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!

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!

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.

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!

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!