You may remember this beautiful mom from a few posts back (here) and I mentioned that he would be an Aquarius IF he waited until January 21st. Well, he didn't wait and THEN they changed the zodiac signs on top of that so . . . under any circumstance, he's a capricorn now! Which is an awesome guy by any measure! January 20, 2011 and Michael just couldn't wait another day to meet the parents. And it is certainly a match made in heaven. They all got snowed in together shortly after so they've had plenty of bonding time without too many visitors to get to know each other. We squeezed his session in between the two snowstorms that hit this month and I'm so glad we did. He was a couple of days past the 14 for official newborn and look how strong and alert! Already pushing up and wiggling all around. Michael is one lucky little guy. Not only does he have parents who can't put him down but as soon as they do, he has a guardian - George (I like to say it with a French accent) - a Great Pyrenees. I predict they will become good friends.

Oh my, I can't really think of anything I like better than new babies but if I had to come up with something, I'd have to say it's new parents. I just love them. I love the way they stare at this little person who is undoubtedly running their lives now. I love the way they smile at every little movement she makes with amazement.  I love the sometimes unsteady but going for it way they hand her off to each other and I LOVE the looks they give each other over the baby. So proud and united!  They have made a FAMILY. Oh, and it's official and it's being announced by it's newest member at regular (and irregular) intervals. It's the first-born bond that as parents, you never forget.  I was privileged to see this all again last week when little Mia was here. Six weeks old - past the "newborn" stage but just 10 pounds and still very tiny! Tons of dark hair, deep, dark eyes rimmed with long dark lashes (just like her daddy's) and a little hint of pink in her cheeks and pouty lips (just like her beautiful mama's!) Precious with a capital 'P'. And those fat little cheeks, creased arms and legs . . .really, I could just eat her up with a spoon! She did not sleep - she dozed briefly a couple of times but mostly was very alert and did not want to miss a thing. We riled her up a bit from time to time and she got pretty mad once or twice (which BTW doesn't phase anyone around here), but overall, she was a trouper!  Her Grandfather was here from New Jersey visiting this brand new granddaughter of his and it's easy to see, he, too is quite smitten!

I'm not really sure who it was that thought ballet lessons for a not-quite two-year-old was a good idea. At least, I'm not sure why anyone in their right mind thought our little high-spirited, high-energy, highfalutin filly would conform to passés and pliés. Lucy commandeered the studio for an hour, through tears, tantrums, gaiety and glee. Then we left, vowing not to show our faces again....for at least a year. Oh, Lucy!    ~sophia

The literal translation for 'Bella' is beautiful. You don't need to know any other language to know that's what it means when you meet this little girl. Her big blue eyes will envelope your soul and draw you into her beauty. Just ask her dad. He's a total goner! Autumn and Jack are one of my first wedding couples. Blogs didn't exist then, so I'll give a brief recap. Beautiful girl tending bar in Bluedome Jazz club meets Navy Pilot grounded for one day by weather on what should have been a flyover. Love happens under the strangest of circumstances doesn't it? Fate.  Whirlwind romance, beautiful wedding, and now, as they live happily ever after on the sunny beaches of Florida, another beautiful addition to their love story... Bella. They were in town visiting Autumn's family for the holidays and I was thrilled to see them and this precious little baby girl! We all arranged our schedules to make a bit of time to play with Miss Bella. I'm so glad we did! A perfect love needed just this (it's so funny how that happns) to make it even more perfect.  Their bella vita just got sweeter and que Bella!

Newborns. They are so incredible. A brand new person, waiting to take on the world, who just a short time ago was still growing inside his mother. Paxton was born September 27th - 3 minutes after the stroke of midnight to be exact and you may remember his little birthday show posted here.  I got a visit from him just two weeks later!  I really like to have newborns in within the first two weeks if possible b/c they are so cooperative and usually sleep a lot still. At two weeks, they start getting a little wirey! My absolute favorite thing to photograph is a new baby with a new momma. I almost feel like I'm intruding a bit but it so fascinates me to just observe. The way they look each other over with wonder in their eyes. The way each of their voices invokes instant reaction from the other. The connection between them right from the start. All the things being written in the books of their lives without a word spoken.  Amazing to me. Truly. I could watch for hours.  We couldn't get this little stinker to stay asleep  but he did doze a bit and he was so precious when he was awake. So alert and looking around. I think he knows he's already the big news. Pax means "peace" in latin, and he even had a little hat to symbolize it. We'll have lots of fun with this little guy! Peace - out ... I mean ... Pax - out, little dude!