So I know I just posted about Miss Ireland, but I just had to share some of her Fresh 48 pictures, too! Did you know that my birth story sessions include a Fresh 48, which is completed within the first 2 days after baby is born before you discharge the hospital. It gives mom a chance to shower (the beeeeest feeling ever post-labor) and feel slightly normal again after the beautiful chaos of having a baby! Plus, siblings usually are more comfortable with their new sibling after a few days of being around the baby! Win win! Let's get your due date on the calendar to book your Fresh 48! Check out my booking form here!

How sweet is she?? I actually met Violet in a local music class and we didn't even realize until her family came in for a mini-session! I said, "I know that baby!" Who could forget such an adorable face? And she has the sweet disposition to match. Plus, isn't her name seriously the cutest? It was so fun getting to photograph Violet for her first birthday session in the studio. Violet LOVED her cake and we had a blast watching her mash it all over the place. And of course who doesn't love some bubbles? Watch the whole thing for some unreal cuteness in video form at the end! <3 Happy happy first birthday, little one and many, many more!

Alexis and I had very similar first birth stories, so I connected immediately with her desire to photograph her second birth. We both had emergency c-sections after inductions with our first babies. Alexis had a pretty traumatic experience, which made it that much more special that she would trust me enough to bring me in this time around. As a photographer, you often aren't allowed back in the surgical room for c-sections, due to hospital policies, which is what we faced for Alexis's scheduled c-section. But, that wasn't going to keep me from documenting the entire experience, beginning with the excited and nervous moments shared with her husband, Matt as the surgery time got pushed back and all that was left was waiting for that sweet baby to come. I even got a chance to grab some shots of their family and first daughter, Olivia boiling with anticipation in the waiting room. Then, of course, we got those first moments of skin to skin. Alexis didn't get to have skin to skin with her first born, so it was even that much more magical to see. C-sections are a bit different than natural births in that the dad is the first one to hold the baby while mom is stitched up and taken to recover a bit. That first moment of holding your baby after everything is literally indescribable. "This time sinks your heartbeats and helps lower the baby's blood sugar", the nurse told her, which is truly an incredible concept. Bodies and instincts are nuts and beautiful and amazing and crazy! And holy cow, THAT HAIR! I was obsessed with Ireland's full head of dark brown locks. It was the first thing everyone who saw her commented on because it was straight up that good! That little peanut made her way to the world and things went swimmingly for momma this time around. Watching Ireland's parents fall in love with her in real time was too special and then I got the chance to photograph Olivia meeting her for the first time. It was filled with a little bit of fear, hope, worry, but most of all, excitement! She even brought her a little knitted hat as a welcome gift. It can be scary to see your mommy in a hospital, but Olivia was so brave and just kept saying how beautiful "Ireland Grace Keane" was. :) Congratulations guys, and I send all the best snuggles and happy wishes for your family!

I can't explain how much I love watching my families grow over the years. I have been photographing Logan's sisters for a few years now and having the chance to watch the newest baby of the family grow up, too, is so heartwarming. I honestly love the families that I work with and become closer friends with them through every session.  Logan is such a sweet little one. She has the brightest eyes and smile. She wasn't the  biggest fan of the cake, (I'm sure that will change) but still gave us so many cute expressions! Isn't she literally just a doll? Plus I got to do one of my favorite themes, Alice in Wonderland. I love it so much. My wedding shower was Mad Hatter tea party themed, so you know I'm biased, but her adorable dress and faces made it perfection. Congrats to her parents for bringing ANOTHER gorgeous little one into the world! You know I'm all about that girl power (4 sisters!!!!). I can't wait to watch Logan continue to learn from those beautiful big sisters and vice versa. Happy first birthday, Logan! <3

When I mention birth photography, most people are amazed and say, "That's a thing??" YES IT IS A THING, and it is amazing. You do not understand what rockstars moms are until you witness a birth. I absolutely love love loved getting to photograph these moments, starting with before baby Claire arrived, soaking in the anticipation, pain, excitement, support, and love in the room. Corrine and Ben were so happy and sweet. I have never seen a more beautiful mom in labor. Like, that's not even fair. My feet were comparable to an elephant's and she was glowing. They were cracking jokes and squeezing hands through the contractions. Ben was giving the perfect amount of support, cheering Corrine on with the promise of a Mad Mex feast post labor. I mean, that's definite motivation in my book. The actual pushing was truly about 3 minutes long, which was incredible. Then, there she was: that sweet, wrinkly, screaming, new, beautiful, tiny human. Claire was perfect the moment she entered the room and there was so much love surrounding her. Being invited into an experience like this requires a lot of trust, grace, and compassion on both ends. I am so thankful to have been given those things and more by Corrine and Ben. Welcome to the world, little one. You have some amazing people around you for this wild ride. Congratulations again to this sweet family! <3

I loved meeting this GORGEOUS family at their Fresh 48 hospital session at Magee Women's Hospital in Pittsburgh. I can't get over how beautiful they all are, right? Baby DeAngelo was brought into the world a bit earlier than his original due date, and we were all so thrilled to meet him. I know he and his pup sister, Shiloh, are going to be best buddies. I can't wait to watch you grow! <3

It is always so fun when people you know start having babies and they choose you to photograph those special first days! Little Lexi was such a happy bub and came right in time for Valentine's Day! Her momma wanted to incorporate a special family blanket and Lexi loved snuggling up in it! She even gave us some wide-eyed snaps mixed in with her sleepy images. What a sweetie! Congrats to her parents and enjoy this first crazy year! <3

We did it! We survived the first year and so did Eliza! Huzzah! But really, what a crazy and amazing year it has been. This little bug has brought so many smiles and giggles into our home that it is hard (and weeeeeird) to even remember a time when she wasn't here. In my true fashion, I forgot to share these images, but ya know: Life+2 businesses +baby= brain overload
That's real math. So here are some pics I snapped for her cake smash, which obviously had to be Groundhog's Day themed (that's the day of her birth!), followed by a splash that sends a shout out to her best bud, Elmo and some of her fave toys.  Thanks for following our journey with Eliza Lou the past year, and I apologize in advance for the never ending spam to come. Are you looking to have a specially designed theme for your little one's birthday? Click here to give me a shout and we can create something awesome together! Happy days!