Captured

Capturing the Seasons of Life

Each season of life is unique. Only a photograph can capture the intimate days of pregnancy, the growth and development of a child, and the ever changing stages of the family. My goal is to preserve each season of life that it may be remembered and treasured forever.

This blog is where each of my fabulous families will be showcased after I have captured their smiles, frowns, expressions, and most of all, personalities.  I hope that you will enjoy a glimpse into the lives of my special clients.  Please, leave comments.  I love hearing from you!

The Fourth K - {St. Louis, Franklin CO newborn photographer}

The fourth K, little Miss Kemper, has brought some sparkle to the other three K's, and I had soooo much fun photographing her at 5 days old. After the family shots, I let Mom sit and rest while I played (um, slaved) with baby K. Talk about a fun job!!

Proud big brother!

 

 

 

K, K, K, and K.

I love little piggies!

 

 

Don't you wish you had a "hard" job like me?!

Welcome, baby Lucy! {St. Louis, Franklin CO newborn photographer}

After almost 5 years, a baby girl! This family definitely needed some ruffles and frills to contrast with "all boy" Bryce. As rough and tumble as he is, he is so sweet with his baby sister. Lucy kept us in stitches with her untimely poops and pees, but she was the perfect little model otherwise. Thanks for allowing me to capture her "newbornness".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is that a sweet brother, or what?!

Happy Birthday, Evan {St. Louis, Franklin CO children's photographer}

 To say I enjoy this family is an understatement! The kids are so much fun and the parents are so pleasant. Evan's older sister just walks in the house and makes herself at home at our kitchen island; hopefully Evan will feel that comfortable someday.  Evan did throw us a bit of curve for the cake and balloon pics; that boy did not want anything to do with the cake!  He did love the balloons, though!

The candle wasn't too bad.

No smiles for the cake!

 

 

 

 

Happy birthday, Evan!

One Pretty Mama (Franklin CO, St. Louis Maternity/Newborn Photographer)

This super sweet family is adding a baby boy to their numbers in a just a few days. I had visions of getting images of Melissa in the field with the golden early morning light. She graciously agreed to have her family here at 7:00 am Saturday; however we woke up to a very heavy fog that just didn't want to go away. There was no way I was going to ask her to try again, soooo..... we shot through the fog. Thanks Daniel, Melissa, and girls for humoring me. I can't wait to meet your little man in a few days.

New Worlds Not Chosen

As I shared recently, five years ago we entered the world of the deaf when Abby Grace was born. We have learned so much and met so many wonderful people as a result. Almost exactly a year later we entered the world of congenital heart defects when Maggie Jane was born. Her defect went undected in utero and was only discovered on her discharge exam from the hospital. Maggie's diagnosis is hypoplastic right heart syndrome with double inlet left. Her aorta was also interuppted. Basically she only has 3 chambers in heart instead of 4. She has undergone three heart surgeries to "correct" the defects. Obviously they cannot construct another heart chamber. She functions with oxygen sats between 88 and 92.

The day her defects were discovered our world changed once again. My heart broke because Maggie's broken heart was breaking my daughter's heart. The hours of waiting through her first surgery were absolute agony not knowing if we would ever hold her in our arms again. I cannot even begin to describe how gracious God has been through the past four years. He provided an awesome surgeon and nurses that cared for Maggie with tenderness and expertice.  A friend of mine's daughter-in-law was an OR nurse at Children's. Although we had never met her, she made sure she was on duty for each of Maggie's surgeries. She brought bagels, cookies, and encouragement. For Maggie's third surgery, she made Maggie a quilt and an OR hat that matched hers. She arrived at the hospital early so she could carry Mags back to the OR and stay with her until she was out. Lisa is just one of the many new friends we have made in our new world. She and Faith are now very good friends.

Through heart camp, blogs, support groups, and God-ordained incidents, we have come to know some of the sweetest people on earth who also have heart kiddos. We have cried with them and we have rejoiced with them. The support and encouragement that these mommas give each other amazes me. The kiddos seem to have an instant bond with each other when they discover that each other has a "zipper" (what heart kiddos call their scars). Faith keeps in touch with so many other heart mammas through their blogs and facebook. I have to admit that I don't handle reading all the blogs and knowing every detail that these familes encounter, but I feel as though I know them from Faith sharing their stories with me.So many of them I have prayed for at various times through their journeys.

As wonderful as it is to have the support and to be able to talk to someone who understands, it is heart-wrenching to learn that one of the heart kiddos isn't doing well or even worse - gets their wings. Today is one of those days: 3 year old Lindsay who was an HLHS transplant kiddo died totally unexpectedly last night. Not only does my heart ache for her family, but it is an unwelcomed reminder that nothing is certain with a heart kiddo. (Nothing is certain with healthy kids either, but it is more real with heart kids) News like this brings back all the fears that we have been able to put aside for awhile.

Today mommas across the states are snuggling their babies a bit tighter and a bit more often.Their hearts ache, and they are facing their fears.

