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I finally did my children’s…it was something like lion taming and an endurance race.

For my own children I usually shy away from formally posed portraits but I know how many family members do love these pictures. So, I broke all the rules and bought matchy-matchy outfits, dog the fake fur rug, the backdrop…and voila! Three smiling kids and one slightly cranky infant…this was the best out of 200 pictures:)

I finally did my children’s…it was something like lion taming and an endurance race.

For my own children I usually shy away from formally posed portraits but I know how many family members do love these pictures. So, I broke all the rules and bought matchy-matchy outfits, dog the fake fur rug, the backdrop…and voila! Three smiling kids and one slightly cranky infant…this was the best out of 200 pictures:)

November is slipping away quickly and you can feel fall leaving with the month and winter slowly creeping towards us. Peter and I headed outside for a quick fall photo session. Peter struggles with Autism Spectrum Disorder and smiling naturally for the camera does not come easily so we didn’t worry ourselves with big grins and I accepted what ever he would give me.

Armed with a knitted scarf, warm mittens and his Dad’s cap we set off…and 15 minutes later we were chased inside by the frigid temperatures!

November is slipping away quickly and you can feel fall leaving with the month and winter slowly creeping towards us. Peter and I headed outside for a quick fall photo session. Peter struggles with Autism Spectrum Disorder and smiling naturally for the camera does not come easily so we didn’t worry ourselves with big grins and I accepted what ever he would give me.

Armed with a knitted scarf, warm mittens and his Dad’s cap we set off…and 15 minutes later we were chased inside by the frigid temperatures!

Kathleen received a ‘new to her’ dress from her Nini. The dress was made by my mom over 15 years ago and belonged to her Aunt Samantha, and Kathleen wanted an excuse to wear it pictures wearing it.

Slipping into the back yard on this grey and wet day, she found a little eerie magic among the dead leaves and branches of the little thicket that outlines our property.

Kathleen received a ‘new to her’ dress from her Nini. The dress was made by my mom over 15 years ago and belonged to her Aunt Samantha, and Kathleen wanted an excuse to wear it pictures wearing it.

Slipping into the back yard on this grey and wet day, she found a little eerie magic among the dead leaves and branches of the little thicket that outlines our property.

I hear over and over how everyone wants fall pictures and why wouldn’t they? Here in New Brunswick fall means crisp fall air, the smell of wood stoves and bright gorgeous colours that bring a smile to our faces! We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful province and fall reminds us of this privilege every year:)

Sadly those pretty leaves do not last long enough…one storm brings them to the ground too soon. I have had fun with my fall session families this year and have had a few people say they wished they had booked sooner…BUT…that doesn’t have to be the case!

I took two of my kiddos out this afternoon…not the ideal day for pictures…it had just sprinkled, the sky was overcast and every leaf is on the ground but there are still some gorgeous colours in the bushes and trees.

Here is Charlie standing next to the now dead hydrangea bush…and NO editing on that bush!

So, when you think the time has passed for fall pictures…rethink that thought:)

I hear over and over how everyone wants fall pictures and why wouldn’t they? Here in New Brunswick fall means crisp fall air, the smell of wood stoves and bright gorgeous colours that bring a smile to our faces! We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful province and fall reminds us of this privilege every year:)

Sadly those pretty leaves do not last long enough…one storm brings them to the ground too soon. I have had fun with my fall session families this year and have had a few people say they wished they had booked sooner…BUT…that doesn’t have to be the case!

I took two of my kiddos out this afternoon…not the ideal day for pictures…it had just sprinkled, the sky was overcast and every leaf is on the ground but there are still some gorgeous colours in the bushes and trees.

Here is Charlie standing next to the now dead hydrangea bush…and NO editing on that bush!

So, when you think the time has passed for fall pictures…rethink that thought:)

I honestly do not remember when I met Amanda…maybe a decade ago? Even though my family moved away from Saint John, we have kept in touch through Facebook. This month, they travelled that lovely new highway down to St George for their family pictures (just a little over 30 minutes from the West side of Saint John to St George now!).

Seeing how big her kids have grown made me a wee bit choked up…was Sydney not just a little brown eyed mopet of a toddler last week?

Even though it was November we were blessed with a wonderful warm day, gorgeous sunshine and everyone was in a light and happy mood! Could not have been more perfect!

I honestly do not remember when I met Amanda…maybe a decade ago? Even though my family moved away from Saint John, we have kept in touch through Facebook. This month, they travelled that lovely new highway down to St George for their family pictures (just a little over 30 minutes from the West side of Saint John to St George now!).

Seeing how big her kids have grown made me a wee bit choked up…was Sydney not just a little brown eyed mopet of a toddler last week?

Even though it was November we were blessed with a wonderful warm day, gorgeous sunshine and everyone was in a light and happy mood! Could not have been more perfect!

