two years ago i was officially off of bed rest, able to make last minute preparations, and did absolutely everything i could to get this stubborn little one to come. he tormented me with contractions for 3 months solid, then when given the okay to join us he stuck like glue. i wish i could say i enjoyed those last weeks of pregnancy, but it was rough. i was emotionally and physically just exhausted.

now i look at the rambunctious, silly, inquisitive, and thoughtful little boy who finally did arrive. i think of how incomplete our family would be without him. how he loves his “gaga” (brother), apple juice, toy story, and his three blues. i thank the lord for the gorgeous little guy who made me a mama all over again and wish him an amazing last few weeks of being one.

glad you asked! the artist in me needed so desperately to get back to the roots of my own personal journey in photography. i’m easily sidetracked, and found myself not feeling comfy in my online-presence-skin. i love the clean, fresh, simple feel to my new site. i absolutely adore the big images, and all the new options that come with a brand spankin’ new design. it’s as if i fell asleep and have been woken up by the freshest breeze imaginable. spring has sprung and i’m all over it. clients, be sure to check out the vendors tab for some fabulous places to shop for clothing – photographers you’ll know what to do, check it all out!

awp now has a mailing list! it is super easy to sign up and you’ll be the absolute first to know about specials, promotions, casting calls, and contests. your email will never, ever be shared and you can rest assured you’ll only get something from me every few months or so – depending on what i have to offer!

in honor of the new website, for the next six days you may take $50 off of your session fee and pay only $150! this promotion ends saturday may 15 and session must take place by september 1, 2010. any lifestyle session is eligible: newborn, baby, children, family, senior, engagement. contact me for my 2010 pricing and to take advantage of this incredible opportunity.

thanks for stopping by, i’m so glad you’ve been here. whether you are friends, family, clients, photographers, or lurkers – i really appreciate your encouragement and your business. xoxo!

ps because i can’t post this without saying a special thanks to this little doll and his mama Kristin Staples, for his dock-side session amoungst 15+ other photographers, inspired the semi-old-school-yet-new-awp look. if i could plaster that darling outfit he has on all over my mac i would. seriously, in love. thank you kristin for sharing him ; )

i was in my third trimester, on bed rest, with a giant and stubborn wee one in my belly. it got hot early that year and wouldn’t you know, we endured many power outages. to say i was miserable was an understatement. thankfully my mama was in town and bought us a mini-pool for our back yard. you could find us out here on a daily basis:

i was so thankful for that pool, especially during the days we had no power (air). then we had a fantastic idea. back to costco we went, and  came home with this:

a fan. no idea why i hadn’t thought of it until then, but we needed something super-powered. stuck on a couch in 100 degree heat, with a roudy 3 year old, and doctor’s orders to be off my feat – i was struggling. this tower fan became my best pal. she swiveled, had so many sexy features, and even a remote control. ahhhh heaven.

i am sad to report that this week she started chirping. i knew her time would come eventually, and after daily use for the last two years (yes i even used her in the winter, i became used to her lovely noise), her time with us was nearing the end. i hated to let her go, so i lived with the chirping and squeaking – but alas, I turned her off and gently unplugged her. she’d treated me well, and it’s time for her to go to live with all the other fans in the great tower fan heaven.

okay so it may be silly, but being the sappy mama i am, i correlate this fan with my youngest and perhaps last baby. seeing him grow into a little boy brings happy and sad tears to my eyes, and with the passing of tower fan i realize how quickly time is passing.

it is now onto bigger and better things for our family (ahem, a new fan has been purchased) but i’ll remember the days of bedrest and contractions, heat and complaints, with a bit of a grin. as my mom promised, it did pass (of course with the help of tower).

rip dear friend.

xoxo holl!

i think probably my favorite image from the evening right here… it was one of those i nearly skimmed over in post-processing, my eyes accidentally grazed over it and i couldn’t help but smile. such genuine joy from this expectant mama.