Austin and Jillian (married)

I love this couple. When I met up with them for their engagement photos and got to spend time with them, I knew their wedding was going to be beautiful. They are so in love. Their wedding day was long awaited, as they had been apart for several months leading up to this day! They were married at Fort Conde, and everything was absolutely so perfect! I had never had the privilege of shooting a wedding there, and now I cannot wait to do another one! Although it was a hot May afternoon, everything about the evening was so perfect! Congrats Austin and Jillian! I hope that married life is treating you well! 

Thoughts on Motherhood (Volume 9--A Birthday Letter to my Girl

My Dear Sweet Evelyn,

Happy Birthday little girl! One whole year. We made it. We both survived! It is hard to believe that on this day a year ago, we were anxiously awaiting your arrival. We didn't realize it was going to be as long of a day as it was. It was an incredibly draining and exhausting day, but we got the best best gift at 9:36 on that Tuesday evening. We got you. Our lives were forever changed. Honestly, if there is one word to wrap up how I feel as I reminisce about your first year, it is thankful. 

I have learned so many things.  In those first days and weeks there was so much adrenaline. There was tiredness as well, but mostly excitement and bliss that you were finally with us, that you were sleeping/eating well, and that you were my baby and I got to keep you forever. haha. You helped your daddy and I adjust, and had grace with us as we learned the ropes. As the weeks turned into months, we learned about sleep regression, teething, comfort nursing, and all sorts of fun stuff. :) There were some hard days, but as I tell everyone....even on the hardest days, the good far outweighs the bad. As you have grown, we have seen you learn so much. You are independent, but still love your mama and dada, and want to be held often. You are so smart. You are funny! You are loving, and have a smile that just melts your daddy and I. It is so fun to see you discover and recognize new things. 

There is so much I want to remember about this first year of your precious life. I want to remember how you light up in the mornings when I come in your room singing "Good Morning God".  I want to remember how that little smile went from gummy to toothy overnight it seems. I want to remember how big you smile when daddy gets home from work or pretty much anytime you see him. I want to remember how much you love those little plastic balls and your hammer. I want to remember how you seem to bounce from toy to toy and get so excited as you crawl towards the next thing. I want to remember how you bounce up and down when I tell you to dance. I want to remember how you CONSTANTLY say....."dadadadadadadadada" I want to remember how your little hands clap. I want to remember how you when I say, "Will you share?" you raise your little hand up with whatever you have to give it to me.  I want to remember how you lay your head on my shoulder when you are ready to go to sleep. I want to remember how much you love to eat ANY and EVERYTHING. ( I would be okay to forget how you literally make noise through every meal.... :) Bless your heart) I want to remember how you have started recognizing so many things when I ask where they are. You are so smart. I want to remember your sweet belly laugh. I want to remember how you have started just recently really getting into everything and trying to pull all the books off of your bookshelf or all the toys out. I want to remember how you finally sleep so well after several months of not-so-well. I want to remember how much I love hearing you "talk" and laugh in your carseat and get the biggest smile when I turn around and look at you. I want to remember how much your daddy and I love you, and all of the times daddy looks at me and says, "Mama, I just love her."

I feel incredibly grateful that God gave you to us. I have seen the gospel so clearly this year. God has stretched me. Being a mom is quite the humbling experience. I have seen how selfish I can be, and sin has certainly been revealed. But, God's grace has truly covered this first year of parenthood. The Lord has been so good. Tonight as I write this tears are running down my cheeks, because I am so overwhelmingly thankful that God has chosen me to be your mama. He truly gives such great gifts. He has consistently drawn near to me, met me where I am, and walked with me through all of the best days and the hardest days. 

You are an amazing little girl, Evelyn Anne. Please know that your daddy and I want to lead you well. We want you to see Jesus in our lives, and want you to know Him at a young age. He is best. His ways are best. His Word is so good. A relationship with Him is all that matters. I am praying that your heart is drawn to Him quickly. I am praying that you love His Word. I am praying that you grow to be a woman who fears Him, and walks with Him. You have made this year such a sweet experience. I cannot wait to continue watching you grow and change. It is a privilege to be your mama.

You are the best!

All My Love, 

Mama

Here is a little (actually long... :)  ) video of Evie's first year.....

An Evening with Evelyn

Excuse me over here while I am feeling all sentimental this week.......My baby girl will be one in just a couple of days. I find myself (as I have all year) wanting to document every little thing. I have written her letters all year, taken a billion pictures, and a good bit of video. A couple of weeks ago Brett and I attempted to document some of our evening routine with a little video. It certainly isn't perfect, and we are certainly not videographers, but I want to remember these things. My parents have so many home videos of us from when we were little, and I want to have more than just what I catch on my I-Phone, which is still totally acceptable, and my go-to quite frequently. 

I want to remember how we let her play in her diaper right before her bath. I want to remember how excited she gets in the bath (not that it has always been this way... :)  ). I certainly want to remember rocking and nursing her in that chair. I have spent SO MUCH TIME in that chair during this first year of her life. I know I will continue to rock her and sit in it, but I am certain that as she is getting older those times will be fewer. I have done a whole lot of praying, crying, laughing, smiling, and thanking the Lord in the chair.

