In October I started a year long project with a great group of photographers focusing on monthly lifestyle images. Each month you’ll have a chance to see into our lives as we share stories of our own loved ones. At the end of each story is a link to another photographer and they chain around as a circle. Be sure to follow the links and check everyone out, If you want to catch up on my previous life stories you can do so here

When in doubt, double the amount of blueberries from what the recipe calls for.

Plenty of syrup is a requirement!

I have to guess the pancakes were a success because the taste testers were too busy chowing down.

As you can tell they enjoyed them. I had planned on having extras to freeze but that didn’t happen. Oh well.
Make sure to check out the next photographer in the chain – the wonderful Kate Craft and see her story this month about playdates!

When I was a senior in high school I didn’t realize how important senior pictures are. When you’re homeschooled there are no year books you need a picture for. In fact I almost didn’t get any special senior pictures done, however, I am eternally grateful that my aunt dragged me into a well known chain studio, insisted I do them and generously paid for all of them. Growing up as the oldest of five children I saw it as another expense that my parents shouldn’t pay for when they had such a hard time just providing for the essentials. That’s probably the main reason I’m so glad I’ve started specializing in senior pictures.

Don’t worry I’ll still be doing newborn and family sessions! However, seniors offer a completely different challenge that I love. Many times senior pictures are the last formal pictures one has done before their engagement and wedding day. Capturing young adults as they go through this phase of their life is a pleasure.

I recently had the chance to meet Jonathan and photograph his 2012 high school senior pictures. Congrats Jonathan!!

I loved meeting this little adorable baby boy. He was perfect to work with and made my job way too easy when you get to snuggle such an adorable little baby.

And to the patient momma your gallery will be up tonight.

The only man I ever fell in love with at first sight was you. We met a year ago today. Actually I loved you before I even met you, just don’t tell daddy that you’re cuter.

From the very start you let everyone knew you weren’t going to be walked all over.

(The above 4 images are courtesy of Aimee Geis Photography) Side note, if you are ever uncertain about having a birth photographer just do it, you’ll thank yourself later.

To this day it takes a lot to get you worked up. Give you food, and a lot of it and you’re typically good.

These above 4 images courtesy of Petra at Bella Vida Photography and yes if you’re keeping track I didn’t have just one but two photographers there on your birthday. No one can argue the value I place on photography.

Your big sister has loved you from the start, sometimes I wished she wouldn’t love on you quite so much all at once. Ofcourse everyone loves you but you’re her baby first and foremost. The first word out of her mouth every morning for weeks after you joined us was ‘baby’.

You’ve never once complained when your sister plays dress up with you. It takes a strong man to wear pink necklaces after all. Always be who you are, those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.

You love everyone you meet, keep it that way. The heart is the strongest muscle in the body. Use it.

Courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s acting in spite of it.

You are all boy, fear is not in your vocabulary and although it makes me hold my breath sometimes – your fearlessness is the very thing that will take you far dear. If you don’t stand for what you believe in you’ll fall for anything.

Remember though, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

You are definitely a momma’s boy, those eyes get me everytime. The sad part is you already know it. Just promise me no flirting with any other girls until you’re at least 2 right?

366 days ago I thought when moms told me how boys were so much fun I figured they were somewhat delusional. How can a baby with no bows or ruffles be that much fun? Guess they were right. Apparently I was the delusional one and didn’t realize how much I was missing out.

You might be classified as a toddler now but you’ll always be my baby. Happy birthday baby boy.

In some parts of the US early September means one last chance at going to the lake or beach. Here in landlocked Kansas City it means carnivals and fairs. Two weekends ago we went to Santa-Cali-Gon days in Independance and last weekend we went to Old Settlers Days in Olathe.

Gabby loves the carousel, she could ride that all day long. I made the horrible decision since we had extra tickets to let her ride something else by herself for a change. Some purple whale that went around in circles, she was fine for about 3 times around until she realized she hated it plus she was by herself and suddenly she became that kid crying horribly on the ride. I included more pics from that ride than I normally would just to show you how quickly things can change when you’re two.

