My Prediction...

... that I will hear this song at a LOT of weddings this year!



I'm okay with it, I love it and have always loved Train (just ask my sister, I listened to "Drops of Jupiter" on repeat after I bought that cd). And I really love all the couples telling their stories in the video, it reminds me of "When Harry Met Sally". So sweet.

Matthias | Gardner Childrens Photographer

Meet Mr. Matthias! The adorable 1 year old son of my good friend and roomie at K-State, Jordan. I'll have to dig up some old photos of her and I together to show, we had some fun times at our house on Pierre street!







I love his toothy grin!






I was excited to finally get to pull out some of my new props! This adorable birthday hat I found and my HUGE trunk that I painted myself! I'm glad it has a use for something.

Behind the Scenes

A little while back a photographer friend in one of my newbie photographer groups shared a photo of her office. I love to see what spaces other people work in and what organizational tricks they use. This week, I was suddenly struck by the crazy urge to really completely overhaul and organize my office. It took 2 days and years off my life but it's done! And it's beautiful! I threw things away and hung photos on the wall finally after living here for almost 7 months. See what you think!



My office is the space on our second floor that looks over our living and dining room. I love it! It's big enough for all of my stuff and has its own closet, where I keep all of my art supplies. The photo above is looking into my corner of the world.



My desk! Which I bought from my mom's friend and I love it because it's HUGE and HEAVY and simple. I made the memo board hanging on the wall with a $4.95 clearance frame at Hobby Lobby, a piece of plywood and some fun fabric. On it I keep photos and notes for inspiration, future symphony tickets, a print one of my 2010 brides made for me in the top right corner which I really love, thank you notes from past clients and all of the fun photo booth photos I've had taken at weddings and shows.



This is my little organization station where I keep all shipping supplies, portfolios, catalogs and product magazines, office supplies, and of course hanging on the wall are my Incredibles action figures.



And here are my newest additions. I bought this chair at a local consignment shop and the table I bought at a garage sale a long time ago for $12 and I decoupaged them with wedding and engagement photos I've taken. I made them for the bridal fair last weekend and I received SO many compliments and comments about them. I even had one bride ask me if I would make her a table like that. Now I like them sitting in my office!



Here are a couple closer looks.





Alrighty, there's a little look into my life! I hope you enjoyed it! I'm praying that I can keep it this neat for a long time because my life feels so much less chaotic!

Alexander | Hiawatha Newborn Photographer

They're finally here! My nephew, Alexander's, newborn photos! Trust me, he's as sweet and cuddly as he looks.









Sporting his very first Grammy hat!




And sporting his new monkey hat from Aunt Innie!


I love that he had his tongue sticking out for most of his pictures. So cute!






This one was my Facebook teaser. I think it's totally going to be printed for my wall.






We were able to get Marcus to cooperate for a couple photos. I had to play blocks with him to get them!

Happy Heart Day!

I hope everyone has gotten to have a great Valentine's Day with your loved one! My Valentine got up and made me chocolate chip pancakes and gave me "Life As We Know It" a very cute movie (go buy it if you haven't seen it! It's totally worth it!) and a really nice card. Then he went to work... bummer. So I was looking through pictures of us and thought I'd share our little story with you.

Here's where it all started... the bowl cut. Yep, we were on the same soccer team when we were 6.

This was taken New Years 2004, when we decided to be an official couple.
Who wouldn't fall for this?!
Then we went to prom together. He was crowned Prom King by the way.
Then we were off to K-State!
And finally, after 5 years together, he decided to give me something pretty.
And we planned for a big day.
And on July 31, 2010 we became a Mr. and Mrs.
Love you Lukey.

Word on Wednesday - *Special Edition*

Ha! That sounds like Extreme Makeover Home Edition or something. But this is a very special edition of Word because the event that I've pretty much been counting down to has happened!

1. Baby Alexander Aaron is here! I now have nephew #3! Last Friday evening I got a text from my sister saying that I should maybe get my bag together, to which I freaked out and started flying around my house getting clothes ready and showering and getting myself ready to jump in my car at a moments notice, and got a phone call from Manda saying that they were going to the hospital just to get checked out. Then about midnight I received a text saying that she was just dehydrated and they were most likely going to send her home. Not 15 minutes later I got a phone call from my brother-in-law that she was going in for a C-section!

I sprang out of bed and threw on the clothes that I had set out for myself earlier, grabbed my bag and my camera bag and ran to my car! I made the 2 hour drive from Gardner to Hiawatha in record time and made it to the hospital at 2:30 am to see this...

The sweet little boy was born at 1:59 am weighing in at 7 lbs 2.5 oz. and 19 inches long. He's absolutely beautiful! My sister was still in recovery when I got there, so they had Alexander in the nursery in an incubator to keep him warm. Here's the grandma's admiring him. They're pretty proud!
He looks so much like Marcus did! And then sometimes he looks totally different. Which is good, he should have a look all his own. I love his nose and mouth, they're perfect.
They finally wheeled Manda down about 45 minutes later and she got to see her little boy finally.
Here's my mom with Alexander. I think he'll love his Grammy as much as Marcus does!
Pretty little boy! He has some dark hair... for now.
Yours truly with Alexander. And no I don't have baby fever, not really anyway. Luke and I want kids, but like being just us for now. And I'm perfectly happy to be able to spoil my niece and nephews and then send them home.

This is Marcus seeing his new little brother for the first time. "Is that my baby?" He loves him, but he hated the hospital room. I can imagine that it looks scary to 3 year old's though.
Marcus checking out Alexander's teeny tiny feet.
There are some open eyes!
Don't judge. I drove from 12:30-2:30 am and stayed up all night and then only got 3 hours of sleep the next morning... I didn't look great! But it didn't matter. I think I was telling him that Aunt Innie is the coolest... just ask his brother.
And here's Marcus holding his little brother by himself for the first time. He looks pretty excited, huh?!
I'm planning to head back to Hiawatha next week to take Alexander's "real" newborn photos. So check back for those soon!

2. The weather here, as with the rest of the country, is nuts! We got about 10 inches of snow on Tuesday with huge 4 foot drifts. And poor Luke had to work in all of it! I was nice enough yesterday to get out and shovel, pretty much, our entire driveway so that he could get his car back in it. Which today I'm regretting because I about can't move my back... and neck... and wrists. What the heck! I'm not 80! Apparently someone needs some more gym time.

3. Bright and early tomorrow morning, the Rieger's are heading to Branson! They got more snow then we did, so pray that we make it there and back safely. I think we're too determined not to make it though. We all need a vacation about now!

See you next week!