For Josie!

Here are a few more portraits of our precious "S"

We left for vacation on July 5, after a slight delay because we thought for sure that Baby "S" would arrive before we left. Her Mother's water actually broke on July 4. When the doctor sent Mom home to labor (what doctor does that after water breaks??) we left for vacation. At 10:30pm that night, I received a text message that said that Little "S" would be born soon. At 4am, I awoke from a deep sleep and sent a text to my sister because I hadn't heard anything. I learned that Baby "S" was on her way. She was born at 4:55am on July 6. The texts went like this: Me: update? Sister: pray! Me: is everything okay? Sister: not sure Me: praying Sister: pushing Me: praying, Me: is baby in distress Sister: No, Sister: she is beautiful. She sent a picture moments later and then called. I heard my little niece crying in the background and the tears of joy filled my eyes.

We came home on Thursday, July 9 and I raced over to meet my niece. She is beautiful.. perfect. These pictures were taken on Saturday. She is such a good baby.

Meet Jake! He's the first 2010 Senior to step foot in the studio! We had an awesome session in studio and on location at the beach. We dodged the rain for the actual session but I couldn't resist adding the rainy texture to one of the pictures. Enjoy!

Bennett

About three months ago I received a call from my sister explaining that one of our church members would be needing my services. My sister knows that I am a volunteer photographer for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (www.NLIMDTS.org) and that I would be able to help them.

Generally I am not able to share Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep portraits, nor would I want to. It's a privacy issue as well as a sensitivity issue. Neither of these issues are of concern with his family though. They are so very proud of their baby boy and want to share him with the World. They know that he lives in Heaven now with our Father and we all have peace with that.

Bennett was diagnosed with Anencephaly while in the womb. Doctors encouraged his Mom to abort him but that was never an option for her. She wanted Bennett to live as long as God would allow. There were many prayers for healing but there were also allowances for God's will to be done. There were specific requests made in prayer and God granted each and every request with the exception of complete healing. God also allowed Bennett to prove all of the naysayers wrong. Bennett was a true and complete miracle and certainly a hero in my eyes. He lived on this Earth to save lives and did he ever!

I fell completely in love with Mr. Bennett through prayer before he was ever born. As I photographed him, I fell even further in love. He was a charmer! He smiled more than any newborn I have ever met. I'll never forget the way that he sighed in his family's arms or the way that he smiled when his Mommy kissed him. He will live forever in my heart as the perfect little prince.

Bennett Elijah Richard was born on June 16, 2009 at 3:02am and flew to be with Jesus straight from his Mommy's loving arms on June 17, 2009 at 8:44pm; as I photographed. He had the perfect life on Earth. He was always surrounded by love and almost always in someone's loving arms. He never knew sadness. He never struggled. I feel honored to have been a part of his precious life and I will forever be bonded to his family. His Mommy was the best Mommy for him. She did an outstanding job and I am so proud of her!

Please continue to pray for Bennett's family. They do have peace but there are going to be sad days ahead. Meet the prince:

Sweet baby R

My favorite!

Oh Baby!

Meet K and R. My sister is adopting K's new baby girl who will be Baby S. R is baby S's big sister. K brought R into the studio on Monday so that we could take some belly shots for baby S! They are both so cute!