Della is TWO!!

It's so cliche to say, but it's just so true...where has two years gone? Della celebrated her 2nd birthday this past weekend and I had to stop for just a moment (literally just one moment because Della never stops for longer than that) to think about all that this last year has held for this little girl. I hate to admit it, but the truth is her 2nd year went by faster that Jack's did for me. I suppose that is just the way it is when you have multiple kids...you're trying to keep up with both of them and trying to mark milestones for each of them...you're bound to miss something somewhere I suppose. She has a had a big year though, from learning to walk to learning to run and jump, learning how to defend herself against a big brother who is constantly conniving his way into hoarding all the toys (even the few that are rightfully hers), learning to talk (she was the world's best babbler for a long time and now those babbles are full sentences), demanding attention at every turn (she is 100% happy when she has 100% of your attention), refusing to sit high chairs or anything but a "big girl seat" just like her brother, learning to walk alone up and downstairs regardless of how many times she falls, showing us just how much she loves to color and paint and draw and doing anything else that might "create" something new...even if when she's done that means she tears it all up. Turning 2 is a big deal and I am fully ready for it. My smart, opinionated, determined, loving child is sure to prove that 2 suits her just fine. She can handle whatever comes her way, but will always ask to "hold you" when she just wants a little bit of extra closeness in her day. Happy birthday Della!! Words cannot describe just how much I love you!!!

(Oh, and in honor of her birthday...a 10 minute session with some fun balloons was completely necessary...also, within 10 minutes all of those balloons had popped by touching the grass.)

if you're still reading this far down...that's a baby bump there in my belly...baby #3 coming early January (hopefully late December)

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goodbye summer

I hope you've all had a fantastic summer! I am so thankful that we got to spend this last week away as a family in Anna Maria Island (a favorite beach spot for us). We spent our days rotating between the beach and the pool and doing nothing more than spending time together just the four of us...just what we needed. I'm also grateful for a few photos like this (thanks to my husband) to capture some of those moments...

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Della is 1!! {personal}

It's been an entire of year of Della and I am definitely still a bit in shock about it! It's been one of the best years of my life and also the most tired year ever (no one can ever really prepare you for that). For those of you who may not know Della personally, let me just tell you a little bit about her. Della is an entertainer, she knows how to get in the center of a circle and capture everyone's attention. She is funny and loves to make you laugh. Having a big brother around means that she is into cars and trains and balls or pretty much anything she can throw at this point. She is such a happy baby and keeps us smiling all the time. It has been such a fun year watching her grow and seeing her personality develop (a personality that is so distinctly her own). And so to celebrate her, we threw a little garden party up on the roof of Metro (the site of the Hell's Kitchen Farm Project). After 3 years of winter birthday's with Jack, I was all too thrilled to throw an outdoor party for Della...90 degree weather and all. Hosting a party is one of my favorite things and it's one of my "love languages" (the intentional part of it all that is supposed to make someone feel special), so I loved getting the chance to do something like this for her (even though she will never remember it). Thank you to all of our friends who could make it and for so many of you who have been a part of this first year with us! Happy Birthday Della! I love you!!

**the theme was aqua and white...in case you couldn't tell:)**

birthday cake for everyone!

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Jack and Della...oh how I love them!! {personal}

Jack is 3!! THREE!! How did this happen?! And today, Della is 9 months old!! I seriously can't believe both of these things have happened! I feel so lucky to have them both in my life. I seriously can't imagine anything better. Don't get me wrong, I do a lot of complaining (to Alan mostly) about how tired I am and how exhausting this phase of 2 children is...really I just want a big THANK YOU to be said every day to me and maybe I'd like an extra spa day or two along the way...what's so wrong with that? :) But, I wouldn't have it any other way. Becoming a parent to Jack was one of the greatest thrills of my life and while it took a little convincing to be ready for baby #2 (not sure if I was ready or not, but who knows when you ever really are), Della is absolutely the best addition to our family.  She is happy (that smile cannot be contained) and she totally knows how to get her way too. And the two of them together?? I promise you won't find a better brother and sister...the photos don't lie, they really do love each other that much. Jack and Della...I love you more than words can say!!

my handsome little man...

they love him so much!

NINE MONTHS!!!

I'll be hold him like this forever right? Please don't grow up!!

Yes, this is how they really are together...not just for photos:)

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a new year {personal}

Well, it's no secret that I've been a little absent from blogging recently. Between a crazy end to my 2012 (thank goodness for crazy year endings) including many holiday sessions that couldn't be blogged about since holiday cards were in the makings and then my own personal vacation to FL for 3 weeks (yes, 3 whole weeks in sunny FL)...well, it didn't leave me much time for blogposts and updates I'm afraid. But, I'm back and I plan on being ever present again! So, while I'm late in the wishing everyone an official New Year, I'll just say Happy January instead.

I have many new year's goals, but the first and most important one for me is to have a better balance of life and work. I love my job. I love the life I am able to create with my job. With the addition of Della these last 6 (almost 7) months though, that balance has been a little askew for me. Who knew having 2 kids would be that much more complicated? :) So, in honor of the new year, I will make resolutions and set goals that make me a better photographer and most of all a better mom to these amazing kids...no amount of words can express the love I have for them. They fill me with the most amazing joy and not a day goes by (even the hair pulling out days) that I do not find more love for them and the life they give me. And while having 2 kids is definitely more complicated than just 1 (for me at least), watching them together and taking a moment to listen to their conversations (albeit 1 sided mostly at this point) is possibly one of the greatest thrills of my life. And since I'm running out of words to express myself at this point, I'll just give you a little glimpse of what I'm talking about in photos instead....Happy January everyone!

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an afternoon with JACK {personal}

I am 9 months pregnant and while most of the time I am simply wishing that this new baby girl make her arrival quickly, I am also trying to take in my last days of being a mother to just one. Jack is 2 years and 4 months old now and while at times it's hard to believe he's that old, I also find that it's even harder to remember life without him! He defines so much of my life in all the ways I hoped he would. He makes a better person as I hope to model a life that will inspire and encourage him throughout his life. He is funny, incredibly loving, smart (which makes him opinionated and perhaps a little bossy too), and just all around fun! So, here in my last days of being to mother just one, I spent a short afternoon trying to capture all the little ways that he makes me smile on camera. I love you Jack!

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Spring

Spring is a time to break out and try new things (at least that's what the weather makes me feel like). If you're as lucky as us NY'ers, then you probably broke out of your winter blues some time ago. Even though it wasn't a particularly harsh winter (thank goodness), I was still all too grateful to see the truly cold temperatures leave us. So, in honor of this past month and the beautiful weather and all that comes with it, I am finding myself full of new energy and ready to take on all that comes my way in the next few months (probably a good thing too since these next few months promise a baby girl to the Sherouse house). And just because no post can go without a photo, here's a favorite spring shot from a recent walk through the East Village.

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