And finally, here’s another one of our Pinkle’s Pic of the Year 2012 winners! I think it’s really cool that all three families chose to have their sessions on South Congress…so distinctly Austin! I loved the outfits mom coordinated for them…this vintage cowgirl look with a touch of modern. Well done! Of course, I love all the outfits she puts together for all of her sessions ;-). And, you MUST check out the pic that I have deemed most ironic photo I’ve ever taken HERE.

There is so much joy to be had when taking littles to a new place and letting them explore and experience new things. It’s one of those things I never really thought about before I became a parent and now I totally know what it means to see the world “through your children’s eyes.” I am so glad this family was willing to drive out here so early in the morning to do this and to bathe in the light of a stunning sunrise! [Don’t miss these two ADORABLE sibs HERE – one of the most attentive and loving big bros EVER!]

As one of the winners of the 2012 Pinkle’s Pic of the Year, they got to have a photo session in downtown Austin. Who doesn’t love SOCO and all of it’s bright, funky, fun and colorful spots? It was so much fun to hang out and catch up with these guys and I’m anxiously awaiting my turn to get my hands on that little baby cooking up there 😉 Congrats again, my friend!!! [One more don’t-miss-favity-fav shown HERE]

Last year, a good friend of mine had a baby at the very same time my sister was walking down the aisle. I was supposed to have been at the birth, but alas, I was matron-of-honoring for my sis and I owed Lynds something in exchange for these. So, I managed to grab some during a short visit when Jonah was a babe (here and here), but we needed to do more. I didn’t mind so much. He’s pretty darned cute and may be the most photographed baby on the planet ;-). Seriously, though, he has the most perfect, creamy baby skin and those eyes/lashes and that smile? Edible baby ;-).

I feel like I need to do a quick follow up post to my last rambling about death and sadness and sunshine (or lack thereof). I am very happy to report that thanks to some wonderful, wonderful visits from family and dear friends along with ample time to sleep and work, I am feeling cautiously optimistic these last couple of days. Thank you…a million and one thank you’s…to everyone who took the time to send a note or leave a comment or do all of those things that may seem so small, but are actually HUGE to someone who is feeling so lost. Gosh, I have learned so much about myself and about the kind of person I want to be through these events and your actions and your love and your warmth and your understanding and your support. YOU are my sunshine…

P.S. Just read a quote from a good friend Andi who recently suffered a tremendous loss of her own: “I know there is no right thing to say. But I’ve found that there is no wrong thing either when it comes from love.” I think that captures everything just perfectly.

I’m going to be completely honest here and tell you that I didn’t know much about St. Louis before going to conduct the Pinkle Toes lifestyle family photography workshop there this past July. Well, I knew there was an arch and I knew the Cardinals played there and that’s pretty much all. But let me assure you that St. Louis–in spite of the miserable humidity and heat this summer–showed me a fantastic time with an equally fantastic group of people! Upon arriving, I was lucky enough to get to bum around the city with my good friend Heidi  (a talented photographer in the St. Louis area and a past Pinkle Toes workshop attendee; you’ll get to see more of Heidi below, actually!). She even took me to a Cards game (where we also hung out with some other photog pals Stacy and Janie).

The workshop itself (hosted by newborn and family photographer Anne Meintrup of Edwardsville, IL) was jam packed and we literally were at 100% from sun up to well past sun down each day! I’m so proud of the girls for sticking with me and hanging in there for our intensive schedule. Our first photo session demonstration was an in-home lifestyle newborn session with the snuggliest baby boy in the world!!!! It was such a great honor to get to work with this family (of FOUR boys) IN their home because it’s the home mom grew up in!

Later on that day, we headed out to the City Museum of St. Louis for Heidi’s urban family photo session demonstration. Unfortunately, the museum was closed, but it is on my bucket list to go back there…when it’s open…WITH my kiddos because there is NO place like this on earth. Wow! Wow! Wow! What I wouldn’t give to have the chance to take my kiddos up here (there’s even a ferris wheel on top of the roof, too)!!! Lucky for us, however, it offered plenty of super cool spots outside in which we could work (how do you like the perfectly timed taxi photo bomb?):

 And yeah, Heidi is kinda gorgeous, inside and out. Oh, one of my favs is HERE!

