Levi is sweet, adorable, and on the move! I’ve been taking pictures of this lovely family since big brother was a baby, and now little brother will be having his first birthday in no time. It seems like yesterday we were at his mommy’s maternity session, anticipating his arrival. You can see the pretty pictures here.  I am looking forward to Levi’s birthday session…we’ll be returning to the Springfield Botanical Center and the gorgeous Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden, where we did the maternity session. How fun! I bet we’ll be chasing a toddling Levi through the flowers and trees. He was speed crawling at his nine-month session, so he’ll be off and running any day now!

I always have such a nice time with this little cutie-pie and his family. We got these photos at their pretty home recently, just playing and relaxing and enjoying sweet little boys!

Chris and Lori, I am really grateful to be the photographer that gets to capture these fun times as Ethan and Levi grow. Thank you so much!!

And baby makes three…

Little Mason was only a few days new when I visited him for his newborn photo session. Holding and cuddling him and admiring his sweet, soft newness was wonderful. Plus, we got some beautiful pictures! Mason’s mommy and daddy were so nice and so calm and at ease with him already, even though he is their first little one.  And grandma was still there helping, so we also got to have a nice chat about grandmotherly things. It was a perfect morning to spend with lovely people. There was snow on the ground, but the house was full of the warmth of love.

Mason, you are blessed to join such a loving, kind family. You can see he looks happy already. And as cute as they come!

I feel so lucky to be the photographer Jana and Tyler chose to get these first special photographs of their precious little boy. Thank you so much, Jana and Tyler. I am so excited to watch him grow!

Little Hayden surprised his mommy and daddy by arriving three weeks before his due date. But he was clearly just ready to be in this world and be loved and taken care of by his wonderful family. He weighed  a little less than six pounds when he came to visit me the day before a winter storm. We didn’t let the thought of the coming snow and ice bother us one bit! Hayden was snuggly and warm, and EVER so cute.

Hayden is blessed to be the newest member of a special family.  I first met his daddy when he was about Hayden’s age…brand new! And I gave his mommy voice lessons when she was younger. His grandparents and great-grandparents and our family have sung together and prayed together, laughed together and cried together.  Hayden is blessed indeed to have such lovely people on both sides of his family tree. Lots of wonderful, kind people who are going to make this new little boy feel completely loved.

So alert and interested for someone so new:

But being photographed makes a boy so tired after a little while!

Also, daddy played baseball for years, and this whole family are BIG Cardinals fans…another reason they are so very cool.

And lastly, no words are really needed, but I thought this little phrase might echo what is in their hearts:

Thank you, thank you to the Sparks family for giving me the privilege of photographing your precious new bundle of joy. Hayden is perfect, and I’m looking forward to cuddling him again soon.