{the blog} of stacey woods photography

I'm officially too pregnant for this gig....

Yep.  I scared Grandma half to death when I climbed to the second floor of the kids' fort, trying to "get the shot".  Now photographers, tell me, was this sibling image not worth it?!  YOU would have climbed the fort too, right??  ;)

I admit, I'm a very "physical" shooter, as my clients have witnessed.... they've seen me climbing walls, perching tiptoe on chairs and ladders, lying on my tummy in the middle of the street (well, not in the last nine months or so!) sitting down in fire-ant infested grassy fields, straddling a bathtub or two (or three), the list goes on and on.  Given my history, I didn't even question climbing the stairs to sit in the fort with these three kiddos.  (And oh my goodness, they certainly kept me laughing!!)  The only downer was when the girls ran off to change clothes, and little Jack here ran off behind them.... I'm standing at the top of the fort yelling, "Um, Jack!  Hey buddy, can you come help me down from here???"  LOL!  So, yeah, I've officially reached my limitations while shooting client sessions.  Not bad though, for 8-1/2 months pregnant, eh?  ;)

Even the dogs were fun, jumping into the pond and everything.  As soon as I opened the door and walked into the Kennedys' home, this sweet St. Bernard lay right down on my feet.  What a lover.

I can't even TELL YOU how much I ADORE this next shot of all the kids together....  The girls' sweet giggle and their brother's "bleh, GIRLS!"-face just melt my heart!!  (Yeah, this shot was taken in the fort too!)

And one with Mom.  Can you see where these gorgeous kids get their looks?  They also inherited her totally relaxed attitude.  (Which I definitely appreciated, lol!)  It was so refreshing!

Loved this swing shot for some reason....

And possibly my favorite......  a perfect way to end a photo session, right?  :)

Did I mention how RELAXED this family was??  :)  I LOVED that Mom let the kids jump into the pool, clothes and all!  Look what sweet faces I got after the girls jumped out.....  priceless, I tell ya.

Thanks, Wendy and Company, for the super-fun, awesome evening!!!  I feel like I went out with a bang!! 

I'll be taking off the rest of June and most or all of July (except for some last-minute editing, placing a few orders, and delivering clients' prints, etc.).

Keep your eyes on the blog for announcements of when my little girl makes her grand entrance, and when I'll be back to shooting!  It won't be long, I promise!!  :)  By the way, I'm already booking for August, September, and Christmas sessions for October!  Shoot me an email (stacey@staceywoodsphoto.com), or drop me a line (727.698.0344), and I'll put you down in my schedule!

THIS is what Family is all about.

I really meet the most wonderful families in this blessed job of mine.  This particular family was such a treat to work with, and so unique.  We held their session at a local beach, and at their former home, which tragically burned in a fire several months ago.  It was a way of personal healing for them, I think, a way of remembering and documenting a life that WILL very soon be rebuilt!  Although in a different way, I'm sure.
 

One of the things that touched me the most was how the Chaboudys truly KNEW that a family is not about the home you live in, or the "things" you possess; rather family is about EACH OTHER, and being grateful for life and love.  I can honestly say that I left this shoot so incredibly inspired by their strength, courage, and determination.







LOVED her shirt.  :)




We kept "discovering" subtle symbolism everywhere. (Don'tcha love when that happens?!) Really, what an upbeat, positive, strong family this is.  Just amazing!

 

The FUN part... a local beach at sunset!  :)





And YES, I absolutely made them tromp through the muck and mud for this shot, while my big ol' pregnant self stayed up on the drier sand.  LOL!  Well, my Cole Haans did get stuck in some goop once or twice.  ;)  But I think that we all would agree that it was TOTALLY worth it, even if only for this next image.  (My faaavorite!)  Just look at that fabulous sunlight!







Last one....  so appropriate, I think.  :) 



Thank you, Chaboudy family, for allowing me into your hearts for this session!  It was truly my pleasure.

xoxo, Stacey

Going once... going twice...

I am both excited and proud to let you know that my work will be part of the All Childrens Hospital VIP Charity Auction this Saturday evening, May 31!  This annual event is part of the 25th Annual All Childrens Hospital Telethon, and all proceeds will go DIRECTLY to All Childrens Hospital and its west-central FL outreach locations.  News Channel 8 will be covering the Telethon itself, on Friday night and Saturday... please, if you're able to pledge $20, $50, $100, or even $1,000 to this amazing cause, your gift would be much appreciated, and very wisely spent!  The Telethon is also a part of the Childrens Miracle Network!

