Maybe it’s just me, but after all the excitement of the holiday season, I can feel rather down in the dumps. We spend November working on being thankful, we go right into December counting down each moment and jam-packing a ton of activities in as we celebrate baby Jesus’ birth at Christmas, and then within a week we are sent into a new year. Wow, just thinking about it leaves my head spinning. And yet, we do this every year… and I’m starting to notice a pattern for myself of where I feel a bit overwhelmed with the daunting tasks and unknown future of the new year as I step into early January.

I love the chance to step into the everyday life of our amazing couples and families when we step into their homes for a family lifestyle session. We know that it may mean that they do some quick cleanup – or sometimes not so quick – but getting to see a family in their everyday moments, especially in the holly jolly of Christmas time, just adds such a special element to a family photo session.

A lifestyle portrait session at a Woodbury family’s home during a beautiful summer night? Yes, please! It was so good to catch up with the Hobbs family on their newest adventure and addition to the family by meeting little Giana! We met the Hobbs family back when our families were only us married couples and one boy – now we each have two boys and a girl running – err, I mean roaming – the house! We have had the pleasure of capturing this family for a few years, and the first session involved a blue balloon revealing little Keelan’s gender. We’ve since documented Keelan's entrance into the world, gone on an adventure at the ice castles, photographed them at one of their favorite spots (Lake Elmo), and explored one of my favorite spots at LeDuc Historic Estates.

As I sit here on the carpet next to Chloe's crib while she sleeps, there is a wave of emotions that are rushing through me. Part of it is probably still from pregnancy hormones regulating out,and the other part is because I can't believe it's already been a month since this little lady entered our world! As I work to pick the photos and upload the ones to share, I smile at the different memories and feel sad that these first few days are already gone. Then,there's the feeling of fear and guilt. Fear that people will look at these photos and think, "they didn't do this or that" and guilt that I didn't do "more" photos during her first few weeks. Silly? Absolutely! Will people actually think this? I highly doubt it, but isn't it interesting how instead of just joy there is a regret to do more? If you're a fellow mama, I bet you totally get this,and if I can say anything to you it's to be present over perfect. So move aside guilt and fear because we chose not to take so many photos.

Whenever I get the opportunity to drive to a client’s home and be invited into their everyday life by doing a lifestyle portrait session, I can’t wait to soon be heading back to my home and importing the photos, so I can relive the specialness of relationships and moments of daily life. This was definitely the case in getting to capture little Eliza’s newborn portraits in her family’s Cottage Grove, MN home.