This is Layla and older sister Lexi.  I wasn’t sure I was going to get a shot of 16 month old Lexi in the same frame as her baby sister but we lucked out and got one while she was still seated.  At 16 months, keeping a toddler in one spot for more than 11 seconds can be a challenge.  These two beautiful sisters have something in common with my four children.  They all share an Aunt – Aunt Michelle!   When Lexi was born, I had the privilege of taking her newborn photos too.  I think she and Lexi look quite similar as newborns so hidden in this post is one newborn shot of Lexi.  Can you spot which of these images is Lexi?

It was so good to see you again J!  Thanks for bringing baby #2 to see me!

Little Layla Elli was an angel and I am anxious to show you her pictures.  Due to the stomach flu hitting the Brinkman household with a vengeance this week, it will take me some time before I can finish processing.

When we were preparing to shoot this particular image, Jacqueline mentioned that Nick (Layla’s Daddy) was going to wonder what on earth we did to his child when he saw the finished image of her in a pouch hanging from a tree.  I don’t often comment on newborn safety because I like to think that those who follow my blog assume the best of me and what I do.  Having said that, I will mention again that because newborn safety is a priority, I embrace an artistic approach to newborn photography and many of my end products were created to be art.  In other words, don’t believe everything you see.  In this instance, Jacqueline never even saw this tree branch at all because the shot of the tree was not taken on the day of our shoot.  The above image is a composite.

I love photography but I think I love the art side even more.  What I can DO with an image once I have captured it…now THAT is fun.

Now about this particular branch…

My Dad is a bird lover.  Actually, I am not sure he loves the birds themselves as much as the hobby of raising them and creating spaces for them.  He has done this all my life.  I must admit – the resulting consequence is that I am NOT a bird lover LOL.   Last week he decided that he wanted to build a bird cage outside his bedroom window (it’s right off the sidewalk).   Preparing for my mother to have a bit of a meltdown, he decided to sell her on a somewhat different vision.  He told her he was going to build her a hanging garden.

When he started hauling his materials into the backyard, she realized at once that he was preparing to build a birdcage.  NOT what she envisioned.  Add that to the fact that my dad tends to do things Duck Dynasty style and she could not see past the UGLY cage he was dragging in to her domain.

As promised, he cleaned it up, painted it, and built a “hanging garden” on the sides of the birdcage.  She loved it.  She is rather unhappy with the squirrel who is also enjoying it immensely however.

I teased my dad and told him that he was inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon built by King Nebuchadnezzar for his wife Amytis.   How could she refuse a miniature version of one of the great wonders of the ancient world?  That was a very smooth way to get a birdcage right off the back porch.   Genius.

Anyhow, I was dropping the kids off there while this project was underway and noticed this particular branch that was set aside to be a perch for the birds.  Dad took a trip up north to bring back branches off Manzanitta (Ironwood) Trees because he thought they had more to offer in terms of aesthetics over desert trees.      I had been hoping to find a branch like this so I was rather overjoyed with the whole thing and let him know that I needed to borrow that branch for purposes of my own.   The whole thing ended up working out quite well for both my mother and I.  The branch is now secured in the Hanging Gardens of the Zimmermann’s backyard to be enjoyed by all.

Lovely branch + beautiful baby = happy photographer.

So what do you think Dad?

In March,  my “Kansas Cousins” came out for Spring Break to visit us.  We had such a great time with them.  Too bad Kansas is so far because we would love to get to spend more time with them.  Also during Spring Break, my wonderful friend Liza was visiting so we had the opportunity to do some shooting together.  She was my second shooter on this adventure.  (See her work at ElizabethMohr.com).

These shots taken behind Papa and Sweetie’s house.

Sadly, firstborn sibling Rachelle and her husband were not able to vacation with the rest of the family.  Missed them in these shots.

In addition to shooting in the desert, we also had the opportunity to take a few shots up North.  Who knew there would be SNOW on the ground?  That limited the plan but it was still pretty.

Love you all and miss you already.  Come back soon!

These pictures were taken for Papa.  He thought Sweetie’s bear rug would be cute for pictures with Troy and I thought so too.  I love “Bear Bottom” shots. 

These pictures were taken in April.

I love this shot.  Tanner was being my assistant because I didn’t think Troy would sit real securely so he was close by standing guard.    Troy trying to catch his falling bear while Tanner trying to catch his about to fall baby brother – TOO ADORABLE!

I have no idea what that was about but it was sure cute.

This is what it feels like to home school your kids.  No kiddin.