That was Erica and Jonathan's little boy almost one year ago.  Now his first birthday is almost here!  On Thursday they headed to the park with dad for some one year old pictures.  The sky was dark and rain was imminent, but bright balloons and happy toddler smiles easily fixes that.  Look how much he has grown!

Erica and Jonathan said this was their favorite face that he makes:

Wearing his "Fun to Be One" hat and "Cool Beyond My Years" shirt.

Mom's favorite:

Dad said he was such a cute kid, and so good too!  Thanks Erica and Jonathan for coming up so dad could capture this for you!

MORE VACATION PICTURES

One of mom's favorite parts of our trip to NYC was attending Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral.  When it was being built in 1858, the Archbishop was criticized for choosing a "near-wilderness" site too far from the city; however, he persisted and believed it would soon be in the heart of the city.  The Civil War and the lack of money that resulted almost kept the church from being built, but through the "collective pennies of thousands of largely Irish, immigrant poor" and the generosity of pledges from other citizens, the "most beautiful Gothic Cathedral in the New World" opened in 1878.  It is now right near Rockefeller Center on 5th Avenue...so much for the near-wilderness!

It was interesting attending Mass with tourists in the back of the church looking around but it really wasn't disruptive.  I thought it was really cool going to Mass in such a big church!  And it was fun watching the guy way up on the balcony playing the organ.  He had a helper up there just to turn pages for him in the music book!  I guess the organ was too big to reach away from.

After Mass we went to Central Park. 

The zoo was closed, but there was a free concert by Yael Naim and David Donatien.  The MacBook Air commercial's song "New Soul" is sung by them.  The music was great and you could hear it all around the park so we didn't bother to stand in the line to go sit by the stage.  Instead, I had rocks to climb!

I didn't realize how muddy rock climbing could be.  Lucky for my new shorts that mom brought stain removing wipes.

When we left Central Park, we walked back to our hotel to enjoy the sights of the city.

The next morning we were supposed to wake up early to go to the Empire State Building, but sometimes little boys stay up very late and it is hard to wake up early.  I told mom that means we have to go back to New York City again! 

On Friday dad joined Nicole and Robert at the Rusty Pelican.  Darla Stafford, hair stylist and make up artist extraordinaire, had spent the morning with Nicole and she looked so pretty. 

The ceremony was out at the gazebo, decorated with pink and white flowers.  Even the officiant wore a pink tie to match the wedding colors!  He was the bride's uncle so he knew the color scheme before the day started .

By the water for pictures:

Frank Lebano was the DJ for the reception which was decorated in dark blue, pink, and white.  Mickey and Minnie made their appearance on the top of the cake and on the head table.  Nicole and Robert are Disney fans and are headed to Disney World for their honeymoon!  Be sure you get the Mickey ears groom hat and the Minnie ears bridal veil hat to wear around!

Look at the cute hearts on the cake!

Congratulations Nicole and Robert!  You two are very sweet and so in love.  We wish you many blessings in your life together.

Saturday dad celebrated Allison and Greg's wedding.  During the getting ready, dad had fun taking Allison's dress and shoes out to her dad's garage for pictures.  Those of you who follow the blog know that dad loves this sort of thing!

Mom loved this picture of the bouquet:

The ceremony was at the Riveira United Methodist Church in St. Pete.

After the ceremony, dad and the wedding party went to the Mahaffey Theater where the reception was held.  They took pictures outside before joining the party.

RJ Vida of Advance Entertainment was the DJ for the reception.  The decorations were hot pink, black, and white.  The colors looked great together!

This picture of Allison and Greg inside the theater was mom's favorite from the day.  Dad took the couple into the theater at the end of the night and someone working there told them they couldn't be in there for pictures.  Luckily Allison and Greg's neighbor also worked for the theater and gave them permission.

Thanks Allison and Greg, and have a terrific time in the Dominican Republic!

One of our very favorite families is growing!!!  Well right now it is just Elizabeth's belly that is growing  but she looks gorgeous.  Mom was jealous when she saw the pictures!  Dad photographed Elizabeth's maternity session on Wednesday.  Elizabeth and Bryan are expecting their second daughter the beginning of August.  Dad photographed the first year of their first little girl and loved their family so he was so excited to hear their wonderful news.