One lucky bidder will be able to take home a Custom Photo Session with Stacey Woods Photography, AND a complete Keepsake Session Album including ALL the images from their session with me (package valued at $1,025)!  Other fantastic items to be auctioned include: Trace Adkins concert tickets (yes, the country singer who made me wax nostalgic on Mother's Day)... trips to Costa Rica... the Bahamas... Beaver Creek Falls, Colorado... backstage passes to see Jay Leno and Rachael Ray.... one-of-a-kind Chihuly glass.... and YES, even SUPER BOWL  TICKETS!! 

To find out more about the and how to attend the VIP Auction, please visit www.allkids.org, www.allkidsfoundation.org, or call Jessica Petot at the Hospital Foundation, at 727-767-8422.  Here's to a record-breaking Telethon this weekend!!

A bit of a facelift.

A few quick updates for those who follow my blog (yes, all three of you, lol!)

You might notice some little changes here and there on my website and blog! My awesome designer, Eva Talley, has just finished customizing my splash page and the homepage slideshow on my site. Just wanted to make my branding consistent throughout my work! My site's colors are darker to match my branding and design, and a few of my logo and design elements from my business cards, trifold brochures, postcards, etc. have been added as well. Some gallery images have been changed and updated too. And NEXT up will be my NEW BLOG... to be unveiled soon! Keep your eye on this blog, though, for updates on that project. My new blog will have a different web address so you will need to change your bookmarks on down the road. But no worries, I'll let you know when I get everything ready to show off! :) I'm excited!!

Another tidbit is that the Stacey Woods Photography website address is now www.staceywoodsphoto.com. I used to have a different web address (staceywoodsphotography.net), and believe me, if you type it in your browser, it'll still getcha there! ;) However I've removed it from all my marketing pieces, just so there won't be any confusion... there is another photographer with my same name and a similar website address (in another country though!) and I've had some clients go to her website by mistake. Nope, that's not me! :) So, just to ease the confusion and make it easier on y'all (and the other photographer who, love her heart, receives a bunch of emails intended for me!), I just changed my web address. Easy as pie, right? :) Right.

Also, just because I've been asked about this a lot recently, the gorgeous cello music you hear on my website is by the amazing Shaun Paul, and is titled "Footprints In The Sand". You can click on his website and order his CDs if you want! Or, you can just log on to my site and hang out there looking at my galleries and listening to my music for hours. :) Which I KNOW that some of y'all do! Hey, I check my web stats, okay?! ;) And I love it, I promise!

Lastly, I'm finishing up my final sessions before I sit the rest of the summer out waiting on my precious little girl to arrive (just 4-1/2 weeks until my due date!). To my sweet (and oh-so patient) clients, the last of my outstanding session galleries will be up by the end of the week, if you haven't had them published already. AND I've got a TON of print orders that are due here by Thursday and Friday, so watch your mailboxes and doorsteps for print deliveries very very soon!

Okay, that's it... back to work!

Yep, another sweet newborn!

I can't get enough of 'em! This little guy was as good as gold for me. Made the funniest faces and kept me laughing the entire session.... when I wasn't smiling and sighing at him, anyhow. ;) Makes me so anxious to meet my soon-to-be-here little one!

So here's little Benjamin.

And his teeny toes.

I can't stop giggling at this one. I'm sure he was thinking.... "Why did this lady put me on a chair?!" LOL!

Really, I can't stop staring at this next image.... I always fall for the shots with Mommy. Why? Because usually Mamas are the ones behind the camera, getting all the shots of their own little ones and those treasured moments they want to remember. But for me, it's a true thrill to give a Mother an image of her child that she's actually IN! So that her child can look back on it some day, and see just how much his Mama loved him at that very moment. The look on her face and the love in her hands. Ahh, gives me chills.

(Oh, and by the way.... can y'all tell that this pregnancy is making me even gushier and more sentimenal than usual?! ;) And I was bad already, lol!)

I know they're going to be wonderful parents. Just look. How can you not smile seeing this one?? :)

Mom and Dad, I had so much fun with you and your sweet little guy. And I hope you love your images!

I'm SO gonna miss this time with my "boys"....

You're gonna miss this.
You're gonna want this back.
You're gonna wish these days
Hadn't gone by so fast.
These are some good times
So take a good look around.
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this.
~Trace Adkins

Yesterday I had a PERFECT Mother's Day. We all stayed home and just relaxed and enjoyed each other's company. And I, actually, did NOT work a single minute! Yep, a whole day off. I slept late, and even took a nap. We blew up the kiddie pool and let Parker splash around the backyard to his heart's content, and I must tell you... it was so refreshing to actually sit my big, overheated pregnant self down in a pool of cool water. Even if I was surrounded by little plastic sharks, alligators, whales and squirt guns. It felt like Heaven. :) The smell of confederate jasmine and honeysuckle filled my backyard. Chris grilled steaks, shrimp, and corn on the cob. We ate yummy watermelon and drank the absolute BEST lemonade, and it just tasted like summer. I didn't even cook it! Chris did it all. It was perfect. I got a homemade card, time to myself, and lots of snuggle time with my two favorite "boys" in the world. Quite certainly the best part, after all that splashing and playing, my sweet boy fell asleep in my arms, wrapped up in a beach towel, while I rocked him in the patio chair and sang this song to him, which happened to come on while I was gently rocking him and stroking his face and hair (which still puts him to sleep, just like it did when he was a tiny baby).... to be honest, I sang this song *to* myself, as I tried like everything to burn this image of him, curled up sweetly in my arms, all sunny and warm and smiling sleepily, into my memory forever. Sometimes, just sometimes, you don't need a photograph to remember the most amazing moments in your life....

