Ella Jane's Birthday!

5 years of dating, a 7-month engagement, less than 2 months of "trying," 1 pregnancy test, 9 months of anticipation, 1 week past her due date, 1 day before being induced.....today my close friends Robyn and Burton became parents....it is Ella Jane's birth-day!



Welcome to the world, sweet girl!



Ella Jane's proud Poppa...prepare to be spoiled! :-)





Robyn's sister and brother-in-law...



Aunt RaRa and Catherine Grace



All the cousins! Zach was one of my very first subjects when I started photography. :-)



Robyn's nieces were so excited to meet their baby cousin Ella Jane.



Congratulations Robyn and Burton! I'm so happy for you!



By the way, while we're talking numbers, mine and Robyn's friendship is 40+ years in the making: not only did she and I graduate from high school together, but our mothers also graduated from high school together!

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Twins are Twice as Nice!

Who says that less is more?? My good friends Fred and Jennifer recently welcomed twin boys into their lives. After being on bedrest (or "recliner-rest") for most of the summer, Jennifer managed to go almost full-term with the boys. Elliott and McCrea are so sweet and cute! We had their first photo session on their 1-week birthday, and lemme tell you--these brothers are good at taking turns...one would cry while the other was nice and quiet, and then they would switch roles. ;-) Seriously, it was a fun day and I was so happy to get to photograph the babies while they were still so little and "new." Newborns change from day-to-day, and I've never had a mom tell me they regretted doing portraits within the first week or two! Fred and Jennifer are so blessed with these healthy little boys, and I've been blessed by their friendship. They have been waiting anxiously for their family's blog-debut! So here goes...

Elliott is deep in thought...





LOVE this one!


Jennifer sings Barry Manilow tunes to calm them down. Apparently the twins are little tiny "fan-ilows."


If you read the blog, you know I'm a little obsessed with shoes. Well, I also love baby feet. These babies have teeny little tootsies, and I completely adore these next two shots.





More tiny toes...


Oh my goodness, I *heart* this photo!!



Big Brother (by 5 minutes) Elliott...


Little Brother McCrea...


Not a happy face, but sweet anyway!



"You lookin' at ME?"



"Ohh, woe is me..."



A couple of details from around the house...



Fred has family in Minnesota, and it only makes sense that they are already grooming the boys to be Twins fans!



And finally, a whole family of feeties. (I swear, my foot/shoe thing really isn't unhealthy. Really.) We decided that every time the boys have their portraits taken we will have to re-create this image to show how they've grown!




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Marilynn: Leaving Ash-vegas

Over the past couple of years, Marilynn has become one of my closest friends. She has an infectious laugh, a quick (and sarcastic) wit, a huge heart, and the craziest eyes you've ever seen. We have a tendency to get on the phone and three hours will pass in the blink of an eye.

A few months ago, Marilynn's job moved her from Asheville, NC, which had been her home for the past 10 years, to another part of the state. To commemorate the Asheville phase of her life and to get some killer canvases for her new downtown condo, we had a marathon photo shoot all over the city. Asheville is such a laid back and colorful place--murals, brightly painted doorways, sculptures, and beautiful mountain views every way you turn.

Marilynn was a freakin' rock star during this session; see for yourself...

Um, hello eyes!

If you are a fan of live music and you've never been to The Orange Peel, you'd better head on up the mountain and correct that mistake! Awesome venue for an eclectic mix of artists. Go, now!

Looooove this series outside of the Peel...

And for your final dose of sultry sassiness...

Whatcha think, color or black & white?

Either way, WOW.

Mar--Of course, you are fabulous! :-) I miss having you just an hour away, but yay for good cell plans!