Valentine's Day and Birthday Portraits - 5 month portraits and 17 month portraits

Okay, maybe I'm a bit biased, but aren't these two of the best looking kids you have ever seen?  Seriously aren't they?  Okay, they are my nephews so I am biased.  I love that they live close enough to me that I get to watch them grow.  I love when they get to spend the weekend with me.  Jakers smiles is contagious and Cheekers the special heart baby, well he's too cute and has an extra soft spot in my heart for all he has gone through in his 5 short months on this earth.  Auntie Jama loves you boys!

Photo Challenge | Hearts

This photo was submitted to the I Heart Faces photo challenge – www.iheartfaces.com

My picture for this week’s theme "hearts" involves a real heart.  See the scar on his heart?  My sweet nephew JD was born with a congenital heart defect, transposition of the great arteries.  He was born with a broken heart. He went through 2 surgeries, one within an hour of being born and an open heart surgery 5 days later to fix his heart.  This week also happens to be Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week! CHDs are the #1 birth defect, affecting nearly one out of every 100 births.  I was unaware of how common babies are born with broke hearts.  I am happy to report that today baby JD at 5 months old, is doing great and should not need any more heart surgeries.  From now on, when I hear “heart”, I will always be reminded of how grateful I am to have my sweet nephew with a new “fixed heart”.

Austin Maternity Portraits - Bull Creek Park

I hadn't been to Bull Creek Park in a while and was inspired when looking for a location to take maternity portraits and family pictures for this great family.  It was beautiful, although a bit cold on this morning but we had some troopers and the results, in my opinion, are well worth it.  She was glowing and I can not wait to meet the newest addition very soon.