Their daughter is a year and a half now and had become a toddler since last we saw her.  Look how precious she is! 

We can't wait to see what she is like as a big sister.  Trust me, it is fun to have a younger sibling to pick on...I mean play with.

Mom's favorite of Elizabeth showing what all women in their third trimester feel:

Mom says the difference is that when she was pregnant, she looked the way she felt.  Elizabeth is just so pretty!

Bryan will soon be outnumbered with three girls in the house!

Family pictures:

Your family is awesome and we cannot wait to meet the new baby!  Good luck!

I have lots of New York pictures to share so I better get started!  All the pictures were taken with our point and shoot so they have our point and shoot border (for those of you who wonder why we have different borders on my blog sometimes). 

The Friday we were there we explored the streets and did a bit of shopping.  My favorite part was going to the big toy store in Times Square.

There was a dinosaur moving around and roaring in the store, but I wasn't scared.

I LOVE Blue's Clues!  I actually was singing 'Colors Everywhere' in the hotel lobby for a few people.

Dad and I rode the ferris wheel that is in the store.  I liked being stuck up high.

Saturday we went to the Statue of Liberty.  We took the subway there.  Mom thinks it is funny because when we were in New York I said the subway was smelly and dark and I didn't like it, but since we came home I talk about it a lot and say how fun it was.

This is how everyone looks on the NY subway.

We stopped for lunch at Friday's and it was absolutely disgusting.  Seriously, it was gross.  And to make it worse, it was SO overpriced.  Hamburgers were $25 give or take a couple bucks.  Here is a picture of mom with her nachos.  Well, on the menu they were called nachos but when they arrived they were taco shells broken in half with a lot of nasty cheese and one jalapeno on them.  We should have walked out; mom and dad aren't sure why they didn't.  Maybe it was just part of the New York experience.

Battery Park leads up to the line where you get tickets for the ferry to the Statue of Liberty.  It has a lot of memorials there, including The Sphere and eternal flame for 9/11 victims.  The sign there reads:

"For three decades, this sculpture stood in the plaza of the World Trade Center.  Entitled 'The Sphere,' it was conceived by artist Fritz Koenig as a symbol of world peace.  It was damaged during the tragic events of September 11, 2001, but endures as an icon of hope and the indestructible spirit of this country.  The Sphere was placed here on March 11, 2002 as a temporary memorial to all who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center.

This eternal flame was ignited on September 11, 2002 in honor of all those who were lost.  Their spirit and sacrifice will never be forgotten."

Mom thinks this picture is creepy.

The line to get tickets for the ferry is so long!  Dad is great and stood in it while I went with mom and my brother to explore.  We watched a few street performances, including a guy who jumped over 6 people!  That was cool!  Here I am peeking at dad when we came to check on his progress in the line.

Once you get tickets, there is another long line to get on the ferry!  So after a few hours we finally were on the boat and headed to the Statue of Liberty.

NYC behind me.

Of course by the time we had waited in all the lines and made it there, it was too late to actually go in but we didn't really mind.  We had fun in the lawn looking at the statue.

More NY pictures to come, along with a first birthday session and weddings dad photographed yesterday and today!

Thank you all for the emails...Gary and Emelyn, there are many people praying for you.

Today was Kristi's Memorial Celebration.  I think it was a wonderful reminder of Christ's love for all of us and a way to honor Kristi as a beautiful person who did God's work.  I believe she will continue to do so as an angel in Heaven.  I came home and was reading through emails Kristi had sent me just a couple short weeks ago and in her own words, "God is in control" and "we are called according to His purpose."

The Pastor spoke well about Kristi's return home and the joy she has there that words cannot describe.  He described people expecting a baby, and the hard work they put into getting the nursery ready.  They paint the walls, they decorate, they carefully choose the toys and clothes for this baby who is about to join them to love and enjoy.  It is similar to what Jesus is doing for us in Heaven.  Jesus knows everything about Kristi ("Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you" Jeremiah 1 v 5) and He knows everything that brings her happiness.  He prepared a special place in Heaven just for her and there she is experiencing unimaginable love and joy.  Jesus said that He is preparing a room for all people who believe in Him and we will all join Him.  I like how the Pastor described Jesus saying, "If it were not so, I would have told you" as His way of saying, "Look, I'm not just saying this; It's true!  Just trust me." 

