going back to the start

It is always such an incredible feeling…  to be an observer of growth,

light,

and love.

To Courtney and Mark, many blessings as you grow your family tree.

Off to dream of my own someday branches and blooms,

Bing

Ninja Thought of the Day:

“Other things change us, but we start and end with family.”

Anthony Brandt

I said woof, be mine

My dog,

though undoubtably the greatest dog around,

is a total prissy-pants when it comes to getting dirty.

This week, he refused to go in the backyard for 3 days because there was a mud puddle in front of the fence.

He just hates getting wet or yucky.  (I swear he gets it from The Doc.)

Today, I just couldn’t stay inside any longer and had to go out and capture the sparkles of light and the dreamy white.  I did a “mean old mommy” thing and dragged poor Beau-Dawg out with me.

Now, getting Beau to step a paw outdoors took some mad ninja skills… I stole his beloved stuffed Monkey and threw him out onto the snow.

Beau was let me know with a whimper and a glare that he was not too happy with me and trudged out to rescue Monkey.   Once outside, he promptly picked up Monkey and tried to shake the snow off of him.

(pardon the ponytail.. or would that be doggy tail?… anyway, dude seriously needs a haircut!)

Wonder how long it will be before Beau decides to visit his house?  Probably not until the icicles melt… wouldn’t want to get snow water on his precious fur!

I know, I know, I am such a big fat meanie.

But I just had to have someone to share the beauty with.

And now for something not so beautiful  (parents, you may want to shield your children from this image.. it may scar them for life)…

What happens when I stay home for two days with no interest in showering…

Off to eat yet another bowl of cereal (snow days suck for people who can’t cook!),

Bing

Ninja Thought of the Day:

A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.

Carl Reiner

are you a seed, are you a tree

Just when my hopes were diminishing and the possibility of a Baby Osterman was seeming quite impossible,

I had the great fortune to be able to capture the newest chapter in the Scott family history.

Luke and his adorable big sister, Ava, are true miracles.

Their amazing mom shared with me their story of struggle and wishing and  finally, answered prayers.  Their story, which tugged my heart because it so painfully mirrors my own.

I just hope that our outcome is as wonderous as theirs.

Welcome to the world, Baby Luke.  May you always be a reminder that true miracles happen, and celebrate each day of your life for the miracle that it is.

(couldn’t leave out the super-proud brand-spankin’ new big sister…)

Off to dreamland,

Bing

Ninja Thought of the Day:

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

Albert Einstein

your safe haven

Has it really been 20 days since I blogged last?  I guess I’ve been super busy putting together this year’s recital for the dance school and photographing loads of sweet babies to notice the time flying by!

This little guy and his awesome parents came to see me last week.  I had a lovely time getting to know Baby Anthony.

He has the most soulful eyes I have ever seen on a newborn… like he already knows all the wisdom he’ll ever need to lead a beautiful life.

He stared deep into my eyes for several frames, as we had a silent conversation while I pressed the shutter.

His depth and light and the wonder and awe of his parent’s connection with him was truly an incredible sight to behold.

Welcome to this world,  precious little man.  May you always listen to your heart and obey the wisdom you already possess.

Off to dreamland,

Bing

Ninja Thought of the Day:

“I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.”

Maya Angelou

into the wild blue yonder

So,  confession time…  I only blog a fraction of the sessions I shoot.

There is no “favorites list” or sessions that I like better than others (really, that is like asking me which arm I like better).

Truly, it boils down to which sessions I have model releases for, and whatever happens to be on my mind at any given moment.

However, I have decided to play catch-up on a few images that I loved but never got the chance to blog.

To my amazing, sweet, trusting clients- thank you for an incredible year!  I am so completely blessed to have been a small part of your stories this year.

Here are only a handful of the images and faces that touched my heart in 2009:

Off to dreamland,

Bing

Ninja Thought of the Day:

I made no resolutions for the New Year.  The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning and molding my life, is too much of a daily event for me.

~Anaïs Nin

it’s the climb

Gracey is  spiritual and has the sweetest of spirits.