And to help your imagination here, and so you can understand why I went all mushy and nostalgic in that moment... have a listen... And yes, it's country music. I'm from Kentucky, what do you expect?! ;)

Hope you ALL had a blessed and happy Mother's Day!! (I love you, Mom!)

Him.

I love this child like you would not believe. The way he talks (that sweet Southern drawl gets me every time). His lanky not-a-baby-anymore stride, swinging his arms and humming. The sparkle in his eye while he tries to sneak another cracker before dinner. His pride in his accomplishments... "I did it aww by mysayelf." The way he's NEVER hungry for soup, or spaghetti, or sandwiches, or vegetables of any kind... but how he's ALWAYS, miraculously, hungry when we mention ice cream. His squint-eyed giggle, that sends me into fits of laughter myself.

How he always brings me the blue light-saber and asks me to be Luke Skywalker... and he'll be Darth Vader. And how he immediately tries to "chop my arm off". ;) The "little boy sounds" I hear him make while he's playing pretend in his room: "fyoom! pshhht! krrrk!" And then, always, a crash.

His amazing hugs, that are so tight you almost fall over. The way he runs with abandon, not a care in the world, his "surfer-hair" flowing in the wind. The way he says, "Watch me this time!!" and runs even faster.

The way he sleeps. One arm around Rabbit, the other hand clutching a Star Wars or pirate figurine. The way he crumples his beloved blankie into a ball and holds it close when he's sleepy. The way he thanks Jesus every night for "Mama an' Daddy" and how he innocently prayed every night for two weeks: "Dear God, please let Mama say it's only one day 'till my birthday."

Well, my "baby" just turned four (::stacey weeps now::). Seems like only last week I was rocking him in my arms, singing "You and Me" by Lifehouse.... now he knows all the words and sings it back to me. :)

Ahh, my big boy. :) I just love him.

Waiting for Benjamin...

What a beautiful couple. I felt so comfortable in their home. We shared laughs, pregnancy stories, and had a lot of fun shooting their maternity session. But I must say, it's completely UNFAIR that a woman would look this fabulous just days (did I say DAYS?! yes.) before giving birth. (Please Lord, grant me the same blessing, lol!) Anyhow, please meet Jackie and Ben.... while they were Two. :)

And my faaaaavorite. :) I loved the dramatic lighting in their bedroom!

I have a ton more to share..... stay tuned! :)

Cookie monster.

A bit of business before I post these next shots...

If you would like a photo session with me before I give birth (!) and go on maternity leave, PLEASE, schedule it NOW! :) I'm currently booking for mid-May with a few early June dates still open. To book your photo session, you can contact me via my website which is www.staceywoodsphoto.com, or by emailing me at stacey@staceywoodsphoto.com, or simply by calling me at 727.698.0344. I can't wait to hear from ya!

Now.... on to the photos!! :)

This is Hailey. Her mama owns a local coffee shop in Dunedin, with whom I'm working on a project at the moment. We went out and had a little session a few Saturdays ago, and brought some yummy snacks along with us! And YES, can you believe MORE COLOR from me?! But these photos just *screamed* COLOR to me.... and, like I tell my clients, I don't have the heart to convert to black-and-white in some instances! I hope you'll understand once you see these. ;)

last one.... i love it.

And there you have it. The explanation for zero black-and-white images in a post. :) Can ya blame me?

Jersey Girls

I must tell you. I had a BLAST with these two gals!!! We hit lots of local spots on Clearwater Beach for this session... including splashing under the pier! I know Nancy has been waiting ever-so-patiently on this preview, so just for her I'm showcasing a bunch of images here. (Your gallery will be up before you know it!) :)

Take a look at these beauties.... like mother, like daughter!

I loooved this graffitti under the pier. :)

Loved all the signage too!

And perhaps my favorite....

Ohh I have so many more super-fun shots! I wish I could blog the whole darn session! And can you really believe I had this much fun with COLOR?! You just never know about me, do ya? ;)

Bits and pieces.

