Charli's First Studio Portraits

I'm in the process of setting up a home photo studio. Nothing fancy and not a lot of equipment, but I'm starting with some basics and hoping to add to it from time to time.


I've been anxiously waiting for an opportunity to take some portraits of my granddaughter Charli. She is finally home from the hospital and arrived just in time to give her mommy the best Mother's Day gift ever!


A couple of nights ago I set up an umbrella light, some cloth hung on the wall and snapped a few photos. I am very please with what I took and can't wait to take some more very soon!


Here are a few of my favorites. To see them all, click on any and be taken directly to the gallery where they are all stored:

38 weeks

I took a night off painting Charli's room (seen here) to go in search of bluebonnets to take more of Heather's maternity photos in the fields of flowers. I'll post photos of her in the flowers next. When we returned from our flower finding, we set up the guest room with a black cloth and took some indoor photos. Slightly more intimate, these are the kind of pregnancy photos I adore. There is something beautiful about a pregnant body, sustaining the life of an unborn baby that is beyond description. That's what I hoped to capture with these:

Kayleigh Charles

It's a Girl! My daughter Heather had another ultrasound yesterday and it appears that my first grandbaby is a girl! My husband will continue to be outnumbered by girls and all things PINK! :)

Kayleigh, or "Charli" as Heather plans to call her, weighs about 8 ounces and appears to be growing just fine and healthy. Heather is just over 18 weeks along in her pregnancy.

I am completely smitten with this tiny wonder and am in awe of the technology that allows us to see in such detail what she already looks like:

Heather chose the name Kayleigh Charles to use my mother's middle name Kay, Heather's middle name Leigh, and Heather's dad's middle name Charles. She has always loved nicknames and plans to call the baby "Charli." I can't wait to meet you this spring Charli!

My First Glimpse of Our Grandbaby

I had the privilege of going with Heather to her first sonogram today. I was touched to have been asked to go. The technician pointed to a screen on the wall where I could view the images of the sonagram or she said I could just look at her screen over her shoulder. I found myself glancing back and forth between the two, and over to watch Heather's face as she watched as well.

As I watched the screen a tiny image appeared within a dark space. I expected the image to appear more kidney-bean shaped or alien in appearance but instead what I saw made my eyes fill with tears. Heather and I both exclaimed "awwww...." in unison as her baby filled the screen.

There on the screen appeared an image the shape of a tiny baby. I could make out the head, arms, legs and even the place where an ear will grow. The technician was able to see fingers and toes but those I could not see. Imagine my wonder as I watched and the baby woke and began to move. The arms were moving about and the legs were kicking! Oh wow I did not expect to see that! I was completely smitten with the images I was seeing on the screen. The baby quickly settled down again and the technician said it's already asleep again. Then its whole body seemed to jump at once, but only once. It was almost amusing to see and that we were told was a hiccup. Heather and I laughed together and another "awwww" moment.  Within seconds the baby was awake and moving again and the technician explained her/his hand movements were almost as if she/he was swiping at his/her face.

This is a day I want to brand forever in my memory. Today created even more excitement for the new baby that will soon arrive. The due date is near April 2, 2012. Oh the fun ahead as we plan and prepare for this tiny new addition to our family! Thank you Heather for sharing such a special sweet moment of your pregnancy!

Jeremiah 1:5

Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you, before you were born I set you apart;

Life's Memories

I'm still adjusting to the news that we'll have a grandchild in April. This week I purchased my first gift for the new baby, and there's a story behind the gift.

When I was born my paternal grandmother gave my parents a baby book for me. It's not like any other baby book I've ever seen. It has pages to record school days, every childhood birthday, teen years, marriage, my anniversaries (all the way to my silver anniversary), and my great grandchildren.

When Heather was born I wanted a book like mine for her. All I could find in stores were baby books that were for the first year of baby's life or first 5 years. I did not have a computer or internet access then so my only options for shopping were the nearby stores.

I was in school for advertising design when I was pregnant with Heather, the same age my daughter is now. I had a lot of art supplies and tons of tracing paper, marker paper, etc. I decided to make Heather's baby book. The secretary on the farm where Marty worked came by one evening and taught me how to make the decorative cloth covered photo albums. I made one for Heather with lots of pink and lots of lace with her help. Within the pages I put traced copies of the pages of my baby book so I could keep a record for Heather similar to the one my mom kept for me.


from a page in my book:

Heather's first photo in her book:

My first photo in my book:

from mine:

from Heather's:

from mine:

from Heather's:

This week I decided to search for the book online in hopes it is still being published. I found the printer here and have ordered the baby book as my first gift for my grandchild. I an anxiously awaiting its arrival in hopes that it is just like my book and Heather's. I've written my grandmother a letter letting her know the legacy she began with my book continues with my grandchild.