How Much Do I Love My Mazey?

I spent the morning with my sister and my sweet niece, Mazey. There will definitely more to come, but I had to post at least one shot of this little face.



She gets keeps getting sweeter and cuter!!

Slideshow: Best of Kid Pics 2008

I am so lucky that I get to do this as my job. Not just because I love to be around children and love to take photographs but also because I consider it a high honor to be able to capture these moments for other families to cherish. Our kids grow and change so quickly and it means the world to have these little moments and expressions frozen in time.



A huge thank you to all of the families who invited me to spend time with their children and allowed me to bask in the joy of being a kid! These moments really feed my soul. Enjoy!

Best of Finn 2008

I can't believe my little man turned four. I thought about doing a slideshow of his first 4 years but since the photos are all over the place and on more than one computer, I figured I'd start small and do a more manageable project. Here is a selection of my favorite photos of Finn from the year 2008. Enjoy!

Merry Finnmas

We had a blast on Christmas. It is actually Finn's birthday, too. (Poor guy!) He has been dying to turn four and was sooo excited to wake up and finally be the same age as his cousin (and "best buddy") Nathaniel.

"This is the biggest lollipop ever! Is this a toy?!"





Finn asked for a Hot Wheels Haunted House that he saw in a catalogue, but when I saw this castle I just knew he had to have it. Trust me--this is much cooler. Of course, it was Santa who brought it.





I mean, how cool is this?! I think Tim likes it as much as Finn!



I already nailed my foot stepping on that knight who is holding a crazy mace. DOH!



My sweet baby's face.





This just reminds me so much of being a kid. Laying on the floor and playing for hours...




Finn got a Manly Toolbelt. He was very proud and very serious about it.



Here he measures Mazey:



Mazey just loves Finn. He can make her smile every time. Look--they're holding hands!



Cake time!







Finn is so cute--he gets so genuinely happy about the little stuff--just check out his expression as he waits for us to cut the cake:



Finn is painting pictures for his cousins with his new paints:









Building a city from the clay he got for his birthday:

Making a Difference...

Bringing an End to World Hunger Through Unimaginable Blessings

Today, millions of people who were once hungry will be nourished by milk, eggs and fresh vegetables.

Families who for generations knew only poverty will be building new homes and starting businesses.

Children who once headed out to the fields to do backbreaking work will be heading into schoolrooms to learn to read.

And people who never thought they’d be in a position to help someone else will be experiencing the joy of charitable giving.

How is this possible?

With Heifer’s proven approach – almost 60 years in the making – to helping people obtain a sustainable source of food and income.

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This Christmas the adults in my family have decided not to buy presents for each other, but to give the money we might have spent on one another to Heifer International, a wonderful organization whose mission is to end world hunger. If you have not heard of this group, please take a moment to visit their website. It is amazing what a difference you can make for a family with a gift as little as $20! And if you can pool your money with others' you can buy a goat or a sheep or a llama for a family in need! Check out their gift catalog to see what your money can buy for a family in need.

If your office does a Secret Santa or a Grab Bag, consider suggesting instead that everyone donate the $10 they would have spent on a candle or a gag gift to an office pool that could actually change someone's life! Seriously--how many hand lotions or candles do you really need?

Check it out. It's pretty enlightening.

What Matters Most...

I had the long overdue opportunity to spend some quality time with my boy this past week. The poor little guy has barely seen me for the past 8 weeks as I have been slammed at work and with weekend events since August.

It was not as much time as I would have wanted since I had to leave him for the weekend to host a shower and bachelorette party in Boston. But the time we had was pure fun and love and laughs. Not only is he the Cutest Boy I know (yes, I know, I am biased) but he is also a remarkably kind, funny and inquisitive little man and it is so amazing to watch him grow and learn.

I was also pleased to be able to get some nice shots of Finn with my Dad. This is on my list of 101 things I plan to accomplish in the next 1001 days. My parents have been watching Finn for 3+ days a week since he was 3 months old and the relationship he has with my father is truly incredible. He worships Grampa and Finn is the light of my dad's life. They are the best of friends. It makes me so happy and proud to see them together.







Finn latest favorite: Hide and Seek. He was sooo proud of this awesome "hiding" spot. You can barely see him, right?



Sweetness:



Finn loves looking at maps and wanted to help Grampa find the best route to the beach.










Finn wears Grampa's glasses. (Is it just me or does he look like Simon from Alvin and the Chipmunks?)



























Life is good:









This is what life is all about: