This little darling was considerate enough to wait until we got her mama’s maternity photos done before making an appearance. Welcome to the world, Reese Emery! You’re as beautiful as we knew you would be.

Katie and Derek are the kind of people who were meant to be parents. They are kind and funny and smart, and exactly the type of people you’d choose as your own parents, if you could choose.

Baby Lee didn’t get to choose, but lucky boy, someone chose them for him.

They drove all the way down to Baton Rouge to meet their son, knowing they were getting closer by the mile to parenthood. And they drove straight through, 20 hours, back to Wisconsin. They just wanted to get him home.

And here they are, a family.

I met baby Lee at my studio, where I do most of my natural-light newborn sessions.

We got some very sweet images, but really it’s hard not to get a good photo of this boy. Did you get a look at him?

Still, something wasn’t quite right. He just couldn’t get settled.

So we drove to Katie and Derek’s lovely house a few blocks away. They thought it was maybe the car ride that settled him down. I thought it was that he was finally where he wanted to be: Home.

Congratulations, Katie and Derek, on your beautiful son.

This gorgeous mama-to-be is having her baby girl today, so I thought I’d better hurry up and post her belly session. Her funny, precocious older daughter went to the same kindergarten center as my son this year and we found out during the course of chatting that her daughter likes to chase my son during recess. And he doth protest a bit too much, if you know what I mean. I was thinking about it today, and if all goes as planned, our baby daughters will be in kindergarten at the same time, too. Love it.

Bre had her best friend along for part of the session, and when I put her in this pose with her shades on her friend said, “You look like a rock star… ’s pregnant girlfriend.” I’d take that as a compliment. Belly sessions definitely do not have to be staid and traditional — wouldn’t you have loved to see a photo of your own mom rocking out the best fashions of her day and rocking out her baby bump?

Thank you so much allowing me to capture this amazing and fleeting moment in your life. I can’t wait to meet your new baby girl!