sunflowers at the end of september

 ^^"Madeline, smell the flowers."^^

 ^^Just to show you what a dork I am, how cool is it to see complimentary

 colors growing right next to each other in nature!?

 Even if one is a weed....^^

I often find myself missing the countryside and this drive out of the city to do some exploring with the three people I love most was really good for my soul.

And although the flowers were indeed a bit droopy, their color was sure radiant and we've vowed we'll be coming back next year.

9 months old

^^A big thanks to Dad for helping out ;) ^^

 

^^He adore's his sister :) ^^

This handsome fella is 9 months old today.  He's just the sweetest guy. You can't resist smiling when he comes bounding around the corner and greets you with a wave. He's into everything. Knows how to open kitchen cabinets and drawers, loves destroying his sister's block towers and eating her crayons, but he's just so sweet you can't ever be mad. He's also proving to be taking after his mother in the climbing department (although he didn't beat my record of walking before nine months ;) ). We find him perched on the arms of the couches, climbing out of his high chair (the straps are too small for him! Didn't have that problem with Madeline...), scaling the rocking chair and getting himself onto Madeline's bed. He carries the block you see pictured almost everywhere he goes, even to bed. He crawls with it and it sounds like he has a peg leg/arm(?). His big blue eyes get comments everywhere we go, he's still the biggest flirt and he often out eats Madeline and I. He can eat a whole banana in about a minute. Not cut up or anything. Those six teeth of his know how to chomp! Looking forward to hearing how much he weighs at his doctor's appointment next week :) Luke bud we love you!!!!!!!!

baby Claire

Today I had the privilege of taking some newborn hospital pictures for some great friends. What a treat it was to spend a little time documenting these precious moments of a brand new family of three.  Kierstin was absolutely glowing with that new mother glow and Caleb couldn't stop beaming at his perfect baby girl. I'm just so happy for them to have baby Claire safely here. 

It was my first time doing this kind of photo shoot but I really really loved it. The light in a hospital room is so bright and soft, and it felt magical. (Which is ironic because thinking back to the day after Luke was born I felt anything but magical ;) Fun to be the one not in bed for a change). What a beautiful gift life is. I'm grateful for the chance to freeze bits of peoples lives and preserve moments like these. I'm hoping I'll have more opportunities to do shoots like this.

Congrats to the Goodrich family!