think he's going to be a great big brother!



I hope that all of you reading this blog, and all my clients have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I truly hope your blessings are overflowing.

This young lady makes it easy!

I've been so busy and she has been super patient waiting on her sneak peek! This young lady is wonderful to work with, she makes it so easy. It also means that I have a hard time narrowing down the proofs, they are all so good!


Christmas season is fully upon us, and if you have not gotten me your card order, we are in danger of not getting them back in time for you to mail out! Especially as it looks like I will be in China for 2 weeks very soon.

Enjoying fall!

These two boys met me up on Monte Sano with their parents, and we loved the weather and the fall color, and playing. They have such great fun personalities, and so cooperative.


We even discovered a woodpecker in one of the trees! They climbed trees, climbed play structures, and threw leaves.



Such handsome, polite, fun boys who will grow to be fine young men! I had trouble picking just a few to show off here. I have many great shots from this session (including some where we got to playing and acting silly).

My Boys

Last week, while waiting to hear from China, I finally decided to take my own children and take their fall portraits. I only force them to have portraits taken twice a year, and I begged them to cooperate.




I have a sneak peek for a Mom to two boys coming up. I hope she loves her images as much as I love these of my boys.


I think he enjoyed the "bribe" don't you?

Tis the season!

Santa Hats have been making a regular appearance in my sessions lately. Christmas Red has been showing up quite a bit lately. Ornaments? Holiday Card designs? It's all there as well.

It can only mean one thing! Christmas is almost here!

This adorable little girl with her loving big brother is in for a treat. Her first Christmas. She has a wonderful family, full of loving grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. It is always a pleasure to do a session for a family who so obviously loves one another.

Just breathtaking

I had a session this past weekend, and it's gorgeous outdoors this time of year. The trees are starting to turn, and everywhere I looked on the drive to the client's home was a reminder of how much I need to really look at our surroundings more.

I've had a busy couple of months, and with the changing weather I'm looking toward the rest of the calendar year. I'm seeing how busy my own life is going to be, and I think that I really should slow down and appreciate this season. The radio was off, the sun was going down, and I was really having to pay attention to roads and my surroundings. I was forced to see, to actually see the landscape. See the cows, the goats, the fields that have been harvested, and I realized just how much I have become a city girl. My soul needs nature.

I think I'm going to take my kids this week, and we're going to go on a walk (or a hike if I feel industrious). We need to be in nature more. We need to be out in the fresh air.

I am so very thankful for the session this past weekend, the session that made me realize that I had not stopped to appreciate the breathtaking surroundings we have here this time of year.

His smile is contagious

When he smiles, everyone smiles back at him. It's almost impossible not to smile at him return. Nothing special about this shot, just one that I like. We were sitting in the van, waiting on big brother to finish piano lessons. Just us two, having fun on a rainy day. I can hear his giggle when I see this photo.

Isn't that what it is all about? Remembering, capturing, and celebrating this moment. Nothing special, just an ordinary day.

Wonderful family session this fall

Such beautiful children, don't you agree?

I like to play

Sometimes during a session I like to play around with the kids.

When is a session done?

When the kids go from this:


to this:


I take that cue, which is not hard to miss, that the session is done. Okay, not all sessions end in tears, and honestly, this session did not either but I had to show it because it does give you the feel of how I decide when we are done. It is totally dependent on each child how long we can do a session. Some children love having their photos taken, some do not.

*I can not remember what she was crying about, but it might have been that she had to leave the swing that had entertained her while I took her brother's portraits.*

Adoption update

So many of you have asked for updates on our adoption, and I really appreciate how excited you all are for me! The emails, the phone calls, and constant remembering when I see you just amazes me.

We are still waiting. It seems like forever, but it has only been 112 days since we sent in our paperwork asking to be Katie's parents. We have been skipped over, but since there is not much we can do about it, we are just waiting. We have checked into things, and nothing appears to be wrong. It's really just a matter of processing paperwork. Lots and lots of red tape!

We had hoped to be traveling next week or the week after. At this point, obviously, we will not be. This also means that we will not have her home by Thanksgiving, which is sad. We are hoping that we will our approval next week, but with our track record of late I am just not sure it will happen. If we were to get it next week, we would then have a chance to travel November 15th. If we get it by Halloween Day, travel could be November 22nd (yes Thanksgiving Day!). If we were to get it by Election day, then travel could be November 29th. Middle of November puts us traveling the first week of December. It just gets more depressing after that!