And finally, after we were all good and sweaty ;-), we headed over to Forest Park to capture a beautiful expecting couple set against the backdrop of a PERFECT sunset:

Quite a spectacular end to a spectacular day!

For what it’s worth, I did make it to the arch. Twice, actually. Even went so far as to buy the tickets to go up, but I was too chicken. It’s not heights that scare me, but the thought of being crammed into that egg did me in ;-).

At any rate, thank you St. Louis for an amazing few days. Thank you, Anne, for all you did to make this workshop happen. Thank you, Heidi, for giving me such a wonderful St. Louis experience. And thank you to all of the workshop attendees for being such a fun and interactive and can-do group:

• Brooke Boyer Photography – www.brookeboyerphotography.com – St. Louis Metro Area
• Caroline Strong Photography- www.carolinestrongphotography.com – St. Louis, MO
• Jessica Ebeler Photography – www.jessicaebeler.com – St. Louis MO
• Susie Vreeland Photography – http://blog.susievreeland.com – St. Louis, MO

(Will be posting the full list of attendees soon!)

Speaking of things coming up soon: I’m *almost* ready to announce the workshop calendar for 2014. I can tell you this…it’s going to be hectic and it’s going to involve travel to some new and far away places ;-). Intrigued? Make sure you’re on the list to find out everything as soon as it’s announced!

Since I first met Bev three years ago (and under the most stressful of circumstances), her world has changed just a little bit…and I would say for the better. I am so very impressed with how she took charge of her birth experience with this little chunky monkey and fought for what she knew she could do and searched and searched to find a doctor who believed in her just as much as she believed in herself. I hope she will get around to sharing her story someday online because it is truly inspirational and I am just in awe of what she did. Even during baby E’s newborn session, she kept exclaiming, “I can’t believe this baby came out of me!!!” I agree. I can’t believe it either. She is soooooo petite and he is sooooo…well, er…well nourished. He has the best personality already and truly captivates everyone who dares to lock eyes with him.  It was something else to watch how his big brother took such care of him. (Speaking of big brother: wow, he’s changed a tad since I saw him last).  More favs I couldn’t fit in this post HERE, HERE, and HERE. 😉

P.S. I am choosing to blame my clients/friends for my serious Kendra Scott addiction. That’s what I tell my husband, anyway.

I’ve been lucky enough to work with this family for several years now, and walking through their halls is very much a walk down memory lane of my time with them. One of the best things about getting to see a family year after year is keeping up to date with the kiddos’ latest and greatest obsessions. This year, it was a sword and “Slithers.” Slithers is her pet rubber snake and the way she cares for her is absolutely priceless. She has built an entire palace for Slithers, complete with a wardrobe of evening gowns, a full kitchen, a car, and a bathroom…with a toilet. Slithers is the most spoiled rubber snake I have ever met. 😉

While I was getting my hair done the other day, my hairdresser and good friend Katie mentioned the new “tinsel” in my hair. It took me a minute to figure out what she was talking about, but then I giggled and smiled and told her, “You know, I’m grateful for that tinsel. It means I am lucky enough to be getting older.”

A year ago today, I turned 34. I honestly wasn’t that excited about it. I mean, we all know that once you get past a certain age, each birthday becomes like this dreaded countdown to the next “oh, man, I’m getting so ooooooold” milestone. But in one short year, I learned some pretty invaluable lessons, the biggest of which is that each birthday I get to celebrate, each year I get to spend with my family, each new strand of tinsel in my hair is a gift. I am grateful for those gifts. And I will never ever complain again about privilege of getting older.

(A million Thank You’s to two of my most wonderful friends how drove in to spend this birthday with me 😉 – Minnette and Leah. This time together meant more than you might ever, ever know. Love you girls!)

This is baby B and he’d like you to know a little bit more about him:

Favorite color: It’s a toss up between orange and blue.

Favorite food: Mama’s milk

Favorite place to sleep: in someone’s arms

Favorite time to sleep: only as long as no one else is asleep

Favorite thing to do after a long, hard day of being cute: lounge in his favorite orange chair

Favorite big sister: this one, of course!

Favorite photographer: his mommy (but Pinkle Toes is pretty cool, too 😉

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On the topic of favorites, here are some of my other favorite images HERE, HERE, and just added today…HERE.