Wecome to Charlie's Blog

We created this blog for all of our friends and family who want to share in Charlie's life. We are so blessed to have her in our lives. Sometimes we all need to refocus and get centered about what is really important in life.

Seeing the world through the eyes of a child has certainly helped us to get our priorities and perspectives in order. This blog is as much about Charlie's growth as it is about our journey certainly as parents, but also as individuals who are always trying to do better for themselves as well. Not to sound cliche or cheesy here, but Charlie has certainly touched and changed us as individuals and as a couple right down to our souls.

I read a quote about parenthood referring to a baby that said, "It will be the tiniest thing that I will ever put my whole life into." We are glad that she came into our life to remind us that we need to be active participants in our lives and not just get swept along by everyday chores and mundane activities.

Thank you Charlie for granting us hope, joy, love and focus.
Love, Mom and Dad

Mod Squad Baby!

Charlie went along to help us with cousins' Jason and Tiffany's engagement session and we thought we would do a 'urban' session with this great mod inspired little outfit. Charlie did great despite the cold and its solely Aunt Lu who Charlie is smiling at. Charlie loves Aunt Lu to the point that we had to pry her out of her arms when it was time to go.

Charlie is quit the styln' baby at eleven months old...much cooler than mom and dad!

Happy Halloween!

Hard to believe its Charlie's first Halloween. Grandma bought this costume last fall before Charlie had even arrived so its a little surreal to see her in it. Charlie is squirmy and she can take a few steps on her own so we were chasing her the whole session. She kept picking up the pumpkins and sucking on the stems like they were a pacifier...at least she was eating her vegetables :)

Best Witches!

Ten Months and Counting!

Last Sunday and Monday we were at Grandma and Grandpa's place on the lake. We had fun photographing at Marblehead lighthouse, downtown Sandusky and at Hermes Vineyard (Mark and Harvey particularly liked the winery).

A special thank you to brother Josh who helped with the cute green and blue outfit and to Debbie who loaned me the ivory dress her daughters used to wear. Charlie is at that stage where everything goes into her mouth so photographing on location is more like a buffet. You'll see in the photos :)

I'm a little behind on blogging Charlie's sessions, but the good news is that I'm not behind in photographing her! I still need to add two previous sessions that are very cute! Also, look for a new blog design for winter along with her Halloween outfit and other fall photos.

Hmmm...these look good enough to eat.

Shall I try the grass or the pebbles first?

At least these are better than what mom serves.

Flower Child

Can't resist the tip toes!

Getting brave letting go!

Silly Face!

Trying to make a run for it when we're trying to change outfits.

Hard to believe she is almost 9 months old! She has two bottom teeth and some ready to go on the top. She will definitely be an early walker too. She is walking by holding onto things and is starting to test the waters on letting go! We absolutely love every ounce of her!

Eight Months Old!

We took Charlie along to a session with some great clients of ours who come up from Nashville to have their portraits done. I knew they would want to see Charlie as much as we wanted to see their boys...who have grown so much too! We photographed Charlie in her little sailor suit, which then also became birthday gifts for grandma and grandpa who have birthdays just a few days apart.

Charlie did so well and giggled the whole time despite the high temperature and being close to dinner time. I can't believe that she is eight months old already...time is going way too quickly!

The Joy of Teething!

I went into Charlie's room today expecting her to be napping, but instead caught her trying to chew her way out of her crib. She has two new teeth coming in on her bottom jaw and she has been chewing on things ever since. She does so many little things that amaze me and crack me up all at the same time!

Happy Father's Day!

So Mark didn't want me to make a fuss about Father's Day...but we all know I'm going to do what I want anyway :) I have watched Mark with Josh, Zak and Lindsay for years and always knew he was a great father. He is the most loving person I have ever known. However, I get to now watch him with Charlie and get to know him all over again as a husband and as a father.

Being the biggest kid at heart, he was meant to be a dad. Playing, singing, and loving is what his heart was made for. All his kids are lucky to have him in their lives and one of the best parts about adding Charlie to our family is how much closer it has made us all.

I just wanted to say thank you for being the wonderful dad and the soulmate that you are. We all love you with all our hearts!

