What a beautiful session this evolved into...such a precious and natural couple...wonderful golden light...ok, a few fire ants, the ornery little buggers...genuine loving connections between a husband and wife...and soon-to-be daddy and mama.

I love women who exude confidence in their changing bodies and bellies, and embrace it and love it and take joy in it.  Despite the discomfort of the moment, they know that their bodies are being used for a purpose greater than their own and for a creation that will never be matched.  Someone unique and special and like no one else on this Earth.  And I can't wait to meet her... :)

I. Cannot. Get. Enough. Of. This. BOY!

I think I have an admitted addiction now...and I'm OK with it.  His cheesy little smile...his chubby little hands and feet...his COMPLETELY laid back-ness...and his mama and daddy.  EEK!  What a special family and amazing session!

And special thanks to Jennifer from Jennifer Gauer Photography!  I have had such a wonderful experience getting to know her and mentor her...and as we come to the end of our mentoring and partnering time together, I know that we will still be long time friends and colleagues!  She and her work are so special, and I wish her all the best of God's blessings for a wonderfully successful business!

PS - To mom and dad... If all of your future babies are as absolutely perfect as THIS little man... Jennifer and I think you should have 100!  Haha!

I love love love playing and shooting these 2 little rowdy, rambunctious and full of life little boys!  There are siblings that play well together...and then there are siblings who LOVE to play well together.  That's Henry and Warren... Total opposites, but completely perfect brothers and compadres in every single way. 

I can't wait to watch them grow...

I just simply love everything about this little girl...her absolutely original expressions...her crinkle nose...her strong personality...oh, AND the family she comes with!

Life without the Rogers family would be too boring and calm, for me at least.  Cause rowdy and fun is their (and MY) middle names.  And I wouldn't have it any other way!

Happy Birthday Lila!  Your family is blessed to have you, and I am blessed to hug and squeeze and love all over you! MUAH!

OK - so THIS little boy isn't for sale...but lordy...if he were...I'd SNATCH. HIM. UP!

What a hambino he is for the camera too (added plus)!  Total little poser (icing on the birthday cake)!  And complete cupcake connoisseur (yep, we must be related)! ;) 

AND, I am in NO way biased either...even if his mama WAS one of my first honorary Mamarazzis.  Nope.  Not biased.  At all.  Pinky promise!  ;)

One of my favorite places on Earth...with one of my favorite families...which I've just happend to know since the birth of the Earth I think...;)

And after Abigail had a few snacks, suffered through a few bribes and silly songs, sniffed (and ate) a few flowers...she performed like a pro!  What expressions this girl has!  From solemn and quiet to sly and mischevious to twinklie eyed and happy!

*And don't tell them, but I think her parents are in for it, she's secretly a little firecracker, like my AJ!*  What a precious and beautiful family!

If 'charming' is the result of DNA...this family has it covered.  These are 3 of the kindest most charming people, and it was a completely awesome honor to work and play with them...

But I DO have to say, that as wonderful as mom and dad were and are, Mr K, the ladybug hunter, stole the session!  SUCH a handsome, wickedly smart, witty and polite young man.  Everything I asked, he did.  And everything HE asked I did.  Including...taking his picture... REPEATEDLY...  How could I say no to those chocolate eyes!? :)

Is it possible for a little boy to be this stinkin cute and charming at the age of 4?!  If you doubt that question, then you haven't met Gavin.

Dude...I don't have little boys at my house, but if I did, I'd request to clone this one!  He was So. Much. Fun.  From the top of his fuzzy head and big eyes...to the middle of his Superman sportin' shirt...to the bottom of his awesome light up shoes.  All little boy.  All awesome.  All the time.  Happy birthday little man!

OK - I don't normally post previews on a Friday...you know...cause I'm like all crazy about having a schedule...BUT this AH-DOR-AH-BLE little red head is too stinkin precious to postpone!

SO full of personality, a total ham for the camera, digs puff snacks...hates cupcakes.  *Note to self...try to invent a "Puff Cake"*  ;)

Joy.  Webster defines it as... absolute delight, the state of happiness or bliss.

Melba Colgrove says, Joy is...  The feeling of grinning inside.

William Shakespeare believed that... Joy delights in joy.

A Chinese Proverb conveys that... One joy can shatter a hundred griefs.

And though some think that Joy is dependant upon the state of your life and the circumstances that surround you...

I believe as Tolstoy did.  "Joy can be real only if people look upon their life as a service, and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness."

My greatest joy in life is being a parent to my children.  Being a servant mom to these girls.  Being a comforter, listener, discipliner and cheer leader.  Being the best mom I can be.  These 2 little lives outside of my own. 

Six years ago, joy was born.  Her name is Emma.  She is the light in my world and the song in my heart.  She makes my days bright and bearable when I think I can't go on or when I feel unsuccessful.  She knows how to make me laugh and cry and be uninhibited.  She is the outward expression of my inward joy.