Mainly, I made this for myself, and for Brett and I to look back on and show our girl one day. We are feeling a little sappy over here this week, and are overwhelmingly grateful for the gift of our baby girl.

Samuel and Alivia (engaged)

This sweet couple.....We are in countdown to their wedding!

Back in May I got to take some engagement pictures for them. They are so precious. We laughed and laughed while we took photos, and they were just so easy to photograph. Their love for each other is so evident. Honestly, they just had so much fun together! Alivia is beautiful and the way Samuel looked at her was so sweet. I am so grateful that I got to photograph this special time for them, and cannot wait for their wedding in a few weeks!! 

Anne Hayden

Little Miss Anne Hayden....

I was so excited when her mama emailed me to take some photos of her! When I arrived and saw this beautiful girl with a head full of curls, I knew they were going to be BEAUTIFUL! I basically didn't have to direct this girl at all. She just smiled and smiled for me, and I couldn't have been more thrilled with how they turned out! It was hot, and she was such a trooper! These photos are the epitome of a southern little girl! 

Hunter Family

I have known Whitney and her family ever since I was a little girl! I got to capture her maternity photos when they were waiting for that big boy in her arms to join their family, and now they have had another baby boy (his newborn photos to come soon!!)! It is truly such an honor when families are willing to let me capture some of the sweetest memories as their little ones grow, and they have more little ones! :) As you can tell, Whitney was glowing, although I am certain that having that baby boy in her arms now is even better! Hunter family, y'all are so precious! Thank you for letting me take pictures of your growing family! 

Dean Family

I loved getting to meet up with this sweet family of three! I met the Dean's back when they first found out about this little girl in their arms! They were just a few weeks pregnant, and I was so excited for them! I also had the privilege to take sweet Catherine Grace's newborn photos. I could not believe it when I realized it was time for her 1 year pictures! This family is so kind, and Catherine Grace was so happy! I cannot wait to continue to watch her grow! What a blessing! 

Garrett Family

I have had the privilege of taking pictures for this family for the last few years! I helped them announce the arrival of sweet Caroline, and have gotten to see those older girls grow up too! I was so excited to take some family photos as well as photos celebrating Caroline being a year old! These girls are SO sweet and always so well behaved! This family is just beautiful! I can't wait to take more for them in the future and continue watching these girls grow up! 

Smith Family

This family is so precious! I got to take Connor's newborn pictures back in November, and was so excited to see how much he had grown during his 6 month pictures! He was SO happy! Those bright blue eyes were just beautiful! I cannot wait to see how big he will be at his 1 year pictures! 

Thoughts on Motherhood (Volume 8)

This time last year, I was quite pregnant. I was anxious. I was excited. I had no idea how my life was about to change, in both challenging ways and all the best ways. I had no idea that meeting the little life growing inside of me would change me in so many ways.

This week she has been with us for 11 months. I can't even wrap my mind around that. I have had the privilege of loving her and watching her grow for almost a full year. I have had lots of emotions as we approach her first birthday. I have been so excited as I have seen her grow and learn new things. I have been proud as I have seen her brave side come out or seen her listen to me when she hears "no no" :) I have also been so incredibly sad as I realize the days with her go so quickly. I have found myself rocking her a little longer in the evenings, really watching her play by herself more, and just been in awe of how good God is that He would allow me to be her mom. 

Please believe that the days are hard so often. The days are long, they test my patience, they make me question if I am doing things "right". But, they are the best days. I truly believe that. Just the other day I was in Target (duh) and the cashier asked how old she was. I told her 10 months, and she said she had a 5 month old and could not wait for her to be able to sit up, crawl, talk more, etc. I remember having those thoughts at times, but in my measly 11 months of motherhood wisdom, I looked at her and told her to enjoy every second and not to wish the different stages away. That has probably been one of my biggest prayers throughout Evelyn's 11 months of life. I have prayed so often that I would stop and enjoy every phase and every milestone as it came. For the most part, I feel like God has answered that prayer.

I just enjoy the fact that I get to be her mama. Sure, I have wished away sleepless nights, and had moments where I have wanted her to reach certain milestones at a quicker pace. I (still) am wishing she was more patient when she eats and didn't act like each meal was her last when it is over. (Those of you who have had the privilege of eating in her presence know what I am talking about. :)  ) I have not been perfect. But, all in all, I have truly tried to slow down and savor the days. I have cried ridiculous tears thinking about how she will be 12 before I know it. :) Even Brett told me that he saw a little girl eating lunch with her mom the other day and she was about 10, and all he could think was....."this is going to be Evie before I know it...." 

I am overwhelmed with gratitude. The Lord has truly shown so much of His goodness in my life by giving me Evelyn. I am undeserving of such a gift. So as she is now 11 months.....I will savor this last month of her first year. I will try to stop and truly be grateful for all of the moments (fussy ones included....aka today) I will treasure snuggles. I will look forward to seeing her happy face each day. I will love on her! I will praise God for her life! I will praise God that she is healthy and growing. I will enjoy my baby girl, and pray for her life! Thank you God for my precious Evelyn!