And the winner is...

 

Thank you to everyone who participated in our raffle this month, by donating or sharing with friends! Every little bit brings Cat closer to reaching her goal - a chance at a life saving surgery and getting to live her life more fully.

Please continue to follow her journey on Facebook. Share it with everyone so she can reach her goal, and stop by to offer some encouragement. She has been in the hospital for a month now, away from her daughter and friends, on a visit that was only supposed to last a few days. As a mother, I can only imagine the pain of being away from my baby a whole month. So let's send some love her way!

Now, on to the excitement!

We have three prizes up for grabs:

One grand prize: One Portrait Session including Complete Digital Collection - a $650 value! (Session must take place in the greater Seattle, Portland, or Corvallis areas.  Session must be completed by August 13th, 2012.)

Two secondary prizes: A collection of 5x7 greeting cards with original prints that may be framed after use.

Without further ado, our randomly chosen winners:

Grand prize: Keisha Reis

Secondary prizes:  Brie Chelton and Chrysoula Tsavelas

To everyone who participated, a heartfelt THANK YOU.  I was so nervous picking the numbers tonight and made my husband do it since I truly wish I could issue a prize to each and every person.  Congrats again to the winners - I'll be in touch!

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Rainbow!

We had the most beautiful rainbow right at sunset tonight.  While I often complain about missing the heat and thunderstorms of the other places I have lived, I really love that in the spring in Seattle I get to see a rainbow usually every few weeks!  Tonight was the first time I have seen one during a sunset and it was beautiful!



I sat and watched the clouds meander on by til the sun set and the rainbow faded from view. What a great show!



A wonderful way to end a Monday - and if you are feeling particularly lucky (perhaps someone found the pot of gold?) do take a moment to enter the raffle I'm currently holding! Check it out here!

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Sweet peek - Isla

So excited to share this sneak peek with you!  So excited, in fact that I just had to add in a few extra images because this new family is just so flippin cute.



If you have ever welcomed a new baby into your family, you'll remember this feeling so well.  Just staring down at that little one, enamored with every feature, wondering how it could be possible that just a few days earlier you had never even met.



And this moment... newborns are so impossibly small and perfect.


Thank you, Jennifer and Jonathan! It was such a privilege to visit during these most precious newborn days, so that you can remember them forever.

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The reward

They say that your second baby's labor is the reward for the first.  Let me just say how true that was for my dear friend, MJ.  Most of her labor was all about this little dude, right here. MJ refused to have the baby until he was asleep in bed. :O)

 

 

MJ was absolutely radiant in labor. You would not believe her baby was born just two hours after this!

This image is everything I love about home births - laboring in a quiet, comfortable, dark space in the company of those you love.

After her little man finally fell asleep, this mama wasted no time at all! Hopped in the tub, kicked into gear, set her mind to it, and pushed that baby right out.

I think no matter how many times you do it, the moment when you meet your child just never gets old.

Hello, baby!

Enjoying the new view.

Welcome, Silvia Elise! It was an honor to be there for your first few moments.

**Watch the full slideshow below, or click here for the full screen version!**

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The Ice Storm

I never saw a wild thing 
sorry for itself. 
A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough 
without ever having felt sorry for itself.

David Herbert Lawrence.

 

The ice storm was beautiful and terrible. It crippled our trees and set our region at a stand still- cold, immobile, and in awe at the kind of natural acts we so rarely see here.

All night we listened helplessly to the crash of trees as the weight of the ice snapped them in half and ripped them apart, branch by branch.  The scene the next morning was unbelievable. Our hearts ached for the trees, in disbelief that nature would do this to her own. 

The roads still look like this, lined with destruction no one will ever finish clearing. I wonder how long it will be before we no longer notice it there, no longer notice the roads lined with scattered pieces of trees, and forget how the proudest once stood, whole and flourishing.

The destruction is in every direction - undeniable and overwhelming.  And yet, it's not the way of nature to linger on it as we do. There's no pity in storms, no sorrow in the destruction they leave. Leaves will bud out this spring, proud and unaware of the winter's cruelty. Trees will not ache for their lost limbs or fallen neighbors. Those that do not make it become part of the earth again and nourish the saplings that will replace them.

The ones that survive will continue to stand strong, no matter the weather, and stretch their branches towards the sky.

 

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Tidbit #9

Editing a most beautiful, rewarding (pitch dark) birth tonight. The genuine strength, energy, and love at a birth are amazing to witness.  Births are truly my favorite thing to photograph.