Emma, I love you more than my own life.  I would give everything in this life to see you happy, successful, cared-for and self-confident.  But most of all I would give even my OWN life to make sure you fully comprehend how great is the love that God has for you.  That you know that you are His child above mine, that you grasp that He loves you more than I can comprehend, and that you understand that He longs to hold you in Heaven with Him one day.  This is my goal and purpose for you, my Emma Claire.  That you know Him.  That you love Him.  That you call Him your Lord and Savior.  That you experience His joy; for eternity.  My love and MY joy, my Emma Claire.

This. Family. Rocks. Fa'real!

Yes, they are awesome to work with...a joy to call my clients and friends...have beUUUtiful babies...and treat having 4 kiddos under the age of 7 as nothing short of a blessing and miracle...and do it with the greatest of patience and ease...  YA'LL! THEY GOT TO THEIR SESSION EARLY!  WITH 4 KIDS!  READY!  AND PRIMPED!  AND LOOKIN' ALL BEAUTIFUL!

And the Academy Award for Best & Most Prompt Family of 6 goes to.... The Dycus Fam!  *As if it would be anyone else!*  :)

I only take about 3 extended family sessions in 1 year just because of coordination and timing...and they always have to be super special...and this family fit all the prereqs!   

Fun, beautiful, total sense of humor and UBER cooperative; I LOVE working with big families like this!  This session = As smooth as buttah! :)

OK...So this session was MOSTLY about Trey...the awesomely charming young man with the best little dimple and all-boy twinkle in his eyes.  The little boy who drained ALL my Pez dispensers before the end of the session.  The little boy who would say in a really soft kind voice.."When I smile, can I have some more candy?"  *And how could I refuse!?*  The little boy who toughed out the oh too soon Texas heat and gave me the best smiles and charm and squeezable hug at the end.  The little boy who wiggled his way into the heart of me and my camera. 

But I couldn't get away from the session without a few with his wonderful and beautiful mama.  What a wonderful glimpse into the relationship between mom and son...  My heart melts at this first image... :)

And can I tell you how he cracks me up!  This was about the last image snapped.  I think he was done!  HAHA! :)

I SO love it when moms bring something special to sessions, and THIS one just happened to be a little pair of Superman britches!  And OH MY! Is he not the most adorable baby Superman evah!?

What a wonderful and easy-going little man...which for mama and daddy (and me I might add)...make him even MORE super.  Happy birthday, Dillon!  Keep using your baby powers for good! :)

So THIS girl is gold.  Fa'real.  Sweet and kind and beautiful...and, ok, ok... Aaron's alright tooooo...;)  BUT, in the Perkins world, Kerri's gold. 

By day, she is the best teacher, discipline-er, care-taker...and now potty trainer to my ornery and awesome little AJ.  We LOVE Ms Kewwi... So what an honor it was to celebrate her newlywed journey!  And even if it IS a little post-wedding....they are still very much in love...and oh, how it shows...  Bliss! :) 

I am SO excited to announce the Tin Star 1 Year "Oh Baby!" plan!  And MORE excited that this precious little 3 month old was my rookie star... Is she not GAWgeous!?

OK - and just a couple of side notes... You wouldn't be able to tell by the grins on her face now, but she had a bit of a rough newborn session...lots of colic and tears and restlessness...but the 2nd time is the charm. Obviously!

Also, the little bed is a side table that my great-grandaddy built, and I broke it, and my heart broke, and it sat in my garage for a bazillion years, cause I couldn't get rid of it...and then I had an epiphany!  I flipped it (literally), put feet on it, painted it...and VOILA!  A baby bed!  And accompanied with my grandmother's baby quilt...this little girl was in total REAL vintage perfection.  :)

So mom worries about this one.  Since birth.  She wants her to show off her awesome personality.  Cause she has one.  She's sweet, with hysterically funny expressions...BUT...as is evident from the first image...she could make even the phone book look like a prize winning novel.  No smiles needed. ;)

*AND...It wouldn't have been as wonderful a day if my new friend and beautiful mentoree Jennifer hadn't been there!  I have learned as much from her as maybe she's learned from me...and a friendship has been born. Thank you for your help and encouragement and wonderful spirit! And check out her Facebook page, and send her some love:  Jennifer Gauer Photography*

OK, I could name about a bazillion girls who would kill for curls like this...and I'm totally one of them.  Not ashamed.  :)  And not to mention a smile and a set of cheeks and sparkly eyes that would melt the heart of the meanest of the mean...  She make my heart smile out loud!

This little man is the sweetest and most easy going baby, and OMG I could squeeze him through the screen right now even!  So full of smiles and expression and joy, and the perfect example of everything a little 7mo should be!  What a wonderful way to start off my little model sessions... :)