Sarasota Bradenton Baby and Child Photographer » Custom newborn, baby, child and senior photography

We are in the throws of Christmas…..the trimmings, the baking, the shopping, and most importantly, the giving. We spent our week shopping for Angels, through the Salvation Army Angels Giving Tree, and I have to say, every year that we do this there is nothing more rewarding.  When I drive through our neighborhood and down the streets that are now a sea of Christmas lights I get this wonderful peaceful feeling of home….and when I pull onto our street and see all the kids from around the neighborhood playing and laughing I can hear the heartbeat of home….when I cross the threshold of our home and get pummeled by the dog and Addy screams with joy and leaps into my arms….when the smells of a home cooked dinner and sounds of chatter fill the air….I  look around me and feel so completely and utterly blessed…I have to take it in, and freeze the moment and thank God for all of His blessings in my life. Then I think of families who have so much less….so much less that the only Christmas they can give to their children is through the giving of others.  All of these good things in our lives should serve as gentle reminders of those that have not…we can choose to ignore this, or choose to listen and give.  I think it’s so easy to get caught up in our stressful lives this time of year and forget about those in need…so, in the midst of all your Holiday stress and joy, please don’t forget about those less fortunate. You can contact your local Salvation Army to find Giving Tree’s and drop off location…..and if not an Angel, I hope you all will take time to give in some capacity.

I have been busy shooting some amazing families the past few weeks and cannot wait to share those images, once they have a chance to send out their lovely Christmas cards.  So, I decided that this year I would not procrastinate shooting my own kids and creating our cards and for once, maybe do something a little different and incorporate a little piece of me into the images. I am a sucker for anything vintage, and my Dear Sweet husband can certainly attest to that with a garage full of old beat up chairs and  home full of vintage linens, dishes and furniture. But the most endearing of all would have to be the old cameras I inherited from my grandmother. One of these days I will find the time to shoot with them, and rediscover my love of film. Until then, they will just have to serve as eye candy

Addison loves *her* new camera….

and of course….Jesse would not be Jesse, without showing off some sweet jumps….

After years of Thomas the train, tonka trucks and boy themed birthday parties, I am immersing myself in all that is girlie! Addy however, would rather play with the trucks and trains…but I think I may have finally won her over to the “pink” side with all this ladybug flair.

After playing with glue and googlie eyes, pipe cleaners and popsicle sticks, we moved onto a a little bug catching….

I can’t believe our baby  girl is three years old.

10 days new. Sleepy and full, baby “T” loved my studio.

His 13th Birthday is a week away…my last little boy, becoming a man.  Raising teens in this world  has not been easy…. I am making mistakes, learning and growing with him….trying to see the world through his eyes, and remember my life at that age (oooh…that’s not a trip down memory lane I like to frequent, ha!).  If all I do is get him to the other side in one piece, whole and strong, full of good stuff, virtue and values, I will be happy.

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
‘ Or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!”

~ Rudyard Kipling

It has been a long time coming, but my fresh new Newborn site is finally live! A simple idea to have a separate place for my precious newborns turned into quite a laborious process while juggling all my other responsibilities.  It still needs a lot of work, but I could not wait to share it with you.  Click on the image below to take a peek.