Jessica Shae | Maternity Portraits

the next time we meet,
a new kind of "hello!"
both our hearts have a secret,
only both of us know.
josh ritter - kathleen

She was born in 1989.  So was I.  She was the firstborn daughter.  So was I.  She became the oldest of seven children.  So did I.  She was homeschooled.  So was I.  After graduating highschool, she went to Chicago for an internship.  So did I.  She was interested in starting a photography business.  So was I.  She liked to travel.  So did I.  She likes Chipotle, tanning in sunshine, getting nails done, wearing maxi dresses (or dresses, period) and the colors coral and Tiffany Blue.  So do I.  I started dating a guy, and three months later she started dating a guy.  I got engaged to a guy, and three months later she got engaged to a guy.  I married my guy, and three months later, she married her guy.  My guy and I became a family of three, and a few months after her guy and she, also, became a family of three.

For better or for worse, Jessica and I have managed to connect over, well, pretty much everything.  She's far neater, and I'm a bit messier and wilder.   She is a bit more thought-through and I'm a bit more impulsive.  She rarely (until) finishes her Chipotle, and I always do.

And she's a friend who understands, feels and knows things about me that very, very few do.  Some things you can never explain or describe.  You just know.  Our life pace-car has been step-by-step for nearly our entire lives.  When we met, we were little blonde whirlwinds, just dreaming about eerily similar things. And four years and a whole lot of story later, we are a little and bigger blonde, living out those eerily similar things.  We had no idea how sweet they'd be.  Or how much fun they would be to enjoy together.



Little Ras has an extraordinary mommy.  Full of insight, thoughtful consideration, life lessons, fight, quirky charm, happy grace, and love.  She loves your daddy, Ras.  And they have quite a story.  She loves you, Ras.  And has for a very, very long time.  In so many ways (which sounds so vague.  Sorry. It's going to have to), Tiny Jessica Shae is a very different person than I met years ago.  But, truly more than that, she is one of the most consistent, sure and stable people I've ever known.  Her course has been tried and proven true, so she's stayed the way.  Her heart has wanted and hunted down good, real desires.  She's been like that for as long as I've been her friend.  You're going to have a life-of-lives being raised by this woman.


Thank you for, well, you know.  Thank you :)  Yesterday was wonderful, and your burrito bump is even better and I can't wait to see you again - hopefully with a little munch in your arms.

Juliana Kate | Baby Portraits

A couple of years ago Alex + Lauren decided to hunker on down and be each other's always and one and only.   Just before two years of ooey-gooey-marriage-goodness ( ;) ), they found out that they were not just "man" and "wife" but "mama" and "daddy"!  Juliana Kate is now in their arms and in their home.
The first few days of Jules' life turned out to be quite scary.  Right away her breathing wasn't as strong as it should have been.  Baby One was whisked away to the NICU.  The next 48 hours included poor jaundice levels, a possible seizure and some - okay, maybe more - tears.   But now she is eight days old, fit as a fiddle, home and making their world sweeter with every passing hour.   While she was in the NICU Mama Lauren would come rub her cheeks and sing her pretty songs.  Even at this young age, she responds with pure delight when she hears her mother sing.  I didn't really believe Lauren when she told me she smiles a lot - especially during songs.  But, check it out for yourself!


We haven't even covered the beauty of this baby.  Eight days old and almost oddly flawless.  Not a wrinkle, pimple, rash, bump or funny new-baby "issue."  To be honest, I even think the little old man hound dog scrunches or zitty-fresh faces are super cute!  It's just part of being brand new!  But this little looker is made from porcelain.  I didn't edit a single thing from her face.  No blending or cloning or band-aiding.  And she's not even seven pounds.  Tiny, smooth and happy... gaaaah!



Alex and Lauren are dear with her.  He is a broad, dark, ex-hockey-playing, adventurous manly man.  She is sweet, tender, very careful and glowing.   They did everything as a team.  They both know her cries, one holds her head while the other lifts the shirts on, they know the "tricks" their little lady especially likes.



I just... I mean... right?






I love when babies make grumpy faces in their sleep.  I feel like that's my face when someone turns the light on in a dark room when I'm asleep.  I'm all "eeeeeeeh!" with my grump face ;)



Note to self: buy my daughters small white bows.  They're angelic.


Juliana was so much fun because she was SO alert.  She was looking around at all kinds of things!  She had my camera shutter to catch her attention, her mama calling her name, her dad walking around in the back-round... and she was very aware of all the "fuss."  She kept her eye on us... until, of course, that just got exhausting.


Welcome to your family and to this wild-giddy-yap thing called life.  We're so delighted that you're here and that God wanted to make you.  Your parents are super cool - they've prayed so much for you, and they are smitten with you.  I wish I had taken a video of them getting you ready for this pictures.  You probably would have laughed watching it someday... but then gotten a little teary, too.  They love you.  Oh!  And you have some crazy great aunts, uncles and cousins.  Yeah, you're gonna have a good life.


All my love and gentle squeezes! Muah!

A Very Sweet Thanksgiving Treat from The Morris Family

“do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; 
remember that what you now have was once 
among the things you only hoped for.” 
epicurious 



This year Caleb and I just... are especially grateful.  My mom's cancer number when from 54 to ZERO.  We are married.  Our wedding was thrilling and we have never felt so loved.  We both have great jobs that we love.  My family moved home.  We have a HUGE and beautiful apartment.  We are finding our way as our own little family.  We're coaching together with my dad.  We have incredible friends and family all over the country and world.  We eat well.   And we wanted to share our favorite Thanksgiving Treat this year... don't be turned-off by the ingredients.  I promise it's really really good ;)
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Yup.  As this current school year comes to an end, and pools open and summer vacation starts, we're going to introduce a little person to its life and we are going to be its parents (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).  We are crazy-wicked-thrilled to know, have and love this new baby, gift and friend.  We need you, sweet child, and know that your life already has and will continue to change us forever.  We love to love you and can't stand this wait ;)  We're dying to look at your eyes, make fun of your noises and hold you while you laugh and cry.  Now I'm going to cry.  (Don't worry... I do that a lot now.  It's one of your many "special blessings" to my body ;) haha)








I've tried to imagine for decades what it will be like to be a wife and mama.  This year I'm especially grateful for being able to experience what was once "something I only hoped for."

Happy Thanksgiving!