Flowers

I love flowers. I especially love sunflowers. Those and daisies are my most favorite flowers ever. I think the sunflower thing has something to do with being a Kansas girl. You know the saying, you can take the girl out of Kansas…. Well, that’s me. I was taken out of Kansas just over 10 years ago. I could probably live the rest of my life here in Illinois, and still be a Kansas girl. Well, for you local folks who probably don’t know this, Kansas is nicknames the Sunflower State and in fact, the state flower is the sunflower. I don’t think I even know the state flower for Illinois. I just asked my school aged kids and they don’t even know. Don’t they teach this in school? Well, anyway. At the beginning of Spring, we planted flowers in the patch of dirt in front of our house. We bought a bunch of already growing stuff in bloom to start it out. We also sprinkled out a bunch of seeds that came in a packet called Butterfly Garden. I didn’t really pay attention to what was in the packet when I bought it. I just wanted to attract butterflies to lay eggs so we could watch the life cycle of the caterpillar turning butterfly. That hasn’t happened. Maybe next year. But, I don’t care because I’ve got these amazing, 6 foot tall sunflower plants growing now. I inspect them every day, watching and waiting with eager anticipation for them to open. This morning, one of them finally accommodated me. It’s only about half way open, but may be even more by evening. I can’t wait to see it. What was really exciting for me (and I’m easily excited) is that it’s red!! Of course, the traditional color for sunflowers is yellow. And I do believe that some of them are yellow, from what I can see of the petals peeking through. Naturally, I had to go and take some pictures of my red sunflower. I also shot a couple of others in various stages of blooming. While I was out there, I decided to snap some quick shots of several of the other things that popped up out of this Butterfly Garden packet. Enjoy!

August 2, 2010 - 1:53 pm

Laura Brett - Beautiful Stacy, love love the macro!!!!

World Breastfeeding Week

It’s World Breastfeeding Week August 1-7. Back in June, I posted about a personal project I was undertaking. This project involved photographing babies doing what babies love to do – gaining comfort and nourishment straight from their mothers. Even as a young, 21 year old, first time mom, I knew I wanted to breast feed my babies. I never wrestled with the decision. I just knew intuitively, and without question, it’s what I would do. It never occurred to me that it could be difficult and that women often have struggles with breast feeding. And I remained blissfully unaware of this, even after my daughter was born. Despite being a tiny little 5 lb. 8 oz. little peanut, she latched easily and beautifully. I never experienced a single second of pain or discomfort. My breast feeding philosophy has changed over the 18 years since I first breast fed a newborn. Over these years, I have learned how important it really is, and how there really aren’t that many rules. You don’t have to wean by a certain time. Babies don’t really need anything else for at least 6 months. Bottles are really a disaster and I hate them. Not that we didn’t use them. We did. I worked and Daddy had to have a way to get that breast milk I had painstakingly saved for when I was away, into our babies. But this is how I know I hate them. They are a pain to clean and keep up. Straight from the breast is so much easier.

As an RN working with laboring women and brand new moms and babies, I did learn that it’s just not as easy for lots of other moms as it had always been for me. I learned how to help moms and get stubborn babies to latch on. I learned the special circumstances that come with special needs babies, like premature born and those with development issues that affect breast feeding, like cleft lip/palette or Down Syndrome. I learned that anyone who says they are going to “try” to breast feed will not likely last more than 2 weeks. Breast feeding success is as much, if not more, based on the mental attitude going in, as it is on the physiology of the matter. I learned the next biggest factor in success, is support for the mom, from Dad, her parents, hospital staff, the pediatrician. I also learned that as much as some women may truly want to breast feed, some simply can not. I learned to not jump to conclusions about any woman I saw bottle feeding a baby in the mall, even though I could tell the difference in the contents of the bottle between expressed breast milk and formula. She could be completely devastated that she’s even having to give that bottle and my judgement may do nothing less than send her into tears of regret. On the flip side, I learned to give positive reinforcement to any mom who is breast feeding in public because they often receive negative comments and reactions and need encouragement to keep doing what they feel is right for them and their baby.

Phew! Hard to believe, but that just scratches the surface of all I have learned about and through breast feeding. But all that I’ve posted and the tons more that I have not, lead me to this project. I had so many beautiful volunteers for this and it just touches me that so many are so willing to share something so special so publicly. In October, my first breast feeding images calendar will be available for sale. These will retail for $20. A portion of ever sale will be donated to support Baby Friendly hospitals locally. I believe getting these babies off to a good start goes a long way in a successful nursing relationship and that start happens in the hospitals where babies are born. If you are a retailer who would like to pre-order a bulk amount of calendars to sell in your location, please contact me for details.

Now, here is where I need your help. I want you to choose the cover image for the calendar. Please click the link below to take you to the page where the images are located. Pick your top three and scroll to the bottom and cast your vote! The winner will be featured on the cover of the calendar and will also receive a surprise gift from me! You can only vote once, but you can certainly rally all your friends and family to help make your favorite image the winner. After you vote, leave me a comment telling me you voted and you will be entered into a drawing for a free calendar and a complimentary mini session collection!

Go vote now!!

And just for fun, here is the first nursing picture I remember having had taken of myself. This is 8 years ago, me nursing my twins.

August 1, 2010 - 9:57 pm

Ashley - I for one am really excited about this calendar. I can’t wait to get a copy!

Exciting things coming!

World Breastfeeding Week starts Sunday, August 1. I have something fun planned for that week. Check back!

Lucky Number 7!!

This is number seven, cooking away! I’m getting close enough to the end to start planning my maternity time off. This means a great deal for you! To celebrate, and to give me something to do after I stop doing sessions, and am just sitting around waiting for labor to begin, I am offering a great deal to fill my last few weeks of shooting time.

The first three people to schedule and pay the session fee will receive 7 desk/gift prints as a gift from me! That includes 8×10, 5×7, and wallet sets of 16. Session must be scheduled to be done by August 31st, my last day of shooting.  You can contact me to schedule by commenting on this blog, leave me a comment on Facebook, or send me a call or email. This offer expires July 28th.

But wait! There’s more!! My generosity is not limited to just those lucky three people. Anyone who books a session, including paying the session fee, and schedules their session to be done by Aug. 31st, will receive 21% off their entire purchase. Why 21%? Well, because that’s my due date! But don’t hold me to it. I’m quite comfortable going a couple of weeks late. Babies come when babies are ready! This offer expires Aug. 21st or when session times are filled. That’s right. They are limited, so schedule soon!

Three Sisters {Central Illinois Tween Photographer}

Last week, I got to go visit my sister in Kansas. While I was there, I got to take pictures of my three beautiful nieces. They were a lot of fun, and we found this gorgeous area to shoot in with a pond and lots of gorgeous foliage. I think if I lived there still, I’d probably shoot at the Hesston Arboretum frequently (thank you Maia, for the awesome suggestion!). I’d also probably have to take my kids to the pond to feed the dozens of turtles that popped their heads up. I think this is something they get often, given their total lack of fear of us humans.

And just for fun, here are a couple of turtle shots. The first one was bigger than a dinner plate! The second was just a regular sized turtle, of which there were dozens.

And now… a new little sister {Champaign Photographer}

A couple of years ago, I took this photo of Emilio.

Then, six months later, this:

So cute!! Then, just the other day, this. Without even realizing, we created a nearly identical copy of that first image, only with Dad this time rather than Mom.

But now, Emilio has a baby sister. Meet Emma.

And here’s a new shot of Emilio. He’s definitely developed an ornery streak!

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