Newborn Portrait: Baby Michael Alexander

Professionally, it was an exciting end to 2016, as I said yes to more and more photography shoots. Through all the experience, I'm learning that my passion lies in photographing newborns. As much as this hobby of mine developed over the past two years, I'm eagerly anticipating even more growth in 2017.

And so, meet Baby Michael! When photographing an 11day old baby, as Michael was, I prefer to go to the home of the baby, where he is in his environment with familiar smells and sights. This also allows the parents to have everything they need to properly take care of their new, little one. Everything about this particular shoot was sweet and soft: adoring parents, baby toes, and a very comfy baby!

Enjoy the sweetness!

Declan Rock - Lifestyle Newborn

I will always feel lucky to enter a home with a brand-new baby. The scene is typically the same when I arrive to take photos, the Mom has the "pretty tired" that only a glowing, new mom can exude; dad is being his most cooperative, helpful self; and if there is an older sibling they are so excited for a new visitor! 

Tara and I became fast friends when we got our now toddlers together for their first play-date at 9 months old. I took pictures of her family back in November (see here) and seeing them as a new family of four makes my heart so happy!

What I'm learning as I continue to photograph more and more newborns... 1) your baby will be awake even though he/she slept every day at this time before scheduled photo-shoot 2) your baby will spit up 3) mom and dad will sweat and probably forget to breathe enough 4) there should be multiple breaks for nursing and drinking lots of water 5) every noise machine/fan in the house should be on 6) warm rooms! keep that baby warm and snuggly :)

Welcome to the world Declan Rock Humphreys, I have no doubt you are going to make it a better place.

Welcome to the world, Christian James

This past Saturday, I had the privilege of capturing photos of sweet Christian James Thalmann. Born on May 31st he is only a few weeks new. A baby brother to his two older sisters, Neive (4) and Jane (18months), he has completed this now family of 5!

I refer to newborn photography as a privilege because I really do feel honored to be asked into a home of a new baby. Laundry is not done, breakfast dishes are not put away, pajama pants are being worn, but there is love bursting at the beams and so much magic to be seen.

I hope you enjoy these, and if you live in the greater Boston area, I'd love to photograph your new baby! you can contact me at saralaurenw@gmail.com. 

 

Meet Titan Pace Radney

Paul and I met Danelle and Gordon 5 years ago in a neighborhood bible group.  A lot has changed since then, they moved to D.C. and we both now have babies of our own! I was so happy to meet little Titan last weekend while they were visiting Boston, and even happier to take pictures for them. Roswelle's room gets wonderful light during the day so we cleared out a few toys and captured a few special moments. He did exceptionally well, being an alert 9wk old!

Introducing #teddylash

{this is one of my favorite pictures - everyone is playing their roles very well}

On Sunday, Theodore William Lashway "Teddy" was born! These pictures are from day three, when babies are still pretty silent and snuggly. That day was also the first time Maddie met her little brother Teddy! We are all so excited to have a new boy in the family, although I have a feeling Miss Roswelle and Miss Maddie will still rule the roost for a while! 

{juggling two!}

Roswelle's Nursery

The nursery was made possible by a lot of different people who loved Roswelle before she was even here.  I had the vision but I had little to do with execution.  Paul and his Dad, Ross, put up the grasscloth wallpaper and chair rail.  Jenny found the restoration hardware crib for me on craigslist. My mom gifted us the rocker.  My super talented girlfriend Sue painted the verses for me  - check out her website below in the details listing.  Paul sanded the dresser and fixed the broken drawers, my mom painted it.  Paul hung everything currently on the walls.  It was equal parts work and love that made this room a peaceful little palace for Roswelle. 

The bedroom will be shared by her younger to-be sibling down the road so I tried to keep the bones of the room neutral.  Pink is the accent color in the room but it goes a long way.  I've included all of the resources and details on almost everything in the room at the end of the post. 

And once again, thank you Mikhail for theses amazing pictures - see his blog here:

http://mikhailglabets.com/blog/

  I am so happy she will have these to look at and see all of the thought and care that went into her nursery.  

Rowelle update: she is still as happy as a clam.  She likes tummy time, looking at our faces and she loves b&w books! She will be 6wks old tomorrow <3

Roswelle sleeps in the moses basket every night.  We took the lining out for safety.  It has been the best since we can easily bring it into the bedroom, living room, kitchen, wherever we are at the time.  And the rocking stand is great; I definitely recommend for a bassinet.  

