Maternity : A Woman's Experience With Nature

My wonderful neighbors, Paul and Tarah, are expecting their first child any day now.  The anticipation has taken over our neighborhood.  We all look forward to welcoming a new neighbor into our community; our neighborhood family. 

Maternity is a women's most intimate experience with nature and after experiencing it twice myself, I know Tarah will look back at these photos and see the strength, endurance and sweetness that comes with carrying a child.  For me, nothing represents strength, endurance and sweetness better than plants so I took Tarah up to Volunteer Park's Conservatory for some 'woman and nature' at its best.  Tarah looks amazing and I can't wait to hold that sweet little baby girl.

Our other neighbor is a jewelry designer and handmade a gold chain anklet for Tarah and her baby girl.  The baby chain connects to Tarah's larger chain, but is removable for when baby is old enough to wear it.  What a precious mother-daughter gift.  Check out her jewelry work at http://www.karazidesign.com/

I think it is great when parent's put personal touches in a nursery.  Tarah's dad drew the sweet Winnie the Pooh scene and Paul and Tarah's mom painting the dresser/diaper changer adding an octopus to the front.  How cute!

My daughters are obsessed with Tarah's belly.  Nora told me the baby is her "sister neighbor" and Natalie says "night-night baby" before going to sleep every night.

BABY R : Sweet little boy. So little. So loved.

I had the honor to photograph Baby R while in his mommy's belly.  It was so great to meet the expecting couple and hear about their upcoming arrival.  I thought about them everyday around their due date.  A few days after Baby R's birth, I received an email asking to schedule some newborn pictures - I was thrilled.  His proud parents and I spent a lot of time just admiring him while photographing in their nursery room.  The sunlight was streaming through his windows and he adored the sunbathing - especially when bare bottomed. 

I LOVE newborns.  They are so small, so fragile, so precious.  Newborns bring a lot of change for a family, but their presence also brings peace to anyone around a newborn.  The preciousness of a newborn reconfirms the preciousness of life - and the possibilities of our future. 

How sweet is his chin and little lips. 

Time for lunch?  Baby R starts to root on daddy's nose.

Big brother Max making sure Baby R is alright.  I think they will be the bestest of friends.

WEDDING : Brett + Erin = Getting Down at Georgetown Ballroom!

Brett and Erin had a lovely (and record-breaking short ceremony) followed by a easy-going, pizza eating, beer drinking reception and dance party at Georgetown Ballroom!  What a fun group of people, yummy pizza provided by Veraci Pizza mobile clay ovens, the cutest cupcakes (Seattle appropriate coffee flavored) and Rainier beer since we were right across the street from the original Rainier Brewing Company building in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood - another nod to a Seattle icon.  I love that the couple wanted to keep things local and enjoy the small businesses that have made a statement in Seattle creating trends across the city and beyond.  But one thing about this wedding was about people having fun dancing.  And dancing was inspired by the awesome folk rock band, Country Lips.  They got people moving!  So while trying to narrow down my favorite gettingdowns, I found myself grinning over every dance image.  I love photographing people enjoying themselves dancing and letting go - the emotion is infectious!  So now my face hurts from grinning so much.  Enjoy happiness in life and dance!

The cutest ring bearer I have ever seen.  He did such a good job.

I love these - they are just so happy to be married!

The bride made all the centerpiece vases by covering tin cans in graphic print paper.  Some of the cans read : Eat, Drink and be Married!  Great Idea, Erin!

 
The Country Lips starting off the night with a solid first dance.

Speech!  Speech!

It must have been a good joke - these two jokesters were cracking up all night.

The DJs - a captain and a shark...why not?  I thought they were fierce.

What a beautiful venue - it truly is eye candy!

Of course by the end of the night, a conga line must start with beers in hand.

The sign reads : Dancing Nightly.  I think dancing nightly should be mandatory.