one little thing.

LOVE.

Yeap, that’s it. No list necessary. Simple. No explanation needed! Ok, ok, if you’re beggin, I’ll explain . . .

To me, It’s all about a mother’s love for her family. what?? I didn’t say it wouldn’t get cheezy! You didn’t haaave to keep reading. ok, you’ve been warned . . .

You see, to a mom, nesting is absolutely a reality. Moms have an innate desire and given ability to feather their nests. Simple enough to understand if you’re a bird. Very complicated and costly with regard to time and funds if you’re of the human variety. A dose of God-given creativity helps. You see, the most valuable decor to me is the decor that’s irreplaceable and was once part of a story that I treasure.  Although I reach a certain unmentionable level of annoyed when my dog decides to bury a bone in one of my Anthropologie rugs . . . it’s replaceable, with this season’s version – for a small fortune – of course. However, if my dog decided to chew up my wedding album or if termites ate the wooden angel wings that hang in each of my girls’ rooms, I would be completely bummed. Those things are not replaceable. There aren’t anymore ginger bread corner pieces from my granddaddy’s original farmhouse porch left to make more angel wings. My wedding photographer no longer has the digital files to my wedding (and didn’t sell them when I got married. shame. shame.). So, no, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. They are JUST things. But yes, it’d be a bummer. I could go on and on about what each thing in my house means to me and bore you to tears. The point is. The houses nests that are decorated feathered in a way that make you take note are ones that were feathered with LOVE. That’s all. You loved the late nights you spent at your great grandmother, so you want to maintain her memory in some way to pass on to your kids. You want them to have a piece of her in their hearts. . . they don’t make ‘em like that anymore. right?! You loved those hot evenings you spent on your granddaddy’s farm, so you want your kids to have a piece of that too. I mean it made you who you are & how will you instill those things in your kids?

. . . so, that’s what distracted me as I walked into this little guy’s house. His mom decorates like I do . . . with pieces of her heart . In this crazy world, having a strong foundation to start from is just too important to qualify. This baby is set up in one solid and stylish little nest. It’s built of pieces of his ancestors possessions that have been collected, treasured and even refurbished for another 100 years use. Just about every room holds stories to be told.  He also has a family name just like my babies. He’s going to be a very special little guy & is already so loved. It’s so obvious in all the details. I can’t wait to see him spread his wings and (sorry I have to do it . . . ) fly;o)

AND, his grandmother was willing to hang wallpaper while I was there just to match the hammock I brought for our special baby hanging in a hammock picture!! How cool is she? Totally my kind of people.

. . . and his mom’s gonna have some sweeeet new baby artwork for her nest;o) Jenny, I’m so glad his newborn session fell on this week. It’s just perfect.

Congratulations to you!!!!

Just a couple more of one of my favorite crazies before I get back to work. It’s been so nice to have some “downtime” from shooting (thanks to the family I’m shooting tomorrow!). I’ve actually had time to edit my own family photos (from the past 6 months!). Doesn’t happen very often anymore – and I’m realizing that needs to change because what fun is it if I don’t have my own awesome pictures (insert me in a full-out pout right now)?  Don’t think I haven’t been working my arse off as usual. I’ve got all sorts of things on the back burner. INCLUDING A FALL MINI-SESSION FOR ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE  EMAILED ME ASKING FOR “ONLY” CHRISTMAS CARD SESSIONS. There were enough of you to inspire a new kind of session this year;o) You’ll love it – more to come this week!

 So, here’s the big girl . . . {no, I’m not crazy but her grandpa is} – having an Easter egg hunt in July in Texas. {the crazier part, he saved these eggs in his freezer since Easter!!! no lie, no exaggeration, nothing, it’s true!}

I wonder sometimes why a mom doesn’t order “my favorite picture” from the session. I realized why when I was working through these. Moms order what speaks to their hearts . . . not their perfectly trained artistic and photographic eye. Take picture #1 . . . TOTALLY out of focus ({love} that 85 1.2, but MAN is it hard to focus on the fly). HOWEVER, I adore this sassy-frass “nana, nana, boo-boo” face because she does it allllll the time right now. She’s purty proud of herself for finding those eggs. I’d have never in a million years remembered this moment on my own. Now, I’ll never forget it AND she’ll know how much I loved it (and her;o)).

(I should also say, the grandpa in pic #2 isn’t the “crazy-grandpa-in-question-of-hiding-4-month-old-frozen-hard-boiled-eggs-in-July-in-Texas” . . . it’s her other grandpa who was dying to get in on the fun too;o)) Thank goodness for our Q-Pa or we wouldn’t have these memories – we love him and his “outside the box ideas” very, very much.

we’re also “into” nesting dolls right now . . . just for the sake of my memory.

This is my favorite zoo. It’s in West Texas. It’s never crowded . . . you get to walk up onto a platform bridge and hand feed the giraffes. It’s small and quiet & you can park on the front row every time you go. You can tell I’m a mom with a lot of crap. Here are a few of our favorite animals. I love the giraffes. I wish I had a close up of their pretty coat. The pattern is just so mesmerizing. Apparently one of my crazies distracted me before I got that shot. Maybe next year.