thank you!

it never changes.

I am not sure what you hear. I am not sure what you feel when you are with them but your heart is all over them in their presence. I do think there is a language. I think there is a person there communicating with you guys and no one else will ever understand it. And i love that. I know it is hard to understand and I have told you before about the angels around your crib when you starting having seizure at 15 months. You and I have talked about it before. I have seen them. And while you are quite jealous of that you will see them too one day! But I am certain they are there with you when you are with Davis and Mia. Helping you to hear them.

Then there are the animals. You have the same conversations with them as you do Mia and Davis. It is precious. I have about a million conversations on my phone of you talking a butterfly into flying. Coaching along into opening up so the butterfly can be set free.

Then there is your Charlie. The dog you longed for every day until we bought him for you. His birthdate just so happens to be your birthdate! How perfect is that. Not only do you love animals here you love them everywhere. It does not matter where we go your love language is there. Speaking to people.

it never changes.

I am so content in knowing you will come down the stairs 2 times before bed. One for water. The other for a hug. Your Toms will be worn with no socks summer or winter and there is a continous account to order the same pair every time you outgrow them. Then there is the subject of food. Always no meat. Cheese on everything and chocolate for dessert. These are the things I love and…

it never changes.

i love you and that will also never change.

love, mama

Head on over to the ever amazing rashmi pappu and check out her love, too! She has put together the sweetest birthday note to her daughter with the years images to match. She always puts her heart and soul into her letter.

Can I be you for a day? If I actually asked you that question you would look at me weird and just flat out say  ”no” and walk off. Never thinking of it again. But there are things that I hate making you do that I know in the long run are making you the beautiful person you are today….

making you do your school work, which I HATE with a passion, too!

teaching you all the small things you have missed along the way

tying your shoes 3 or 4 times a days when your fingers have no idea where they are suppose to go to make the super cool knot

they are annoying

they are time consuming

they are as you say… “the bad word that starts with the  ’S’ and then whisper the word “stupid” in my ear (ADORABLE)

I agree.

you are such an amazing worker. you work hard. you work every day. you work until you have nothing left. Not many people can do that. Not many people will do that.

One thing you will never have to do is wonder if you did enough. If you never get past 5th grade but you hug people.

We are fine!

If you never learn how to cut your sandwhich but you love with your whole heart.

We are fine!

If your showers take an hour bc you are trying to keep bubbles off of you but you are a great friend.

We are fine!

Take your heart and walk through this life just as you have been doing from the start. You touch people’s lives every day and you have no clue. Never worry if you did enough…

you got this.

Now check out a girl who I stalk quite regularly that if she knew how much I look at her work and instagram feeds she may just de-friend me!

sarah

my boy.

There is just something about a mama and her boy. It is hard to describe but I feel like for my first post that instead of posting a million images of him I will post the one I love the most. The one that shows his heart. His crazy is for next post!

As a mama you want nothing more than to know you have raised a boy with a sweet heart, one who cares for others, who helps others, who puts girls first and is the one who everyone trusts. That is exactly my husband and has in turn become my son.

My favorite is that he loves his sissy as much as he loves me and the same goes for his nana and grammy. He is always right there. Not far from your leg, your lap or your heart.  Hoping when he is older I can turn and he will still be…

right there.

Please take a look at the circle of photog mommies around the world who are also sharing their boys today! Start with Bre Thurston of Bre Thurston Photography. Enjoy the sweetness.

In the last few months I have seen how a couple of my favorite photographers started a “letter to our daughter” post on their blogs each month. Now how in the world could I not take their lead and do one, too. Especially of my Maddux. So thank you Julia and Stephanie for the inspiration to tell Maddux how I feel along with the rest of you!

Dear Maddie-loo,

You are You. I have no other way to describe it. You are Maddux and if someone does not like who you are your response is, “too bad, so sad!” These little lady are the reasons we love that you are you.

You sit.

You talk to yourself.

Your stare.

You bite your nails.

You could care less about anything around you unless it involves a butterfly or animal.

