Merry Christmas - Chicago Area Family Photojournalist

I wanted to take a few minutes to say Merry Christmas to all of you!

Yesterday we had a wonderful celebration with my family.  This morning the presents were opened with excitement.  In a few hours we will be at my IL's to enjoy a Christmas meal.  Our blessings are over flowing. 

Thank you for reading my blog.  You give me the gift of your time every week and I truly appreciate it.  May God bless you and your family. 

   
This year, for our Christmas picture we wanted to do something a little different.  We sat at the dinner table one day and discussed what we should do.  Many good ideas were given. We laughed at most of them.  We decided on something fun to spread joy and laughter this year.  Our hope was - when our family and friends opened their cards they would see our cute little chicken and just smile their biggest smile. 

Our gift to you is the gift of joy and laughter.

Happy Birthday Jesus! 

The Faithful - Chicago Area Family Photographer

I was actually going to skip today's post all together because of Friday's tragic events.  Instead I am going to share an image of my faithful friend B.  She believes deeply in the power of prayer.  No matter how difficult, she gives all of her challenges to God through prayer.  For 3 years she has struggled to sustain a pregnancy past the first trimester.  She has shed many, many tears and heartbreaks during this time.  Yet her faith was unshaken.  Today she is 19 weeks pregnant.  We met this past weekend and we talked for almost 3 hrs.  Again and again she demonstrates to me her strength and faithfulness in the midst of any challenge she faces. 

One of the lessons she has taught me is that God answers the prayers of the faithful, in his way and in his time....

Congratulations my faithful friend :)

 

babY J 3 month session - Chicago Area Children Photographer

Our little nephew is growing so fast.  Babies are so much fun and so much work.  Mom is doing a great job figuring it all out.  I enjoyed spending the day with family.  :)

Mom had this hat she wanted him in... it is too cute!

The Perfect Day - Chicago Area Family Photographer

I was so excited when my college friend X asked me to take some shots of her family.  Within the last couple of years we have reconnected and I have enjoyed picking up right where we left off.  She has always been a leader, full of life and energy.  The last few months she has made some changes to her career path. I know she will be very successful in all that she puts her mind and heart into. 

On my way to her house I saw this really nice spot.  I am directionally challenged so I was crossing my fingers that I could find it again.  The weather was in the mid 60's, you can't get better than that this time of year. 

Perfect spot... Perfect weather... Perfect family... = the Perfect day

This adorable little guy and I, share a birthday... it is coming up.... ;)

Beautiful Memories - Chicago Area Family Photojournalist

Today my thoughts and prayers are with the Lopez family.  They are saying good bye to the matriarch of the family.   She is loved by many.

I took this image in 2011 - this week my sister (this is her MIL) asked me for copies so she can distribute to the family.

Sunday night my sister asked me if I had any more images of her MIL.  I found a few that I had never shown her because they weren't "photography" perfect.  The light wasn't right, the background, the ISO, etc... Among them was the image below.  My sister called me in tears.  This is the only image she has of her son with his grandma.  I cried with her.  I am happy that my nephew will always have this picture with his grandma. 

   
May she rest in peace and all of her family comforted during this difficult time. 

Baby Cakes: Christmas Session - Chicago Area Baby Photographer

I had a busy week.  :D The day was dark and dreary but we you would never be able to tell with these shots.  I enjoyed working with this hard working mama and her active little guy.   

New Nephew - Chicago Area Newborn Photographer

I am so excited to present to you my little nephew 7 days new.  I really enjoyed spending the morning with my brother, SIL and baby.  They look amazing, especially my SIL.  I couldn't get over how stunning she is 7 days after giving birth.  Something happens to you when you become a mother it's this transformation that is pretty hard to describe.  When I was editing these images I could see the change in both of them.  It is simply beautiful. 

The baby is as sweet as can be.  Take a look: 

 

Final Days of Gratitude - Chicago Area Photojournalist

These are the final 3 days of my gratitude journal.  I've enjoyed sharing with all of you my grateful images.  There is so much to be grateful for. 
 

Day 28

 

 

I am thankful for this family. This is my brother, SIL and their new 1 week old baby. I am so happy for them and their "new" family. I am very excited to be able to capture baby R throughout the years. I have to mention, that they are my "biggest fans". They check my blog every week and when I don't post they tell me: "What happened we missed your bog..." They want me to succeed and I know it. I came home after spending the morning with them and held each of my kiddos like a baby. They grow so fast. Thank you God for this little miracle.

 

 

Day 29

 

 

I am thankful for homework time.  We tackle homework right after school and it gives me an opportunity to ask about her day.  We talk and we learn together.

 

Day 30

I am thankful for me.  I am loving.  I am kind.  I am talented.  I am successful.  I am hardworking.  I am fun.  I am beautiful.  I am a mother.  I am a wife.  I am grateful for the many, "I am..".



Check out my little nephew 7 days new....

Day 21 - 27 Grateful Journal

Day 21

I am thankful for a voice.  You really don't know how much you use it, until you don't have it any more What an amazing thing a voice is when you really think about it.  You have two sets of muscles that control the vocal cords, one in the front and one in the back that act like zippers to make certain sounds.  I am thankful for these two muscles  and I see that "zip your lip" isn't that far fetched... LOL!

Day 22

Thanksgiving Day... Can I have a do over? Well, here it is we went to Supreme China Buffet (and Hibachi Grill of course) for Thanksgiving. Yes, I've spent most of the day saddened that I didn't give my family more today. No big family gathering , no turkey, no cornbread side, no big dessert spread, no... well the list can go on and on and it's making me depressed again... that's not my point.. when I downloaded this images and I looked at how happy they are, everything else didn't matter. We prayed over the: sushi, french fries and mac n' cheese, said what we were thankful for, we laughed and we were together. I am thankful for this very special Thanksgiving Day.

Day 23

Today I am thankful for the beautiful bouquet of flowers my sweet hubby gave me :D

Day 24

I am forever grateful that God choose me to be the mother of this little boy (who is wrestling tigers).

Day 25

 
I love my dad! I am so thankful for him.  There are lots of things that I love about my dad.  At the age of 15 he "found" a job for me.  I hated it.  I went from sitting on my butt watching TV to working 10 hrs a day over the summer.  After about a week he told me to go ahead and quit, I had stopped talking to everyone.  I didn't quit and because of him I know what hard work means.  I can go on and on about the real life lessons he has taught me.  Thank you DAD!

  Day 26

 

I am grateful for my brothers and sisters.  I love my brother D, he has always been someone I can exchange creative ideas with and get good feedback from.  D is always encouraging me as a photographer and a mother.  He is also a wonderful Tio (Uncle).  This night my kiddos told me how much fun they had playing with Tio D.  I could see in their eyes how happy they were to have spent time with him. 

Day 27

I am grateful for hot showers.  They do the body and soul good.