{ The Sneak Peek is Over... }

The Ballard Family Final Images are here!
Thanks mom, dad and Miss K for a great session...and because I have to have an image with every post...no matter how small the post...here's the perfect representation of this sweet family!

{ Fast and Furious... }

Second session of the weekend, and fast and furious doesn't even begin to describe this session because I have never experienced mosquitos like we did this evening! Holey Moley! Thankfully Paige saved the day and found her anti-venom in the car...:)

Other than that the session was superb, AND I got my second dose this weekend of an almost 2 year old who was more than happy to tell me "No"...good thing I'm a push over for big baby blues ~ just like yesterday's session (below) I take one look at this cutie through my lens, and "No" doesn't even matter! What a beautiful family ~ Blessings, D

{ Curley K }

Well, this day couldn't BE more fabulous cause I LOVE this part of what I do...remind me WHY I don't do this full-time yet???

I met the beautiful Ballard Family at my all-time favorite place to shoot...The Dallas Arboretum...for my all-time favorite time of the year...Autumn! And we were blessed with awesome pumpkins, WONDERFUL weather and the cutest curley top little girl with more expressions than I have seen on one face in a long time! And to top it all off...this is the first day in 5 days that my ankles aren't swollen ~ Can this day GET any better?! :)
To the Ballards...I hope you aren't too pooped to enjoy the preview...and the last picture is just for Dad ~ Can't you just SEE those little wheels turning in her head! :)

{ Series in a White Dress }

A long time ago, somewhere on this blog, I did a little series of Emma on a Stone Bench...After I found these from our vacation, I thought it was about time for another in the series; they grow so fast, don't they? Ahhhh, how I wish I lived on the beach...but oh how thankful I am for these moments I've been given...What are you thankful for? :)

{ All good things... }

...must come to an end...:( We had a wonderful time on our vacation in Nags Head, NC; I'm so sorry it had to end ~ but here are just a few glimpses of the wonderful time we had...I will treasure it always and look forward to next year at our little spot at the beach...ahhhhhh

AND...I'm not so presumptuous as to think that any professional photogs necessarily read my blog...but if you do, and you'd like another family to snap...I'm looking for a lifestyle-type photographer who would be willing to snap our family pics ~ it's been way too long since the 3 of us were in a pic TOGETHER! PLEASE email me if you're interested or can recommend someone...PLEEEEEASE...:)

Our wonderful newly discovered lighthouse in Manteo, NC - Home of Andy Griffith :)


Same light house as the post below...but this year we snapped it in the sunshine!


My funny E preparing for disaster on the Hatteras Ferry...:)


Can I have a view like this when I die? Although, I think Heaven will be better than I can imagine...


I think I'm raising a ham...:) At the beautiful Elizabethan Gardens...


My 2 very favorite kiddos in the whole wide universe...



I NEVER post pictures of myself, just too picky I guess, but J did such a fantastic thing by taking this maternity pic of me...I think I'll hire him full time...:)


A very rare moment snapped by the awesome J...since most of the time I'm on the OTHER side of the camera...

{ We're Outta Here! }

...for a much needed vacation! Outer Banks, NC...get ready, cause The Perkins are coming...and Emma's coming with us! :)

{ Japanese Peace Chains ~ 9/11 Memorial, NY, NY }

{ Finally... }

The Rayburn~McKenzie Wedding is finally complete! Click to view more of their gallery...YEA! Just one more session to edit and then North Carolina...here we come...:)

{ Labor Day with a Ryder }

Baby Ryder at 3 weeks...and a premie at that...had a bit of a rough tummy day today, but you would never be able to tell it from the images! I know we didn't get near as many shots as everyone so desperately wanted, but I hope mom and dad are reassured with the few I posted for their preview. It's funny, I say it all the time, but Newborn Sessions are SO very different than any other session I do - longer, more tiring, more fun and ALWAYS about the baby. They are in control of the parents, the photographer, the time and what we do and don't get to do at their session. I sure hope I get to see this little one again, cause I've got a lot more images in store for him...:)

PS ~ I also don't normally post almost everything in black and white...but the feeling of B/W matches the feeling of the images so well...it just commanded that I do it! :)

{ It's a... }

You know, there are many things that run through your mind in those moments that lead up to the birth of your child...one of the most life changing moments is the power of technology! Oh I know, I know, some people choose not to find out...or if you're like my mom's generation, didn't have the opportunity...and some would like to actually pre-determine the gender if they could, I think...but J and I have always been of the thought that we didn't care one way or another what is was, and we won't keep 'trying' for another just because we want something different! If God saw it in His plan to give us this child, who are we to determine the outcome or gender for that matter...but it sure is fun to be in that sonogram room and wait for the words "OK kids, you want to know?"

I'm a 'planner'...so it is in my makeup to want my so-called ducks in a row...and finding out the gender sure does help me decide; Do I need to have another Pre-Baby Garage Sale? Should I go ahead and take out another 'wedding loan'? Should I plan for sky-rocketing car insurance? These are the kinds of things that keep me up at night...along with indigestion!

We've waited and prayed for this child for so long and have been through so many tests and medications that the whole pregnancy thing has been a little surreal...until yesterday. Miss Emma accompanied us to our appointment so she can feel like she has SOME control and participation in the soon-to-be chaos, and even though she lost interest almost immediately after finding out...and thought ALL of the women in the waiting room were there to get their hair cut (too funny!)...I'm so happy to announce that Miss Emma will have a BABY SISTER to call her own!

SO, in the parting words of Mis Em (because she came, she found out, she was done)..."OK dad, It's a girl...Let's get outta' here!" :)