Santa Baby

So the holidays are approaching like a runaway locomotive and everyone's scrambling to make those lists, check them twice, act a little naughty, act a little nice...you know the standard early December activities.  Another very important thing on everyone's list is getting their Christmas Cards ready to go, and for many that includes an updated picture of their children or family.  For this post, I'd thought I'd share some recent pictures of my favorite little ones campaigning for Santa's "Nice" list.  Can you tell which one is campaigning a little harder? 

This is my favorite little guy, Cooper. Cooper is just right at 6 months old now.  He was the first newborn I ever photographed (and one of the only so far really).  I love Cooper and his mommy because they have an edgy style that allows me to really have fun and take some original photos. 

And this....is baby Emersyn. Em is about 8 1/2 months old now - you might remember her from my September post when she had her 6 month birthday.  I've vowed not to include the photo from that day when she sat in the grass in a tutu and leg warmers crying...but someday I will just HAVE to post it because it is too funny not to share.  Anyway, this is Emersyn putting her most angelic expressions on in an effort to maybe charm the gifts out of old St. Nick. 

Story of a Friendship

I can't believe it was almost a decade ago that I met Tracy.  We were working together and one evening (two nights before Thanksgiving as a matter of fact) she invited me to happy hour after work.  I reluctantly agreed to go and only planned on staying for a little bit.  Somewhere in the middle of a few drinks, a giant plate of nachos, and too many laughs to count Tracy and I became friends. 

Fast forward 9 years-ish  - we are both married...Tracy has two children, Ethan and Ava...we work at different places...no longer live in the same city...and no longer spend nearly every weekend together - and...Tracy is still once of my closest friends.  So as I sit here getting ready to upload pictures of her beautiful children, only a few days before Thanksgiving, I can't help but think of my friend and feel a little nostalgic.  I think I'll have some nachos....

Fall Fun

Hasn't this fall been so fun!?  The weather has been crisp and blustery but not annoyingly so.  We have sun and rain and falling leaves from color turning trees, and wind and calm and everything in between.  It's really been the most perfect fall season I remember for a very long time.  Maybe that's because I've been busy busy taking pictures and researching workshops - at least I'm sure that's part of my obsession with this season. 
Some of you will be happy to hear that I've applied for membership with the Professional Photographers of Iowa as well as the Professional Photographers of Nebraska.  Being a member of those two associations should help expose me to some new learning opportunities.  I'm excited to tell you that I'm going to attend the PP of Iowa Winter Convention in February.  It's 5 days of concentrated learning and sharing about the creative and business sides of photography.  And...it's only 2 hours away in DesMoines.  This has certainly helped catapult me out of that nasty waiting place. What makes it even more exciting is that I think Shanda and Teresa (my new photo bug friend) are going to go too!
Okay, so back to my obsession with this fabulous fall season...perhaps I've been so obsessed because I've had the opportunity to be outside in the brisk weather with some old friends that are entering new exciting phases of their lives....

This is Emily and Jared -they are expecting their first child (isn't he cute?!) in early December.

Joyce and Rich are engaged and getting married next summer.  Best wishes to them for a long and happy marriage!

This .... is Sky.  She moved to Arizona with her family and is starting her new adventure there.  On a visit back to Omaha to see her Grandma, I got to steal her away for a morning of pictures at the park.

Don't you just LOVE fall!!??