My sweet niece, Charli is officially 3 and I can barely believe it! They say that time flies and it goes even faster when you have kids. I never totally believed that until I became an aunt and then a parent. It’s true….one minute, it’s 3am and you are walking and rocking and bouncing and doing ANYTHING to get your baby to drift off to sleep…and the next minute, they are calling you by name and the minute after that, they are putting on their own shoes and communicating with you in full sentences. Of all the things I’ve witnessed in my life, watching the miracle of life happen, then have them born and enter the world as a helpless little baby and blossom into an incredible human being…is truly the most amazing.

On the morning of Charli’s party, I was helping get her dressed and as I was putting her hair in pigtails, I was telling her how much I loved her…and she said, “I love you too, JJ (which is supposed to be AJ, for Aunt Jess) and she said it in the sweetest 3 year old voice, but also more mature than I’ve ever heard her…and she leaned her head on mine….and I couldn’t help but cry. I think I scared her b/c her 3 year old mine couldn’t grasp the concept of crying out of pure, raw joy…instead of being upset. I told her that I wouldn’t forget that moment as long as I lived…and I won’t! My sister (and my MOM) is famous for her parties, but she didn’t have much time to plan something for this go round…so this is her version of a last minute, pull it together quickly, small and simple party! (As you see these images, you will understand why that’s funny!) She says she is saving the BIG party for when Maci turns 1 in September!! I don’t know how we are from the same parents because when I throw a party, I’m picking stuff up at Target 2 hours before and my big fancy part are some decorated cupcakes and Jimmy John’s takeout! Poor Sophie is going to start to wonder what’s up with her cheapo parents as the years go on…

We continued the celebration into the next day with some pool time fun at my Aunt & Uncle’s great new house! We are soo crazy blessed with the most awesome family and we love being together! It was a great having a little time off to enjoy summer with everyone…I am starting to see why people are such big fans of having a day or two OFF from work. I could get used to that…

Pooltime!!

I had the incredible opportunity to photograph the birth of sweet baby Avary! She is a very special little girl who was born with Trisomy 9, a rare chromosomal disorder and she was only able to grace us with her presence here on earth for a short but sweet time. She is now perfect and resting in the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was born into one of the most incredible, wonderful families…I can’t say enough about them.  Reidy Family….watching you welcome precious Avary into the world and then gracefully and beautifully hand her over to Jesus in such a short amount of time is one of the most powerful testimonies that I have ever seen. I have no doubt that others have been and will continue to be equally effected. The Lord must be smiling down upon you as He now holds your sweet Avary and sees how you are truly making a difference for Him through your faith, steadfast hope and grace in this heartbreaking time. That is truly a mark of what it means to be a Christian, the kind we all aspire to be… and I hope that you will reflect on the kingdom work that is being done through Avary’s short by sweet life when the journey gets difficult and your hearts are heavy. I send you all of my love and prayers…. Avary will be in my heart for the rest of my life. What a special, powerful day this was….an such an honor for me to capture…

*please be prepared with tissues before proceeding with playing the slideshow below*