Dumbfounded I looked at my sister.  After a second it looked like she realized what was happening.  She said that M* has a green blanky that she loves at home, and somehow my robe must have made her think that it was it.

My sister Marina tried to approach little M* to see if she can get my robe from her.  Look at her face.  Doesn’t she look like she is ready to defend what is hers?

Then Marina tried pulling on the “blanky”, and, boy, was she in trouble! M* was not happy at all and she let her know that.

So, I ended up having to go find another robe to take my shower.  It took M* about 40 minutes to get over the confusion and to move on to the next best thing.  So, if I learned one lesson this weekend it was not to wear clothes that might remind my niece of her favorite blanky, or yet I might be left without.

I love my life and love the fact that I can photographer moments like these to remember forever.

Your Favorite Longview WA Photographer signing off for the night!

Here is a quick sneak of today’s baby session in Longview, WA.  Enjoy!

This is one of my absolute favorites–she looks pretty in pink.

Fully awake, and so alert.  She stole my breath away.

I will post more images from the session soon.  Meanwhile, if you would like to win a Drawing for a Session with me, check out details on my precious post.

Demetrye and I had a fabulous time in Hawaii. The island of Kauai is simply enchanting. I loved doing NOTHING for a whole week. Going for a walk at the beach, or reading a book on the beach was my favorite activity. I am going to post a few pics from our vacation in the next few days. Meanwhile, I was wasting no time, since I have gotten back—the day after I shot a wedding in Portland (which was fabulous, by the way, and I will be posting images from it soon), and a baby session.

The baby session was super special. I had shot Vera’s pregnancy session a few weeks ago (you can see it here), and had hopes of doing a birthing story when the little man was going to come into this world. But, alas , I was away on a vacation when he was born. Not to waste any time, the moment I got back I called Vera up and told her that I am coming over to capture baby S* while he is still considered a newborn.

When I came to the house we got the room nice and toasty (I barely breathing in my sweater), got grandma, uncles and aunts involved (keeping fire in the fireplace, holding a background for me, etc.), and made it a true family event, as no one wanted to leave while I was photographing the newborn, his happy parents and the sister that is madly in love with him.

Baby S* is unlike most newborns. I had hopes that after we got him warm and fed he would fall asleep, but it was not meant to be. He was up for the two hours I was there and had a mind of his own when it came to posing him for pictures. It turned out fabulous.

Here are a few shots from the amazing session.

So much love between the siblings.  Nothing like becoming the big sister.

Look at these handsome men. 

And the lovely family together.

Now, go ahead and leave some lovely comments for Slava and Vera to enjoy!

As I was sitting at the PC, getting ready for today’s wedding shoot, I saw my sister’s van pull up in our driveway.  All of a sudden I also heard someone jetting down the stairs.  “It cannot not be Mom,” I thought, “she is having problems with her hip and has to be careful.”  But it WAS my Mom–the moment she got a whiff of her grand-baby in the drive way, she sprinted outside, to her magic garden, to collect some super-sweet raspberries.

When baby M* came into the house, both, Mom and I, seemed to have lost our senses,  just like I thought we would.  We actually did not mind that our vocabulary, although graduated from “goos” and “gaws”, now became restricted to “da-da”, “ma-ma”, “ba-by” and “by-bye”.  Who cares?!  We were getting cute smiles and faces out of her.

The it was competition time.  Who will baby M* go to?  Grandma?  Grandma=Sweets.  Or Auntie?  Auntie=Fun (running, walking, spinning, blowing into the neck and the belly).  The kid was torn for a minute, but outsmarted both of us.  She made sure to give Grandma a few hugs, then coyly stretched her arms to me.  Off we went flying and exploring.

It did not help that my camera was all set and ready to go.  I caved in… AGAIN!  I grabbed the camera to add more cute shots to my Many Faces of Baby M* collection.

She is irresistible.

I can’t believe she is already 1, and has 7 teeth!  So cute!

I took my camera to her b-day party with me, thinking that I would snap a few shots, here and there, but here face was so adorable and she is way too cute… so, I finally forced myself to get down to 40+ favorite image (lucky parents ).  Here are only a few of them. But remember, it’s all about the face

Grandma knitted a special little hat…

…and baby M* seemed so thrilled with it

Here is another beautiful niece of mine–Kristina.  It seems that it was only yesterday I was there when she was born (sigh).

Oh, and the drool.

Unlike many other kids, M* was not too thrilled to have her hands stuck in the cake.  She was quite disgusted by it… I think

She was much happier when the cake was removed and her little shiny face was restored to its glory.

We barely had a moment to steal away for Mom and Daughter pictures.  M* had enough patience for only two.

And then it was all about presents, although M* seemed to enjoy her cute little fingers so much more than anything else.

And then back to the cute faces…

And here is yet another beautiful niece of mine–Oksana.  I actually do remember her as a baby also–I changed not one but many diapers for this girl   She is stunning.

Luba & Jason, thank you for having us over.  Your kid is absolutely delightful, and we are so happy for you.

My friend Caroline was my and my niece’s roommate in college. My niece Luba and I attended same Christian college in Columbus, OH. There, during the first couple of weeks of school, we met Caroline. At that time Caroline was still looking for a place to live. Luba and I were already renting an apartment. We invited Caroline to stay with us until she could find a place to call her own. After a couple of weeks of Caroline staying with us it just felt right, like she really belonged there, so Luba and I chit-chatted and offered Caroline to become our roommate. Since then we became a family.

