I’ve said it so many times, but the only thing better than watching two people come together in marriage and getting to document that?  Seeing (and photographing) the little people they create!

Ellen & Joe are wedding clients from way back in 2009 who I’ve been fortunate enough to keep in touch with.  Ever since the arrival of their sweet baby girl, we’ve been trying to connect for a shoot.  She’s just over a year old now, and we did finally meet up right before Thanksgiving.   And little Grace proved everything I knew she would be – a perfect mix of spunky Ellen and sweet Joe.

Evan is a part of one of my favorite client families, and it’s always a joy to meet up with any branch of that family tree. The last time this little guy was in front of my camera he was a mere one year old, and now he’s a scrappy, energetic and willful boy of three.  He may be a ball of go-go-go, but he still shows his sweet and tender side once in awhile too.

Who doesn’t love a three-year-old Brewer’s fan?  Evan already has an impressive slide developed, and I see many t-ball and baseball games in his future…

Thanks for a super fun afternoon Evan, Heather and Jess (and Lola too!).  I’ll hang out with you guys anytime!

My dear nephew Ethan,

A year ago you came into our lives, all coos, gurgles and funny looks.  Your uncle and I are so proud to be your godparents, and have really loved watching you grow and change over the last 12 months.

I was lucky enough to be there when you arrived.  I got to witness all of the joy you brought into the room, and the moment you made my sister and brother-in-law parents.

This was our first moment, the first time you looked right into my camera.  It’s still my favorite picture of you.  You’ve since learned to smile when you see the lens, but once in awhile I still get your serious studious look again.

A couple of weeks later, life had been readjusted around you so we met up for some more pictures, and you were such a good little guy for the whole session.

Just a few months later you had changed completely.  Gone was your squishy-ness, and in came your big, expressive, bright blue eyes.

We got to hang out a bit with Uncle Christian (also your godparent) on this shoot.  You have a sweet connection with him, and he definitely is responsible for your coolness factor.

At six months, you hit what I think is my favorite stage.  You could sit and play with us, your personality was shining through, and you still liked to cuddle.

You also loved being upside down, and jumping around.

You’ve always loved to stand – since you were a few weeks old.  We could hold you up and you would just revel in the joy of standing on your legs.  I think somewhere around 6 or 7 months you mastered the art of standing next to things.  We thought for sure you would walk early, but you held out on us, insisting on having something to hold on to.

Your fascination with balls started around this time, and you preferred them to all other toys for the longest time.

You have a great love for your grandparents, and you get to see them often.  You also had this super adorable wink at nine months:

At one, we took you to the beach for the first time.  You were fascinated by the sand, picking up a handful at a time, inspecting it closely and sorting thru it until you found one grain that didn’t belong, which you removed and then started the process over.  You loved it.  So much so, that your Dad built you a sandbox for your birthday.

All of a sudden you had wisps of hair above your ears, little wings that stuck out defiantly.  In just the few weeks since we took these pictures, you’ve grown a whole bunch more and now have little curls.

That last picture of your little family is a good way to end this.  One, I love the contrast between that shot and the one from your first weeks.  And two, by winter, you’ll have a little brother to play with, and we’ll be starting this photography record all over again.  I have no doubt he’ll be just as much fun as you.

Happy Birthday little man!  You’ll always be special to us, and we can’t wait for what is to come with you!

Today I took a few hours to hang out with my godson and nephew Ethan and take his three month pictures.  I haven’t seen him in a few weeks, and he has changed so much in that brief period.  He’s 13 whopping pounds now, and really filling out and becoming such a little man (though the jeans I bought him fell right off). His face has morphed from his newborn shoot into one that has a full range of expressions and isn’t 100% his Dad anymore (sorry Jacob).

One other unexpected treat was that my brother Christian (and my Dad) came along for the shoot today.  It is a great joy to watch Christian with Ethan.  He is so great with him, so natural.  There is just some special little magic in that little guy that turns my brother into the best version of himself.

I believe in taking pictures not just of the babies, but with their family members too, which is why I snapped these pictures above today.  I didn’t get any with my Dad, but we have taken some before.  Kids should have pictures to look back on that show not just how cute they were at different stages – but how those around them loved them too.

When I get to editing Ethan’s whole shoot I’ll share more!