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!