Most of you know that when I'm photographing newborns, some of my favorite images to capture are the *tiny* ones. And by that, I mean itty bitty baby parts. Slender fingers, wrinkly toes, ears, the folds of her neck, the fuzz on his shoulder. So, in celebration of all these sweet newborns I've seen recently, take a peek at some of my favorite "detail shots"........

Hope those little pieces made you smile. :)

Anticipation.

I love photographing maternity sessions. It's such a privilege for me to be able to be a tiny part of documenting this life that's forthcoming. And soon! Baby Carley should make her entrance into this world within a couple of weeks now! For now, here are some images of her beautiful mama....

...and daddy...

And I love this next one. :)

Can't wait to meet you, sweet baby Carley!

Whew! So much drama lately.

I think I'm ready to pop. :) I've been having contractions for over 2 weeks now. Little girl wants OUT! (Signs of a Diva in the making?? I hope not!) This turkey is not finished baking at just 30 weeks. I've got 10 more weeks to go! So, per doctor's orders, I'm drinking lots of water and lying down as much as possible. That means I had to go buy a laptop so I could proof in bed! (Yeah, you read that right... I'm technologically stubborn sometimes, so I haven't owned a laptop until now!) For that reason, I'm limiting my April sessions (I'm almost booked up anyhow) and scheduling mostly for May at this time. I'm also simplifying and shipping all orders instead of hand-delivering as I normally do. And if you need me, I'll still be available via email or phone... but I'll probably be answering from my cushy bed with my feet propped up!! LOL

I do have a tidbit of good news though. I finally passed that darn glucose tolerance test! Woohoooooo! I'm so tickled, honestly, you have no idea the sadness that went through my heart (and tummy) at the thoughts of no more lemonade and popsicles. LOL! I have lived on that stuff for 6 1/2 months now!! I flunked Round One of this Glucola garbage yumminess (aka Orange Triaminic + two cups of sugar). So as a result, I got to go to the lab for Round Two of this icky-sweet drink. Which meant fasting from midnight the night before the test, until the three-hour test was over. Let me just tell you.... almost 11 hours without food, when you're pregnant and FAMISHED, in a hot lab that has obviously never heard of air conditioning.... it's like shoving bamboo under the fingernails. Torture! (You can bet I hit the nearest fast-food drive-thru on the way outta that lab, that's for sure!) BUT, thankfully I got the call today that I PASSED! I'm not a gestational diabetic!! Of course, I celebrated by eating a handful of these wonderful yummy treats I found today... Starbucks Vanilla Bean Truffles. Mmmm, Heaven.... seriously.

Anyhow, here's a quick self-portrait in the bathroom mirror. Just in case you were wondering how gigantic I'm getting...

And yep, I cut my hair! I blame the pregnancy hormones, but actually, I really like it, and don't regret it one bit! THANK YOU PATTY!!! You are THE best. Muaaah!

Okay, back to bed I go. :)

Before | After

Just four days before baby Soren made his entrance into the world.....

With soon-to-be Big Sister Sophia....

And, after Soren's arrival..... just look how much she adores her baby brother. Stole my heart, it was so sweet to watch!

"Delicious" is the word his Mama used to describe this little guy... and boy was she right. I just wanted to eat him up!

I admit, I was a little worried because he had passed the 2-week "curl-up-easy-and-sleep-a-lot" magic age, but I'm tellin' ya.... this little guy curled and slept like a champ. I had no reason to worry, that's for sure!!

Enjoy your delicious baby boy, Bethany. :)

Fresh.

One of my favorite things about this wonderful job of mine, is getting to photograph such sweet new life such as this. Meet baby Aidan, who was only 5 days old when I had the privilege of photographing him. He was actually over 8 lbs, but look how tiny he looks in his Daddy's hands!

Ohh and I have lots more.... ;)

I just love this one... pacifier and all.

And one of my favorites...

I have a ton more, as always... but I'll have to save some surprises for Aidan's Mommy and Daddy. ;) Hope you like your sneak peek, Steve and Amy!

Blessed beyond measure.

I have had the privilege of having Laura as a best friend for, oh, about 25 years! I really can't remember when we met, of course it was when we were little kids... but it just seems like I've known her since birth! I can't remember NOT knowing her. We have had SO much fun through the years. Our birthdays are on the same day, one year apart. So we had lots of birthday parties together. We've kept in touch no matter where life has taken us... my moving all over the country, our weddings, the birth of four (soon-to-be five!) babies, and everything that comes afterwards. We're really "kindred spirits", as Anne of Green Gables would say. :) I can remember hanging out in her bedroom drinking Coke from a glass bottle, calling up the local radio station to request our favorite New Kids On The Block hits (LOL!), dancing, teasing our bangs, and modeling for the camera like we were ready for the cover of Teen magazine. (Yep, I have a few early photos that I found at my Mom's house... my "budding photography career" at age 14! Remind me NEVER to share those embarrassing shots with you, by the way.) ;) Whew, the flashbacks! And the big hair!!