Luba and Caroline used to be the chatty roommates-there was always something to talk about. Being a full-time student and having a full-time job in customer service (banking) the last thing I wanted to do when I got home was to talk. I remember how they would insist I sit down and talk with them, but most of the times, after dinner and homework I was off to bed, while these two could talk into the wee hours of the morning. And let me tell you–they weren’t quite (time I got you back for all of that, roomies ). Instead of going to Caroline’s room, which was separated from the room Luba and I shared by the living room, they would sit on the couch in the living room having their lively conversations. Once in a while I would peak out from my room and ask them to whisper. They almost always readily agreed. The moment I would get to bed, though, the whisper, within seconds would escalate to giggles and then laughter, and then, to what would seem to a sleepy, tired person, unacceptable volumes .

But that is in the past now. After 2 years in the same apartment we all drifted our own ways. I had roomed with another friend during my last year of college. Luba also had roomed with someone else from college, as did Caroline. However, the inseparable chatty duo could not stay away from each other–Luba and Caroline ended up as roommates again, until they both moved to Longview, WA.

Caroline, God bless her for that, moved to this tiny town to work with our youth and did a superb job. Many of the girls she mentored have become wonderful leaders, and some of them–wives and mothers. Caroline’s legacy in this town will not be easily forgotten. My family loves her as our own. But, don’t let me skip some interesting facts.

Caroline decided to take a trip to Israel one year. On that trip she met a man who stole her heart. They very quickly became engaged and a year later married. Caroline moved to Israel and started a whole new chapter in her life. Now she has two beautiful girls that are a spit image of her, and she is an excellent mother.

Caroline, we love you! We (I) are so glad to have seen you once again.

Caroline’s youngest, baby H*, is a cute living doll.  At 16 months old she talks more than you would expect.

The gorgeous duo quickly stole Demetrye’s heart, although it looks like they found him irresistable as well. They demanded to be in his arms at the same time.

Can you believe this cuteness and these gorgeous eyes?! Look at these eyelashes…

Didn’t i tell you that the two can talk? Luba, on the right, with Caroline in the middle, and my sister, Marina to the right, still can laugh and giggle and go on chatting for hours. However, I can live through their conversations very easily now–I no longer room with them

Caroline’s oldest, H*, is a doll. The first time I saw her a few days ago, she came up to me and gave me a big hug. Within minutes she looked at me and casually said: “I am the BOSS!” I am glad that we established that very quickly

H* is very quick to make new friends.

Caroline, you rock! I hope to see you again before you take off

I have not had too much time to process images from the weekend, but I had to put up at least a few of the most adorable kids in the world on my blog today.  We have 3 little ones in the family, these two little rascals are very close in age, and the third one is barely a couple of months old. 

Baby M and Baby T look like they could be twins (age-wise), however they are a couple of months apart and the way they are related to each other is quite interesting and humorous.  But… things as such happen in large family.  Our little Prince M is actually a cousin to Baby T’s father.  Quite interesting, isn’t it?!

 The two were so adorable in their bright close.  Between M’s cheeks and T’s tight rolls I thought I was in heaven.  We placed them next to each other on a blanket and watched them interact.  It was a photographer’s heaven!  We created an impromptu session.  With aunts and uncles and the parents ooo-ing and ah-ing over my shoulder I was clicking away.  The stars of the show did not mind me at all.  Baby T was fascinated with Baby M and constantly tried to wrestle her to the ground, gnawing on her shoulder with his toothless mouth (I will post a few of those pictures soon as well).  Baby M took it like a lady every time—very calmly.  I feel that I could write a comics book with the images I got.  Here are a few of my favorites.

I am just imagining what Mr. T is thinking: “Oooh, look, she has more hair than I do.  Let me touch it and see if how far I can pull it…”

M. realizing what’s about to happen turns around and says: “Man, what do you think you are doing?  Watch those hands!  Or I am going to call my Daddy!”  “Ok, toots!  Calm down!”  Mr T. replies.

Then the two get distracted by the host of adoring aunts and uncles and give them a few smiles so they can get back to their conversation.  

Meanwhile, one of the aunts sneaks up from behind and places a hat on Baby M.  Mr. T was not happy!  He wanted it off!  “This is redicilous!” he says, “It has to come off NOW!”  “Hey, man, I told you to keep your hands to yourself!  Didn’t I?!  I am a lady!”But… Mr. T got his way and the hat came off.   To keep peace he placed his hand on little M’s should and said: “See, I told you you would look better without it.”

After I was done with the babies (you can get only so many baby pictures in one given time) it was time to move on to the rest of my family.  Did I ever mention that I am surrounded by gorgeous people?  Well, I am!  I am adding a couple of images of my nieces.  The first one—Luba, is really model material.  Just look at her smile!  Nike should be knocking on her door asking to use this picture for their ads!

This gorgeous young lady and my niece as well.   And, yes, she is related to the beauty in the picture above–they are sisters.

Would you ever believe that Vera is almost 5 months pregnant?  (I think that is how far along she is…)  Such a cute belly!

With everything cluttering our time and space I can tell you that there is still nothing like a great family.  I am so blessed that I was born into one.

Have you enjoyed the images?  Leave a comment at the bottom of this post.

And this one is no less breath taking…

Enjoy!

His Mom and Dad made it warm and comfy (although we were feeling like we were in Hawaii).
He was as alert as they come at that age. He is so blessed to have such loving parents.
Mom (my niece) looks gorgeous to just have given birth.
CUTE!!!

This is just a sneak peak of what is to come… I would have posted more, but just received a call that my hubby locked his keys in the car. So, Irina, just know that I am not discriminating against you We love you, guys! You are amazing and blessed to have such a beautiful baby boy.

If you are in Longview or Kelso, WA area and are looking for a family/baby photographer, I would love to hear from you.