My daughter as Elsa

My daughter is turning 7 this week. Her obsession (along with every other girl in America under the age of 10, I imagine...) is Elsa from Frozen. She'll be singing "Let It Go" at her school talent show later this spring, wearing this dress...

As I woke up this morning and realized that we might have gotten our last pretty snow, I decided to take the opportunity to have her put on a little Elsa photoshoot.....  She was very excited - and not at all bothered by the fact that she was a smidge late for school. 

Zoe is 3! | Helena Montana Child Photographer

You know every mom says it on a regular basis:  We don't know where the time goes.  Days drag by, bedtime never comes soon enough, and if you wipe another butt you're going to LOSE YOUR CRAP.  (No pun intended there.  Ooops).  But then you wake up one morning and realize that months, if not years, have passed before your eyes.  You blinked and all of a sudden your wiggly chubby baby has turned into a longer, skinnier talking version of the tiny being you could swear you just gave birth to the other day.  Between the dishes, the laundry, the poop, the messes, the toys and the routine, our babies grow up.  Right before our eyes.

I'll always refer to Zoe as my baby -- she *is* my baby.  But she's turning three in a couple weeks.  My baby is turning three.  She tells me all the time that since she's turning three, she gets to take piano lessons (like her big sister) and go to school (like her big sister) and make her own toast in the morning (like her big sister).  But she's my baby.  I just want to hold her in my lap for a while longer -- to brush her teeth for her, to make her breakfast for her, rather than her doing it by herself.  It's flown.  The days, the months, the years.  They've all flown by and I *HAVE* to remind myself to slow down and watch it happen.  With my eyes.  Not always with my camera lens.  Note to self..........

Since I can't stop time, I'll graciously celebrate her birthday.  I'll make her minnie mouse cake just as she requested, and we'll invite her friends and play and have fun and look forward to another year.  Because that's what we do.  We're glad they grow up and become their own little people and carve out a path in life. We're happy for them.  We nurture them, we love them, we guide them, then we let them go.  Right?  That part scares me.  But there's no sense getting ahead of myself, right?  I have a good 15 years to prepare for that part.  A long, slow 15 years, please.

Happy birthday, baby Zoe.  Mama loves you to the moon.  And back.  And then some.



Zoe's proudest accomplishments on the cusp of her third birthday:

~ giving up the paci with no complaints (the paci fairy had to come to our house and *trade* the paci for a rainbow dash toy... details)
~ going potty all by herself
~ making her own toast in the morning
~ opening the door for the dog to go in and out
~ clearing her own dishes from the table after meals

Birthday girls! | Helena, Montana Child Photographer

As I'm sure you know, I have a special place in my heart for sisters. Especially sisters who are just about two years apart. Meet K&J -- two adorable little cuties celebrating their first and third birthdays within days of each other. They traveled from Butte to come see me for their birthday photos. I must say they gave me a run for my money -- they totally made me work for it! But it was awesome, and they're beautiful and I'm so happy with how the images turned out. I quickly gave up on the "is there a bug on my head????!!!!" to get them to look my way, and instead followed them around (a million miles an hour!) just snapping away and capturing *them* being *them*.

Happy birthday, girls!

Hope to see you again when you're 2 and 4 (or before - who knows!)

Sylar is One | Helena, MT Baby Photographer

Well, this past Sunday was a popular day for photos! I met Sylar and his Mama at Reeders Alley for his birthday session, and we ran into three other groups there doing photos as well! It's such a gem - so many great little spots for wonderful backdrops. Can't wait to do my family mini sessions there later this fall!

When I first started thinking about this session, I knew I wanted to have a few props. I generally don't do many props at all, but this little guy and this location... the antique typewriter all but jumped off the shelf at me when I was perusing the antique shop last week! ...as did the phone, the tractor, the old coffee cans and books... And I have to admit - as cute as those shots were, I still just absolutely adore shots of him being himself.

Happy Birthday, little guy! Hope to see you and your beautiful mom again soon!

Jackson is 1 | Helena, Montana Baby Photographer

Yet another baby's first year come and gone! There was no shortage of proofs from this session! Jackson has been a great subject for all his sessions - newborn, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and certainly didn't disappoint for his one year session!

As always, it's a blast to watch these little ones grow from tiny wiggly newborns into toddlers - ready to run at the drop of a hat!

I need to mention that I *love* the fact that my job involves getting babies to make the most GIANT mess that they can, then I get to leave. Love it!!

(Okay, so I have to clean up, too, but encouraging these little ones to go crazy is so.much.fun.)

Beautiful | Bozeman Helena Montana Baby Child Photographer

I can't wait to share this one! Those eyes just staring back at me.... I'm mesmerized! Can't wait to get to more of Ally's first birthday images!!!