RyAnne + Denim | My Dreams Are Reality

For a while I have felt a little stuck.  My brain has been spinning with ideas but I haven't been able to create.  I have been off and on suffering from postpartum depression and anxiety.  Apparently this is just what happens to me after I have my babies.  It's no fun at all.  Thankfully find myself surrounded by awesome, amazing people that can knock my hinny out of it.

This session for RyAnne has been in my mind for a very long time. . .MONTHS!  I was finally able to get this out of my head and into my camera.  And guess who hung in there longer than the usual five minutes!  I think it helped that it involved makeup, flowers, Denim the horse and her fave person ever.  Her trainer, Melissa.  :)

RyAnne said, "Okay, mommy, now I will turn this way!"

My love is becoming such a beautiful girl.  Her personality is that of a teenager, the words she speaks are beyond her years and of course she surely doesn't look four.

Those eyes. . .I see her daddy with a hint of me. ;)

The flower crown and the wreath were made from wild flowers growing my our field in the back yard.  I knew I only had a couple more days before they would die out.  I made them by knotting them in hemp.

RyAnne's love for horses continues to grow.  She has been taking lessons for going on two years and has been in two horse shows.  I love that she has this enthusiasm. <3.

This session has been a dream of mine and I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to make it a reality.  I would love for my clients to contact me about doing their dream sessions.  It makes my heart happy.  :)

Happy Monday! Love. H.

P.S. Thank you again Melissa and Trey for helping me!!!  Thank you Mrs. Beth for letting us borrow Denim.  And for my little model. . .you totally rocked it! <3.

Alyse + Nick | Covington, Georgia Backyard Wedding

It's hard to believe how fast time flies by.  These two have been together since they were teenagers.  And as they (and everyone else) put it, they finally tied the knot! :)

The details are endless, the emotions and giggles are genuine!  I enjoyed every part of your gorgeous day Alyse + Nick! <3.

Aylse + Nick, Congratulations!!!!

Lot's of love.

H.

Getting by. . .

Is it really Thursday?  My days are flying by.  Being a mother of two, I tell you what, it's pretty exhausting!   There are days I'm so tired I want to cry.   

As of June 18th, Olivia is now four months old.  She is still nursing perfectly and hitting all her mile stones.  She even rolled over during her four month session.  It caught me off guard!  I had her on her belly and from the view finder of my camera I could see her rolling.  But because she was on the hardwood floors I was afraid she would smack her head. . .and she did.  :(  My finger was still on the trigger while I was reaching to stop her and there is series of blurred shots.

On a daily basis I have at least one blog post idea or a story I want to share with y'all.  I really miss this outlet!  I miss my Hump Day Bump Dates.  I was just re-reading them and reminiscing.  I still plan on sharing my birth story with y'all.  It was the most incredible experience!  I just have to find the time (when I'm not exhausted beyond belief) to give it a good once over.  I even have a slideshow of images all ready for that special blog post!

Check out how much she has changed!  From one month old to four.  :)

At her last check up she weighed in at 13lbs, 12.5oz, and 24.5 inches long.

 This summer, I feel like the worst mother ever.  I'm not getting much consistent sleep.  Olivia sleeps about four to five hours straight, nurses, goes back to sleep then wakes every two hours ready for her next feeding.  This is such a tease!  It makes my days so horrible.  I feel like I can't be a good mother to RyAnne, my attention span is about as big as the tip of a needle, my eyes are glossed over and blood shot, my brain is just fried!  I'm just barely getting by.

RyAnne starts PreK at the end of July and my goal was to make this summer special for her and I.  I wanted to spend time doing fun projects I found on Pinterest, help her perfect writing out her name, read stories and just love on her before she heads off to big girl school. 

Instead of all those lovely things, I end up sitting her at her art table and giving her a project to do all by herself while I take care of her baby sister.  Mom of the year, huh???  Yeah, not even close.

My heart is breaking and longing to just love on this girl like I used to be able to.  I miss our time together.  Before I know it she will be gone from morning till afternoon until she is 18 and evenings, weekends and summer breaks will be our only time.  Just doesn't seem like enough.

I love these girls beyond measure and I pray that God will mold me into a wonderful mother for them.

Praying for some decent sleep!
Love.
H.

Welcome to the World Hudson!

Say Hello to baby Hudson!  It's always such an honor to be asked to photograph newborns and their parents.  Photographing a first time mommy and daddy with their fresh little baby is so sweet.  Kristy Rider called me about a week ago and asked me to photograph her sweet baby boy.  After chatting on the phone a bit I asked her how she was doing.  She paused for a moment and replied, "I'm doing well considering. . ."  After hearing her story I couldn't help but want to share it.  Her and Hudson are miracles and their story should be told.  God is so good.  Kristy has given me permission to share.

"Early Saturday morning on May 3rd, we went to the triage department at labor and delivery thinking I needed some fluids due to a bug and after hours of labs, tests, and no relief our doctor discovered I had developed HELLPS disease which is a form of preeclampsia."

"In my case my liver abscessed and bleed into my body. After an emergency c-section, where I was put under anesthesia because an epidural was not safe, Hudson was here but my condition was severe."

"I went straight to ICU and then I was transferred to Grady due to progressively getting worse and the hospital not being able to meet my needs. Upon my arrival I was awake for an operation where they went in cauterized veins, filled in any holes where blood was escaping, and stopped the bleeding in my liver. I then had a large hematoma around my liver."

"After receiving a lot of blood, platelets, plasma, and medicines I could never recall I remained in ICU for a total of five days."

"We never could have imagined going from 37 weeks and 4days pregnant to a life threatening condition in ICU while our new baby boy was at home in NICU. Without a doubt this was the hardest thing we have ever experienced."

"I had the most perfect pregnancy and we are just so thankful to have a healthy little boy and that I am alive and well."

Thank you Kristy, Carl + Hudson for allowing me to be there to document your adorable family and for sharing your story.

Happy Sunday!
Love.
H.

Alyse + Nick | Factory Shoals Engagement Session

Alyse + Nick met during their high school days. When she saw him for the first time she thought he was so cute with his spiked hair. They hung out in the same group of friends and flirted for a long time. On Valentine's Day morning before school, Nick took Alyse on a little walk. He gave her a box of Stouffer's chocolates and a little black bear and asked her to "go out" with him.

After dating for over five years, Alyse + Nick started talking about marriage. The courthouse was even brought up. They decided to wait until they could afford the wedding of her dreams.

One morning, in early May 2013, Nick told Alyse he had to help a friend work on his car.  This was nothing out of the ordinary and she didn't think twice about it.  A few hours later when Nick returned, Alyse and her best friend were sitting on the couch chatting.  He smiled at Alyse and told her he had a surprise.  She closed her eyes.  But they knew she was a peek-er so they threw a blanket over her head!

When the blanket was pulled off her head and she opened her eyes, Nick was down on one knee holding a beautiful diamond ring in a box. He was shaking all over and grinning from ear to ear. She was so shocked that she asked him, "Where did you get that?!" But he replied, "I love you, will you marry me?" Of course she said "YES!" and burst into tears.

They had to wait almost a whole week to tell their families because Alyse's mother was out of town. On Mother’s Day 2013, with all of her family at the dining room table, they announced their engagement by handing her mother a Bride’s magazine and telling her she would need it. Her mother was completely confused until Alyse told her, "It goes with this!" She held out her hand with her ring. Everyone was just ecstatic for them!

Nick and Alyse will have been together over 12 and ½ years when they marry in October.  And I can't wait to photograph their sweet day at Starrsville Plantation!!!

Congratulations Alyse + Nick!!!

Love.

H.