Blessed beyond measure.

I have had the privilege of having Laura as a best friend for, oh, about 25 years! I really can't remember when we met, of course it was when we were little kids... but it just seems like I've known her since birth! I can't remember NOT knowing her. We have had SO much fun through the years. Our birthdays are on the same day, one year apart. So we had lots of birthday parties together. We've kept in touch no matter where life has taken us... my moving all over the country, our weddings, the birth of four (soon-to-be five!) babies, and everything that comes afterwards. We're really "kindred spirits", as Anne of Green Gables would say. :) I can remember hanging out in her bedroom drinking Coke from a glass bottle, calling up the local radio station to request our favorite New Kids On The Block hits (LOL!), dancing, teasing our bangs, and modeling for the camera like we were ready for the cover of Teen magazine. (Yep, I have a few early photos that I found at my Mom's house... my "budding photography career" at age 14! Remind me NEVER to share those embarrassing shots with you, by the way.) ;) Whew, the flashbacks! And the big hair!!

We still joke about all those summers we spent together... especially the bean patch. ;) Since she had a pool and we didn't, we'd get calls during late summer like this one... "Hi Stacey, do you and your sisters wanna come over and swim tomorrow? Good! Well, we gotta pick beans first....." :/ That stinker. She just wanted six extra hands to help her in the string bean patch!!! And I'm afraid we weren't very much help either.... bean-pickin' just wasn't my thing. Good thing there was a hammock about 10 feet from the edge of the garden.

Anyway, when I was in KY a few weeks ago, I got the chance to hang out with her family and photograph them again. All five of them this time, not just her three beautiful daughters! Take a look..... sort of a "day in the life." Without the bean patch. :)

Playin' on the bed.... what better way to spend the day?!

I loooove this one.......

Couldn't resist this one in her crib. She was a HOOT!

Then we headed out in the SNOW!

*sigh* They're growing up so fast on me. I remember when they were born, when they were babies, and when they were toddling around. Now it's swim meets (gold and silver medals for these girls, by the way!) and preteen stuff. I don't wanna even know about the boys. Don't even tell me!!

Yep, COLOR from me. I couldn't resist, what with all their gorgeous "bundled-up-ness" and all...

And what better way to warm up... than with a nice warm BUBBLE BATH?!

"Mommyyyyyy!!!" ;) The littlest one needed a towel every time bubbles got on her chin.... which was every 5 seconds, LOL!

This last one just tugs on my heart.... what sweet bliss.

I'm so proud of and happy for you, Laura, my sweet friend. Your life has been blessed so richly. I love you to pieces, and I hope you enjoy my little peek into your life... your fun, crazy-happy, laughter-filled morning with your family. XOXOXOX

Love, Stace

Loved.

Baby Aubrie is likely one of the most adored babies around. And what a good little girl she was for me!! I got so many good shots of her sleeping soundly that day....

Wonder what she was dreaming about? :)

And I couldn't resist a few sweet detail shots. Oh, it's these tiny details that I adore so much!!!

Okay, last but not least... this has become my latest FAVORITE image.... remember sweet Brynne? She's Aubrie's big sister!! And what a fabulous sister she is. Brynne was my assistant this particular day, and my heart just melted every time she would touch her sister sweetly and whisper, "I love you, Aubrie!!!"

If Mom and Dad don't order a big canvas of this, then I will. Ha ha!

Shhh, I have a Crush...

I have a confession: I have a serious crush on this man. I can't get him off my mind. I think about him all throughout the day, and find myself daydreaming (yes, instead of proofing sessions, shhh!) about when I'll see him next. My Crush gives me butterflies in my stomach whenever he looks at me, and everytime he calls me "Sugah" or "Stacey Jo". I swoon over his deep Southern drawl, and the way his lip curls up when he's about to crack a joke that he knows will get to me. My Crush is the smartest man I've ever met; he just amazes me sometimes. He works so hard at his job, even with times as tough as they are in his industry. He's unbelievable. My Crush is extremely generous, compassionate, and a loyal, true friend. He lives every day to the fullest, and never, ever gives up on something he wants. He's an amazing father, the absolute best I've ever seen.... and his son adores him with every breath. He's my tall, dark and handsome Prince Charming. He's energetic, sweet, and completely hilarious. My Crush makes me laugh out loud even when I'm in a rotten mood, and he's so patient with me and our life, even when it gets hectic and all out of sorts, my Crush is there to put things in perspective and get things back on the right track again. Some days I need to pinch myself to see if this is really real... our wonderful, crazy, sweet life together.