Many of you have asked how long we will be in China. We will be there for roughly 15 days. I will have limited access to email, but remember China time is 13 hours ahead of us. I am not planning on addressing work issues, but if I see something that needs to be answered I will! :) I doubt I could help myself.

Once we are closer to travel, I will be sending out a link to our family blog. The one we will update as we travel, and show off our beautiful daughter.

Aren't these two girls beautiful?

I fell in love with their dresses, with their smiles, with their laughter, and their love for each other.



I remember talking to their Mom during our paperchase for adopting Katie, and due to what we talked about I started considering other aspects of China adoption. Mainly Special Needs, and how really what I consider special needs and what is considered special needs in China adoption are totally different things. Thus, that conversation helped to lead us to Katie.



To say I have a soft spot for this family is an understatement. Okay, so I have a soft spot for any family that has ever adopted or is adopting.

Such a graceful young lady

She's waited too long for her sneak peek!

I think I'm back up!

After hours of screaming at the computer reliving Computer Science 202 memories, I think I have my online ordering system back online. It's not in the same place (I fixed that small problem while I was at it).

It only took:

1 screaming fit of frustration
2 bouts of tears
3 frantic looking attempts for the foam ax I used in Computer Science 202
4 pleadings with Dh for help
5 phone calls to friends to commiserate over my misfortune
6 hours of updating, uploading, and configurations
7 cheers of happiness that it is working
8 email checks to make sure I answered all the emails asking where the galleries were
9 distractions from the kids
10 big slobbery kisses to Dh for all his help!

By jove, I think we're back in business!

Shopping cart?

Check!

I got it re-installed, and upgraded. I merrily went in to start re-uploading everyone's galleries and imagine my surprise. I can't re-register it! OOPS!

I have an email in to tech support, and we should be up and running tomorrow so I can start the data entry again. I will hopefully have updated links for everyone by the end of the weekend. If you know you have a gallery out there, and you do not hear from me please contact me and I will make sure you get set back up! I think I know who all I have to re-upload.

What a mess!!!

Don't Panic!

If you are trying to reach the online ordering gallery, please don't panic. I still have images on my hard drive, but I did accidentally delete the entire ordering gallery. I have all orders that had been placed by 5pm October 4th, so nothing is missing there.

However, I'm going to have to re-upload everything and restore settings. It will take me a few days.

That's what I get for trying to update software at 1am, right? I even broke the cardinal rule my computer science professors drilled into my head:

"Always make a copy of the folder you are working on BEFORE making changes and BEFORE deleting files."

Oops! I know I can fix it, but the time involved is my biggest concern at the moment. If you were working on orders, or had questions, please contact me directly and I will do my best in this situation!

Wonder what the secret is?

I know, but can you guess?

But it could be that the Mom of these two beauties is going to be thrilled. Why? I'm having a tough time narrowing down her session for the gallery. I like to narrow it down before I start proofing and doing the sneak peek. I had to do things out of order for this session.

Be on the lookout for MORE of these beauties soon.

Meet Mr. E

This Mom commented on how much she loved the close up of the faces, and that was her one big request besides the family shots.



Don't you just love those eyes and that sweet sweet smile? He was so much fun during our session.



This one is for you Mr. E! :) I thought you would like one of your silly faces on the blog. I'm glad we got a chance to play some!

Such cute kids!

I met this family up on the mountain recently for family portraits, but I managed to grab a few of the kids individually and a few with siblings.



This beautiful little girl wanted to pose for me, so I took the opportunity as much as I could. This is just one of the shots I captured of her.

I have others that I am working on of their family, but I need to share some for their gallery! I hope to have it to you soon!!

They did it for Mom!

I met these handsome young men this weekend, and they cheerfully had their portraits taken all because their Mom asked it of them. It made my heart warm to see them do this for her, because I know how difficult it can be to get young men to sit for portraits.



In the midst of text messages and joking with each other, we captured some great images.



The rest of your proofs should be ready soon.

I never could figure out this puzzle!

I think I need more time watching and paying attention. I know I've seen it before, and I remember having a tough time then as well. This is a total snapshot, but I just loved how it converted to B&W (and I love that look). I feel like he is thinking, "enough with the pictures already!"

Thanks W family!!!! I sent your gallery information today as well. :)

Worth the wait?

The next feature on my blog, I fell in love with this shot. I knew, as I was taking it, that I would love it. Sometimes it happens that way.

