Seriously…photo sessions at home are the BEST! No one has to go anywhere (well…except for me), you can be a bit more relaxed, you’re in familiar surroundings, and most of all, you have the opportunity to capture favorite play things and treasured spaces for your children to remember years down the road.

We’ve been working together since he was still in his mommy’s tummy. Small world, because shortly after he was born, we discovered (through Facebook, of course) that she went to school with my husband’s late brother. It really makes me happy to get to see them year after year. I feel like part of the family. {Don’t miss little man and his guitar HERE.}

Their mommy and I have been chatting about doing a session like this for quite some time. I am soooooooo excited that she finally gave us the go ahead this year. Her boys were the perfect ages to capture something like this. The memories will be so real to them when they look through this album when they get older. See what this scene looked like from the outside. Also, outtake of puppy dog HERE.

When trying to title this set of images, “Sparkle and Shine” immediately came to mind. I found that to be incredibly ironic because I distinctly remember that this sweet girl’s daddy sang that very song to her during her newborn session. That was more than 4 years ago and since that time, I’ve photographed her brother’s newborn session and many milestones in between. And these children grow more and more beautiful each and every time I see them. How in the world is that possible??? (Don’t miss this one HERE).

We pretty much let the boys guide this session and it was funny how enthusiastically they jumped into each activity. I love that about kiddos this age–they feel emotions very deeply and are very present in every moment. Honestly, I could learn a lot from that ;-). My personal fav image can be found HERE.

I left their home that evening grinning from ear to ear. How could I not? That little cutie’s energy and enthusiasm is wildly contagious. Plus, I’m a sucker for redheads anyway. But just look at how his parents were admiring him in those last couple of images. That boy is LOVED! No doubt about it! Fav family image HERE and then THIS ONE just slays me.

Just a reminder…I’ve got a few openings left for my holiday minis coming up at the end of November. It’s not too late to snag your spot, but in a few weeks, it will be :-(.

No. Literally. When I walked through the door and saw just how much this little guy had gone from baby/toddler and turned into a little boy and I pretty much went crazy. I mean, we have a history together…even before he was actually born, and so you can understand my shock when I realized that his white-blonde hair had turned into more of a sandy blonde hue and his vocabulary had grown exponentially and he is becoming all the things that my own kiddos are becoming…older…grown up…more independent. I get choked up just thinking about it, actually.

Okay. Enough about that. This may have been one of my more memorable sessions with his family, mostly because it was so relaxed and so much about being together at home…as a family. I am WAY impressed with his dad and his “labor of love” he undertook when building that playscape by hand. My heart swells to think about the memories they have created for their son. Well done!!!

And of course, you MUST see my absolute fav from this session HERE.

These girls are SO strikingly beautiful and what little rays of sunshine! Hard to believe this is baby sis just a year ago. Still a little cherub ;-).

Totally off topic, but I am putting the final details together for the 3rd Annual Pinkle Toes Holiday Mini Sessions this week, so look for something soon! As always, these kids-only holiday mini’s + 1 digital file are FREE when you book a full session next year. This the *only* way to score one of these coveted spots, by the way.

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]

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.

When I saw her last “First Day of Preschool” crop up on my calendar, I was heartbroken for so many reasons, one of which being that I had a session scheduled for this morning and I thought I would have to miss this very special day. I don’t know how it happened and believe me, I don’t think I could have planned it if I tried, but my session wrapped up a little bit earlier than expected and bless my husband, he drove our baby girl out to meet me so that I could do our annual Back-to-School photo session to commemorate her very last first day of preschool. She was so patient for me and didn’t give me a hard time when I got all blubbery about it. I love this girl’s incredible sense of style, her level of maturity, and her zest for life. I also love that she doesn’t wear glasses, but when we happened to find these fashion glasses at Target, she decided she had to have some “readin’ peepers,” just like Mommy’s 😉