Hallie B. '"Two" Pictures...Take One...

I have been dying to take a few "portraits" of Hallie since she turned two about a month ago.  Unfortunately life in general has not allowed even a chance for me to do so.  Finally this week Cody was out of town for work so one evening Hallie and I scarfed down our frozen pizza just in time to slip outside for some magical light just before the sun set.  The problem with taking your own two year olds pictures is the fact that it generally just doesn't work out.  I would place Hallie where I wanted her, run back, camera in tow (which is not super easy dodging desert plants with thorns and trying not to ruin my new huge, expensive lens) just to spin around and find her heading towards me.  I'm going to have to give a big "shout out" to Aunt "Tace" whom I recruited last minute to contain the little jewel.  The pictures I did manage to get are not perfectly posed, nor is she always looking at the camera.  But I would say they are a good representation of the "two's"...always busy and doing precisely what she wants all while not listening.  Therefore, I think I have managed to document a special time in Hallie's life.  Stay tuned for more pictures in the next few weeks...I think I am going to have to try in take these in phases...

Welcome Parker Marie!

Last weekend, we and I made a fast and furious trip to North Texas to meet my precious little niece Parker Marie.  My first reaction was a mix of emotions...pure excitement for my sister and her husband...what an amazing addition to our family!  However, I was also struck with a bit of sadness...it seems like just yesterday that my own Hallie was once a newborn.  It is easy to get wrapped up in the responsibility of tending to an infants every need that we sometimes forget to take time to remember all the little details.

So of course I took my camera and of course I could not resist taking a few pictures of the sleeping beauty.  Because I am no flash photographer, natural light was my only option.  Fortunately Parker's house has a nice large picture window and the overcast conditions outside gave us some nice soft light. For my first attempt at shooting a newborn, I was fairly pleased with the results.

I can't wait to watch this little Jewel grow and change.  You know this proud Aunt will be right there to capture all I can with my camera.  Congratulations Meghan and Taylor!