We still joke about all those summers we spent together... especially the bean patch. ;) Since she had a pool and we didn't, we'd get calls during late summer like this one... "Hi Stacey, do you and your sisters wanna come over and swim tomorrow? Good! Well, we gotta pick beans first....." :/ That stinker. She just wanted six extra hands to help her in the string bean patch!!! And I'm afraid we weren't very much help either.... bean-pickin' just wasn't my thing. Good thing there was a hammock about 10 feet from the edge of the garden.

Anyway, when I was in KY a few weeks ago, I got the chance to hang out with her family and photograph them again. All five of them this time, not just her three beautiful daughters! Take a look..... sort of a "day in the life." Without the bean patch. :)

Playin' on the bed.... what better way to spend the day?!

I loooove this one.......

Couldn't resist this one in her crib. She was a HOOT!

Then we headed out in the SNOW!

*sigh* They're growing up so fast on me. I remember when they were born, when they were babies, and when they were toddling around. Now it's swim meets (gold and silver medals for these girls, by the way!) and preteen stuff. I don't wanna even know about the boys. Don't even tell me!!

Yep, COLOR from me. I couldn't resist, what with all their gorgeous "bundled-up-ness" and all...

And what better way to warm up... than with a nice warm BUBBLE BATH?!

"Mommyyyyyy!!!" ;) The littlest one needed a towel every time bubbles got on her chin.... which was every 5 seconds, LOL!

This last one just tugs on my heart.... what sweet bliss.

I'm so proud of and happy for you, Laura, my sweet friend. Your life has been blessed so richly. I love you to pieces, and I hope you enjoy my little peek into your life... your fun, crazy-happy, laughter-filled morning with your family. XOXOXOX

Love, Stace

Loved.

Baby Aubrie is likely one of the most adored babies around. And what a good little girl she was for me!! I got so many good shots of her sleeping soundly that day....

Wonder what she was dreaming about? :)

And I couldn't resist a few sweet detail shots. Oh, it's these tiny details that I adore so much!!!

Okay, last but not least... this has become my latest FAVORITE image.... remember sweet Brynne? She's Aubrie's big sister!! And what a fabulous sister she is. Brynne was my assistant this particular day, and my heart just melted every time she would touch her sister sweetly and whisper, "I love you, Aubrie!!!"

If Mom and Dad don't order a big canvas of this, then I will. Ha ha!

Shhh, I have a Crush...

I have a confession: I have a serious crush on this man. I can't get him off my mind. I think about him all throughout the day, and find myself daydreaming (yes, instead of proofing sessions, shhh!) about when I'll see him next. My Crush gives me butterflies in my stomach whenever he looks at me, and everytime he calls me "Sugah" or "Stacey Jo". I swoon over his deep Southern drawl, and the way his lip curls up when he's about to crack a joke that he knows will get to me. My Crush is the smartest man I've ever met; he just amazes me sometimes. He works so hard at his job, even with times as tough as they are in his industry. He's unbelievable. My Crush is extremely generous, compassionate, and a loyal, true friend. He lives every day to the fullest, and never, ever gives up on something he wants. He's an amazing father, the absolute best I've ever seen.... and his son adores him with every breath. He's my tall, dark and handsome Prince Charming. He's energetic, sweet, and completely hilarious. My Crush makes me laugh out loud even when I'm in a rotten mood, and he's so patient with me and our life, even when it gets hectic and all out of sorts, my Crush is there to put things in perspective and get things back on the right track again. Some days I need to pinch myself to see if this is really real... our wonderful, crazy, sweet life together.

I'm just so glad I snatched this man up almost 10 years ago!! ;) Happy Birthday to my Husband, my Crush, my Sweetheart. Chris honey, you just keep getting better and better. And I LOVE YOU to pieces.

XOXO,
Your Not-So-Secret Admirer

(Just a snapshot, since he's quite camera shy.) Imagine that, being camera shy in this house?! ;)

And I'm coming back to add a photo of our little birthday celebration..... Sweet Parker made this cake all by himself (well, with just a *tiny* bit of my help, but not much) and helped me frost it, and put ALL of the sprinkles on by himself, AND stuck in every single candle he could find! I think we offended Chris by having so many!!! LOL! ;) But just look at Parker's proud face as his Daddy gets ready to blow out the candles on his extra-special cake. It was worth every single crumb and eggshell I had to clean up, to see my two boys together like this. :)

Constant. Craving.

Thank goodness I get to go back to Kookie Krums tomorrow!! Ever since I met Janet and tasted her yummy treats, I have been jonesing for more of her chocolate chip cookies! I would blame my cravings on the pregnancy hormones, but sadly I had this problem long before I got pregnant!! Stacey + Sweets = Love. And a few extra pounds. ;)

Okay, that's all I could photograph before I scarfed them down. LOL!

