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What does love look like?
I think it looks an awful lot like this family. This family has TEN. KIDS.
10.
Aren’t they beautiful?
The two oldest are biological, and the 8 youngest are adopted from the foster care system. Their home is filled with laughter, joy, patience, and an overall sense of love. I have a feeling there is rarely a dull moment in this family 
And what do you think a family of 12 uses to get around? What my husband calls The Jon and Kate plus 8 van.
Today we officially had our last Adoption Sunday session of the year. We waited until this little guy was ready for pictures, and today was the day! I think his Mommies just wanted to get a good night’s sleep first. I can’t imagine why! 
Abby and Alex are adopted from Russia and Guatemala, and their little brother Coleman has quite the duo to look up to in the years to come. They absolutely ADORE him, and it was not hard getting them to love on this little man.
Our Adoption Sunday session today was extra fun…Not only did I get to meet two darling little guys from Guatemala (Carter-2.5, Everett-5), I got to meet their cool dads too. And as my husband griped to me after I got home…”What…did you decide to camp out and stay?”.
Yes, I almost did. Because this family is an absolute crack up, and I can NEVER EVER get enough time with a family that loves each other the way this one does.
Mr Carter was THE biggest ham. Look at this smile…he turned it on every time the camera pointed in his direction (I had a hard time getting him to STOP smiling, believe it or not).
Everett was feeling very Poppa’s-boy-ish today, and I just LOVE these sweet snuggle moments. Made me want to go home and scoop up my own little man for some luvin’.
Thanks guys for letting us come out today!
I’m behind in posting these, and have THREE from last week to share (I know…bad blogger! I blame color issues that are obviously still not worked out (if you go by that image on the swing above—yellow much?)).
I’m working on it, and will post them Monday. I swear.
I’d do it now, but it’s WAY past my bedtime…G’night!
Sweet Wyatt was our second adoption session today, and his family’s story is one of those full-circle tales that gives you goosebumps.
I first met his Mommy and Daddy last year at the NICU bedside of his big sister Isabella. Her session took place as part of the charity Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, and I was so sad to hear of her passing in October. She was such a fighter from the very beginning.
Her parents decided that adoption was the right choice for them and last week were present at Wyatt’s birth and able to take him home from the hospital. Now they are living that hectic, sleepless life-with-a-newborn life, but you can tell that they wouldn’t trade one second of it. They are so in love with their precious little guy.
Sidenote: Daddy is a photo lover…I was busy getting little man settled for his ‘curled up naked in a basket’ series, and looked up to see this…I *had* to snap a quick pic. I love his cute Mommy’s look of adoration, his Daddy’s camera clicking away, and his watchful aunt and cousin in the background.
And that other girl? The one on the far right? That’s my new BFF from Virginia, Patti. I get loads of emails asking for portfolio review, advice, equipment questions, mentoring requests, etc…and I try to answer as many as I can. Patti’s email was so sweet and for whatever reason I was feeling extra warm and fuzzy that night, and I called her. We had a great chat and I offered to have her tag along and assist on a shoot if she was ever in town. Guess who took me up on it?
So we had a great day playing with today’s two families, chatting up a storm in between, and I sure hope that somewhere in between she managed to take home a little encouragement, inspiration, and motivation. She took a lot of notes, so I hope she learned something too!
Thanks for the Starbucks, lunch, and the laughs Patti! (See? I’m easy! Feed me and flatter me, and you’re golden!). Ha!
Today’s first adoption session consisted of a cutie pie family of six that was formed all of 6 weeks ago (before that, they were just a party of 5…and it’s easy to see that Ava just completes their family).
Ava and Alana are adopted from Russia (Alana is now 4, Ava is 15 months), and join older siblings Michael and Melanie. Ava came into the family less than two months ago, and was obviously very attached to her mommy (which was wonderful to see).
They were a sweet family full of laughter and giggles, and they made my job look *very* easy.
Alana and Ava aren’t the only adoptees in this family…Grandma Lou was adopted in 1932, so of course we had to include her in the fun!