PS. For those that don't know, Mark is a big Dallas Cowboys fan, especially for Tony Romo. So here is Charlie in her Romo jersey just for daddy.

Summer's Here!

Summer is officially here! We couldn't resist Charlie in her cowgirl's hat!

There is a new look for the blog in honor of summer. I'm going to try to change the blog's theme as the season's progress. The bumblebee outfit is adorable on her and she didn't mind the antenna's although you can tell from her 'Grumpy Bee' pic that she had had enough for one day.

First Environmental Portrait!

Mark and I needed a new head shot so the family piled into the car for a portrait adventure....on the hottest and most humid day of the summer thus far :( Thankfully Sister Lindsay came along to help, otherwise Mark and I would have been running back and forth to the camera in between the timer going off...sooo not good in the hot weather. Lindsay, having stuck it out through enough of these as a kid, new exactly what to do. She is quite good behind the camera.

Anyway mission accomplished. We got our updated P.R. shots done and Charlie got a few portraits in her new sundress from Aunt Jeanene. Her first of probably a million environmental portrait sessions. To be politically correct nowadays, can this technically be called an organic session? Just asking...

PS. She just had her last checkup and weighed in at 20.3 lbs and 28.16 inches. Hard to believe she is growing up so quickly!

Charlie's First Wedding!

Charlie got to participate in her first wedding this past weekend and also take her first Garber family photo with all her great aunts, uncles and cousins. Between the Garbers and the Gilmans, both families have been going up to Lake Erie for years and it was fun to be able to continue the tradition with Charlie. She even got to stick her toes in the sand at the water's edge. She didn't fuss any, although she was perplexed at the new texture under her feet.

Thank you to brothers Josh and Zak and sister Lindsay for helping to watch Charlie while Mark and I were photographing the wedding. A special thank you to LaDawn for her help as well. It was a beautiful weekend and we were so happy to be able to share in Amy and Travis' special day!

Six Months Old!

It absolutely amazes us how she if growing and developing so rapidly. Everyday brings about some new trick. My favorite as of late is how she sucks her thumb through her pacifier. Her pacifier has a hollow center, which she stick her thumb in so that she can suck on her pacifier and thumb at the same time. She is multitasking already!

Charlie is also getting more and more vocal each day. I love to hear her babble away and the absolute best is when she gets a case of the giggles. I don't think there is a better sound in the whole world than a child laughing.

I'm not much of a girlie-girl myself, but somehow I think Charlie is adorable in her girlie outfits. Her tutu and leg warmers crack me up!

Tutu Cute!

Something just for fun :)

Thank You Aunt Jessie!

Charlie's Aunt Jessica (Jennifer's sister) just got back from a 38 day field research trip on a boat in the North Atlantic and Artic Ocean for N.O.A.A. She brought Charlie this cute hat back from Iceland so we had to show it off!

The Christening

Jennifer's family so graciously held Charlie's Christening at their house and Mark's nephew Jason performed the Blessing there as well. The ceremony could not have been more perfect and poignant. The Blessing was so touching and was all that we hoped for. It meant the world to us to have all of Charlie's family there to share such a beautiful moment in her life. We are truly lucky and blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful people! We can't thank you enough for all the love, support and friendship!

Five Month Session

Here is some favorite pictures from Charlie's 5 month session this April 21st. The brown knit outfit was a gift from brother Josh and the teddy bear is her favorite from grandma. The bracelet she is wearing was also a gift from our clients the Bohme family. Thank you so much for such a sweet gift! She will have that forever in her keepsake box.

Christening Photos!

Here is Charlie in her Christening gown. This gown was made by her great aunt in Norway. My sister and I also wore the gown for our Christenings. It is fun to carry on family traditions across generations and continents. It really makes you realize that you are part of a much bigger picture. The close-up of Charlie's face is my favorite. I love that sweet reflective look that she gets.

We are also very happy to have Mark's nephew Jason, who is a minister at Beavercreek Church of the Nazarene, perform the services for us tying in Mark's side of the family as well.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Charlie's first Valentines Day at just three monthes old! She is certainly a very sweet Valentine and we are glad that she is ours!