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.

—

Sloane is pretty easy and hasn’t given us a hard time.  She sleeps three – four hours at a time at night, and isn’t too fussy as long as she has her necessities.  Lucky us!

—

She’s 12 days old today.  I would swear I just gave birth to her yesterday.  For such a slow, slow pregnancy, time sure is flying now that she is here.

—

I’ve perfected a few ways to have her snuggled into my office chair next to me and still be able to work.  In fact, that is where she is now.

—

Recovering from a c-section is no joke.  I’m continually surprised by days that I feel better that end in pain and discomfort.  I’m still not allowed to drive, and I accidentally picked up my 24-pound nephew this weekend and was reminded of my weight lifting limit very quickly.

—

Speaking of limits – I really miss the gym.  Just that daily cardio and endorphin rush – I’d love to have that again right now.  The hormone crashes after pregnancy aren’t much fun emotionally, and it seems like a good workout would do wonders.  Alas, I’m not allowed.  I’m also worried I’m going to loose a lot of muscle tone and shape, which I’ve worked so hard for, as I wait out the rest of my minimum 6 week hiatus.  I guess since I’m allowed to lift Sloane, it’s time to start doing some baby bicep curls.

—

In other post-pregnancy news, my wedding ring fits again, and I can’t even describe how good that feels!

—

The first wedding of the year is just three weeks away.  I’ve been thrilled with all of the snow we’ve gotten – but sad that the rain last night made a mess of it.  Plenty of time left to get a beautiful winter wonderland brewing for Robyn & Paul!

—

It’s kind of poetic to me that winter waited to make an appearance until Sloane arrived.  I haven’t decided what it means, but I can’t ignore the coincidence either.

—

Lest you think I’ve been sitting around staring at my child (okay, so a good portion of every day is spent this way), I have also been back at work.  There isn’t much of a maternity leave for those who own their own business.  I’ve been chatting with and meeting with new clients and the 2012 and 2013 calendars are filling up.  So, don’t hesitate or think you need to give me more time to recover.

—

Have a great week!

Sloane Isabella
Wednesday, January 11th
12:08 am
8 lbs 3 oz.
21 inches

Last Wednesday a little bundle of squeaky-toy cries, gummy smiles and the sweetest little expressions exploded into our lives.  She came in her own way, on her own time, and flipped our lives sideways in the meantime.

We’ve been learning all of her quirks and facets – how she can hold up her head already and look around, the little fringe of hair over her collar, her one-eyed peek when she isn’t sure she wants to be awake yet, the dimple in her chin, and her way of gesturing and “talking”, just like her Daddy:

We’ve had a busy five days since her birth, with lots of visitors.  She even got to meet one of her Great-Grandmas already.

In this new sideways world I often pinch myself as I realize scenes like this are now normal:

For those who are wondering, Ringo is adjusting very well.  He is certainly feeling a bit neglected, but he really seems to love Sloane, and is very attentive to her.

Hubby and I are truly struggling to find the words to describe how life has changed for us.  No matter how prepared we tried to be, you can’t really understand how it will feel, what will change, what you will accept and what you will struggle with; until it happens.  And even then, we are still at a loss for words.

We were fortunate enough to have our good friend (and our own wedding photographer) Heather Cook Elliott there to document Sloane’s birth story.  We will have a blog post coming soon with her images and more of the story.   Until then, back to babyland….

It was a close race, and the top spots changed hands quite a few times.

So….without further adieu……

Second place, and a 16×24 canvas gallery wrap goes to:

Julie & Tucker!

.

.

.

.

Drumroll please…..

.

.

.

and the winners of the “Best of 2011″ title, and a 24×36 canvas gallery wrap are:

Julie & Dusty!

Congratulations everyone!  It was a blast to watch the votes roll in, and watch the leaders change.  I hope participating was as much fun for all of you!

Now to see what 2012 holds….

—

The “Best of 2012″ contest is going strong.  Just one week left to vote for your favorites.  You can vote once a day (per IP address).   Julie & Dusty are holding the lead currently, with Emily & Dave and Ashley & Tom right on their heels.  But there is lots of time for anyone to jump into the #1 spot, so get out there and ask for votes!  Emails, facebooking, tweeting, classic bribery, begging – it’s all fair game in the pursuit of victory.

