a lime slice - [happy new year]

i am so grateful to all the wonderful bluelime clients and friends who helped me make my dreams come true in 2009. to the beautiful brides who took a chance and allowed me the honor of capturing their special day. to the beautiful families who laughed so wonderfully. to the new moms who showed off their fabulous bellies and babes. to the high school seniors who smiled so sweetly. to the aspiring models who really "got it" - and you know who you are! to the dynamite children who indulged me with their personalities. to my family for the constant support. to my friends for being my friends. to the photographers and bloggers who inspire me daily. to my cameras for always feeling so light in my hands.

i love what i do and i do what i love. here's to a fabulous 2010. xo

[j + k] my girls.

so if having a four year old has made me feel old......knowing my two "other" girls have grown by leaps and bounds makes me feel ANCIENT!! my josie and kylie. two sisters. they were my "kids" when all was resolved in my life to remain single and childless and i was a-okay with that....i got to give them back at the end of the day - i didn't have to clothe them, worry about them or save for their colleges. nope none of that. just the fun. [of course annie has thrown a wrench in that equation! believe me i wouldn't have it any other way!]
i was able to spend some time with my girls on christmas eve and i hadn't seen them since the summer. i mean they live so far away it makes visits really impossible. [3 miles down the road can be an eternity to travel!] oh life does get in the way sometimes. annie adores kylie and josie. it's thrilling for me to have a little girl of my own that gets to experience them. i remember waiting for kylie to come home from the hospital and the biggest thrill of my life was when chris and tracey asked if i would be present for the birth of josie. i think i cried every single day after at just the mention of her birth. [it's a good story - i'll have to remember to share that one!] friends are so important. i promise to be a better friend in 2k10.
chris.tracey.kylie.josie. happy new year my friends. xo

the beauty that is[clara]

it's amazing how much a child grows in their first year. from not being able to sit up to walking - it all happens in the blink of an eye. it wasn't too long ago that i had the pleasure of shooting this beauty. to be asked to photograph a child for the second time is quite an honor to me.
paul is a great friend to my husband and me and amy is his beautiful daughter and mother to clara noelle. isn't that the best name?! (and i thought annie viola was a great name!) ryan, amy's husband, was also there - they were visiting from upstate new york. cambridge is the new meeting spot as paul's wife, melissa is attending harvard and sadly they left us behind in newburyport. (but that's a tale for another day!)
this was an indoor shoot - paul and melissa live in such a cool studio in harvard square with great light. they don't know it yet, but it's my "winter studio"! we did bundle clara up for some snow shots but mainly stayed indoors to shoot what i like to call "slice of life" photos.
it was a lovely visit. paul and melissa, thank you for the great tea and great studio space! amy and ryan thank you once again for letting me shoot your gorgeous child and miss clara, thank you for letting annie play with your toys!
here are some of my favs.

[a lime slice] - annie.friends.manicures.pizza.smiles.laughs. xo

annie had a blast at her birthday. a special thank you to alice and ava and ellie for being such good friends!! xo

(spa paradiso was wonderful to the girls - hot chocolates and cookies and wine and cheese!![for the moms] - thank you so much!) + (oregano's was great - delicious pizza and lots of patience! - thank you.)

shout out: to my dear friend jennifer pinkerton for making annie her skirt. you are so talented!!

annie has worn this crown every birthday of her life. i will have to do a collage of years.


ava......let's see what color......


alice enjoying her massage - the best part of the manicure!


ava patiently waiting her turn!





alice look! i chose silver....ooooooo!


a moment.








showing off the red!


the final product. ta...da!!




it was a very dark restaurant! miss ellie.


happy birthday sweetie!


i really loved the intimacy of this party and this moment is a fav. 4 year old girls are the best!!

a lime slice - [you are my sunshine]

You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are grey
You'll never know, dear
How much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

annie viola
words cannot express how much you mean to me. i know i tell you every day how much i love you. but do you really really know?! you are such a delightful little girl. you make me laugh with your wit and your joy brightens every room in my heart. you are my sunshine. you are my heart. you are THE very best thing that has ever happened to me and i will never imagine my life without you. i am so lucky to be your mommy. i can't believe four years ago you arrived in my arms - you were such an easy baby and i adored taking care of you. i miss the baby annie but am thrilled at the little girl annie that greets me each morning. i love how you climb on my lap every morning and put your head on my shoulder. i love watching you grow. thrive. discover the world. your world. i look forward to this next year and to all the milestones you will reach. i hope you know you are loved. so very much by so many but most of all by me (and daddy too!)
i wish you my precious annie viola a very happy 4th birthday.
let's party.

[annie + me - 4 months old]


[annie + me - 4 yrs old]

[photo by: mariah gale]

[a + e] two beauties from connecticut.

i have known michael since he was as young as these little ones and known his mom since we were little ones. he asked if i was up for a session during the week - um...yes!! and he drove 3 hours one way for it!! that alone made me feel so wonderful that he thought enough about my photography that he would put his little ones in the car early in the morn in connecticut and take a road trip so i could capture their adorableness. is that a word? adorableness?!! it is now. this is a surprise for their mom. (i hope she doesn't stumble on my blog!)
abigayle is turning 5 and ellen just turned 3. cute sisters. abi was ready right out of the car to model for me - ellen took a little bit of time to warm up - the first few shots were of her crying - but thanks to their goofy dad - smiles and laughter were soon everywhere. michael i think i need you on my shoots all the time!!
your girls are precious. i loved spending time with them and i loved that annie got to meet them too. i hope you love what you see and that they will bring a smile to your face and that jen will be thrilled when she sees the final product. it was such a fun day and i am honored you chose me to capture your beauties.