Callan's newborn and a half photos...

After Callan finally came home I wanted to attempt newborn pictures as soon as possible.  I took a few days to adjust and then I set up my own little studio while the kids were at school.  (He was about three weeks old in these photos).

I read up on-line some tips of using natural light.  Of course most of the tips included professional set ups.. like the back drops and things.  I bought these textured blankets from IKEA that I wanted to try and use.  I knew I would use Madison's bean bag chair to put Callan on, but I wasn't sure how I was going to get a back drop.  After a few failed attempts I finally threw it over the back of the couch and guess what?!  It worked! 

I used my Nikon D700, 50mm 1.8 lens, and a small reflector.  I used photoshop to edit.  I used a few different techniques so the images have different looks.  Here are the results... 

I used the bunny hat to get a large photo for my bunny themed nursery.  I posted a few on Easter and here are a few more.  (I ordered this one in an 11X14 and hung it up)

I also took a few shots of Madison with Callan in her new room.  These are my favorite images!

I hope to get one of Tyler and Callan soon.

Thank you so so much for all your words of support and encouragement.  I appreciated all of the comments and e-mails even though I couldn't respond to each one.

Callan's Homecoming

The day before Callan was due to come home the second time the nurse told me that she had noticed some labored breathing though out the day.  She notified the doctor and a sleep study was ordered for that night.  They hooked Callan up to yet another monitor and it produced a twelve hour printout for review the next morning.  I had to wait for it to be read before we would know rather or not Callan was going to be sent home.  I called my nurse that afternoon to let her know that I would be there for the next feeding.  She told me that the study had been read and she was 99% sure they were going to send him home, but she couldn't give me the official word.  So I told Jason the news and waited on the doctor to call.  She finally did and we were told we could come get him at any time!!

My girlfriends had contacted Jason to tell him that they wanted to give Callan a proper homecoming.  I had no idea they were planning such a surprise.  They managed to pull this off in the one hour notice they were given. 

I remember riding home that day with Callan and Jason from the hospital wishing I could capture Madison and Tyler meeting their baby brother for the first time.  I decided that it was more important for me to be in the moment than worry about taking pictures.  Well little did I know that was going to be taken care of too.

You can see the shock and gratitude on my face in one of the pictures.  Most of my friends left before we got home to give us the intimacy of the moment.  Heather stayed to capture the memories for me.  (Make sure you have sound on because she couldn't have put the pictures to a better song.  I sing this to all my babies.)

Princess Madison

Happy Birthday TODAY to my sweet girl!!!  She's a lot sweet, but she's a little sour sometimes too.  I'm learning that goes along with four!!

I planned to have Madison's party way early before Callan arrived.. We celebrated with her sweet friends March 31st.  My thought was that I would rather be WAY pregnant than have a newborn.  Well things just never goes as planned and her party ended up being two weeks after Callan arrived.  I was tired this day on so many levels, but celebrating my daughter turning four was just what I needed that day.  It's funny how things work out.

Madison,

You are so very outgoing.  Every one loves to comment that you are NOT SHY!  I love it!  You are VERY dramatic!  If you ever get hurt you fuss and put on a little show.  You dry your eyes very quickly and if anyone else walks in the room you will cry all over again and tell them about your boo boo!  You light up a room with your smile!  You love to laugh.  You love your friends.  You love to have company over to your house.  You love your little brother, Tyler, as long as he isn't in your things.  You love your baby baby brother, Callan. I love how you hold him and call him "sweetheart!" You love all things girly.  You love to dress up and put on makeup.  You love to have "girls only" outings with me.  (I so hope you never outgrow that!)  You LOVE your daddy.  You have become a little sassy.  I think you are testing your boundaries and I'm working hard to keep them in place.  I love that when I ask you to grab a diaper or a paci you do!  I love that you know how to unlock the back door and let the dog out!  I love that you have turned into a little helper.  Oh and don't worry.. if you don't feel like letting the dog out or grabbing me a diaper.. you don't! 

Happy Happy fourth birthday Madison!

Love,

Mama

Rewind...

I don't know why I went into Labor at 36 weeks and 6 days.  I have looked back on that day and questioned everything I did... I'll never know exactly why.  Only God knows, but this is what we did that day. 

We spent the morning with great friends at the Austin Rodeo.  The kids LOVE LOVE the animals.  Feeding them, riding them, and just being in their presence!

Madison loved collecting the eggs from the pretend hens.  There was a teenager working in this area.  Her job was to take the collected eggs from the baskets and return them to the hen house. You could not pay me enough money to take that job.. OH WAIT!  That is what I do at home... but not only with faux eggs, but with every toy we own!

I didn't take a lot of pictures.  I was so tired!  I waddled around and Jason pushed the kids in the stroller.  We saw so many animals!  Cows, pigs, sheep, chicks... and so on...

We ate lunch and then hit a few rides.  The kids were not very interested in the rides.  I was so surprised.

Tyler rode this one alone... (Notice his St. Patty Day beads?!)

We packed up soon after this ride and headed home.  What a fun final day we had with our family of four.

Today

Today was my actual due date. 

Today Callan is three weeks old.

Today Callan is home.

Happy Easter!  He is RISEN!