You've GOT to stop by her boutique! Gourmet coffee, homemade cookies, cookie bouquets (what perfect gifts!), stationery, photo albums and frames, gifts, seasonal fun stuff.... you name it. She's located on Main Street in Dunedin, and her shop is fabulous!

Stay tuned for more images from Janet's boutique... because we have a fun new project lined up together!! Keep watchin' the blog!

Did I say Brrr already?!

I meant, "Brrrrrrrrrrr!!!" This is the most snow, and the chilliest weather, that I've seen in over ten years!! Yes, I'm a spoiled Floridian now. Suffice to say, my blood has thinned considerably since moving away from Kentucky.....

Check out that cold little nose! :(

Parker LOVED the snow, by the way!!

Excuse the quick snap here... my camera and I were pelted with snow a half-second later! ;)

And if THOSE images don't make you shiver in your flip-flops, check these out....

This is what we woke up to the second day. I photographed these in the hayfield across from my parents' home. In three layers of clothing. LOL!

Imagine my delight when our plane touched down in Florida and we stepped out into 74 degree weather. Ahhhh, feels like summer! :)

Brr...

Just letting y'all know that I'm out of the office.... from Tuesday 3/4 until Tuesday 3/11. (I'll be checking voicemail and email periodically during this time.) I'm in Kentucky visiting, photographing and actually.... RESTING. Can you believe that?! I've gone three straight nights with more than 4 hours sleep. Which is no small feat for a pregnant woman, no matter where she is. ha! But I'm having a great time. Parker is in hog heaven, playing with four of his cousins and their dogs. :)

Now, I hear that we're in for a snowstorm... they're calling for up to 5 inches by tomorrow. Good grief! What is this thin-blooded Florida girl gonna do?! Um, drag the kids out in it and take pictures, what else? :) To be honest, Parker has NEVER seen snow... besides the bit of accumulation on the sides of I-77 over Christmas vacation. But not enough to actually get out and walk in it... and touch it with his fingers. He's never made a snowman, never made a snowball or a snowangel. (Sandangels, yes!) So we're actually quite excited about the weather! As long as it clears up in time for us to fly home Tuesday, that is. ;)

I've already had a blast with my camera (and so has my sister) while I've been here. Keep your eye out for some maternity pics soon. ;)

Stay warm!!
Stacey

The Village.

I have to tell you about this wonderful place I visited this morning... Yoga Village in Clearwater. Oh my goodness. I took Prenatal Yoga classes with Linda Wilkerson when I was expecting Parker, and it really made me feel calm, reduced my stress, helped me prepare my body for labor and delivery, and just made me feel like I had really done something GOOD for myself, since here I was "donating" my entire body to this growing child already anyhow. ;) Well, I finally signed up for Linda's Prenatal Yoga class with this pregnancy, and I am kicking myself for not having started sooner. What took me so long?!

The class was a relaxing 90 minutes, which was filled with warm conversation and get-to-know-you's at the beginning, while everyone (who really seemed to be a family) updated each other on how their pregnancies were progressing, how they were feeling, what they were afraid of. The practice itself was relaxing and energizing at the same time, and, as always, Linda has a way of making me (and I'm sure everyone else in that room) feel confident that YES, my body really does know how to handle this pregnancy and birthing business; what am I so worried about?! Let. Go.

The Village also offers other classes...... Mommy and me, Storytime + Yoga with kids 3 and under (I'm totally taking Parker to this one!), Children, Teens, Babies, several different classes for Adults, Seniors and even those needing special assistance. I wholeheartedly recommend the Prenatal Session, which is offered on Tuesday mornings from 9:30-11am, and Thursday evenings from 7-8:30pm. Make sure you check out Linda's studio online here, or drop by for a class. She's located on 580 and McMullen Booth in Clearwater. Your first class is even FREE!

*While you're there, you can browse through an album of MY photographs that Linda is displaying out front! (And for those moms and soon-to-be-moms that I had the pleasure of meeting this morning.... when you call to book a session with me, mention this blog post!) ;)

Honestly, I can't wait to go back for my next yoga class! Hmm, maybe I'll try to take in the Thursday evening class as well. :)

Tub Time.

I have to post this shot from the other day.... just 'cause I love it so much. :) And I love the light that comes in from that bathroom window. Ahhh.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Fly on my wall.

And these are just from today.....

