Five words: WE ARE HAVING A BABY!!!!!

Whew, that feels so good to finally announce that!! We’ve only told a few close friends and relatives, but now that we’re half-way to meeting our little monkey, it’s time to officially share it with the world… or… the handful of you who read this blog regularly. :-)

Baby C is due mid-January and ‘mom-to-be’ has been feeling pretty normal. Plus, things I typically feel guilty doing are now encouraged – taking naps, snacking between meals, and wearing yoga pants in public. Okay, maybe that last one is not so much ‘encouraged,’ as it is ‘less frowned upon.’ ;-)

Hope you had a wonderful August as well!!

I love it when a couple is so excited to get married, that it shines through their smiles all day long. That’s what happened to Tim + Teresa – you’ll see. :-)

Above right and below right – amiright or what? Those megawatt smiles say it all – they can’t wait to be husband and wife!!!

Again with the smiles!!! :-D

Thanks, Tim + Teresa, for 1) being head-over-heels in love and excited for the beginning of your marriage, and 2) for inviting me to be a part of your day. I hope you’re having a wonderful honeymoon and I can’t wait to show you the rest of your photos when you get back!! Congrats again, I wish you two all the best!

Can I just say one thing? Proposals rock my world!! The very moment when he’s down on one knee, when she realizes this isn’t a dream – this is really happening, when a vacation goes from good to FANTASTIC! Thank you, Joe, for inviting me to witness your very special moment! I’m so happy that all the long-distance planning worked out on such a beautiful evening here in the Black Hills. Thank you, Brittany, for being surprised (we were so worried you’d figure it out!) and for being so gracious to let me follow you around with a camera while all those emotions were running wild! :-) Your relationship and love for each other (from the 30 minutes I observed) is beautiful and I am so thrilled for the two of you to be married!! Congrats again and enjoy this memorable time of your lives!

Sometimes my wedding couples are so busy before the wedding (moving, finding new jobs, traveling from another state just to get married in the Black Hills) that it doesn’t work out for us to meet until they day they say ‘I do.’

Such was the case for Kasen + Beth. I got to meet them on the day of their mid-week wedding and it just so happened that I instantly fell in like with them. Thank goodness for the internet and my constant gushing over sweet, fun-loving couples. It’s easy for the right couples to find me. :-)

Kasen + Beth are nothing short of sweet or fun-loving. They had the most intimate, meaningful wedding ceremony and they couldn’t stop smiling at each other the entire time I was with them. (p.s. They have the most adorable smiles – you’ll see.)

I *love* this photo of Beth and her mom – I hope they treasure this forever, and I hope someday if Beth has a daughter, she takes a picture like this at her wedding.

Kasen + Beth – I hope your first few days of marriage have been wonderful, despite all the packing I’m sure you’re doing in preparation for the big move. I’m so happy you will be South Dakotans soon, and if you ever plan a trip to the Black Hills, I’d love to finally take you out for ice cream!