Old Settlers days for us is always a lot of fun. Our church – Life Church – always has a booth giving away balloons, face painting for the kids. On Saturday the whole church will show up and walk in the parade. We give out several thousand bottles of water and candy. It’s known as the orange parade and is a lot of fun. I’m glad that our church participates in a lot of community activities and one reason I love it

I loved this session, we had so much fun and they were game for all of my suggestions even when I said, ‘just trust me on this spot I know it doesn’t look like much’ I love when people trust me creatively to do my job.

I loved this session with Aaron and Angie. Aren’t they just an adorable couple?

After it cooled down a few weekends ago we headed out to the Kansas City Zoo. Man do we LOVE the new polar bear exhibit. I have always loved the zoo and I’m so glad Gabrielle is finally at the age where she really enjoys learning about the animals. She knows all the sounds they make and can start to interact with actually seeing them. This was the first time we got the skytram/boat/carousel passes and we’ll probably do that in the future. It’s a fast and easy way to see a lot of the animals in the Africa exhibit without feeling like you’re traipsing all over Gods green earth and pushing a stroller along said earth. Plus who doesn’t love a good carousel, Gabrielle is quite the pro at them now, she told me “momma sit down” on one of them instead of standing next to her like the normal overly protective parent.

Gabrielle is a total social butterfly. She loves parties, she loves playing with friends and she loves having them over. I could ask her if she wants to go play with her friend Madison or if she wants to eat candy and she’ll say “Eat candy with Madison”. For a two year old that’s awesome she even thought about Madison after the word “candy” was spoken. I think that’s pretty good considering she’d probably share her candy with Madison right?

Her newest thing is to come up and barely whisper “I have an idea momma” I’ll ask what her idea is and she’ll whisper with a huge grin “CANDY” like it’s the world’s biggest secret and she’s doing me a favor by letting me know about it. If she hadn’t done it at 8am I probably would have given her some just for her creativity, that’s got to count for some m&ms right?

Anyway back to Madison, Gabby loves her friend and these play dates are serious, they’ll play with the balls, then they’ll color, then play dough, rinse repeat that for about 3 hours. The best part of play dates in my world? You can count on having an amazing naptime afterwards to get a million things done.

This week’s featured photographer is Taryn Chrapkowski!

Doesn’t she have an adorable family?!? She definitely has her hands full and yet she’s able to still produce amazing images in her business. She’s the photographer behind Taryn Lisa Photography. Her studio is in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs of Illinois. You can check out her blog here and be sure to fan her facebook page

This is Taryn’s featured image:

10 Questions
About the image…
1. Why do you love this image?
Little Miss E was one of my baby plan clients. This image brings so much emotion to me, as this was from her one year session, and I have had the pleasure of watching her grow from a newborn, to a 3 month old, to 6 months, 9 months, and now one year. Nothing is better than that!

2. What were your settings with this image?
ISO 400,Focal Length 35mm, Aperture 2.0, Shutter Speed 1/250

About Photography…
3.How do you juggle photography business and family and the rest of your life?
With a very patient husband! In all seriousness, I don’t take on more than I can juggle, I prioritize. I do not let it interfere with opportunities with my family. I limit my sessions, and block dates when there are important events with my children and family.

4.A good portrait means …
Proper lighting, placement, focus, and emotion.

About your life…
5. What quote best represents you at this moment?
Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family. ~Anthony Brandt

6.Favorite drink?
Starbucks Caramel Macchiato… serious addiction issues!

7.Did you go to college? What was your major?
I went to college, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Special Education.

8.If you had to pick a favorite session tell me about it and why?
Most recently, my own little man’s newborn session. I had two other amazing photographer friends join me, and knowing the amazing art that was being created and that I would be able to share those precious images of my little guy was truly remarkable!
9.What are you most proud of?
My children… each day they do something new that demonstrates the amazing little people that they are becoming. I have to kind of feel like my husband and I play a key role in that.

10.If you could have one superpower what would it be?
The ability to blink my eyes and have my entire house clean!

Don’t forget to check out Taryn’s work on her here

Next week I’ll be featuring the family photographer Kara Layfield!

Want to See all of my past featured photograpers? Then click here