It all started with a beautiful maternity photoshoot, followed by an incredible birth session, and today at only a few days old we had Matthew Ryan’s newborn session.  I feel such a connection to this beautiful family and amazingly perfect tiny baby boy….he is sooooooo cute!  Baby Matthew was so good to me today - slept like a champ but gave me a couple glances of his beautiful blue eyes.  He is so sweet and I feel so blessed that I was able to be a part of his journey this far.  Enjoy the sneak peeks!!!!

1.  Gotta love short weeks!!!!  With Memorial Day last monday this week has seemed to fly!  Looking forward to a great weekend finally at home - relaxing and enjoying this gorgeous weather!

2. Saturday plans include a BBQ at a local park with friends, and catching up on a lot of work.  I have two photosessions this weekend too so that’s exciting!

3. Have you guys ever seen allrecipes.com?  They have this cool rating system where you can sort by how high the recipe is rated.  I always seem to find some great basic recipes like baked chicken teriyaki and meatballs.  It’s fun to check out when you are needing something quick and easy. 

4. I’ve probably talked about this before on here - but have you seen something called a furminator?  It’s this awesome brush for pets that even my puff ball cats cant stand up to…it’s wonderful!  I furminated (yes I use it as a verb) Mellow last night and I created a new cat just from his extra hair.  Scary and amazing at the same time.  If you’ve used it before you know what I’m talking about!

5. I think I may make my first trip this season to the local farmers market.  I love their local organic produce and flowers…always a fun day.  Occasionally I can get Dave to go with me if I promise him that we can stop by the nearby Shapiro’s Deli…sort of defeats the purpose.

Have a great weekend!!!

Of the beauty that is a first breath.

It was my honor and great privilege today to photograph the birth of Matthew Ryan.  I cant put into words the emotion that was in the room during those first moments of new life - there was not a dry eye in the room (including mine!) and I am still shaking.  Life really is so beautiful. I have so many more images to go through still but this one of his first breath and his mama’s first glance keeps catching me in my place.

Welcome to the world sweet baby.

And we’re on!!!  My first birth photography session is beginning!!!!!!  SOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I have goosebumps!

ahhh fun times.  This weekend Dave and I headed up to Chicago with some friends and we had a BLAST!  The weather couldnt have been more perfect, the food more yummy, the Chicagoans friendlier(seriously you guys are SO nice!), or the company better.  Great times were had by all, and I missed the city the minute we left.  On Saturday we took the architectural boat tour - something one must do when in the Windy City(yet we’d not done it in the 6 years living nearby!)  It was SOOO cool - and I brought along my point and shoot camera (Canon Elph) to snap some shots along the way.  Some were taken while walking around the Aqua building and the lake as well - and I’ve added some of my faves below.

I also want to give a big shout out to all our military men and women, and their families on this Memorial Day weekend.  I am thankful for all of you today and every day.