Every Bite Is Heaven | Cleveland Lifestyle Newborn Photography

Spending time with the newborn baby of one of your maternity couples is such a fulfilling experience. In my opinion, it's like that moment after an already delicious meal at a high-end restaurant when the waiter offers dessert. Unsure that anything could top your actual meal, you order something. Out comes the most fantastic crème brûlée, key lime pie, or rich chocolate layered cake and every bite is.... heaven - pure and utter sweetness. Your heart and mind are doing the Happy Dance as the meal progresses, and most likely, in sync.

That's how it was with Kate. Katheryn Avery, born a wee seven pounds, ten ounces and 21-inch bundle of beautiful joy, entered the world a mere seventeen minutes after the lives of thousands of Haitians were turned upside down by a devastating earthquake. And as much sadness as there is in such horrible loss, what a gift Hailey and Steven received as their hearts opened up just a little bit more that day to let in a gorgeous and healthy baby girl.













And how such a tiny package can take up so much space in your heart is a mystery. But it's the sweet mystery of the gift of new life and hope in the world in which we live.







Named for Hailey's grandmother, whom they lost last year, Kate has inherited a family that cherishes each other in a way that the best families do. There are tokens of those memories and love all throughout her nursery.











And how they love! She has parents that bring in beautiful pieces of what once was to make a more beautiful future for their darling little girl.









There is such magic in the gaze of a newborn. The smell of a newborn. The growing and changing personality of a newborn. Everyday is an adventure and Hailey and Steven, despite their altered sleep schedule, are enjoying the ride.









And I think Molly, their beloved pug and Kate's "big sister" is too!





I'm thankful that, in this unique way, they have brought me along. They've invited me to enjoy and take pleasure in Kate's story... in their story. It truly is like the finest of gourmet meals, only this one, you take your time with, and fortunately, it's only just beginning.







Thank you for that joy, Hailey and Steven!

Just A Normal Saturday | Nashville Family Lifestyle Photography

Oh yes. You read that correctly. Ashton and Elijah.

The Ashton and Elijah everyone oohed and aahed over not even two months ago or so when they were first born. Oh, how tiny they were.

And still are, really.

Small enough to leave echoes of pitter-patters in my heart, that's for sure. Sigh.





After about a month and a half of foiled plans, due to sicknesses and snowstorms, I finally got to spend some time catching up with Amy and Josh and their boys this past weekend.

By this point, both Amy and I were close to dying to get some updated shots of the little ones and their big brother Avery. And boy, if I don't fall in love with this session over and over again everytime I look at it...











And if there's a picture out of all of them that gets my heart stuck in my throat upon each glance, it's this one:



When I look at Avery, I feel the way I do when I was sitting across from Amy at a restaurant and she shared the news that after so long, there would be a little one on the way. Oh how my heart literally leapt out of my chest to match the tears pouring from my eyes. I see joy and hope and purpose beyond all measure when I look at that face. The face of the first world-changer in a line of three...

And I definitely see the last (almost) two years having gone by way, way too fast.







I love when a family opens their hearts and home up to me. When they trust me with their story. And when the stories are sometimes as simple and still incredibly beautiful as a Saturday afternoon watching "Little Einsteins", feeding your seven week (and a day) old newborn babies, eating popsicles, and being a family.

Because in the normalcy of life, there are always those moments as big as the ones seen on stage or in movies. And I get to see and capture them, often when no one is looking.

I love that my job is to help people remember what they don't always see.











Amy and Josh, thank you for sharing your Saturday with me. For having been such a constant in my life for the last umpteen years. For being friends and role models, confidants and supporters. For making such beautiful and wonderfully perfect children.

I am truly honored to be a part of your story.