Isn't it the truth...as a mom, you have all these pictures of your children, and everyone else holding them, but hardly any of yourself with them.
I was so grateful when Dawn Ashley Photography reached out to me to shoot a session with my girls...Like...Yes...please!!!
Oh my gosh....I will cherish these pictures forever! What I love the most about this, is they are just shots of us being us...that's what I don't have, and have been dying to have for my memories. These two girls are everything I ever prayed for in my life...how special to have these pictures of us girls together.
Seriously, if you live in Arizona, you will want to check out Dawn Ashley Photography. They are a mom and daughter team, and so positive and full of lovely energy. They were incredibly patient with us. When we shot, it was about 107 degrees and sticky...oh my gosh, us Blank girls are sooo cranky in the heat. I'm surprised we even got Grayson to smile...she does not like to be the slightest bit hot...Hartley too, but she is old enough, where we can get her to have fun and not focus as much on the heat. Although, she is in no way a child model...ha, she just wanted to explore the desert, pick up all the rocks, etc...we had to rein her in with a lollipop, which totally worked. (tip mommas with littles) I have got to remember to bring a lolly with me in the future! Of course the lolly was then in every photo, but so what..she was happy, and it was cute...and she loved it.
It's amazing how fast these little angels are growing. Hartley, has finally started saying "mom" and "momma" and I am so grateful and my heart is full. She's been saying dada, uh oh, this, that, up, mey(baby gray), shoes, go, cheese, Elena (of Avalor), bubble, and her favorite sign is "more". We have been working with her in speech therapy, and can't wait till she is speaking full sentences. Although, if she is anything like her momma, there will be non-stop chit chat in our house forever more...ha! What is most endearing about her, at this stage, is she is such a lover...She gives me 50 plus kisses a day and hugs to follow. She'll just randomly come up to me and kiss me right on the lips, I mean be still my heart!! Or if I'm standing she'll just kiss my leg and wrap her arms around me for a hug...all day...everyday...its gotta be higher than 50..but you get the point!! Isn't that the sweetest thing in the world. Seriously, as I'm typing, it makes me teary eyed. She loves kissing her sissy on the head too...Anytime, she is near her little sister, Grayson, she leans in for a kiss, wherever she can get. The other night it was her bootie...ha! She is always hugging and kissing us throughout the day, for no reason...she just gets a loving feeling and expresses it...I mean...dream come true!! We will get you talking my love...but you are already showing me everything I could want in you...a loving and kind heart.
Baby Gray is now crawling everywhere, sitting, and just starting to pull herself to standing (she wasn't doing any of that when we took these photos). Omg she has the best posture. It's so funny to look over and see her sitting straight up, like a little gopher popping up here and there. Oh my gosh she is the happiest baby too. She smiles and giggles all day...and she is a loud babbler. She loves everyone, and really gets a kick out of Oscar, our furry son...she is always looking for him. Oh my gosh...she is literally too cute...these are the best days of my life...I wish we had a camera crew that would just follow us around so I could capture every second...I never want to forget it! (I probably tell my husband this once every other day, poor guy) It's amazing how your love for the second baby is as full, as it was for your first. It's so hard to imagine, until you have that second child. My heart is so full in ways I never imagined it could be and I'm so grateful to be alive and healthy, raising two most loving, delicious daughters. Thank you for these beautiful pics ladies...and can't wait to work with you again. You can check out their site here...and seriously so good with kids!!