John 14: 1-6
1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 “And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Though we believe and rejoice for Kristi, she is missed and we grieve that loss.  The Pastor acknowledged this and said that of course this is a time to grieve.  We can and should allow ourselves to feel that loss and the sadness.  The difference is that there is hope in us even as we grieve.  We know that one day we will see Kristi again and that we too will join Jesus. 

Thessalonians 4:  13-14
13 “But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve like other people who have no hope. 14 “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so through Jesus God will bring those who have died with him.

I miss Kristi and her big smile and even bigger heart.  But I am comforted knowing that her leaving this world means she now knows no pain and no sadness.  Kristi was a believer who found peace in knowing that we are meant for something more than this world.  She was just 28 years old, but she really LIVED in those years and that will continue to be an inspiration to me.  I will hold my boys tighter and hug my husband harder and think of Kristi and her "Life Well Lived."

Late last night God called one of His faithful servants home.  Kristi was one of the most loving and giving people you would be privileged to meet.  She had a beautiful baby girl who had just turned one this weekend and she was really the center of Kristi's world, as was Gary who was her husband and her best friend.  Kristi just radiated happiness and goodness and inspired it in others...

...I sit here trying to think of something to type to describe Kristi and let everyone know how wonderful she was and how much she will be missed, but there really aren't any words.  Unless you knew her, you probably wouldn't believe that one person could have such kindness and generosity and love.  Dad photographed Kristi and Gary's wedding three years ago and we were blessed to have become friends with them. 

Kristi is now at home in God's loving arms.  It is us left behind who feel the sadness.  We miss her already.  Please pray for Gary and their daughter.  Let them find God's peace as they mourn their loss, and help them to always feel Kristi's love surrounding them, especially in difficult times.

Kristi and Gary's wedding:

Their daughter at one month:

Kristi celebrating Everett's baptism...notice she's the one with the big happy smile.

Their daughter at 9 months:

Thursday evening dad went to meet Lisa and Joe for their engagement session at the Brooklyn Bridge.  They are getting married in Florida in the spring but they live up here near NYC.  Dad says he can get used to sessions in the city.  He had a blast walking around New York with Lisa and Joe and finding great places for pictures.  They were up for anything which made the session that much more fun!  The session started at the Brooklyn Bridge at the ice cream factory.  It was beautiful to see the views of the city across the water.  Then dad, Lisa, and Joe walked across the bridge into the city and eventually ended up in Times Square at night.  Dad told mom that there was a big crowd gathered outside of where MTV is so he went with Lisa and Joe to see who the celebrity was but none of them recognized the guy.  Mom thought that was so funny, and very telling about how old her and dad are getting!  Here are some pictures of Lisa and Joe's NYC session:

The ice cream factory:

Crossing the bridge:

The lights of the city at night:

It's Times Square, where naked cowboys play guitar and anything goes, so Joe just changed right on the street.

Dad said Lisa and Joe are so nice and he can't wait to see them again for their wedding. 

I have lots of pictures from our sight seeing around the city too, so I'll be back to blog about those soon.  Now I need to go to bed so I can wake up early to stand in line for the Empire State building in the morning!  

Last year dad photographed Shannon and Duane's amazing wedding in Rochester, New York.  They had a fabulous wedding and were a fabulous couple.  Now they are looking forward to the birth of their first baby!  Shannon was going to come down to Florida for a "babymoon" and have dad photograph her maternity session but it didn't end up working out, so when we decided to visit NYC dad let Shannon know.  They set up a session where Shannon works at NBC Studios in Rockefeller Center.  Shannon was nice enough to invite all of us to come along so we could do a tour of different sets (Saturday Night Live, Conan, and the news) after the session was over and I thought it was so fun to watch dad take pictures!  Here are a few of them:

After the pictures on the rooftop, we all went down to Rockefeller Plaza.  Shannon said that she looks out her window and sees people get engaged there almost every day.  It was interesting to see how people reacted to Shannon having her pictures taken in this crowded area.  Some stared, some talked about it on their cell phones as they walked past, some walked right in front of Shannon while others were careful not to walk in the picture.  At one point, Shannon was sitting on the sidewalk and dad was across the street taking pictures.  A woman didn't see dad and must have thought Shannon fell or was upset because she stopped and asked if she was okay or needed some help.  Mom thought it was obvious that she was having her pictures taken, but it was still nice of the lady.