This is my first letter in a series called, ‘Letters to my Daughter’, published on the 10th of every month.

Dear Cecilia,

My fourth baby. Everyone told me I should be an old hand at this, after all having three babies prior, I seriously and confidently assumed I had seen it all. I envisioned a nice, easy, quick and natural labor…I saw myself handling my life, my small children’s lives with ease…after all, I knew what to expect. I also felt with certainty you were a ‘he’…

After all of our birth plans went out the window and 47 hours, you arrived peacefully and we joyfully discovered another daughter in our lives. Your siblings cheered with joy on the phone.

Only hours old I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong but being an experienced mother, the nurses and I poo-pooed the concerns. Only a week later you were fighting for your life. For the first time I questioned all my abilities as a mother, my instincts were telling me the opposite of what the doctors and nurses were prescribing and I followed.

Sitting in that hospital room, 3am in the morning, I felt lost. I was homesick, I was heartsick over the situation and I felt as if I didn’t know you. All you could do was lay in that hospital bed, I felt as if we were losing time and had lost those moments of bonding. I felt immense guilt as if I had failed you in some way. I couldn’t make you better, our families were frustrated and everyday brought new doctors who suggested new solutions.

What I did do in the hospital was pray. I prayed for you, I prayed for me, I waited and you waited. Bringing you home was more exciting then your first homecoming! I even went out and bought you another new coming home outfit. You may have been the fourth but a second homecoming was a first!

Once at home, you grew stronger each day and we finally found our rhythm. Slowly we reintroduced ourselves and became better acquainted.

I knew you were a fighter and a cuddler but in the past month I have found you have a sense of humor and are terribly ticklish, you have a temper and hate to be burped because you feel the food should flow constantly.

As I stare at your long eyelashes (which you obviously did not inherited from me), big blue eyes and long feet (which we tease you about)…I wonder for your future. I know it will be bright, I know you have a few little obstacles, no more then some but too many for me, I know you will be my baby longer then your brothers and sister were.  For now I will enjoy this special time; how your eyes light up when you recognize me, your big smiles and coos which melt my heart, how you instinctively snuggle against me and your sweet baby smell. I could stare at your for hours, your total perfectness and marvel at you; my little miracle, my little daughter.

If you enjoyed this you can go to my friend Heather Meyer’s blog at Heather Meyer Photography to read her ‘Letters to my Daughter’

This is my first letter in a series called, ‘Letters to my Daughter’, published on the 10th of every month.

Dear Cecilia,

My fourth baby. Everyone told me I should be an old hand at this, after all having three babies prior, I seriously and confidently assumed I had seen it all. I envisioned a nice, easy, quick and natural labor…I saw myself handling my life, my small children’s lives with ease…after all, I knew what to expect. I also felt with certainty you were a ‘he’…

After all of our birth plans went out the window and 47 hours, you arrived peacefully and we joyfully discovered another daughter in our lives. Your siblings cheered with joy on the phone.

Only hours old I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong but being an experienced mother, the nurses and I poo-pooed the concerns. Only a week later you were fighting for your life. For the first time I questioned all my abilities as a mother, my instincts were telling me the opposite of what the doctors and nurses were prescribing and I followed.

Sitting in that hospital room, 3am in the morning, I felt lost. I was homesick, I was heartsick over the situation and I felt as if I didn’t know you. All you could do was lay in that hospital bed, I felt as if we were losing time and had lost those moments of bonding. I felt immense guilt as if I had failed you in some way. I couldn’t make you better, our families were frustrated and everyday brought new doctors who suggested new solutions.

What I did do in the hospital was pray. I prayed for you, I prayed for me, I waited and you waited. Bringing you home was more exciting then your first homecoming! I even went out and bought you another new coming home outfit. You may have been the fourth but a second homecoming was a first!

Once at home, you grew stronger each day and we finally found our rhythm. Slowly we reintroduced ourselves and became better acquainted.

I knew you were a fighter and a cuddler but in the past month I have found you have a sense of humor and are terribly ticklish, you have a temper and hate to be burped because you feel the food should flow constantly.

As I stare at your long eyelashes (which you obviously did not inherited from me), big blue eyes and long feet (which we tease you about)…I wonder for your future. I know it will be bright, I know you have a few little obstacles, no more then some but too many for me, I know you will be my baby longer then your brothers and sister were.  For now I will enjoy this special time; how your eyes light up when you recognize me, your big smiles and coos which melt my heart, how you instinctively snuggle against me and your sweet baby smell. I could stare at your for hours, your total perfectness and marvel at you; my little miracle, my little daughter.

If you enjoyed this you can go to my friend Heather Meyer’s blog at Heather Meyer Photography to read her ‘Letters to my Daughter’