You can see more of this little beauty :: 

here 

and here  

(((warning...I'm not a writer...I'm a dreamer))) 

I love moments when our kids struggle with the decision to be totally independent vs. needing to be held or touched continually. I watched way too many cartoons as a kid (ahem...and maybe even as an adult...). When I see these images, I see the picture in my mind of the momma birdie who is scooching (yeah, I said scooching) her baby birds toward the edge of the nest to let them fly, but there's still an uncertainty that they can really do it on their own, so they retract. Then what? Then of course, momma bird is right there to cuddle them up and give reassurance that it truly will be okay. 

That's how it happened in the cartoons I watched anyway. I'm a sucker for symbolism. 

note : the image where he's walking through the field with his arms up....sigh....I love what is happening in this image...."hold me, mommy...get me". Blissful, fleeting mushiness.

I've had the privilege of photographing this family's journey for the last several years. Their youngest son was just a baby when we first met. I say this all this all the time, but it never gets old to me....watching kids grow and documenting their journey through childhood is one of the most fulfilling, meaningful aspects of my life. It is such a huge part of things I'm most grateful for. Another aspect of that gratitude is the parents that trust me to do it. Gigantically blessed.

Some kids just radiate joy...even when they're quiet. This little girl is full of it. Joy, that is.

These friends came up from Cleveland for our session and even after traveling in the car for 3 hours to get here, she popped right out of the car ready to go! I'm not certain my kids would have been that easy to deal with when they were that age, given the same circumstances. 

Anyway, I love the colorfulness, the quietness, the giggles, the texture and the sweetness of this little session. Makes me very, very happy. 

I've never been to a big stadium without thinking about the nostalgia of what baseball is in America. Going to watch a game is such an American thing to do, ya know? I can't find words to describe the feeling it gives me, it's just comfortable magic if I had to spit two descriptors out right now. Sounds silly to read that...but it IS kinda the two best words for me.

This little boy is obsessed with baseball and has been since I can remember. (Here's his last session if you're interested in peeking). His mom told me that this session was her dream session. I feel so grateful that she would trust me to document this special time in their life. They do baseball things, alot and so when this little punkin grows up and looks back on these images, hopefully all of the memories of his childhood with his parents at the ballpark will come flooding back to him. 

Isn't it cool how every family has their very own set of activities, ideas, beliefs, traditions? I love so, SO much seeing all of those nuances and being fortunate enough to document them.