Do you ever look back to the beginning of your friendships and wonder what the “spark” was? How did it all get started? Was it fate, or God, or maybe just the fact that conversation flowed so easily? Sometimes I wonder. I try and reflect on why certain people happen to enter your life at just the right time.

Jen and I met through a mutual friend at a mom’s cafe here in San Diego about a year ago. And since day one it was easy. She is one of those people that on the first day I met her I felt like I had known her forever. No awkward conversation or unbearable silences. Maybe that comes from the fact that every time we hang out we have several noisy children to help rid the air of silences. But I don’t think so. I think she is just like the missing puzzle piece. She just fits in. And the picture looks so much better with her here.

I could go on and on about how awesome she is and how ridiculously cute her kids are or about how blessed I am to know her  and her whole family or that I was so honored that they hired ME to update their family photos (for the second time this year!). Instead of all that I will just share some of the pictures that we got. I mean, this is my PHOTOGRAPHY blog, right?

Thank you Jen! Let me introduce the rest of you to Abbey and Ben…

The sky has been grey.  The temperature chilly.  No, not cold.  But come on.  I live in San Diego.  So anything below 68 degrees is defined as chilly to me.  I will admit, I am spoiled.  I used to know what “weather” was.  I swear.   But I don’t miss it.  Not even for a second.  If God asked me what weather I wanted in heaven, I would say, “San Diego.  I will take San Diego weather.”

Something about June gloom coupled with my nagging three week long sniffles has gotten me contemplating.  I don’t know why.  Maybe the lack of physical contact with others.  Maybe the fact that my butt has been glued to our red couch for almost two weeks straight.  Maybe because my head is so filled with snot that anything I say aloud just doesn’t seem to make sense.  So I have been in my head.  Contemplating.  More accurately, GOAL MAKING.  Who needs New Year’s for resolutions?  One cup of hot tea accompanied by June gloom and a dash of sick, and that is a recipe for making resolutions.

So, I don’t know if anyone actually reads this blog.  But my resolution is to post more.  At least once a week.  I am not sure what I will post about.  I guess you will just have to stay tuned.  If you have any thoughts on what you want to see, or know, or learn PLEASE feel free to leave some IDEAS IN THE COMMENTS.  I love ideas. 

Here is a picture of my daughter Dayla. We headed out a few days ago to “scout out” a location for a shoot. She liked the running around part the best I think. And shouting incessantly “Rooooar!” when she saw this dragon.

A few months ago I met the belly of Denay…and a few days ago I had the pleasure of meeting the baby inside. Sweet sweet baby Sophia.

You may remember Denay and her stunning pregnant belly. You may better recall her husband Greg and his shocking blue eyes. Or maybe you just remember how the camera had no problem capturing their incredible love. Sweet baby Sophia has fallen right in line with her parents. She is so sweet with beautiful blue eyes, a perfect little girl, and now just another perfect part in a family filled with love.

I have to give a little shout out to this family too because they were so welcoming to me! Thank you so much for inviting me in, making me part of the family, and well, letting me spend the whole morning with you guys! Without further ado, some of my favorite newborn pictures to date.

Can you believe this was not posed? Don't they look like a magazine family? I LOVE this image.

Got to love when a baby yawns.

I totally understand that not everyone is into naked babies. I will fess up. I am. I love naked babies. I was OVERJOYED that I could capture naked baby Sophia and all her little rolls.

Ecstatic to do my FIRST "skin to skin" photos! THANK YOU Denay for letting me post these! I just love them.

It was almost perfectly silent. A sound that I am not accustomed to much anymore. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, letting the smell of just damp pavement envelope me, loving that I was hearing nothing but the pit pat of my feet. It was so perfect. So peaceful.

All of a sudden the silence was broken. I was reluctant to open my eyes, having to leave my moment, but as my ears focused in I realized what had startled me was gentle, soft sobs. I peered through the branches of the near by oak tree, past the sea of small white headstones, to see her golden hair reflecting the sun. To her right, to her left, there were white headstones as far as the eye could see. But the one where she was, the one she leaned on, that was the one that mattered to her. Her head hung down, grasping her face, no longer struggling to hold back the tears. Then, through her tear stained face she quickly glanced at me, and what I saw staring back at me took my breath away. Youth. She was no older and probably no younger than I. My heart leapt. Suddenly it felt all too real. The headstone read, “Husband, Father”. Words that broke my heart as I saw her weep. For the first time in my life, on that glorious Sunday in Arlington Cemetery, Memorial Day meant something to me.

Arlington Cemetery is beautiful. Rolling green hills, elegant graceful oaks covering each path, million dollar views of downtown DC. It is truly a breath taking place. But your eyes cannot skip over the white head stones that dot each hill, that fold around each path, that sit next to you as you admire the million dollar view. Each one of those stones has a story. Each one of those stones has someone who has wept for them.

My whole trip to DC this last Memorial Weekend felt like that moment I had in Arlington. It was full of profound moments, of tears, of thanks to veterans. I have found a whole new appreciation for my country, for our nation’s leaders, for those who fight everyday, for those who have died to give us this life and these liberties. I thank God for these moments. I thank God for our veterans.

The Capitol Buildling

Rolling Thunder (Veterans with Harleys) flaunted it's presence everywhere

Library of Congress

US Supreme Court

We spent most of Memorial Day at the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Full color guard, watching two children stand next to elderly Vietnam veterans while they say the Pledge of Allegiance and a ceremony ending in “Taps”. It couldn’t have been a more moving or more perfect day.

That big ol' White House

It was an incredible three day weekend in Washington DC. My new wide angle lens, my best girl friend (no kid or husband!), perfect DC weather and taking in some awe-inspiring sights. Thanks for letting me share this experience with you!