homecoming

i have worked with this family since alayna was a tiny bundle and when i found out they were adopting a little girl from the ukraine i wanted to do something to help them celebrate.  find out more about this family here
dariya's homecoming slideshow

i jumped up and down and gave lots of hi-5s when i found this song-because i knew it fit perfectly with dariya's homecoming.


these are the lyrics to joy william's song


There you were and there I was
Was it fate from above?
Either way I found just what I need

All I do is think of you
Close my eyes and fall into
a world totally made for you and me

Oh don't you know, I love, love ya
I'll never let go, oh, i love ya
In all of my dreams, you're all I see
What can I do, but love you

Now I got someone to hold
To keep me warm while I was cold
A little scent to melt away the gray

It happened in the nick of time
Unexpected, sweet surprise
With one whose love will never be the same

Oh don't you know, I love, love ya
I'll never let go, oh, I love ya
In all of my dreams, you're all I see
What can I do, but love you

Oh don't you know, I love, love ya
I'll never let go, oh, I love ya
In all of my dreams, you're all I see
What can I do, but love you
Love you
I love you

jenn and jeff-a wedding

it was such an honor to be a part of this monumental day. i had a great time with these guys in december and just loved that they asked me to photograph their eureka springs wedding. there were so many wonderful moments, but my favorite was the feeling when they finally held hands to get married. it was such a powerful transition. their love for each other is easily visible and it was amazing to watch the adoration on their faces when they saw each other for the first time on their wedding day.

dreaming of a baby boy

ashley and matthew were such good sports and let me drive them around looking for good light and some grass (since most of ours has been sheared off for hay). they are so excited to welcome this new baby boy into their family. i can't wait to meet him!

adrienne and jillian

this slideshow was so much fun to compile-
you can watch it here

things i love
-jillian saying 'hey little fella' when adrienne first arrived home
-jillian dancing to the 'hot dog' song from mickey mouse
-how jillian calls her malia's mom 'grams' as in 'where grams go?'
-malia's expression leaving the hospital
-how much matt loves his girls
-how 'grams' whispered to adrienne "you are such a miracle"
-reconnecting with a good friend
-matt holding up the hand made blanket so i could take pictures (not everyday i have a physician for an assistant :))
-malia's amazing abilities as a mother-and her honesty about how difficult it can be...

hey there little fella

when malia and matt arrived home with adrienne for the first time-jillian ran up to the car seat and said 'hey there lil'fella'. she was so proud of her new baby sister that it brought out quite a few tears in all of us witnessing this once in a lifetime moment. her innocent sweetness was, as malia said, 'the best 20 minutes of my life'. they love this jillian so much that i know malia worried about how it would be having 2. watching love expand is an amazing thing-watching as a family instantly transforms to take on a precious and new baby girl is the best thing-especially when the mom and dad have been such good friends for years and years.   they are all in love-and even though i have 3 beautiful faces at home-it was really hard for me to leave.

slideshow will be done soon!

matt and jillian have a 3 kiss tradition-eskimo, conehead and fish kiss :)

on friendship-
i'm always blown away by how easy it is to step into an old friendship again-
malia and i were roommates in OT school-and haven't seen each other in a few years. and even after all those years of living 400 miles apart-we instantly connect again like it was yesterday-
THANK YOU so much guys-for letting me be a part of this incredible experience. this has got to be the best job ever :)