(okay, it's as sharp and nice as the others...off to figure out what I did to save it differently for this entry)

Mom, be on the lookout tomorrow for an email with the info on how to access your gallery! :) I'm hoping to have time while they put in the new carpet to get it all uploaded for you.

Whew!

We have the house prepped and ready for the new carpet tomorrow. That is a lot of work to do, and next time, someone PLEASE remind me that it is totally worth paying someone to move furniture and take up the old carpet!

The W family still has some "features" to go, and I'm just about done with their proofing gallery. :) I know they will be excited to see them. I missed out on getting to see them again this weekend though, and for that I'm very sad. I am going to do my best to make it to the next "event" to see them in action!

Stay tuned...I promise to post the next feature tonight!!!! (okay, it's probably going to be after that young lady is in bed though).

Serious?

Isn't he handsome? He has a great smile, when he decides to give you that genuine smile. I tell you, he's great to be around as well. He climbed up in a tree, no questions asked. Encouraged his siblings to do the same (do we call that "encouragement" Mom?).

Moving right along...

Meet the next member of the W family! :) I decided to "feature" each child (well, those who wanted featured).



Doesn't she have the most beautiful eyes?! I noticed during the session that all the kids had incredible eyes, but it wasn't until I was proofing this session that I got a full taste of just how beautiful they were. These eyes just sparkle, and to me it fits her personality so well. Just full of light and life!

More for the W family

I'm in the midst of proofing this session, and I know I need to show them more of their images.



(okay, this is not as dark when viewed at a larger size, and I do love it in color as well...you'll see it both ways in the gallery)

Then, I just loved this boy's smile!




All of his big brothers and sisters will just have to wait for THEIR day on the blog! :) Unless of course they tell me not to post.

Somehow, I think the threat of calling Santa no longer works!

I have had some of the best families lately. These kids loved joking around with me, and they cheerfully put on Santa hats for me. I asked them if they wanted to do silly pictures first, and after a few shots, this is what we had.



So, W family, the rest of the sneak peek is coming, but I wanted to give the kids something to see today (since I promised). Thanks for putting up with my Santa hats, and I do want to use this image with a card.

It starting to look like Autumn!

While on a recent session, I got this photo. I love it. I love this location. I love the changing colors. I love this season.

Just thought I would share!

*W family, I'm working on your sneak peek!*

Why do I never show families on the blog?

Well, I've discovered that most adults do not like to see themselves. Myself included. So, since I don't particularly like showing photos of myself off to the internet, I assume others do not. Then, there are safety issues involved. Because I don't want to be in a position of having to remember those who did not wish their photos online, I just don't post them period.

There have been a few times when I really wish I could share a particular image with you, but I wait. I wait to share it with you in the website gallery. Blogs are just so vulnerable for picture stealing that I just do not chance it. Okay, so the real reason is that I don't like having my own photo on this blog, so I give other adults that same courtesy!

Now, kids, well, I love showing off the kids I come in contact with. These clients of mine all have the most gorgeous children, with the best personalities. Every single one of the children I have met are wonderful. Every last one of them.

Take the family I met today, I had a wonderful time with them and I really wish I could have watched the magic sticks trick so I could figure it out, but I didn't want to appear the fool in front of them. So, B, next time I see you, make me watch the trick. I don't promise to figure it out, but I will try. Perhaps I'll have my husband go with me and let him figure it out. He actually likes brain teaser puzzles and such.

Be on the watch for your sneak peek! I'm not sure which photos I will show, but I know I have lots to choose from. Thanks so much for a fun fun fun afternoon!

The Conquer Childhood Cancer Act

If you feel led to support The Conquer Childhood Cancer Act, then please do so here.

I can tell you that being a member of a national photography group and a member of ACPCG (American Child Photographer Charity Guild) I have heard of many children who have died from cancer. These kids fighting to live are true heroes. I hope to hear that they have found the cure for cancer. Would that not be awesome?!

Sneak Peek for the B family

I, once again, have so many good shots that it was hard to not edit all of them right now. I must save some as a surprise for that slideshow though! Don't worry, many will probably show up on my website when I get it updated.

When I asked M which pose she wanted on the blog, she chose the waterfall one. So, this is for her!



I do not remember asking the two boys, so I picked two of my favorites of them.



But I think Dad is looking forward to seeing this image the most. I love it as well. I think it needs an official name, don't you?




In case you missed it, be sure to check out these 3 kids just a couple of post down.