I love the verse above, and it definitely helps when I am trying to get her to sleep at 2am.  

Details with product links:

Wall Color: Benjamin Moore Acadia White

Grasscloth Wallpaper: American Blinds 

NT33708

Dresser: owned and repainted Benjamin Moore Harbor Grey, pearl finish

Crib: Restoration Hardware- found on craigslist

Rocker:

Pottery Barn Wingback Convertible Rocker

, Natural Flax Belgian Linen

Paintings: by So Sue Me -  

https:\\sue-sardinia.squarespace.com

Bedding:

Serena & Lily Tess Crib Collection

Gold Book Shelf: Ikea

VITTSJO

Wall Shelves: Ikea 

Stenstorp

Area Rug:

Overstock nuLOOM Sisal Rug

Curtains:

Overstock Herringbone Curtains

Ottoman: Owned & covered with a gifted sheepskin

Round Mirror: Ikea

Stockholm Mirror

Lamps: Homegoods

abc pillow:

Etsy: pilosale shop

Pink Sash: personal item from wedding dress

Lace Drape over crib: Personal Wedding Veil

Moses Basket:

Restoration Hardware Trellis Moses Basket

(on sale!)

Roswelle Gray: The first month

Well really the first 5 weeks because I basically blacked out that first week...walking zombie mode.  Having a baby is a crazy thing.  Your body goes through a traumatic experience either natural birth or c-section and then you are thrown into this new state of reality that is exhausting and emotional.  For me, having to recover from surgery while keep a little precious baby alive was a lot!  I literally cried from exhaustion but also cried when the nurse told me they had to take her out of the room to test her hearing.  Luckily Paul was completely level headed through it all and has seen me cry so many times that my crying over my new baby didn't phase him  - he kept reminding me that he had to watch out for me while I was consumed by Roswelle.  I was also lucky enough to have my mom stay with us for 2 1/2 weeks.  she did everything from getting my water (I would somehow forget it every time I nursed), doing endless laundry, grocery shopping, and just being here for moral support (like when I would cry because I wanted Roswelle to be healthy - and she 100% is).

Roswelle and I made it out of the first 10 days alive. I say Roswelle and I because the running joke is that Paul is sleeping more now than before he had a baby, one of us has to be well rested. ;)

Next up was a newborn photo shoot! We had our amazingly talented friend, Mikhail, come over on a Sunday morning for a little camera time in her nursery.  She was 16 days old. We had been getting some good sleep finally and Roswelle was proving herself to be an extremely relaxed calm baby...until that morning.  I was nervous and of course wanted it all to be perfect (the nursery, her outfit, my hair) and Paul was tense (he gets really tense when she cries and we had to remind him to smile!).  Well Miss Roswelle Gray picked up on our "new" moods and it threw her into an unfortunate fit.  She has never cried more than 4 minutes straight in her short little life...except for this morning when she screamed for about 2 hours as we tried to console her while getting our pictures taken.  I even took a 15 minute break to nurse her which luckily calmed her enough to get those great shots of Paul holding her in his hands.  Finally Paul and I gave up and gave her to my mom, once our energy left the room she calmed down and relaxed enough for Mikhail to get some shots of her sweet peanut face.  He got amazing shots of her in spite of the difficult situation...a screaming newborn, a dad that isn't smiling, and a mom with sweat behind her knees! Haha!

I've shared some of my favorite pictures from the shoot and you can see even more over at his website: http://mikhailglabets.com/blog/boston-newborn-family-photographer-2/ And while you are there check out his other work - he is super talented!  You might remember he did a lifestyle shoot of Paul and I making breakfast way back when we were well rested dinks. 

Roswelle is now on a pretty predictable schedule thanks to Babywise and The Happiest Baby on the Block books. I am currently blogging this while drinking my coffee, hooked up to the breastpump and watching her sleep next to me in her moses basket.  Paul has started taking the morning shift so I should give him credit for her sleeping peacefully right now.  

It's been a good morning :) Enjoy the pictures!

The white dress in the picture above was my mom's when she was a baby.  It is paper thin and priceless.  The pale pink dress in the pictures later on was my baby dress.  I have a picture of me in it at 1 month old and will put it up on another day :)

 

I've looked at these a hundred times and can't get enough of them.  I had him take shots of her nursery and will be blogging about all the details next!

  

and here is some proof about what I said above!