The Carew Family {Colorado Springs Family Photographer}

Sometime in the next couple of years, the Carew family will welcome a new little sister from Uganda into their family. I can't wait to see them as a family of five - and I sure hope that little girls likes to dress up!

Stay tuned next week for a New Year deal that Shannon and I are cookin' up. Like these photos, it involved her beautiful handmade tutus. You won't want to miss it!

From our Family to Yours

We certainly have MUCH to celebrate this year and

are overwhelmed by all of the blessings that came our way in 2011.

Our own little one has given us a new appreciation for what it means

to anticipate and celebrate the coming of a baby.

And we are beyond grateful for the birth of that baby boy

- God's own son -

so many years ago that changed everything.

...a thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices...

MERRY CHRISTMAS

LOVE,

THE KYLES

Merry & Bright

The Aragon Family {Colorado Springs Family Photographer}

Just before making the big move to Georgia, where Eric is beginning his career with the Navy, the Aragon family got in one last photo session in downtown Colorado Springs. Thank you for serving our country. You Will.Be.Missed friends.

The Greene Family {Colorado Springs Family Photographer}

I love photographing this family. Miss Harper always makes sure to include her baby doll and was so proud to be including her baby brother for the first time. She also brought along her "GiGi & Papi" who certainly made things more fun. The more the merrier!

A Taste of my Own Medicine {Colorado Springs Family Photographer}

It's been awhile since I've been in front of the camera for family photos. A long while. But this year, for the first time in many years, my mom decided that she would like to send out a family Christmas card.

I have a feeling that a certain little someone had something to do what that decision.
And because of that certain little someone, I got to experience what many of you have experienced - family photos as the mommy of the busy toddler. I was the one thinking about how to entertain the little stinker while not breaking my smile. I was the one fighting the temptation to look at him instead of the camera.

Somehow "the more you hold still, the faster we're done" didn't register with him.

Thankgoodness he adores his JoJo, Grandpa, and aunt "Memmy." They make everything fun.
But unlike many of you, I was both in front of and behind the camera. Because, well, it's just hard to pay someone else to do what you know you can do.

It's also hard to shoot your own family. (No, no, not like that...you know what I mean.)

Enter Nate. My beautiful sister's long-time beau. We're hoping he's going to be her long, long, long time forever beau, but alas there is no ring. So, Nate got the job of shutter-clicker for the large group family photo. Don't feel too bad for him though. We made sure his lovely mug was represented in front of the camera too.
In the end I love the photos and I loved the time I got to spend with my family. Briggs really was a good boy and I only got a teensy-tiny bit stressed about it. (My husband might tell you a different story, but don't listen.)

Here's to fun and memorable Christmas-card-photo-experiences and to receiving lots of joy in my mailbox this time of year.

Curl(s) of Great Price

As it turns out, our little guy has been blessed with a head of full, lively hair. Over the past few months, I've had a few people sheepishly ask me if it is "different" to take care of his curly locks.

The answer is - don't be sheepish - and yes, it does take a bit of an intentional hair care regime to keep his hair soft, moisturized, and somewhat organized.

And on bath days, after I've

rinsed

combed

shampooed

rinsed

combed

conditioned

combed

rinsed

dryed

reconditioned

combed

and fluffed,

Heaven help this little boy if and when he sticks his oatmeal covered fingers in his hair. Mamma tends to rage a little bit about that.

Anyway, for those of you who are curious, and perhaps needing this information for your own little curly-headed ones, here's what we do.

Once a week - or less if possible - we wash his hair with Shea Moisture Head-to-Toe baby shampoo. We follow that up by combing Shea Moisture Restorative Conditioner through his hair and allowing it to "soak" for about 5 minutes before rinsing it out.

On bath days that aren't shampoo days (don't ask me how I keep track, it's often a bit of a guessing game really), we wet his hair and "wash" with just the conditioner. His hair is easiest to comb when it is wet, so I comb it before, during, and after conditioning while he is in the bath.

In between bath days, we usually just wet it down with a spray bottle and give it a light combing. The conditioner can also be used as a leave in conditioner, so on days when his hair seems a little dry, I'll comb a tiny bit of that through and it helps his curls perk right up.

We certainly haven't perfected this science, but for now it's working.

Although I have had several people recommend that I just shave his head - um...what are you saying?

Do you have any hair care tips to share?

Just One {Colorado Springs Family Photographer}

It is a lucky little guy who gets to celebrate his first birthday and Thanksgiving with Grandma in town. I enjoyed spending the morning watching him get loved on by his two main squeezes.