The Ervin Family

Last week I had the privilege of taking pictures of the Ervin family.  I have known Shawna for a long time.  She was friends with my sister but was one of the only one of my sister's friends who included me!  I loved hanging out with Shawna.  Two years ago, Shawna asked me if she and her husband could come over and observe Jameson because they were adopting a little boy from South Korea and he was the same age as Jameson.  They came over and we had a nice evening and they followed JJ around to see what he was into.  A month or two later they left for Korea and brought home little Andrew.  He fit right into their family and he is a joy to be around.

A few weeks ago, they went back to South Korea to get little Grace.  Oh my!  She is so cute.  When they pulled up in the car, I went over to Grace's carseat to say hello.  As soon as Shawna got her out of her seat, she held her arms out to me so I could hold her.  Awe....so cute.  She captured my heart right then.  She was so happy and well adjusted and did AMAZING during her first photo shoot.

Because of all of the legal issues with foreign adoption, Grace's face cannot appear anywhere on the internet for public viewing for another six months.  Shawna wanted to do a Christmas card picture to show their new family, but had to do it without Grace's face.  This was a fun challenge.  I enjoyed thinking of fun ways to photograph them without having her face toward the camera.  Of course I took lots of really cute ones with her face, but those will be for their eyes only for a while.  Maybe Shawna or I will give you a sneak peek in six months.  But for now, here is what we got.

I think this next one is my favorite.  I wish you could see the look of love on Grace's face!  You can see, however, the look of love on Shawna's face.  Makes my heart melt.

Shooting Jameson

Don't you love that title?  Did it scare you?  As a photographer, you use a different language.  People often give me crazy looks when I say things like "I have to go shoot a newborn".  Then I have to say, "I mean take pictures of a newborn" and that clears it up.  It is just funny sounding.

Yesterday, I had a photo shoot with Jameson.  Note to self:  photographers should not take pictures of their own children for professional reasons.  I tend to get a little cranky and I find  myself yelling at them, which isn't good for anyone.

Since becoming a photographer,  I haven't had any professional pictures taken of my kids.  That is bad.  I am hoping to have a friend and fellow photographer take some family pictures for us.  We have a picture wall of pictures going up the stairs in our house with all of the yearly professional pictures.  Guess what?  It hasn't been updated for while.  Cute little Jameson will be one year old forever on the picture wall.

Hence the reason for the aforementioned (I love using that word) photoshoot.  It actually went pretty well.  If I can keep the shooting (hee hee) to 15-20 minutes, he does pretty well.  Tell me what you think.  I think he is a pretty cute boy and makes my job as a photographer pretty easy.  Don't let the cute smile and darling blue eyes fool you.......he can still be a pistol.  But he is a pretty cute little pistol.

This is what he did when I said "smile".

Stinker!

Don't you love this hand chair?  Got it for $7 at a used sale at the preschool.

You want me to do what?

Oh, like this?

I'm a sucker for cowboy boots

Are we done yet?

Got the one I wanted!

I hope you have fun shooting photographing your kids as much as I do!

Baby Ellison

Oh, I love babies.  I love the way their heads smell, the way the snuggle into you, the way it makes you feel to hold one that you love...I love everything about babies.  Especially when I can hold them, love them, take pictures of them, and then give them back and get a FULL night of sleep.

This one is pretty special.  His daddy is pretty special to us.  He and my husband go way back and therefore, I go way back too (considering we have been married for almost 13 years).  He is one of those guys everyone likes to be around.  He makes you feel loved and special and he can make you laugh.  He is one of those guys you are jealous of because he takes all of these amazing adventures.  Have you ever been to Iceland, spent a semester on a boat, lived abroad in France, been to Cuba, seen Machu Picchu? Do you live in New York and work on Broadway or have you danced with Sarah Jessica Parker? Me neither, but I feel like I have because I have lived all those things through him.  Now he is embarking on an even greater, more rewarding adventure.  Parenthood!

Todd is a more recent addition to our family.  We have gotten to know him over the last 7 years and he is amazing too.  He is more of the quiet reserved type, but has a twinkle in his eye.  Now I know what the twinkle is.  He is lovable and sweet, caring and funny and tells great stories.  He exudes calmness and modesty, but he is SUPER talented.  He is a great balance for Gavin.

I live in white, Christian, conservative, Colorado where there isn't much diversity.  People (including me) tend to be quick to judge and look at people who don't fit the "traditional" with their eyebrows raised.  I have loved getting to know these guys as a couple.  Are they different from the norm?  Yes.  Do I love them and LOVE to spend time with them?  YES. YES. YES.

Now they have baby Ellison.  Did he come the traditional way?  Nope.  Is it different from the world's view of normal?  Yes.  Will he be loved?  YES.  Isn't that all that matters?  I think about all of the orphans, the kids of alcoholics, victims of A.I.D.S., abused children and the children who have been abandoned.  It makes me incredibly sad and angry.  And you know what I think?  Ellison is one of the luckiest kids around.  He is going to be loved for who he is and he is going to grow up strong!  Is it going to be hard at times?  Yes.  But he is loved and that makes you strong.  So what are you going to do....judge, or love?  I choose love.

So congratulations guys.  I am proud to love this baby and wished you lived closer so that I could love on him more often.

Here are some pictures that I was lucky enough to take of the new family.

The Little Man

Last weekend I was privileged enough to help host a baby shower for some close friends.  They are from out of state, but their baby was being born here via a surrogate.  They wanted to head back to New York within a few days of the baby coming, so we had to have three possible dates for the shower.  The baby wasn't due until the 16th, so I was thinking that there wasn't any way the shower could be on the 1st....right?  Wrong.  The Little Man came 3 weeks early on Wednesday, September 28th.  So......we had a shower that Saturday.  I am sure you can imagine the whirlwind that occurred on Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning.  But, he was TOTALLY worth it. 

Feast your eyes on the amazing shower we pulled off with two days notice!  Thanks to Karli for the use of your beautiful house (I would have had a nervous breakdown if it had been at my house) and your help.  Also thanks to Maureen and Stacey for helping with the food.  It was quite a spread.  And a big thanks to Angie for the inspiration for the shower.  We copied, just as you copied.  It was such a fun theme!

It was a wonderful time together and it was so fun to see all the people who came to help Gavin and Todd celebrate this new life adventure.

Invitation

Centerpieces from Karli's Garden

Welcome Ellison!

What's a baby shower without.....beer?  That is how we roll.

Limeade, Ice Tea and Cucumber water.  Delicious!

I tried my hand at cake ball/cake pops.  They were pretty good and super easy!

Even Ellison got a 'stache

Complete with mustache cups

Onesie Decor

Thanks for the book.  We think.

Welcome, little man, welcome.