Shannon, thanks for letting us all come along for your session, and thanks for the tour of the studio!  We had fun!  We are really excited for you and Duane to meet your baby next month.  Mom says to remind you that she wants to hear all about your natural birth story.  Good luck and dad can't wait to meet the baby when you all come to Florida in December!

More vacation pictures are coming to the blog so check back again very soon!

We're still on vacation so if you have left dad a message or email he'll be in touch when we get home.  We are in New York City now, but we started our vacation in the Pocono mountains.  Mom had been emailing Liz, who is getting married on 8-8-8, and she was really helpful with ideas for our trip since she didn't live all that far away.  Liz has been so friendly and kind ever since her first email!  Mom and Liz worked out an engagement session for Liz and George while we were near Bushkill Falls.  When we went there, it turned out that Bushkill Falls closed early (this was the first hike mom and dad had ever been on where there were hours and where you had to pay admission!)  But it turned out even better because dad had seen some great old buildings, a Christmas tree farm, and a river in the woods to use as backgrounds.

Dad said it was great to finally meet Liz and George and he can't wait to see them again in Florida for their wedding at the Sandpearl in August!  Thanks for driving out for the session!

We finally have decent internet access again!  I'm sure Leigh and David have been waiting patiently so without further ado I am blogging some pictures from their wedding last Saturday.  It was at the Crosley in Sarasota and the always wonderful Charity from A Charmed Event was the wedding planner.  Dad said she did her usual great job and all the details she helped plan and put together were awesome.  Charity tagged me in my first blog tag last week so as soon as we get home I'm going to have to think of my creative response and I'll respond.

Leigh and David had beautiful ideas for their wedding.  The colors were white, black, and pink and they came together in very elegant patterns.  Dad especially loved their card box and wants to get one for himself. 

Leigh won the award for the bride with the most garters.  She had four of them!  One was her grandmother's.  It is always so special to have family heirlooms on your wedding day reminding you that this day is a historical one in your family tree.  Leigh wore bridal sneakers which reminded mom of the movie Father of the Bride.  

A bit of rain appeared just as dad was finishing up pictures, but luckily it passed before the outdoor dancing for the reception.  The dancing took places under pink Chinese paper lanterns.  The reception also had crystal tree centerpieces and a quilt for guests to sign.  Dad said the couple and all their friends were terrific, and the groomsmen gave him a laugh with their picture ideas.  It was an elegant yet fun wedding, so congratulations to Leigh and David for putting it all together so well. 

We are on vacation to celebrate mom and dad's 5th anniversary this weekend! 

Mom and dad went on their honeymoon at Caesar's Pocono Resort (the place with the two story champagne whirlpool bath and a private swimming pool in your room!!) so after trying for a while to pick a place to vacation they finally decided to come back to the Pocono Mountains.  Caesar's is a couples only resort so we didn't stay there, but we drove past it and mom and dad thought it was odd to see the place they were just 5 years before and return now with their two boys in the car with them.

We are having lots of fun.  We went to drive Go Karts and I loved it!

Bushkill Falls is nearby so we went there to hike and see the waterfalls.  This was mom's favorite part of our trip.  She used to hike often but hasn't since moving to Florida because it is so hot.  The weather here is gorgeous, even a bit chilly at night!! 

Yes, mom is wearing flip flops on the hike.  We thought she'd find a place to buy sneakers before we went into the mountains but we didn't.  She said it wasn't bad though.

We try not to watch too much TV at home so when we are on vacation we end up watching it too much.  Me, dad, and my brother all fell asleep on the couch of the villa we rented while staying up late to watch a show.

Dad got together with Liz and George for an engagement session around Bushkill so I'll have a few pictures soon!  Mom and dad have enjoyed getting to know Liz through email so it was great for dad to meet her in person.

We are now in NYC for the rest of our trip...more blogging to come!

We wanted to have an appropriately sentimental message with pictures to say how important the relationship is between a father and his son or a father and his daughter and of course I wanted to write something touching about how much I love my dad and how he is the greatest...

BUT...

WE'RE ON VACATION!  Technically we don't leave until early tomorrow morning, but we are busy finishing up a few things and packing to get ready for our trip.  We are celebrating mom and dad's five year anniversary!  Dad thinks we'll be able to blog from our trip so check back for pictures of Leigh and David's wedding yesterday and for pictures of our vacation!