—

For those that don’t live here – you’ve probably been picturing us in sub-zero temperatures and buried in snow.  Normally, we would be.  Somehow though, it’s been downright warm – barely dipping below freezing in the morning, and there hasn’t been a milimeter of snow to enjoy.  From one stand-point, this is great – as I haven’t had to deal with being uber-preggo and icy sidewalks or jackets that no longer zip up.  From another – you have to wonder if this means we are going to get hit with a monster storm, or a terribly cold spring like last year.

—

Hubby’s been off of work the last several days for baby girl’s arrival, and for the most part this is wonderful.  One big downfall though is having this occur during NFL football playoffs.  I swear we watched, listened to, discussed and stressed over more football than usual this weekend, and the Packers weren’t even playing!  He’s already warned baby girl that she should not come during the playoff game this coming Sunday.

—

Ringo has been extra snuggly and clingy lately.  We are attributing this to him finally catching on that his little world is about to change.  I do still think he feels the nursery is a room we are making for him though.  Oh, how I hope this transition goes well for him!  If anyone has any tips for introducing a baby to a dog, we are all ears.

—

That is our world right now – thoughts and preparations for baby girl and a few other small things.  So, not much else to blab about this Monday.  So, I’m off to make album edits, talk to new clients and keep things running around here, as we wait….

—

Have a great week!

But, ask me which one was best, and I’ll be hard pressed to come to a decision.  I loved each and every wedding I shot last year – all for different reasons.  So, I figured I’d let you decide!

Which is your favorite wedding of 2011?  I’ve listed them in chronological order below, each with a link on the bride & groom’s name to their blog post.  Base your decision on whatever you want, but do vote.  The winning wedding will receive a free 24×36 Canvas Gallery Wrap!  When we have run these contests in the past, the top two are usually neck-in-neck, so we are awarding second place a prize too – a 16×24 Canvas Gallery Wrap.

Voting is at the bottom of this post.  You have until January 16th at 11:45pm to vote (just 10 days!) and each person (IP Address) can vote once a day.  To help your favorite win, be sure to share this blog post with your friends, and post it to facebook (there’s a handy little button for that too, at the bottom of this post).

Winners will be announced on Tuesday January 17th, here on the blog, and also on twitter and  facebook.

Julie & Dusty

January 8, 2011

Bessemer, Michigan – Big Powderhorn Mountain Ski Resort

Nipun & Emily

April 30, 2011

Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Boerner Botanical Gardens

Elise & Dan

May 7, 2011

Chicago, IL – Holy Family Catholic Church and The Newberry Library

Gaibrelle & Sam

May 14, 2011

Door County, Wisconsin – Simon Creek Winery and Horseshoe Bay Beach Club

Jen & Shane

May 17, 2011

Corolla, North Carolina – The Hemingway

Sara & Patrick

May 21, 2011

Milwaukee, WI – Bacchus Restaurant

Stephanie & Chris

June 4, 2011

Green Lake, Wisconsin  - Heidel House Resort

Stephanie & Ethan

June 17, 2011

Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Pier Wisconsin

Ali & Kevin

June 25, 2011

Pewaukee, Wisconsin – Seven Seas Restauarant

Rachel & Joe

July 15, 2011

Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Milwaukee Art Museum

Christa & Jason

July 30, 2011

Kohler, WI – Whistling Straits and The American Club

Kristin & Andrew

August 6, 2011

Milwaukee, WI – St. John’s Cathedral and The Pfister

Lauren & Walter

August 13, 2011

Lake Geneva, WI – The Abbey Resort

Emily & Nick

August 20, 2011

Door County, Wisconsin- Woodwalk Gallery

Emily & Dave

August 28, 2011

Milwaukee, WI – Villa Terrace and Lake Park Bistro

Mark & Liz

September 3, 2011

Detroit, Michigan – St. Joseph Catholic Church and Pine Knob Mansion

Abby & Greg

September 10, 2011

Waterford, Wisconsin – Private Residence

Ashley & Tom

September 17, 2011

Ames, Iowa – Collegiate Methodist Church and Iowa State Memorial Union

Jessica & Brennan

October 1, 2011

Fort Madison, Iowa – Private Residence

Katie & Khaled

October 2, 2011

Madison, Wisconsin – Mansion Hill Inn

Gina & Jason

October 29, 2011

Milwaukee, WI  - St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and Marcus Center of the Performing Arts

Julie & Tucker

November 5, 2011

Chicago, Illinois – Holy Family Catholic Church and Salvage One

Morgan & Joe

December 3, 2011

Milwaukee, Wisconsin –   St. Jerome Parish and The Grain Exchange

Overwhelming, isn’t it?  2012 is shaping up to have so many amazing love stories of its own to be captured!  We still have prime dates in May and June available, as well as the rest of the year – so don’t hesitate to contact me.