I'm just so glad I snatched this man up almost 10 years ago!! ;) Happy Birthday to my Husband, my Crush, my Sweetheart. Chris honey, you just keep getting better and better. And I LOVE YOU to pieces.

XOXO,
Your Not-So-Secret Admirer

(Just a snapshot, since he's quite camera shy.) Imagine that, being camera shy in this house?! ;)

And I'm coming back to add a photo of our little birthday celebration..... Sweet Parker made this cake all by himself (well, with just a *tiny* bit of my help, but not much) and helped me frost it, and put ALL of the sprinkles on by himself, AND stuck in every single candle he could find! I think we offended Chris by having so many!!! LOL! ;) But just look at Parker's proud face as his Daddy gets ready to blow out the candles on his extra-special cake. It was worth every single crumb and eggshell I had to clean up, to see my two boys together like this. :)

Constant. Craving.

Thank goodness I get to go back to Kookie Krums tomorrow!! Ever since I met Janet and tasted her yummy treats, I have been jonesing for more of her chocolate chip cookies! I would blame my cravings on the pregnancy hormones, but sadly I had this problem long before I got pregnant!! Stacey + Sweets = Love. And a few extra pounds. ;)

Okay, that's all I could photograph before I scarfed them down. LOL!

You've GOT to stop by her boutique! Gourmet coffee, homemade cookies, cookie bouquets (what perfect gifts!), stationery, photo albums and frames, gifts, seasonal fun stuff.... you name it. She's located on Main Street in Dunedin, and her shop is fabulous!

Stay tuned for more images from Janet's boutique... because we have a fun new project lined up together!! Keep watchin' the blog!

Did I say Brrr already?!

I meant, "Brrrrrrrrrrr!!!" This is the most snow, and the chilliest weather, that I've seen in over ten years!! Yes, I'm a spoiled Floridian now. Suffice to say, my blood has thinned considerably since moving away from Kentucky.....

Check out that cold little nose! :(

Parker LOVED the snow, by the way!!

Excuse the quick snap here... my camera and I were pelted with snow a half-second later! ;)

And if THOSE images don't make you shiver in your flip-flops, check these out....

This is what we woke up to the second day. I photographed these in the hayfield across from my parents' home. In three layers of clothing. LOL!

Imagine my delight when our plane touched down in Florida and we stepped out into 74 degree weather. Ahhhh, feels like summer! :)

Brr...

Just letting y'all know that I'm out of the office.... from Tuesday 3/4 until Tuesday 3/11. (I'll be checking voicemail and email periodically during this time.) I'm in Kentucky visiting, photographing and actually.... RESTING. Can you believe that?! I've gone three straight nights with more than 4 hours sleep. Which is no small feat for a pregnant woman, no matter where she is. ha! But I'm having a great time. Parker is in hog heaven, playing with four of his cousins and their dogs. :)

Now, I hear that we're in for a snowstorm... they're calling for up to 5 inches by tomorrow. Good grief! What is this thin-blooded Florida girl gonna do?! Um, drag the kids out in it and take pictures, what else? :) To be honest, Parker has NEVER seen snow... besides the bit of accumulation on the sides of I-77 over Christmas vacation. But not enough to actually get out and walk in it... and touch it with his fingers. He's never made a snowman, never made a snowball or a snowangel. (Sandangels, yes!) So we're actually quite excited about the weather! As long as it clears up in time for us to fly home Tuesday, that is. ;)

I've already had a blast with my camera (and so has my sister) while I've been here. Keep your eye out for some maternity pics soon. ;)

Stay warm!!
Stacey

The Village.

I have to tell you about this wonderful place I visited this morning... Yoga Village in Clearwater. Oh my goodness. I took Prenatal Yoga classes with Linda Wilkerson when I was expecting Parker, and it really made me feel calm, reduced my stress, helped me prepare my body for labor and delivery, and just made me feel like I had really done something GOOD for myself, since here I was "donating" my entire body to this growing child already anyhow. ;) Well, I finally signed up for Linda's Prenatal Yoga class with this pregnancy, and I am kicking myself for not having started sooner. What took me so long?!

The class was a relaxing 90 minutes, which was filled with warm conversation and get-to-know-you's at the beginning, while everyone (who really seemed to be a family) updated each other on how their pregnancies were progressing, how they were feeling, what they were afraid of. The practice itself was relaxing and energizing at the same time, and, as always, Linda has a way of making me (and I'm sure everyone else in that room) feel confident that YES, my body really does know how to handle this pregnancy and birthing business; what am I so worried about?! Let. Go.