She sings with her whole soul.

She is sunshine and goodness

and is ready to spread her wings.

Fly sweet Gracey…  the world is yours.

Off to dreamland,

Bing

Ninja Thought of the Day:

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own.
And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”

Dr. Suess

my winter song

For the hole in my heart for those lost, and the hope in my soul for those who will come [to stay].

Winter Song

by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michealson

This is my winter song to you

The storm is coming soon

It rolls in from the sea

My voice, a beacon in the night

My words will be your light

To carry you to me

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love…

They say that things just cannot grow

Beneath the winter snow

Or so I have been told

They say we’re buried far

Just like a distant star

I simply cannot hold

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

This is my winter song

December never felt so wrong

‘Cause you’re not where you belong

Inside my arms

I still believe in summer days

The seasons always change

And life will find a way

I’ll be your harvester of light

And send it out tonight

So we can start again

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

This is my winter song

December never felt so wrong

‘Cause you’re not where you belong

Inside my arms

This is my winter song to you

The storm is coming soon

It rolls in from the sea

My love, a beacon in the night

My words will be your light

To carry you to me

Off to dream,

Bing

Ninja Thought of the Day:

“Hope is the dream of a soul awake.”

-French proverb

merry and bright

Merry Christmas and the Happiest Splendiferously Magnificent New Year!!!!!

happy birthday to you, you live in a zoo

Everyone has that “someday” age.

You know, when you’re a kid and you think “someday when I am this age I’ll be a grown-up”.

That age for me was always 27.  As if there is something magical about being 27.  I always thought I would just wake up on my 27th birthday and just know how to be a grown-up.  That I would have all the answers and be ready for anything.

Well, yesterday morning was my 27th birthday and I woke up and forgot that it was my birthday.

(Lucky for me, I also woke up with The Doc’s handsome face looking at me whispering “happy birthday love”)

My best birthday gift?

Realizing that it’s okay to not know.

Here is what I do know for now:

Things I will never out-grow:

The inability to resist the urge to jump into a pile of leaves in my backyard.

“Skating” in my socks on my kitchen floor.

Veggie Tales.

Needing my momma’s hugs when life just hurts.

Colorful bandaids and orange popcicles.

The inability to keep Christmas and birthday presents a secret from the people I buy them for.

Dancing around my room and singing with my hairbrush.

Jumping on the beds immediately upon entering hotel rooms.

“Eskimo kisses”

Shooting paper straw wrappers at the person sitting across from me at restaurants.

The idea that people are basically good and that fairies might actually exist.

Things I hope to grow into:

Being a wife.  A good one.  You know- the kind that cooks and cleans.

Remembering to send thank you notes.

Being a person who does not lose her keys (and glasses and purse and brain) everyday.

Being a better role model.  Even when I am tired and stressed and grumpy.

Answering emails without writing a novel and having conversations without talking in circles.

The ability to sit still.

Being as good of a mom one day as my momma was to me.

Off to spread some sunshine,

Bing

Ninja Thought of the Day:

“We grow neither better nor worse as we get old, but more like ourselves.”

-May Lamberton Becker

the heart of life is good

Gratitude

is the cure, the anti-drug.

is the art of life.

is the heart of life.

There are reasons for gratitude everywhere.  Gratitude is yours to discover.

And when you find it… you will also find that an attitude of gratitude replaces regret, self-pity, and worry.

A challenge to you:  Find five things everyday for the next week that you are grateful for.  Write them down (or, if you are a dorky photographer like me… photograph them!).  You will find that you go through your days searching for things and people and moments to be grateful for.  Your eyes will never be the same again.  Your soul will never feel the world the same again.

My gratitude for the day:

I am grateful for where I come from.  Humble, tiny, old house.  Poor, working, single momma.  Infinite, unconditional, powerful love.

My old bedroom window….

(click to make larger)

Off to dreamland,

Bing

Ninja Thought of the Day:

“It’s not what you look at that matters.  It’s what you see.”

Henry David Thoreau