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Reflecting

One thing I love about photography is that it may be cold outside and ready to snow, but I can lose myself in an image and just like that, it's summer again. For a moment, Bella is newly three, the sun is bright, laughter is everywhere, and the air smells of grass and dandelions.



And then, back to my hot chocolate and dark cozy windows and I trudge nostalgically through a year of family photos. :O)

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Feeling like fall

Who else has been up to their elbows in pumpkins lately? Perhaps even a few pumpkin lattes?

(Not up to your elbows, of course.)

I hope everyone had a happy Halloween! Well, and a happy October for that matter!

For me, autumn is all about the leaves! We've been having such a wonderfully dry autumn here, and it's the first year that Bella has really gotten to play in the leaves! Last year, Lillia couldn't stand the sound of leaves so piles of them were OUT! This year has been so much better.

It reminds me of being back in New England. We even had frost-coated leaves this morning, and I ran Bella out of the house to show her. Yes, I love fall that much.

These images of Bella playing in the leaves sum it all up for me. Happiness, anticipation, wonder, and freedom. All in one big pile. :O)

I would love to hear how you're celebrating this fall!

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Golden

Boy, do I have a great sneak peek for you tonight!

This was a session thrice rescheduled, and we were so lucky to catch one of the last days of beautiful evening sunlight. My favorites are below - I couldn't help but share a few more than usual!

What a family! Ashwin is the perfect mixture of sweet, goofy, and energetic. He was all over the place exploring the park.

Such a gorgeous evening, and such a delightful time spent with friends! We also did a few head shots during this session for Tara's business, Startup Recroot, so there's more to come!

P.S. My parents moved cross country to join us here and my schedule gets busier every day! I'm working on posts left and right and can't wait to share some of this year's favorite client slideshows with you soon.  :O)

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A bit on hair

I'm not really big on doing hair. Bella didn't need a hair cut until she was two, and I started trimming it mostly to keep it from tangling and hanging in her eyes. After her third birthday I gave her bangs, which I trimmed again this week (but they seem so plain). I think next time I will try to go for this look again, which she had in April. It is the perfect shape.

And don't mind Bella. She was burning up with 103 degree fever this day, but thoroughly enjoying a movie in her new birthday dress.

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April

One I found of Bella from April.  I'm chipping away at our family photos, little by little.

I also have some great sessions to share. Time to get blogging!

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An oldie

An oldie but goodie. Lillia was three days old.

 

Today was a day full of disappointments and toe stubbing and missed naps and all sorts of rain clouds (even real ones that pour rain).  In the end it all worked out, but in the thick of it that's when I need an image like this on every wall of the house. Because they really are that wonderful, and Bella still dotes on Lia as she has from day one. Lia couldn't have picked a better big sister.

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Clown

We went to an outdoor concert long after Lia's bedtime. It took her a whole hour to warm up to the loud noise and crowd, but by the end she was dancing and goofing (and screaming) and had the entire row of grandparents behind us charmed.

And may I just add, there's something special about people casually dancing about in public. I think it doesn't happen nearly enough. :O)

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Sisters

I was ambivalent about having another girl when I was pregnant with Lillia. I did, however, hope that Bella would someday have a sister - there's just something special about sisters.  When Lillia was born and I learned she was a girl, I had an unexpected relief and excitement - an anticipation of moments like this.

Today was a rough day with not enough sleep and too much stress and the three of us clashing hour after hour.  Looking back at the images from today's Week in the Life captures, there are so many beautiful moments and I am so glad to have them forever.

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A quiet moment

 Just one little moment from today, thanks to my husband who came home for lunch. This is how Bella and I like to spend Lia's nap time.

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Scoping

A new location I wandered around last night. It was absolutely gorgeous!

P.S. I'm testing out posting from my phone so I can keep up with August Break!

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More Sisters!

I got a little waylaid by my computer virus, but I'm back on track now, chugging through sessions!

There's nothing better than a session that makes you laugh out loud while editing. This is one of my favorites:



These sisters are so full of happiness. Remember what happened here?  Can't wait to show you more!

P.S. If you missed out on Alexandra's headshots, take a peek! It's worth the click. :O)

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Happy Birthday, Lillia!

My little Lia turned one today!

I spent yesterday reminiscing about my blissful day of labor last year. (The later part captured by Jennifer Finch Photography, which you can peek at here.)

Lillia has been under the weather, and our little party wore her completely out.

And on a side note. You may notice that it will be exceptionally quiet around here soon. We are headed to the East Coast until the middle of July! I will update when I can - and it's not too late call to see if there is room for a last minute East Coast session!

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