This next mommy you’ll see is my friend Lauren…and my slave-driving personal trainer!  I mean she was almost 9 months pregnant while pushing me around in the gym the last time I saw her.  And now she’s given birth to this beautiful baby boy!

Lauren is such a blessing & an encourager to me while trying to help me reach my health goals that I felt honored to return the favor in taking photos of her dear, growing family.  Her new son was born just a few days after Thanksgiving and just a few days after she & her family moved to a bigger house.  Talk about great timing!  Her dad was telling me the family had Thanksgiving, moved Lauren’s family to the new house, & then she had her son a few days later!

Thank you, Lauren, for all your encouragement.  You are making a lovely momma of two!  You & James will be great with them both!

The Forstell family invited me out to their house the day after Thanksgiving.  Jennifer told me that each year after Thanksgiving the kids come and rake the leaves in her yard.  Wonderful idea!  I mean, she’s just slaved over a hot stove the day before, stuffed their bellies, & loved on them.  So shouldn’t they work off that mashed potatoes & gravy with some good old fashioned leaf-raking???  Heck, yes!  I got there before the leaf-raking ensued to capture everyone looking their best.  The new addition this year was a granddaughter!  And as you’ll see, she is a doll-baby!  Ahhhh….thanks for giving me my baby fix!

Presenting….the Forstell Family…

Just an advisory to those of you who care:  When weather.com says there is a wind advisory, don’t go up to Federal Hill & expect it not to be too windy.  Federal Hill is windy on a regular day, and then, add a wind advisory on top of that & you’ll get some crazy swirly hair & teary eyes.  Now that I’m done with my meteorologist report, on to the blog…

Shortly after Thanksgiving I had the opportunity to photograph a neat family that my husband’s family is somehow connected to.  My father-in-law says Barb (or “Barbie” as he fondly refers to her) babysat Josh as a child.  But I think  she & Josh are close in age, so that would be kinda hard…and illegal.  I don’t know!  Regardless, I have made a new friend in their daughter Rebecca.  She is a doll baby!  Apparently she just turned two & only wanted to play on the playground on top of Federal Hill.  With a lot of coaxing, goldfish crackers, and Princess cookies we managed to get Becca away from the playground & out for some family shots.  I LOVE 2-year-olds!  I have one myself who is very trying when she wants to be, but very sweet at the same time.  I love how they can swing like a pendulum between 5 different emotions in a matter of two minutes!  Becca, Barb, & Rob were all great & so flexible.  Thanks for putting up with my many attempts at getting Becca to “cooperate.”  I just loved our morning together.  I hope she napped well afterwards because I know I needed to!

Presenting the Frederick family….

Thanksgiving, for me, is a time of celebrating all the blessings we’ve been given with our loved ones. This Thanksgiving I had the honor of photographing dear, dear friends, the Deterding’s. Chris & Patti have attended our church as long as it’s been in existence, and their children – Amy, Steve, & Jimmy – attended Annapolis Area Christian School with my husband’s family. Now, with all the children married, three grandchildren, and Grandma Kay, they are quite a bunch. The Deterding’s have always been a blessing to us, and I was excited to be able to bless them on their morning together this Thanksgiving. Enjoy your mini-preview!
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Christmas? Thanksgiving? Fall? Winter? You plug in “whatever” (as my 3-year-old says) and it’s fast approaching! Halloween is over, the leaves are turning glorious shades of orange, yellow, and red, and it’s getting a wee bit nippy! Don’t forget to reconnect with loved ones near and far this Christmas season. After all, it is “the most wonderful time of the year!”

A sample Christmas card