For updates on who’s in the lead, be sure to follow m three studio on facebook and twitter!

I feel the same about life’s other big moments.  Like where Hubby and I are at right now.  These last moments of pregnancy are the sweetest time.  We will never, ever again be just a couple waiting for our first child to arrive.  We will never be this naive, this expectant, this excited.  Sure, children still to come will cause much of the same anticipation, but it will never be quite like this first time.

Right now there are only possibilities.  Wonderment.  Speculation.

Will she look like me or him?  Will she be stubborn or easy-going?  What will her cry sound like?  Will Ringo like her?  When will she arrive?  What name will we choose for her?

Of course there are fears and worries too.

Will we be able to figure it all out?  How will we ever raise a proper little lady?  Who will watch her when we both have to work?  How will her presence change our marriage?  Will we miss being just us, or will we never look back?

But even those more worrisome thoughts are somehow sweet right now.

This is why when people say to me “oh, you must be so anxious to get your pregnancy over with!”, I shake my head no and smile.  I’m not itching to be done.  I’m savoring it.  It could all end any moment, and I won’t have the joy of feeling her kick or roll, the surprise of her weight as I turn over at night, or the wonderment of a growing belly anymore.  These are all things I love, among many other things about being pregnant.  I’m grateful for this child, not annoyed by it.  I’m going to be sad to loose those things, though I’m sure they will be replaced by many other joys.  But still – this time of preparation is unique and won’t be repeated.

So for today, I’m rubbing that little foot that just poked out on my belly and smiling.  Soon enough we’ll have answers to so many of these questions.  I’ve got my eye on the goal of all of this, sure.  But in the meantime, I’m quite content to look around and soak it all in.

For now, there is only sweet anticipation.

—

So on that baby subject – yep, still pregnant.  Hubby was a bit disappointed we missed out on the tax deduction, but I’m glad she is taking her time.  Holiday birthdays are no fun, and the longer she waits, the better on that front.  The baby isn’t technically due for just under two weeks, but of course she could come any day now.  We’ve been hard at work getting things ready for her – painting a dresser, organizing her things, washing little clothes, etc.  I’m still feeling pretty great, all things considered, and I’m thankful for that.

—

I had a number of meetings with new clients over the holidays – so many awesome 2012 and 2013 weddings coming up!  Something like 30% of couples get engaged over the holidays, so it will be interesting to see what comes in as inquiries in the coming weeks.  We still have great dates in May and June open for this year, and many other months as well.  It’s always exciting to see how the year takes shape – what destinations I’ll be called to, what stories will be told.

—

Big game today – the Badgers take on the Rose Bowl.  Ringo is already running around the house in his little Badgers sweater in anticipation.

—

Our Holidays were great.  Busy, hectic even at times, but great.  The nephews were a joy to watch – especially Ethan, who is old enough now to participate in a way and really be fun.  I think Hubby was more excited to give that gift, than any other.  I couldn’t help but think that next year we will have three toddlers running around at Christmas – including baby girl.  Wow, how things change quickly!

—

I understood why every retailer bombarded my inbox with sale emails pretty much every day in December.  But now that the holidays are over – they can stop.  I’ve been unsubscribing from lists for days it seems.  Goodness.  Sometimes it’s just all too much “shop, shop, shop!”.

—

Stay tuned next week for our “Best of 2011″ contest – you don’t want to miss it!

—

It seems like there should be more to write about, but my days really have been consumed by finishing up 2011 work, booking new clients, the holidays and getting ready for the baby.  I guess that’s enough really.  I hope your holidays were stellar and that 2012 looks especially bright for you.

Julie & Tucker’s wedding was one of my favorites this year.  Not because of their unique and fun vintage style, not because of the incredible reception location of my dreams – Salvage One, not because they were married in one of my favorite Chicago catholic churches – Holy Family, not because of Tucker’s southern drawl, not because of their super fun wedding party – but because of Julie and Tucker themselves.  They are the sort of couple you get sucked into orbit with and find yourself magnetized to.  You are riveted because they are so rich in life, so deep in love and so much freakin’ fun.  They are a couple you wish you were cool enough to be friends with.  And yeah, some of those other things might help.

