Maternity Session with Sarah-Beth Photography

As promised, here’s an extended look at my maternity session with my sister, Sarah. Initially, I didn’t want to have maternity photos taken. Pregnancy is a funny thing. It’s beautiful in so many ways, but you don’t quite feel yourself in that new, rounded body, and I just didn’t really think I wanted to have it documented. But Sarah changed my mind.

WAAAAAY back in September, we were planning a visit to Indiana to see Bear’s family and Sarah suggested that we do a maternity shoot. I was hesitant at first, but I knew she would do amazing work (she always does) so I happily agreed! I started to get really excited when I got all of the props together and saw the hair piece that Ashley of Laynie and Belle made for the shoot! It was all coming together perfectly and I couldn’t wait to see the finished product!

And here it is…

I’m so glad Sarah talked me into letting her document this time in my pregnancy. It was such a special time and I will always treasure the photos!

xo,

Chels

The Makings…

Has it seriously been that long since I last blogged? Goodness gracious. I’ve missed it, for sure! Quite a bit has happened since we last convened… namely the birth of our little girl, Vesper Kaylyn! She’s almost six weeks old now and just an absolute joy! Over the coming weeks I’m hoping to get into a new “normal” routine with our little bird and continue to blog semi-regularly. As you might expect, the format of this blog will probably change a bit. There will still be plenty of fashion, photography, and home décor eye candy, but I just can’t pass up a forum to brag about my little girl and our new life.  I hope you’ll indulge me every once in a while!

Today is one of those days. I’m excited to share with you- in photos- a little bit of our lives over the past few months! So grab a cup of tea and settle in! There’s a lot of catching up to do!

Bump Photos

Maternity Session

(I’ll do an extended post of these later. They’re too gorgeous not to share! Here are two of my favorites!)

The Nursery

(Just a peek! I’ll do an extended post with all the details later!)

Babysitting this little guy (my nephew, Shepherd)

Vesper’s Arrival

Vesper’s Newborn Photo Shoot (extended post to come!)

Christmas as a Family of Three

Life with Vess

Apologies for the gratuitous nature of this post. It just makes my heart happy to see all of our most special moments captured in photos! I hope you enjoy catching up as much as I do! See you soon!

xo,

Chels

Maternity and newborn photos by my sister Sarah of Sarah-Beth Photography | Labor and Delivery Photos by Rebecca Manney of RM Photography

Smith Family | Portraits

It’s such a small world… back in 2007, I was a newlywed- a junior in college with a husband that was deployed overseas and absolutely beside myself.  How was I going to deal with all the new stress that had come into my life so suddenly?  A forum for wives of military men called “Soldiers Girls” became my refuge.  I made lots of connections and friends and even though we’re no longer “military”, those friendships have remained!  One of the friends I met through SG was a young woman named Tricia. She was getting ready to marry her sweetheart- a soldier in the Army (their wedding was beautiful, by the way)

Soon after, Tricia and her husband were re-stationed to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma! Just a short jaunt from my home base of OKC!  Their little family expanded to include two beautiful babies- Autumn, now 2, and Cole, now 4 months!

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of photographing their family on their last weekend in Oklahoma. They’re moving on once again to another base. I’m so blessed to have been able to capture some beautiful moments with their family.

Good luck and God bless, Smith family!

michelle and brian | couples shoot

I’ve been busy while I was out!  I had the most smile-inducing shoot with a couple from Oklahoma City!  Brian and Michelle are having a Halloween wedding (SO creative, right?) and wanted some pictures that really captured their fun and unique personalities. I was thrilled with all of their ideas (intense thumb war? Yes please!)

It’s go time, people…

There was also yoga, dogs, and break dancing involved…

We laughed the whole time. Thanks so much, Brian and Michelle, for letting me be a part of your journey to the altar!

National Breastfeeding Awareness Month

August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month! Be proud, Mamas!