I just want to somehow shout to each and every parent to treasure each moment with their children. Life here is so uncertain and this is not our home.

Maggie Jane, our four year old miracle, who lives each day to the fullest.

Oh, the Places You Will go -St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf Graduation

Each year St. Joseph's holds their graduation ceremony for those who are transitioning into mainstream schools. This year the class was a bit younger than usual - two five year olds and a six year old. All three of these children have been with the institute since birth and are now ready to begin a new journey. One of those children was Abby Grace, my granddaughter.

Five years ago we welcomed a beautiful 7 pound 12 ounce baby girl into the world. Before she left the hospital, she failed her hearing test 3 times. Within two weeks, her severe hearing loss was confirmed, and our family entered a new world. We certainly did not choose to enter the world of the deaf; it was not the turn in the road that one delights over. However, it has been an amazing journey that God has guided us through.

Before Abby was three months old, she had her first pair of hearing aids and began speech therapy. Yes, speech therapy long befoe she was ready to talk. Abby had to learn to hear and listen. The rest of us had to learn how to help her. Her parents, Seth and Hannah, were naturally broken-hearted for their baby girl, but they never broke stride. They put their hiking shoes on and have been climbing mountains since the day of the diagnosis. You see, St. Joseph's does not teach sign language; they teach lanuage! Their students learn to listen and to speak.

In Abby's two year old class, there was a quote on the wall, "Talk is cheap unless you are deaf. Then it is priceless". It brought tears to my eyes then and still does today. The kiddos there work so hard to do what we take for granted. Each time I have attended one of their plays/musicals I have left humbled and in awe. They recite their lines, sings their songs, and dance their steps with the biggest smiles on their faces! They know they have truly accomplished something huge.

For the first two year of Abby's life, she attended speech therapy weekly. The next three years she attended preschool where she had daily speech therapy and wonderful teachers who constantly (and I do mean constantly) worked on her speech and vocabulary development. At age two, Abby received her first cochlear implant. At age four, she received her second one. Since Abby began at St. Joseph's, the goal has been for her to attend a mainstream kindergarten. Yesterday that goal became a reality as she graduated from St. Joseph's. It was a bittersweet day saying goodbye to a place that has changed her life and celebrating an absolutely amazing accomplishment.

The staff beamed as they bestowed the certificates of graduation to the three young graduates. The rest of the students cheered them on in their journey. The families shed tears of joy. For these kiddos to reach this goal took not only their blood, sweat and tears, but also that of their parents and the wonderful staff at St. Joseph's.

Thank you, God, for giving Abby a tenacious spirit, for holding her hand up and down mountains, for her faithful parents, for St. Joseph's and their amazing staff, for allowing me to be a part of this journey.

Right now Abby knows she cannot hear, but she doesn't know that is unusual. It has never occurred to her that there is anything she can't do. I know that someday she will experience the heartache that goes with having a "handicap", but I pray she be content and confident with how God has made her. I pray that the love and encouragement of her family and friends will overshadow the hurt. "Oh, the places you will go" young lady.

Abby telling the audience where she headed after she leaves St. Joeseph's and telling her parents "thank you" for all of their help.

Presenting her parents with a rose.

Mrs. Amy, Abby's teacher, reading the graduates "Oh, the Places You Will Go". Each grad received a copy of the book filled with encouraging words from the staff.

Abby and Kaitlyn have been together since they were two.

Amy and Maureen, Abby's fabulous teachers.

Mammie and Papa with their girl.

Abby's other grandmother.

May the rest of your journey be as successful as this leg was!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laurie - 2011 (Franklin Co, St. Louis Senior Photographer)

Taking Laurie's senior pictures was a privilege for me. She is a very rare young lady - sweet, respectful, responsible, and pretty all rolled into one! The day of her shoot was cold and nasty so we haven't taken her outside pics yet, but I wanted to go ahead and share these. Congratulations, Laurie!

 

Sam - 2011 (Franklin CO Senior Photographer)

Effervescent, dancer, model are the three words Sam used to describe herself to me. I would add friendly, fun, sweet, confident. I just met Sam, but she was so easy to talk to and work with.  The time schedule was CRAZY, but we flew through locations, and I, at least, had fun.

 

Congratulations, Sarah! (Franklin CO Senior photography)

Little did I know 13 years ago when this gal sat in my kindergarten class that I would someday have the privilege of taking her senior pictures. Teaching and photography have both offered me the opportunity to watch kiddos grow up - how fortunate am I!  Sarah's beautiful smile adds a sparkle to her images that no editing could ever do. Congratulations, Sarah! I look forward to seeing what the Lord does in your life from here.

Happy Birthday, Aubrey!

This little gal has all the guys in the family wrapped around her little finger. Dad and brothers go a bit soft when she's around. I hadn't seen Aubrey since her newborn pics, and I couldn't believe those big blue eyes! She made me work hard for even small smiles, but she's adorable whether she's smiling or not.

 

Just look at those eyes!