We don't return until June 25th but call or send an email if you need to talk to mom or dad and they will get back to you as soon as they can.

And Kristi...we are praying for all to go well tomorrow.  Sorry we won't be here.

I almost forgot to congratulate my aunt on her last day of elementary school!  Here are a couple pictures from her last day when we all went out to celebrate:

When Andrea emailed dad about photographing her two young kids and their three young cousins, she asked if he was up for total chaos.  Dad said bring it on!  You should see our house on a daily basis . 

Of course dad wasn't worried about the session being chaos at all.  He knew from photographing Andrea's kids before that it was going to be a blast.  Andrea makes the sessions fun for the kids by letting them play and do their own thing, which lets dad capture their personalities.  So on Sunday dad met Andrea and her family at the park to play.  I wish I could have gone!  It looked like a fun family day at the park.

Mom thinks this one is so sweet!

I hope all you cousins had a wonderful time with each other, and thanks for having dad there to capture it.  There will soon be one more to add to the play group and we are so happy for you Andrea!  We can't wait to meet the newest addition to the family when they make their debut!

Cara and Ben were married on Saturday, making their wedding date 6-7-8!  Ben had the date engraved on the back of a Tiffany's bracelet that he gave Cara.  She had it on her bouquet on the wedding day.

You have to give Cara credit for wearing heels this high all through the wedding day and still getting on the dance floor at the end of the night!

Mom thought Cara's veil was so pretty.  It was a cathedral length polka dot veil with blusher.

The ceremony was at The Church of St. Patrick in Sarasota.  It could be because mom and dad have been up very, very late but when they saw this image tonight they thought it was funny...yeah, they need sleep.

The Marian Devotion:

Cara and Ben's reception was at Heritage Oaks Golf and Country Club.  Orange is one of mom's favorite colors so she of course loved the color of the bridesmaid dresses.

The reception tables were named with places significant to the couple.  They had a cute poem framed telling how the places played a part in their relationship:

Looking for numbers, but they don't exist?

The tables are done with a little twist

At FSU Ben and Cara did meet

So look for the landmark to find your seat

Alpha Chi Omega is where Cara was admitted

Phi Sigma Kappa is where Ben was committed

They met on the court and sparks did fly

But it was the toga she wore that caught Ben's eye

They drank at Bullwinkle's and drank more at Ken's

After that last shot, Cara knew she was Ben's

He took her to Po' Boys - he's such a big spender

Treating her to fries he knew she's surrender

In Doak Campbell Stadium they saw many a win

Not to mention that tonic mixed with some gin

Pre-games were done at the Indian Village

They mastered the keg stand with not much spillage

They are now married - the lucky two

And to think it all started at FSU!

The cake with the orange, pink, and green wedding colors:

.

The reception featured a candy bar with lots of orange and pink candy.  Dad brought mom home a box of orangeheads (like lemonheads, but orange) and mom added those to her list of candy addictions.  There was also orange and pink laffy taffys, airheads, and starbursts and mom wondered what Cara and Ben did with the other colors that they didn't use!

Congratulations on your beautiful summer wedding Cara and Ben!

Don't you love that spelling of Rebekah?  Dad was at the Don Cesar on Friday for Rebekah and Scott's wedding.  Beth from Flawless Occasions was the planner for this wedding and she was wonderful to work with.  Dad said she is such a nice person and he looks forward to working with her more in the future.

Rebekah and Scott came from Saint Louis for their Florida wedding and were joined by close friends and family.  One of their guests came from Billings, Montana which isn't all that far from where mom and dad used to live.  Rebekah was a terrific bride and dad said she was a down-to-earth person.

The couple had a first sight before the ceremony and then took some pictures around the Don Cesar.  They were very happy that they decided on a first sight because soon after it started raining hard!  They were able to get some beautiful images before the rain set in.

The ceremony was moved inside but both Rebekah and Scott were fine with it.  Rain on your wedding day is good luck after all!  Amanda from The Pink Fiddle was the musician for the ceremony.

Later in the evening the rain stopped.  The sky was beautiful during sunset after the storm and dad brought Rebekah and Scott to the beach for a few more pictures.