The Village also offers other classes...... Mommy and me, Storytime + Yoga with kids 3 and under (I'm totally taking Parker to this one!), Children, Teens, Babies, several different classes for Adults, Seniors and even those needing special assistance. I wholeheartedly recommend the Prenatal Session, which is offered on Tuesday mornings from 9:30-11am, and Thursday evenings from 7-8:30pm. Make sure you check out Linda's studio online here, or drop by for a class. She's located on 580 and McMullen Booth in Clearwater. Your first class is even FREE!

*While you're there, you can browse through an album of MY photographs that Linda is displaying out front! (And for those moms and soon-to-be-moms that I had the pleasure of meeting this morning.... when you call to book a session with me, mention this blog post!) ;)

Honestly, I can't wait to go back for my next yoga class! Hmm, maybe I'll try to take in the Thursday evening class as well. :)

Tub Time.

I have to post this shot from the other day.... just 'cause I love it so much. :) And I love the light that comes in from that bathroom window. Ahhh.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Fly on my wall.

And these are just from today.....

-I was putting Parker down for his nap this afternoon, tucking the sheet up around him and leaning down for a kiss...
P: "Mah-muh? Will you lay with me, an' snuggle me, an' scrrratch my baack in shapes??" (We can't just scratch, we must scratch in circles or triangles or hexagons, or whatever random picture he thinks up...)
Me: "Yes, baby, but only for a minute then you have to go to sleep, okay?"
P: "K." (and I begin scratching circles and triangles and what-have-you.) "Mah-muh, will you drawl a hula guurl?"
Me: "What? A hula girl?!" (but I do it... with my fingertip I trace arms and legs and the grass skirt and everything.)
P: "Hey, don't forget her brawl!" (LOL!! A bra?!)

-After I finish scratching the hula girl (complete with bra) and then the pirate (with peg-leg by special request), I flatten my hand and just rub his back for a few seconds. He stops me and says, "Hey, dat wasn't on my list!!" Good grief!

-Listening to the baby with my monitor/headphones getup this evening....
Me: "Shh, now if you'll be real quiet we might be able to hear her movin' around."
P: "I can't hear nuffin!"
Me: "Well, maybe if we call her name she'll answer us?"
P: (speaking INTO his headphones now) "Ava? Aaaava Caaarrroliiiine! Are you deyr??" (moving the headphone back to his ear to listen, then back to his mouth, etc.) "What? What did you say? You said you wanna come outta Mah-muh's belly? Mah-muh, she wants out! Way'll, you can't come out yet!!!!"

Now you really want to know where my son got his sweet Southern accent? It's not completely from me, since my hillbilly accent has melted and changed over the years (and ahem, over our nomadic moving all over the East Coast). CHRIS's accent, on the other hand, is still extremely strong. That man is North Carolina through and through!

-Walking down the hallway while Chris was on Parker's bed reading his bedtime story to him....
Chris: "Mama Bear an' Papa Bear an' Baby Bear went for a walk yonda' in the woods, while their oatmeal cooled down." (giggle) "......well, since Goldilocks didn't eat a very good breakfast, she was miiiighty tard, so she went upstairs to find herself a bed to lay down in."
Me (from across the hall): "Goldilocks was WHAT?!?!"
P: "She was TARD, Mah-muh!!!"
Chris: "Somebody's been sittin' in my cheer." (Now, Chris got this one honest from his Daddy. Papa Donnie still invites me to come sit down 'right-chere' in this 'cheer'. ;) And I simply grin and sit down. Right-chere.

Ahh, I love my sweet life. :) There is just so much to laugh about!!

I hope you're all having a great weekend!

*eta: had to come back and add this image..... what's a post on a photographer's blog, without a photo?? :)

"It's an honor."

Those were her words. We were shooting her maternity session, and talking about the miracle of carrying a life inside your body... And she said, "It's an honor." She's right. You know, those words have stuck with me ever since her session. And I think about them every day. Whenever my morning (ahem, all-day) sickness kicks in, I remember Amy's phrase and it helps me deal with it. She doesn't know this of course (well, until now!) but I just wanted to give you a little idea about the sweet spirit of the woman I just photographed. :)

Meet Amy. Soon-to-be mother of four. Beautiful, funny, cheerful, and warm. Loved. And blessed. Take a look at a few images from our session..... Hope you like them, Amy! xo