I just love repeat clients!  One of the most awesome parts about being a photographer is seeing and capturing the changes of children as they grow up.  From a sleeping newborn, to a smiley six month old, to a walking one year old.  From a busy and curious three year old to a mature five year old heading off to kindergarten.  I’ve seen so many changes in my repeat clients, but this one is a bit different, and a first for me.  I had the pleasure of photographing Michelle when she was 15.  Now, nearly two years later, she is getting ready to start her senior year!

I’ll admit, I was totally nervous when her mom told me they wanted photos of her with their boat. What do you do with a boat? There’s not going to be any shade!? I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, but I loved what we came up with. Michelle totally rocked it! And me? Well, I was completely soaked from the hips down. LOL!

And nothing says Bismarck like a photo in the Missouri River…

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He’s pretty much been called Cohen Monster by the whole family since he came home with us, so a monster party was only fitting.  The poor guy is dealing with a cold, and a nose that has been running like a faucet, so he was a little out of it for part of the day, especially after not much of a morning nap, but I think he had a great birthday.  It was so nice to have all of our family and friends there, so thank you all for helping us celebrate!  I was worried it was going to be unbearably hot, but we had plenty of shade, and it seemed the weather was perfect!

I hardly saw Rory the entire time.  She was having so much fun at the playground with all of her friends.  She came out for the pinata and treats, though!

I loved how the invites turned out…

Lots of little monsters and polka dots!  Cohen LOVED the big balloons!

It was a great way to end a great year!

You’re sweet, snuggly, funny, mischevious, smart, busy, and best of all…mine.  Here’s to one of the fastest years of my life.  I feel like there is no way it was already a year ago that I met you, and even though you’ve grown and changed so much, when I’m rocking you to sleep and I look at you, to me, you are the same tiny baby we brought home.  I love you! 

It’s late, and I don’t have much else to say but that I LOVE these babies.  So, so much.  Looking through these as I post them, I get tears in my eyes because I am just so grateful to be their mother and so grateful for our family.  Sometimes stress and sleep deprivation get the best of me, and I have a hard time keeping it all in perspective, but at the end of the day, I love them more than I did the day before.  How that’s even possible, I don’t know.

Well, last July was booming with babies in our family.  I just really don’t believe it has been a year, and the past few weeks I have gone from denial, to an emotional mess at the thought of it, back to denial.  First Blake, then Cohen, then Emma.  Oh, Emma.

I just love this girl to death.  I always know that when I see her, she will have a smile waiting for me, and I had so much fun last Saturday during our little session because she is just the sweetest thing.  She is definitely a girl, which is a bit of a change compared to those two boys!  And I love it.  She will always hold a special place in my heart, and I love her as if she is my own.  How could I not?  Just look at her!

Well, almost!  Only a few more days.  I remember last year on the 4th of July, his mom and I were very swollen, very round, very excited, and very nervous.  Blake was going to be making his grand entrance in only two days, and we spent most of the day in the comfort of air conditioning, talking about what labor and delivery would be like.  Now, looking back, it seems strange that either of us was ever worried.

It has been a fast first year, and all I can say about all of the years to come is..we’re in for some trouble, I think.  Blake and Cohen are going to keep us busy, no doubt!  We can blame their dads for that.

As I was editing those images from Father’s Day, this one came up on my monitor, and I instantly remembered a shot from a  couple years ago that was nearly identical.  Ironically, these were both taken on June 20th, only two years apart.

When I look at these, the fact that things have changed pretty much smacked me alongside the head!  Obviously she has changed in too many ways to list.  Her hair is longer; face is slimmer.  But I also see how I have changed.  I see a handful of things that are technically wrong with this image, yet I remember the day I took it and how perfect I thought it was.  It’s kind of fun to see where you’ve come from and where you are now.