Rather than a traditional wedding cake, the couple had a cupcake tower with a small cake on top which they could cut. 

Beth helped the couple set up their candy bar which always goes over well with guests.  They had one of dad's favorite candies, swedish fish.

It was fun for dad to share the evening with Rebekah, Scott, and their guests as they celebrated.  We wish you all the best!

Dad had a fun weekend!  It started on Thursday when he photographed the wedding of PaAmee and James.  They had their ceremony on the beach of Honeymoon Island with the reception following at the Kapok.  Dad had met with James and talked with him through the wedding planning.  It is always great to have a groom involved in wedding details.

The day started at the Kapok where PaAmee got ready.  The incredible Darla Stafford was there for hair and makeup.  The couple then had their first sight so they could have a few pictures at the site before leaving for the ceremony.

Honeymoon Island State Park has beautiful trees and water that looks much more blue than the other beaches near it.  The ceremony was near the water's edge.  James came down the aisle to start things off looking carefree and happy.

As guests arrived at the ceremony, they were given sea shells.  When the ceremony ended guests joined the bride and groom at the water where they threw their shells in.

The sun was low and the lighting was really pretty for pictures of PaAmee, her son, and James after the ceremony.

The reception was set up in white and gold and mom liked how well the gold matched the chandelier in the room.

A romantic picture of the couple at night.

Dinner was catered by Amici's and the food tasted good.  Guests came from all over the country.  Dad said some of the guests were from Nebraska. which they said was a great place to raise kids.  Mom says that she looked it up and Nebraska has more communities on the Best Places to Raise Kids for Less than any other state.  

PaAmee and James, everyone can see that you two love each other very much.  Congratulations, and have a fun road trip to Colorado!

Sanibel Island is beautiful for weddings!  Dad was down there on Friday for Julie and Dave's wedding day.  Sometimes when mom is working, I sit with her and drink my chocolate num (or what other people call chocolate milk).  When mom was checking out the pictures from this wedding, the first thing I noticed was Lightning McQueen!!!  I was so excited that dad took some pictures of Julie and Dave's rings with Lightning McQueen just for me.  The ring bearer was watching the movie Cars and had Lightning McQueen with him.  He would have definitely been a good friend for me!  KaChow!

Dad loves finding cool places for shoes.  He wants to have a gallery of just shoes on our website but mom vetoed the idea for now.

Julie getting ready:

The ceremony was outside on the beach.  The guests all had programs to use as fans, though some people found other uses.

Both Julie and Dave were teary-eyed through the ceremony.  It was so sweet!

The newlyweds:

The main wedding color was green, which is my favorite color!  Guests were given a CD of music as favors and dad said it rocked!  He has listened to it many times since he brought it home and mom liked the songs too.

Julie and Dave are from Colorado and many of the guests were from there as well.  I love Colorado!  We had so much fun on our trip there a few months ago.  Dad says he wants to do a wedding there!

The wedding was a great time for friends and family to be together and share the happiness of the day.  Congratulations Julie and Dave!

Dad stayed in Fort Myers Friday night for Jessica and Anthony's wedding there on Saturday.  They were married at the Pink Shell.  Dad enjoyed working with AMC Video again; they did a wedding together the weekend before.  It was also nice working with Cori from Michele Renee for hair and makeup.

Mom loved Jessica's dress and shoes!  Here is another of dad's shoe shots .

Jessica has a gorgeous smile!

Jessica and Anthony saw each other before the ceremony to take some pictures together around the resort.

Then after the ceremony they headed to the beach for pictures there.

The sun was huge for sunset!

Mike from Danny Morgan was the DJ for the reception which was outdoors in a covered area by the pool.  Dad said during the cake cutting, Anthony "surprised" Jessica with a handful of cake in her face.  Jessica looked so angry but really she was plotting revenge!  She had a handful of cake she was hiding just for him. 

There's only one way to get cake out that falls down a wedding dress.

Jessica and Anthony are awesome and have such a fun family (shout out to Slayer for Jessica's mom!)  Dad said that Jessica and Anthony were laughing and enjoying themselves through the rain and throughout the day.  And if it is going to rain anyways, why not go for a swim!

Dad had lots of fun at your wedding!  Thanks for having him there to share your day!