-I was putting Parker down for his nap this afternoon, tucking the sheet up around him and leaning down for a kiss...
P: "Mah-muh? Will you lay with me, an' snuggle me, an' scrrratch my baack in shapes??" (We can't just scratch, we must scratch in circles or triangles or hexagons, or whatever random picture he thinks up...)
Me: "Yes, baby, but only for a minute then you have to go to sleep, okay?"
P: "K." (and I begin scratching circles and triangles and what-have-you.) "Mah-muh, will you drawl a hula guurl?"
Me: "What? A hula girl?!" (but I do it... with my fingertip I trace arms and legs and the grass skirt and everything.)
P: "Hey, don't forget her brawl!" (LOL!! A bra?!)

-After I finish scratching the hula girl (complete with bra) and then the pirate (with peg-leg by special request), I flatten my hand and just rub his back for a few seconds. He stops me and says, "Hey, dat wasn't on my list!!" Good grief!

-Listening to the baby with my monitor/headphones getup this evening....
Me: "Shh, now if you'll be real quiet we might be able to hear her movin' around."
P: "I can't hear nuffin!"
Me: "Well, maybe if we call her name she'll answer us?"
P: (speaking INTO his headphones now) "Ava? Aaaava Caaarrroliiiine! Are you deyr??" (moving the headphone back to his ear to listen, then back to his mouth, etc.) "What? What did you say? You said you wanna come outta Mah-muh's belly? Mah-muh, she wants out! Way'll, you can't come out yet!!!!"

Now you really want to know where my son got his sweet Southern accent? It's not completely from me, since my hillbilly accent has melted and changed over the years (and ahem, over our nomadic moving all over the East Coast). CHRIS's accent, on the other hand, is still extremely strong. That man is North Carolina through and through!

-Walking down the hallway while Chris was on Parker's bed reading his bedtime story to him....
Chris: "Mama Bear an' Papa Bear an' Baby Bear went for a walk yonda' in the woods, while their oatmeal cooled down." (giggle) "......well, since Goldilocks didn't eat a very good breakfast, she was miiiighty tard, so she went upstairs to find herself a bed to lay down in."
Me (from across the hall): "Goldilocks was WHAT?!?!"
P: "She was TARD, Mah-muh!!!"
Chris: "Somebody's been sittin' in my cheer." (Now, Chris got this one honest from his Daddy. Papa Donnie still invites me to come sit down 'right-chere' in this 'cheer'. ;) And I simply grin and sit down. Right-chere.

Ahh, I love my sweet life. :) There is just so much to laugh about!!

I hope you're all having a great weekend!

*eta: had to come back and add this image..... what's a post on a photographer's blog, without a photo?? :)

"It's an honor."

Those were her words. We were shooting her maternity session, and talking about the miracle of carrying a life inside your body... And she said, "It's an honor." She's right. You know, those words have stuck with me ever since her session. And I think about them every day. Whenever my morning (ahem, all-day) sickness kicks in, I remember Amy's phrase and it helps me deal with it. She doesn't know this of course (well, until now!) but I just wanted to give you a little idea about the sweet spirit of the woman I just photographed. :)

Meet Amy. Soon-to-be mother of four. Beautiful, funny, cheerful, and warm. Loved. And blessed. Take a look at a few images from our session..... Hope you like them, Amy! xo

Quote of the day.

Just ran across this one and LOVE it. Thought I'd share......

"I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint -- and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you." --Oprah Winfrey

I hope my "fingerprint" is bringing others joy, each time they look at the photographs on their wall, of their children and families that I've photographed.

So... what's YOUR calling? What does YOUR fingerprint look like? I'm certain it's as unique as mine. :)

"They" lie.

"They" do, I know it. I'm convinced! All those books, those experts, those other moms, those grandmas. "They" all say, "By your second trimester you'll feel great... your morning sickness will have gone away, you won't be so tired, and you'll be sleeping better. All those early-pregnancy symptoms will have faded. You won't have to tee-tee every hour, and you will have your energy back!" Hmm, just one word fits here: LIARS!!! :) Or at least, as long as you're carrying a girl it seems, I dunno....

Mamas of little girls.... tell me the truth.... was your pregnancy flat-out TOUGH? Man oh man, this little girly is kickin' my behind! At 21 weeks, I'm still dealing with morning (+ evening) sickness. I'm exhausted... All. The. Time. And I'm up all night. I can't sleep, can't get comfortable. Even with three pillows plus a gigantic body pillow. Plus I've had a cold for a week, which is not making me any more cheerful. *sigh* So what's the deal? With my son, I was done with all this stuff by 14 weeks. I felt GREAT in my second trimester, I loooooved being pregnant, and I actually felt beautiful! This one? Umm, not so much. HA! Don't get me wrong... I love my little angel-girl to pieces already, there's no denying that! I'm excited for her to get here! And I think the bodies of expectant mothers are breathtaking just simply because of the miracle they are bringing forth. Really. I just like to complain every now and then. :)

Can any of you other Mamas relate?? Were your boy/girl pregnancies completely different? Could you tell any difference at all? If so, which was harder for YOU? Misery here would love some company. ;) Ahh, this too shall pass, right?!

