Bucket ~ Grapevine Child and Family Photographer

Beckett. It's a big name for a little guy, but he's grown into it quite well. I think it can be a confusing name for little kids to understand sometimes. My three year old called him bucket for the first few days of his life and even now that he knows his name I hear Becky, Becko and Beckitty a lot.

A friend and I took my little guy out a couple weeks ago to take some pictures. She had a cute bucket that she wanted to use as a prop for a baby and needed a model and I had a knit hat that I had been waiting to use. I, of course, am completely biased because I think he is the cutest little chunk in the world. But I think we got some pretty adorable images.

The funniest thing, that my friend told me a few days later, is that when she pulled her images up on her computer her little girl looked at them and said "Oh I get it! Bucket in a bucket!" So funny! But not quite :)

Adorable Boys ~ Grapevine Texas Children's Photographer

Here is just a quick sneak peek of my session last weekend. Aren't they just adorable?

And I actually got some smiles out of the big brother this time!

Blue Bonnets ~ Dallas Texas Child and Family Photographer

I was driving home from the grocery store this morning and was surprised to see patches of bluebonnets popping up all over! I wasn't expecting them for another few weeks, but I guess with all the warm weather we've been having they came a little earlier than last year.

If you want a session in the bluebonnets contact me now so that I can get you scheduled in the next few weeks before the bluebonnets are all gone. If there is enough interest I may open up some mini sessions so that I can get everyone in. Email me at sleemanphotography@gmail.com or call or text 435.730.2186

Playing Catch Up - Dallas Fort Worth Family Photographer

I was looking back through some sessions from last fall as I was making tweaks to my blog header and realized there were a couple sessions that never got posted! I guess in the craziness that was the holiday rush and trying to get my family ready for our trip to Utah for Christmas and a wedding all by myself (I seriously picked my husband up at school from his last final and we went straight to the airport) that they just got overlooked. But even though it's late I didn't want to miss posting them because they were such great families. Here's the first. This little guy definitely gave me a run (literally) for my money!

Perfect Little Angel ~ Coppell Texas Newborn Photographer

This adorable little girl was the perfect angel for our session a couple of weeks ago. Her mom told me that she was worried because she had been a little fussy that morning. It actually ended up working out perfectly for us because she slept so well for me. She stirred one or two times, but other than that she just slept and let me move her around and basically do whatever I wanted.

I know I say this every time I post a newborn session, but I absolutely LOVE newborns. They're teeny tiny and so sleepy and perfect for such a short time. I love being able to document that fleeting time for families. Because, let's face it, when you look back later everything just seems like a blur those first few weeks with a new baby if you don't have the pictures to remind you.

Those Cheeks! ~ Dallas Texas Child and Family Photographer

These are some of the 6 month pictures I took of my baby. He's 7 1/2 months now...so I guess you could say I'm a little behind!

I took these at the beginning of the year, right after he turned 6 months. I thought time went by fast with my oldest, but I swear it's at like warp speed now! Where did the last 7 1/2 months go? He's growing up so fast. And it doesn't really help that he is the size of an 18 month old! Seriously...the kid's HUGE. His growth is tapering off a little. Like he is now in the 90th percentile for weight compared to the 99th percentile 2 months ago :) Let me just tell you, it is not fun lugging that carseat around all of the time. But the payoff is definitely worth it. I mean, do you see those cheeks? I can't resist them. I kiss them and squish them and nibble them ALL DAY LONG. And that's not the only thing. You should see all the rolls! They're delicious. Rolls on his ankles, thighs, wrists, arms. Mmmm. I just love them.

My Grandma

I don't really know where to start. I've written and rewritten the first line of this post so many times I've lost count. Nothing really seems right. Or enough. This post really deserves an amazing writer. But I'm not an amazing writer. I'm just me. And I as inadequate as I feel as I sit at the computer and type this, I guess that will just have to be enough.

I don't usually do posts this personal. I guess I have a hard time opening up to the world. But for some reason I just couldn't "not" write this post. Maybe it's because there are pictures to go along with the story. Maybe it's because I was planning on posting these pictures before. Before everything. And even though it's all different now, and this is not the post that I ever wanted to write, it's the post that needs to be written now.

My Grandma is amazing. She's an inspiration to everyone I know. I have so many wonderful, perfect memories of her. And for that I am grateful.

When my family went home for Christmas I really felt like I needed to go up to Idaho to Grandma's house. I hadn't been to her house in almost 3 years. So I convinced my mom that we needed to go up for a day to see her and let the boys meet her. Luckily we went to Utah pretty early for my sister-in-law's wedding, so there was time before Christmas to go up.

I really wanted to take some pictures of what I remember from Grandma's house. I took these pictures while we were there. I wish I would have taken more. That I would have changed my lens and taken some different angles. I wanted to get a picture of just her hands while she was cooking in the kitchen. But I'm forever grateful that I have these pictures. That I went up to visit her that one last time.

Because my Grandma passed away Monday morning.

My heart hurts a little as I type that. I'm sad for a few very selfish reasons. I wasn't ready for her to go and I miss her a lot. But I can only imagine how sweet her reunion with my Grandpa was after being apart for 38 years. And I'm so glad that I KNOW. That I know that I will see her again. And that brings me so much peace.

I know that technically these images are far from perfect. Some are even out of focus. But every single one of them is precious to me.