**INTRODUCTION (added 6-5-08):  Mom had to laugh reading some of the emails people have sent about the blog post that follows.  If you want to scare women who just got married or who are about to be married, share details of a long labor .  Yes, labor can be long, but with your first baby much of it is early labor where contractions aren't that strong or consistent and you are just so excited to finally be in labor!  Yes, contractions do hurt, but every single contraction and every single minute of labor is worth it!  And mom knows Stacy would agree.  The point is that women are STRONG, often stronger than they realize, and a mother's love is strong!  Labor is emotional and empowering and spiritual and with every contraction you feel more than just pain; you feel the connection to your baby, the connection to every other mother throughout time, the connection to those there to support you, the connection to God and new life and the power your body has to create and nurture and deliver that tiny, beautiful being into this world.  So yes, Stacy had a long labor.  But just look at Norah and you'll know that what characterized the experience wasn't fear or pain; it was pure love.

 "We are made to do this work and its not easy...I would say that pain is part of the glory, or the tremendous mystery of life. And that if anything, it's a kind of privilege to stand so close to such an incredible miracle."  --Simone in Klasson 2001

"Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers ~ strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength."  --Barbara Katz Rothman

"Anything I’ve ever done that ultimately was worthwhile…initially scared me to death."  -Betty Bender

"We have a secret in our culture, and it's not that birth is painful. It's that women are strong."  --Laura Stavoe Harm

"There is power that comes to women when they give birth. They don't ask for it, it simply invades them. Accumulates like clouds on the horizon and passes through, carrying the child with it."  --Sheryl Feldman

As those of you working with her know, Stacy of Meant to Be Wed and her husband Brian were expecting a baby girl.  Dad was blessed to share in the amazing experience as their daughter entered this world.  He got an email from Stacy last Tuesday evening saying that she was in early labor.  Dad was excited and thought they would call him to meet up with them at some point that night but mom reminded him that early labor could last quite a while for a first time mom.  My mom started early labor on a Saturday night and I wasn't born until Monday afternoon. 

There were no calls that night and by Wednesday evening dad started to wonder if they forgot to call him and had their baby already.  Then Wednesday night Stacy's husband called and said Stacy's water broke and they were on their way to Breath of Life Birth Center where they were planning a water birth.  Dad told mom that he didn't think he would make it there before the baby arrived since Stacy had been in labor so long.  Mom reminded him that she was in hard labor with me for about 30 hours!  But she thought that was a long labor and Stacy's would be faster.

Dad arrived at the birth center around 11pm and Stacy was doing a great job with her contractions.  Her husband and her mother-in-law were there supporting her, as was Hallie from It Takes a Village Labor Doula and Pregnancy Services.  My mom thinks doulas are so helpful and every mom should have one during labor.

After an hour or so, Stacy moved into the tub for a while to try to help her with contractions.

Still smiling!

Mom thought this picture was sweet.  Brian was doing such a great job supporting Stacy, so his mom was there to help support him.

Stacy had contractions close together throughout the night.  By 5 a.m. she was still at it, and doing great.  She was changing positions and moving around with Brian to try to get things to progress. 

This picture reminded mom of dad after she had been in labor for a long time too!

Sunrise and Stacy was still going without much progress.

Because Stacy's water had broken a while before and because she didn't seem to be progressing, at about 10 a.m. Thursday morning they decided to head over to the hospital where she was given pitocin.  Stacy was exhausted but she was still so strong, and Brian was right there for her.

Hours went by and soon it was late in the afternoon but Stacy and Brian's daughter was content to just stay put.  After talking with the doctor, they decided on a C-section so Brian got his scrubs on and got ready to meet his little girl!

Dad wasn't allowed to be there for the C-section since it is a surgery, but the nurse said that if dad waited by the door to the nursery he could take a couple very quick pictures before they brought the baby inside.  So, I'd like to introduce Stacy and Brian's little girl, Norah!  These are the very first pictures of her. 

Norah arrived at 3:51 p.m. on Thursday.  And mom thought her labor was long!  Stacy has her beat!  Check out Stacy's blog for a picture of their happy family.  Dad wants to thank Stacy and Brian for letting him share the incredible experience of new life. 

Tomorrow I will blog about Julie and Dave's wedding and Jessica and Anthony's wedding from this weekend.  Sorry I am behind on blogging!  All of us have been sick with a cold.