You wear what you wanna wear and could care less who likes it.

You’re obsessed with Hello Kitty but we are not sure why.

You love chocolate.

You hate meat.

You refuse to try something new.

You hate bubbles.

Hence why you hate showers.

You want to meet famous people in California, ie. Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Swift bc you did not realize that the voices coming from the radio were actually people. I am not sure what you thought was coming out of  the radio  but when you found out they were actual people you wanted to “give them a hug”

Best of all…..         you love hard.

You are YOU. And for that I am thankful. Thankful that this really helps when others are not so nice. This helps when you know you can help others who have no one. You care for others like no one will ever understand. You have fought hard for everything you know. It’s not easy remembering things that seem to slip out of your head so easily. But like we always say, “Mom is the same way!” You work hard for simple things. These are the reasons why I admire you. You were given to just me. Me and your daddy. We were made just for you. To help guide you with these strengths that you have and use them to help yourself and others. I know you can see it. I see your face light up when talking about people who care for you. I can not wait to see who’s life you will change. One day I will come back to this first letter and read it with you and I will cry, I know. I am now.  And you will see how I saw this in you when you were little. Just wait…..

Their story together is an amazing one. Meet Maddux, my daughter, and Mia her BFF. This was the first day they met. Yes, first day!! They both have autism, they both love like no 2 girls I have ever met, they both have spectacular mom’s…(insert clears throat)… and they both need your help. We all met after Mia’s mom bid on an auction similar to this one and she won a session with me.

So here we are.

Friends forever.

Rachel, Mia’s mom, is on a mission putting together some amazingly talented artists, designers and photographers to have an on-line auction and all proceeds will go to Autism Speaks. To name a few of these fabulous, generous people…

Tori Spelling

Joyfolie

Matilda Jane

Sophie and Lilli……..

These are just a few. The whole list of who is helping is on Mia’s site with all of the info about the auction there and below.

If you were ever wanting a session with me and you want to help support Mia’s mission, I am offering a session and a $100 print credit so on Sept 4th-6th…. GET TO BIDDING!!!!

In honor of the heat wave hitting my area I thought I would blog the images from a “workshop” I did with 2 of the best women I know. It is not really a workshop. It is just a reason for all 3 of us to get together! We all share the same passion so why not share it with others while we are at the beach relaxing with NO CHILDREN!

oh man! no I wanna go back!!!!!!!

When I say this session is overdue, I mean like red-faced, embarrassed overdue!  Although I am not the best blogger, I do manage to get the most loving families who trust my every click.

Autumn is an amazing photographer herself who will be shooting my family soon. It is always a privilege to be chosen by another photographer. There is an amount of knowledge, art and creativity there that may not be there with a typical client. Which most of the time is more nerve racking than a non-photographer. And to be honest I am more nervous with a photographer than any other client but I do feel a bit of  ”the throw ups” when I shoot anyone.

Autumn and her family just loved, hugged and squished all afternoon. I was a witness to some of the squishiest moments ever. Thank you H family for trusting me! Now bring that A game, girl! I am next!

exactly where I think we should be

Jaime Lackey Photography

<a href=”http://www.jaimelackeyphotography.com“>www.jaimelackeyphotography.com</a>

Raleigh-Durham Baby, Child and Family Photographer

Apex Photographer Newborn, Child and Family Photographer

Morrisville Photographer Newborn, Child and Family Photographer

Holly Springs Photographer Newborn, Child and Family Photographer

RTP and Triangle Baby Photographer Newborn, Child and Family Photographer

as much as I love shooting a baby on a beanbag… I love a baby in a mommies arms so much better. This is the first post of my slow transition to a different type of newborn photography.

One where you can see life.

One where not everyone is set in the perfect spot.

One where the dogs and chaos are involved.

It is the image of what really happens when you come home. Babies yawning. Big brother not wanting to be photographed within 10 feet of his new sister. It is the behind the scenes shots that I love that others forget are so beautiful.

Here is my first in my slow movement. Join me… won’t you?