- I’ve seen the baby teeth come and go.

- I’ve listened as they’ve learned to talk, answer questions and even weave stories – some true and some not so true!

- I’ve seen short hair and long hair and even no hair!

- I’ve seen growth spurts…I’m positive by this time next year, Madison will officially be taller than me! (Either they are growing or I’m shrinking!)

- I’ve watched as their hobbies, likes and dislikes have matured.

- I’ve seen personalities develop…and even got a peek at some sassiness along the way!

Every year I am amazed by how much they have changed, both physically, emotionally and mentally! Those little babies who wouldn’t listen to a word I said, now actually follow directions – sometimes! Those sweet little kids that loved to give hugs, now have to be bribed for good bye hugs!

Some of those changes are great and some of those changes are sad, but we all experience them and they make us who we are today!

I can’t wait to see what changes these three have in store for me next year!

When you’ve got such great entertainment on a daily basis, like Mila does, I can only imagine how boring everyone else must seem. It’s obvious that Mila adores her older siblings, and it is just as obvious that they think she’s way cool!!

She sat, she lay down, she smiled, she cocked her head. It didn’t matter what I asked her to do, if it meant she got a treat, she was all about it!

Even when we were done, she wasn’t done. She followed me around, sitting at my feet, ready for more treats. She knows how to work those big eyes…so expressive and so able to pull at your heart strings!

I’ve been photographing Mad for quite a few years now, and normally she comes out to the studio, gets to wear an outfit that she likes and gets to act a little unruly and a little crazy, all while I’m snapping photos, chatting with her and she’s smiling up a storm.

Unfortunately, that is not quite how her First Communion session went. She had to hold still and stand just right. If she wiggled or slouched, her special necklace would end up hiding behind her dress. If she swayed, her rosary turned backwards and swayed with her.

It was quite the test of patience on her part, and although we had a few moments of complaints, she toughed it out and worked through it!

Although he was great at sleeping in my arms, when I would put him down, he would squirm and flinch. I would get him adjusted just like I wanted, turn away to grab my camera and he’d throw his arm up and flop it somewhere else, making me start the adjustment process all over.

He was the master at making faces! Although he made lots of cute smiley faces, he also had the scowl and the grimace faces down cold! If I adjusted him a way that he didn’t like, he was sure to throw out that bottom lip, or lift the upper lip in a grimace.

He may have had a strong will, but I have lots of patience, and my ability to wait him out broke his will more than once…resulting in adorable images of a teeny tiny Will!

Big brother, Matthew, came to Allie’s session as a helper and made the perfect assistant for coaxing out the squeal. He played a great game of peek-a-boo with her. Anytime he’d poke his head up he’d yell peek-a-boo, and she’d squeal right back at a similar volume. It would have been quite the sound track for anyone listening!

At 17 months old, Jake is a very stubborn, independent little man. If it’s not his idea, he’s not going to do it. If it is his idea, he’s going to do it his way…even if that means the only thing you get to look at is his back!

It took some creative thinking, some bribing and lots of patience, but we captured Jake!

They just change SO fast! She’s grown out the adorable bob into long, full locks. She’s lost baby teeth, which have been replaced by adult teeth that are now sporting their first stage of braces to bring them under control.

But, some things never change! She still works the cheesy, smiley, over-exaggerating grin until it hurts! She still strikes dramatic poses right and left! And, she still knows how to work those big brown eyes!

Paul spent his session teaching me all about the ins and outs of a variety of games – from the bad guys I would meet, to the weapons I would have to defeat them. He even told me the games to stay away from because they are tricky and unfair.

If I was a video gamer, I would definitely want Paul as a friend. His thirst for knowledge and ability to remember small details would give me a leg up for sure!

I was so excited when we were able to rock her to sleep, and once she was really out…she was out! She let me move her and pose her just like a newborn. Of course, the rolls made some posing a little more challenging, but it was all worth it!