They say time flies.  I don't need to tell you this.  I'm sure everyone and their mom has told you this so you don't need me to reiterate it again.  I have babies of my own (I mean, my oldest turns TEN next year. 10.  DOUBLE DIGITS!!!) so I get how fast the years go.  So when Malyssa contacted me to setup Dallas' one year smash and splash and family session, it doesn't really feel real- it feels like we just finished their newborn session a few months ago!

I say it every. single. time.

Where does the time go?

How has it already been a year?

Why are they so big?

Time. Flies.

Noooooooo.  (I know, I'm dramatic).

How did we go from this?

To this?!

Yay!  Your baby is here, we've already planned your session, and you're leaving the house within 24 hours to come to my toast session.  Now, if you're a client of mine, you've also received an e-mail about how to prep for the session, but lots of people I know like to plan- so here's the three things you need to bring to your newborn session.

1. You.  Obviously.  You're pretty important to babe.  Some dads come.  Some dads are back to work already.  Some dads are sleeping (which you can do at the studio as well- I won't be offended.  Lastly, some dads are home with the older siblings.  In addition, come as you are- there will be plenty of time to get yourselves ready for the family portion while I photograph your baby.
2. Baby.  Again- SO OBVIOUS.  I really, really need a baby to come with you to do the session we've discussed!

I'd love to say welcome to the world Miss Amelia, but I'm SO incredibly behind blogging (we're talking years, here folks), that this isn't new news!  We had to postpone the newborn session a bit because my entire family brought home Covid from Gulf Shores.  However, we still managed to get a gorgeous session with a sleepy Amelia.  Jessica knew exactly what she wanted for her summer baby, and we had so much fun planning and executing her studio session for her baby girl.

Since Amelia is a summer baby, so we brought ALL the colors into her studio session.  We were able to utilize corals, mint, blues, and lavender and threw in a last minute a sweet profile backlit image to capture all those sweet little details that we all want to remember, but sleep makes them easy to forget.

As an extra bonus to having a studio session, we were able to incorporate her Grandma's love of plants into a super cute setup.  

Ok, so technically, it's not quite on Lake Taylorville, but seriously, it's close enough.  To say the Oesch's have a gorgeous property, especially for a family session is an understatement.

I've known Clint and Lindsey for about eight years now.  It seems like I photographed half of the Moweaqua peeps' weddings and whatnot for a few years and he was in a bunch of them- if not all- so he was photographed a lot in those few years!

One day I needed a pony fix and Lindsey volunteered her and her gorgeous paint, Lexi for the session and a photography friendship was born based around babies and ponies and pictures (she was preggers with Landon the first time I photographed her and Lex).

I did Camden's newborn session last year, and it was beyond time for his first birthday session. 

I'M BACK!

Full disclosure: I've been traveling since last Friday and have scheduled posts. I haven't responded to any comments because aside from Saturday I've been going non-stop.  However, I had a lot of thoughts that wouldn't fit in a post on IG, and who reads through crap on FB anymore, right?

For some time now, every time I've left the kids, I really didn't "pine" for them so to speak. I thought about them, hoped they were behaving for whatever governing authority was home with them, but otherwise was doing what I came to do.  Whether that be work related, self-care with a girlfriend, or a quick getaway with my husband, I've always enjoyed myself.  I've always looked forward to and love my little two day trips that I've taken (the whole two times this year).

Friday/Saturday was alllll me time with my best friend in Mizzou country.