Dudek Family | {Puyallup Family Photography}

Last month I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing this beautiful family and I can’t say just how much I enjoyed my time with them. Right from the start, I knew it was going to be fun and easy…Andrew, 4 years old introduced himself and had the best smile…and him mom, Liz was so relaxed and at ease, that I could just tell this was going to be a great session. We had a beautiful fall day, great colors and wonderful park and everything fell together just perfectly! Liz and Joe are such relaxed parents and were so easy to talk with and work with…and that all reflected on their beautiful and very sweet children, Andrew and Emily. I must admit, these two little ones stole my heart and I could have brought them home with me in a heartbeat…what cuties and so well behaved and such fun to hang out with! Emily became my pal and walked me me and let me adjust her shirt or headband whenever needed! It was interesting talking with Joe and Liz…they’ve recently moved from Kentucky, but were originally from NY and Colorado…so have both moved around a bit, but have a great attitude about their moving and I couldn’t help but feel a connection as their moves are similar to those my husband and I (and our children) made when they were little…and the kids were smilier ages…and in talking with Liz…she said that she felt like the moves have made them a stronger family, a stronger couple – that they’ve had to rely on each other in harder times and learn how to get through it all together…and that is just how my husband and I felt when we moved away from family with our little ones…I know this family missed their family from their hometowns, but I must say, I feel blessed to have met them and had some time getting to know them! As you will see, this is one GREAT looking family!!!!! Emma_iPad_0003Emma_iPad_0004Emma_iPad_0005Emma_iPad_0006Emma_iPad_0007Emma_iPad_0008Emma_iPad_0009Emma_iPad_0010Emma_iPad_0011Emma_iPad_0012Emma_iPad_0013Emma_iPad_0014Emma_iPad_0015Emma_iPad_0016Emma_iPad_0017Emma_iPad_0018Emma_iPad_0019Emma_iPad_0020Emma_iPad_0021Emma_iPad_0022

Joe and Liz…thank you for your patience in waiting for this post…I hope it was worth the wait. The gallery will be ready soon! And, know that I was serious when I said, I’d be happy to watch your kiddos for you, if you ever need a “surrogate” grandma!! <3

Carter is ONE | {Puyallup Baby Photography}

Sweet Carter was a great way to start out my Sunday this past weekend. It has been a year since this cutie was in the studio and I was so excited to have him back again and see how he’s grown! I’ve had the benefit of seeing him on Facebook some and occasionally as he walked by our home with his grandpa (grandparents live in our neighborhood)…but to have him to photograph was a true delight! When Carter entered the world, he came a bit early and had a short stay in the hospital, but oh, he’s all boy and 100% up to what a one year old should be doing…it’s a delight to see!! Of course, he brought along dad and mom…who he likes to keep close by…it’s refreshing to see this little guy loved oh so very much and thriving and growing…can’t wait to see him next time!!

Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0001Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0002Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0003Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0004Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0005Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0006Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0007Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0008Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0009Carter really likes the “Elephant Song” and as you can see, he knows just want to do with technology already at his age! 😉Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0010Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0011Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0012Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0013Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0014Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0015Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0016Whoo hoo…he sure liked being almost naked!!!
Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0017But he wasn’t sure about the cake…and was quite clean with his “cake smash!”Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0018Couldn’t resist taking the last one above…I know, he’s not happy or smiling, but the tears and crying is okay…it’s HIS party and he can cry if he wants to!! Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0019Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0020Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0021Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0022He had much more fun with his rings while sitting on mommy’s lap than the cake!!Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0023Carter_Puyallup_Baby_0024Abby and Ken…you have a very handsome little guy and it was a delight to see the two of you, but especially Carter….he was a lot of fun to hang out with during his session!!

Emma turns TWO | {Puyallup Children’s Photographer}

It’s amazing how quickly time can pass and these past two years have really flown by! Our youngest granddaughter, Emma, arrived 5 weeks early just over two years ago and after spending her first month in the hospital, she came home to relieved parents who just wanted a normal life with their new baby. And, since then, it has been, well, as normal as life is with a baby who is now a toddler! Emma may be tiny (let us say “petite”), but she makes up for it in every other way!! Naturally, being her “Mimi” (aka…grandma), I’m slightly biased, but besides being pretty darn cute, she’s got quite the sense of humor, she’s very active, likes to explore, climb and run…and is not afraid of anything! It’s not unusual for her to have a bump, scratch or bruise, but they don’t slow her down, she literally picks herself up and moves forward, often without even a whimper to signal something happened…she is a tough and strong little girl! Besides being very active, she’s quite vocal…talking up a storm, telling stories and making sure that we all know what is going on with her and around us…she doesn’t let anything pass by her without her knowing it! I love watching her play…she’s quite precise with her play and often will line up the blocks, dolls, animals, or whatever she’s playing with and it’s obvious she wants them in a certain order. She knows just how she wants things to be! On days I’ve taken her to the park with her big cousin, Jayden, (who she ADORES)…she gets quite upset when Jayden swings…and tells her “NO, no swinging, Jayden, stop!” It’s quite funny to watch…I’m not sure why she says that…and even funnier is when you pass by a park, she says she wants to go there and swing, yet when at a park, she never wants to swing! Sliding, is a while other story, she’s a little daredevil on the slides and loves it…goes back as fast as she can get to the top and charges back down again…and again and again! When around Jayden, she tries to do everything Jayden does…a little “monkey see, monkey do” going on with those two!! So, we celebrate this beautiful and bright little girl who is now two and totally normal and healthy…look back to two years ago and realize that a lot really has happened in that time!

storyboard001storyboard002storyboard003I can’t get enough of her beautiful eyes…they are stunning!storyboard004storyboard005storyboard006storyboard007A very caring an nurturing little soul…she’s quite kind and gentle with her stuffed animals.storyboard008storyboard009storyboard010storyboard011storyboard012Blowing bubbles with her daddy…who she adores!storyboard013storyboard014storyboard015storyboard016storyboard017A gorgeous family, who I love more than I can say…Jess and Sean are incredible parents…and they will be adding to their family with another little girl at the end of July! SO excited!storyboard018storyboard019storyboard020storyboard021storyboard022storyboard023storyboard024Okay, so I spoiled her for the photo shoot…a “big girl” sucker…which she loved and made a bit (and adorable!) mess of her face… storyboard025storyboard026Of course, she had to climb onto Jayden’s lap…and try to steal a lick (or bite!) of her sucker…too funny!!storyboard027storyboard028And what a better time to show your love for your cousin, when you are sticky (everywhere!) and have a big sucker in your hand, this was too darn cute and shows just how loving Emma is!storyboard029storyboard030storyboard031storyboard032storyboard033storyboard034storyboard035Emma, you are beautiful, smart, kind and loved OH so very much…we can’t wait to see what the years ahead have in store for you…I know it will be great things!