Professional Photos Part 1

I stumbled upon Lightwork Photography when I was looking for a photographer for Charlie's birthday party. At the time the company was running a promotion on Groupon. I purchased the groupon for Jocelyn's newborn photos and I booked them for Charlie's birthday party. Susan, the owner, asked if we wanted to do maternity photos free of charge. Of course I jumped on board because as any mother knows you don't pass on the rare opportunity to get a great family photo. And to be completely honest, I never thought it would be worth the money to get maternity photos so what a great chance for me to see if it was worth it.

Is this not the cutest idea?? My little loves sharing secrets already!
 

Great pictures is an UNDERSTATEMENT and would have been worth every penny if I had to pay for them! I am in love with these photos and am overflowing with ideas of what to do with them. They so beautifully capture the joy and anticipation of our little family of three awaiting our new arrival.




This photo was taken at Brandywine Park.

When it came time to taking pictures by myself, I felt incredibly akward.  I am definitely not a fan of posing on my own and that in combination with summer's heat and all the extra poundage left me feeling far from beautiful. With that said, a gigantic thank you goes out to Susan and Jen for findng the beauty in a mother longing for the day she gets to hold her baby girl and daydreaming of all the fun they will have together.

As I mentioned earlier, getting a family shot is quite a challenge.  Even more challenging is to get a photo of just you and your husband.

The photo below is the last photo taken of just Charlie and I before he became a big brother. 

 

 

We ended the photo shoot at Rockford Park. These last two photos hold such a special place in my heart.  The tower in the background of these photos served as the half way point of my very first running race many years ago and since then it has been a sight on numerous training runs.  Rockford is home to a dog park where Rascal has spent many a day playing.  Rockford Park is also where Kirby and I took our wedding photos.  And now it serves as a backdrop for two wonderful family photos.   I can't wait to frame these and put them up in our home in Las Vegas.  These photos will remind me of all the joy and love we lived in Wilmington.

 

 

 

A little bit country...

...West Lampeter Fair Style

 

Growing up I attended the Unionville Community Fair each fall.  I have fond memories of a fair queen contest, entering my crafts to be showcased, and a scarecrow building contest.  The Unionville Community Fair doesn't hold a candle to the West Lampeter Fair.  This is the fair that Kirby attended each fall and it's definitely a little more country as you are immersed in a crowd of cowboy boots and the potent smell of cow manure.   My pictures won't showcase the country in this fair so let me give you two of the annual highlights that people look forward too- the livestock auction and.... (drum roll please).... a Greased Pig Contest.  Unfortunately, we missed this event where kids are divided up into age groups then lathered up in oil before chasing around a pig.  The object of the game: wrangle the pig and get it back to the center.  The prize??  Why, the pig of course- well at least it was once upon a time.  Now you win money.

 

We knew Charlie would love to see the farm animals up close and pretend to ride on a tractor so off we went to the annual West Lampeter Fair.

 

I knew this little duchess was going to be bundled up in the baby carrier so I snapped a few shots before getting her all snug


Isn't she getting so big!

And becoming much more alert!

The first thing we did when we got to the fair was check out the tractors.  By the end of the night I think Charlie sat on at least twenty different tractors.  One could easily spend two hours having his or her child hop from tractor to tractor.  Who knew there were so many different types?
 

I think Nanny might have been more excited than Charlie

 

 

 

As if sitting on them wasn't exciting enough, pretending to drive them was even better!

 

When we went to see the animals Charlie would repeatedly cry out "Touch it! Touch it!" but the second he was brought within reaching distance he would cling on to us for dear life.  It took a little while but eventually he did pet a few animals.  Another joyous thing he learned was animals poop too.  While looking at the pigs one of them did his business and now when some says pig Charlie say poop.  Oh JOY!

 

Cheecking out the animals from a comfortable distance in Daddy's arms.

Coaxing Charlie to touch the sheep

 Uncle John preparing to kiss the cow.  Not sure what he was thinking!

 Can you tell Nanny is forcing this hesitant boy to brave it and touch the goat?



Going to the Lampeter Fair with all the Millers does present one challenge.  You are lucky to take twenty steps before one of them sees someone they know.  The next three pictures were all taken in the same tent as we slowly made our way from one conversation and one tractor to the next.

 I have no idea what Kendra
Charlie are doing!

 

Our only family photo of the night.  Poor Jocelyn is always hidden.

 

 Cheesing it up on the tractor

 

Once we made it through that tent we went to watch the horse show, which lead to more chatting.  

 

Charlie met Lilly. (She is the daughter of Becky and Kendra's friend Sarah Beth.

Jocelyn got to meet lots of people too, including some family she hasn't met yet.  We ran into Kirby's Great Uncle Donald and Aunt Ruth.  We also saw Kirby's cousin's wife, Jen.  And his Aunt Sally and cousin Sarah.  It was nice to get to share our little bundle of joy with family.

I don't remember taking this picture.  I think one of the twins may have taken it.  My favorite from the night!

 



Three and a half hours later it was time to pack up the kiddos, leave the country and head back to our tiny city of Wilmington.  Before we departed the moment of the night arrived.  Charlie's FIRST funnel cake.  After one delicious bite he was calling out "More More"!  In the end it was a fantastic night and we left with two exhausted kiddos, one of which was covered in powdered sugar.

 

Fall may surpass summer as my favorite season.  There is so much to do with young kids in the fall, many of which are inexpensive or free.  We have already enjoyed apple picking, the Mushroom Festival, and the Lampeter Fair in addition to beautiful weather for taking long walks.  And I am looking forward to pumpkin picking, corn mazes, trick or treating, and so much more.  Fall has found a new place in my heart!