Lovely Lucy

This lovely little lady was so much fun to shoot! Mainly because I fell in love with her whole family as soon as I walked in the door!  They were all so friendly, and welcoming, and I felt like we were long lost buddies.  I was sad when our shoot was over and I had to leave!  Especially because Lucy was such a gem... such a little rollie pollie with the best chubby cheeks.  And for only being 3 weeks old her head was  SO strong!  We put her on her tummy and she was in heaven, and just lifted that little head up and looked around until we moved her.. no head bobbing or anything.  I was impressed!  Lucy wasn't sure about the whole picture thing when we first started, so we did a little shooting of her new family while Mom could hold her, and she could warm up to the idea of being the center of attention ;)

Larry and Claudia- Congratulations on your newest little girl!  Your entire family is beautiful, and Lucy sure is lucky to have come into a family where so many people dote on and love her!  You guys were so great and I can't wait to see you again in a few weeks for family pictures!!

Valladares Family

I got the chance this weekend to meet up with the lovely Valladares family at Irvine Regional Park.  This is my sister in law Anna's family, and I love them!  They are the nicest people you'll ever meet, and I was super excited to get to spend the morning with them.  They all looked great, and were amazingly easy to take pictures of.  My nephew Dylan is 2, and he was the youngest one in these pictures, but did a wonderful job thanks to the good examples of his big brother and older cousins.  They were pros!  In a few weeks I am doing the grandkid picture for my in laws and there are... wait for it... 13 of them  under the age of 7!  Something tells me that won't be nearly as easy of a job as this shoot was!  Either way I am still excited about it!  Hopefully this was good practice for Dylan and he'll be just as awesome the next go around for pictures :)

You guys were so great! Thanks for starting "the crazy season" (family picture season) off on a great foot for me!  Your family is beautiful inside and out, and I am so glad I was able to capture it for you.. Love you all!

Sneak Peek... Cousin Love!

Sneak peek of a fun family shoot from this morning! What a cute bunch of cousins! Can't wait to share more!

Sneak of Little Lucy

I got to meet this little lady this morning... What a doll! I couldn't get enough of her full head of hair, and delicious chubby cheeks. More of Lucy coming soon!!

The Birth Story of Kade Mason

I thought if I finished the birth story, and let my thoughts have a little more time to form themselves that I would know what I wanted to say today.  Not the case.  I wish I could fine an eloquent way to convey the thoughts and emotions that were felt through the nearly 24 hour process, but this is the best I can do...

"There are thoughts which are prayers.  There are moments when, no matter the posture of the body, the soul is on its knees." 
-Victor Hugo

I would say that I will always remember the feeling in that room while Rachelle labored was a combination of willful persistence, and reverence. And in the moments right before Kade's birth, I will always remember the fear that I felt in the pit of my stomach when the nurses rushed in, and the quiet, reverent room became chaos.  

I will always remember them wheeling my best friend away and leaving her husband standing in the hall.  And then watching him turn back into the then empty room we had spent so many hours in, and falling to his knees in prayer.  I will never forget the tears that ran down his cheeks as he pleaded for the lives of his precious wife and unborn child.  That memory will stand as a testament to the power of faith in something bigger than ourselves... and a reminder that "ordinary miracles" happen every day.

The feeling of relief that came when I could hear that perfect, little newborn cry through the operating door... and the way my heart felt when we got to the other side, and could hold that sweet baby, and hug my sister in law, knowing they were safe...  There really aren't words for that.  

Rachelle keeps telling me she doesn't know how she can ever thank me enough for capturing this for them... I feel the same way.  This experience was incredible, and I loved every exciting, scary, confusing, amazing, wonderful second.  It's such a blessing to have people in my life that I love so much... and even more so to get to be around to love another little blessing from the very, very start...

Kade's Birth Story from kelsey crowder on Vimeo.

Kade's Birth Story Sneak...

Here's a sneak of Rachelle and baby Kade's emotional birth story.  Luckily the pictures tell the story all on their own, because I don't think I'd be able to find the words to describe it if I sat here for 3 weeks.  I don't think the words exist...