I remember the day mom contacted me. She was early in her pregnancy, but frantically trying to find a birth photographer. She told me she just wasn’t able to find anyone in her area, which surprised me since she’s in a larger area than I am. Springfield is 2 hours from me, which was a big concern for us both. We talked a lot about her pregnancy, the real possibility that I wouldn’t get there in time, and above all her deep desire to have me there. Since this will most likely be their only child she had told me that it was as important to her that I get there as it was for her husband to be there. They had driven down so we could meet and chat this past summer, making sure we were all compatible together. I instantly liked her! She is honest, straight to the point and funny! We decided to go ahead and take on this baby boy’s birth. I’ve never been so nervous before as I was when the due date approached. I had been sleeping with my phone underneath my pillow at night when I got a text just before 4am. She thought she was in labor and headed to the hospital. Turns out she was in the early stages of labor, but still only at a 1cm so they sent her home. I got everything ready and took a shower, then a long nap…just in case. I got another text that afternoon at about 3pm. She was definitely in labor and I headed out. When I arrived 2 hours later she was just past a 5cm! Mom did so great and little James was born on August 2nd, 2013 at 11:04pm. He was just 6lbs & 14oz, 20.25 inches long. He had a full, and I mean FULL head of gorgeous hair!

Welcome to the world James Campbell! Your mommy and daddy are over the moon with you!

The last time I got to photograph this family their youngest was just starting school. These girls have grown up to be the loveliest young ladies. Mom and dad should be so proud. 🙂

I am so excited to share this post with you all!  Meet the lovely children of this year’s Single Parent Giveaway winner, Jameson and Harper.  Harper was everything I expected, an energetic toddler with an independent attitude!  🙂  She gave me just about every side of her, I think.  Her big brother was such a big helper, and such an easy boy to photograph.

Mom and I had spent a bit of time talking about their personalities and things she might bring.  Sometimes items from home work great, and sometimes there isn’t enough time.  I was happy that we got to incorporate a bit of them.  To top off a great session we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.  It was in the high 70’s and sunny…in July!  🙂

On Monday our oldest daughter turned 10.  She is growing up so fast that sometimes I look at her and I forget how old she is.  I’m afraid I’ll blink and she’ll be dating.  Sometimes after you’ve become a parent and the years go by details get lost.  Her birth is something I still remember pretty clearly.

I was in my last trimester when my OB stopped practicing and I had to find a new doctor.  I was not a happy lady.  At the time all I could find was someone way down by Washington Regional, which is about 40 minutes from our home.  Abby had been cooking for 40 weeks with no signs of labor…and I was hot.  It was July in Arkansas!  They tried to let me go until I went into labor naturally, but we decided together that induction might be the way to go.  We were to be at the hospital at 6am.  I remember not being able to sleep that night, jitters and all.  I kept pacing around the bedroom, unable to relax.  Andy, half asleep, kept encouraging me to lay down and get some rest.  Finally at 3am I could take no more!  We grabbed our bags and headed down to WR.  By the time I was checked in and taken to my room the contractions were really intense.  Since it was so early our doctor wasn’t at the hospital, they had to call.  I remember asking my husband what on earth was taking them so long.  This was not our first baby, so I knew what I was feeling.  I looked at Andy and said ‘I can feel her head down there.’ and told him to run get a nurse.  The nurse reassured me that our baby wasn’t coming out, it was just pressure.  Boy was she wrong!  I’ll never forget the look on her face when she checked me!  She hustled out of that room, trying not to alarm us, calling for the doctor.  Our baby girl arrived at 8:30am, weighing 8.4 pounds!

Look at her now.  🙂

And this adorable little boy will be turning 6 this month!  I fear I don’t have much time left that he’ll be my little boy.

This face is simply irresistible!  She is just over 7 months now.  Crawling and pulling up everywhere!

This summer we made a list of all the things we want to do.  Everything from roast marshmallows to camping to this trip to Kansas City.  I think we are about 1/2 way through that list, even with the kids being at camp part of the time.  Having a list of things to look forward to has kept them from getting bored and me from going crazy.  🙂  This past weekend we drove up to KC and spend time all around Union Station and the zoo.  The weather was perfect!

The morning after we got home this happened…

Let me remind you she is SEVEN MONTHS OLD!  She is crazy.  She has been learning new things so fast I can hardly keep up.  She also took her first knee forward in crawling position today.  What a wild ride she has been… 🙂