Julie and Tucker got ready at The Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel – so, so, so gorgeous, and just the right fun and posh start to their day.

The ceremony was at my favorite Chicago catholic church – Holy Family.  I’ve shot there before, and its just gorgeous every time.  Beautiful light, an amazing dramatic but friendly interior, and one of the nicest priests you’ll ever meet.

Starting from this moment below, Julie smiled thru the entire ceremony, and really the entire day.  Seriously, she was giddy with love and happiness, and it was clear on her face.

This picture below is what every church wedding should be.  Fun, full of life and personal, as well as traditional and reverent.  Julie and Tucker brought in an episcopal priest close to Tucker’s family who co-officiated, and adding this personal element made their ceremony just that much more them.  This moment right after their vows, as everyone transitioned to the next step, with Julie & Tucker overtaken in laughter and the business of a ceremony unfolding around them, epitomizes their comfort and joy.   Most church ceremonies feel stiff and unfamiliar – but not this one!

See what I mean about that light?

The photo below – all Julie & Tucker’s idea, and all them.  Easily a favorite of mine, forever.

I don’t usually include outtakes or silly photos in the blog post.  But, this shot below is just so the type of humor you encounter with Julie & Tucker every couple of minutes, that I couldn’t leave it out.

Ah, so now we get to Salvage One.  My dream wedding reception venue.  (Okay, well, one of them)  An architectural artifact and found object store/warehouse in downtown Chicago that hosts events within the store. What could be better for exploring and partying?  Oh, how I love this place!  So much fun, so much to work with photographically, and so much personality oozing out of every corner.

Each table setting was a different feel and era of furniture, so I felt it only fitting to immortalize these choices with some chair portraits:

Tucker’s mom is a pottery artist and made all of the vases for the centerpieces:

On the left below – hangover cures for each guest to take on their way home – so adorable!

The Alabama vs. LSU game was the same day as Julie & Tucker’s wedding.  And well, from what I understand, being a ‘Bama boy means being a fan from birth – so I loved it when Tucker’s Mom checked in on the game with him during dinner from her phone.

Recipe for a rockin’ reception?  Awesome setting, dramatic lighting, a jammin’ band, and a relative who can take to the microphone and the harmonica and totally take over the crowd!

The Credits:

Ceremony Venue: Holy Family Catholic Church

Reception Venue: Salvage One

Getting Ready Venue: Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel

Florist: Asrai Garden

Makeup and Hair: Pin Me Up Chicago

Catering: J&L

Band: The Homewreckers

Cake: Alliance Bakery

Bride’s Gown: Lazaro

Bridesmaids Dresses: J. Crew

Groom’s Suit: Balani

Julie & Tucker – where to start?  I wish our time together hadn’t already come to an end.  I loved working with you both and getting to know you this past year!  You are so fun, and so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful family and friends who love and support you, but also add to that level of fun.  May the joy, blessings and wonderful memories of your wedding day be only the beginning of a spectacular married life together!

Gina and Jason’s story is all about finding the divine in unexpected places.  They met on a day and in a moment that neither one thought would lead to anything.  And their wedding vows were spoken at a church that is truly gorgeous, and definitely a hidden, unknown gem on Milwaukee’s north-west side – St. Francis of Assisi.  They celebrated on Halloween weekend with an event that was anything but the expected spooky, but instead full of beauty and elegance at the Marcus Performing Arts Center.

Jason’s little niece started the ceremony off right with an adorable entrance:

There was just enough time that afternoon for a stop for champagne and cigars – so fun!

The Credits:

Ceremony Venue: St. Francis of Assisi

Reception Venue: Marcus Center of the Performing Arts

Florist: Fresh Design

Cake: The Cake Lady

Band: The Kingfish Band

Catering: Sazama’s

Makeup: On Location

Day of Coordinator: The City Bride

Bride’s Gown: Lazaro – Gigi of Mequon

Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Priscilla of Boston

Men’s Suits: Calvin Klein

Acoustic Guitar: Mitch Green

Gina & Jason – Thank you for including m three studio in your wedding day plans.  We had such a great time laughing along with you, all day.  Your wedding was blessed with sunshine, warmth, beauty and lots and lots of laughter.  All great ingredients for a long and happy marriage.  May this day just be the beginning!