Now, I recently photographed a FUN FUN FUN maternity session with a GORGEOUS mama (ahem, little boy inside that tummy!). I'll post some from her session tomorrow, since I'll be getting her gallery ready to go online. Hang tight, Amy! Almost ready!

Night, y'all. This preggo is going to bed.....

Definitely a worthy cause.

I thought this was worth blogging about!

I was recently informed about a charity fundraiser, happening at Somers Salon & Spa in Clearwater. Jill and her staff are hosting an "All you need is LOVE" Cut-a-thon from noon to 5pm on Sunday, Feb 10. They will be providing haircuts, express manicures and pedicures, chair massage, and waxing.... for ONLY $15!!! What a deal! All proceeds are going directly to benefit the Chaboudy Family, a local family who lost everything when their home burned in a recent fire. It could happen to anyone, even me... even you... Click on that link to read their story.

The Cut-a-thon is open to moms, dads, kids, you name it. There will be a raffle for Gift Baskets and Spa Packages as well! The salon itself is a wonderful place to be, and I think it's FANTASTIC that they are helping their community, and their clients, in this way!! Here's your chance to help a local family, and actually get some great services in the meantime: if you'd like to help, please call 726-8181 to book your appointment for Sunday, or you may also drop in during 12-5. (Oh, and ask for Jill, Patty, or Susan if you can!! They rock!) You may also make donations by cash or check at the Salon as well.

Thanks y'all. :)

Ding ding ding!! We have our winners!

I am thrilled to announce the winners of my first blog contest!!! And I'm so grateful to all of you who voted. I received nearly 150 votes since this contest began!! How awesome are y'all?? :) THANK YOU!!!

To those of you with whom I spoke about doing sessions out-of-state... let me know your details and dates as soon as you can. I can only fly for a few more months with this big belly of mine, ;) so if I get at least 2-4 families coordinated I will go ahead and make travel arrangements. Thanks again for all the wonderful compliments on my work. You really know how to make a girl blush. :)

OKAY! On to the winners!!

FIRST PLACE: Photograph #3 -- CONGRATULATIONS, Donna and Nathan!!!
I have to tell you, I'm so excited that Nathan won, because he really is an amazing kid. He's got a very special story too: shortly after birth, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and just recently type 1 diabetes in addition to that.

You would think that with all Life has handed him, he'd have a less-than-positive attitude, or he'd be spoiled rotten, or he'd complain, even a little... But you know what? He never complains a single bit! He is probably the bravest child I know, especially what with the constraints of his walker, his insulin pump and all the finger pricks on a daily basis. He plays baseball, is a video game SHARK, rides his 4-wheeler, pesters his older sister, and acts like a normal, grounded, 8-year old kid. He's UNBELIEVABLE!! A blessing to everyone who meets him. We just love him to pieces! I think I've said it before, but I know that Nathan is going to change the lives of all who come in contact with him.

SECOND PLACE: Photograph #2 -- CONGRATULATIONS, Trish and Macy!!!

And wouldn't you know it, but this sweetie has a special story too? Funny how life works, I'm so glad these two kids won!!! xoxo

Macy was born 7 weeks early with a congenital heart defect. She's had open-heart surgery, eye surgery, an operation on her tummy, a pacemaker, chest tubes, a collapsed lung.... you name it. And she's not even TWO yet! With all these setbacks, she has overcome every single one of them and is a sweetheart to boot. Macy is now undergoing therapy so she can catch up to other babies her age. With the help of her therapists and her sweet Mommy and Daddy, she's even learned how to pull herself up and is standing on her own! She adores her doggie, is a cartoon junkie, and loves to pop bubbles in the bathtub! With all she's been through, I thought this miracle baby certainly deserved to wear wings at her photo shoot!! ;) What a blessing she is. A real angel.

So, a big congrats to both my winners!! Thanks everyone for playing! And.... this one was so much fun, I'm gonna have another one!!!! :D Keep checking back in for details!!

Me and my babies.

Okay, one more "us" image... I couldn't resist. :)

Parker helped me set this up... he saw me by the window setting up the camera and ran up to me saying, "Mah-muh, I wanna hay-elp. I'm a pher-tog-eh-fer too!!" Love him to pieces. (He is quite good with the camera phone, I must admit.) ;) Anyhow, he hugged me and said he wanted to snuggle with the baby. (Oh melt my heart, wouldja??) And THIS is the ONLY shot I got of us before he ran off to watch the Backyardigans again....

*sigh* Technically imperfect, yes, but ya know... sometimes those "rules" go out the window when you love someone so much, and the emotion of the photograph means more. And I DO, REALLY, REALLY love these two babies of mine. xoxox

~Contest results will be posted tomorrow!!! So don't go too far... ;)