Calling all moms! Do you have the “always-behind-the-camera” blues? Do you ever flip through your family’s photo albums and wish you were actually IN the pictures?

The time is NOW. Don’t worry about getting your hair did. Forget about those last 10-20-30 pounds you want to lose. Your relationship with your child is so special…it’s unique…it’s right now, ever fleeting. Put some photographs in that album that your child will cherish for a lifetime.

Mommy & Me Mini Sessions are limited, so make sure to get on the calendar soon. And Dads - can you think of a better Mother’s Day gift?!

A quick calendar note: April and May are fully booked, and I am beginning to book for June and July! Of course, I always try to leave room in the schedule for newborns - but make sure to contact me before baby arrives!

I met this beautiful young family over in Durham on Sunday to capture Ben at 18 months. (You may also remember his 12-month shoot!)

He’s growing up, sniff sniff! Look at what a handsome little boy he’s turning into.

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands!

If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it!

I did a pretty embarrassing version of the chicken dance to elicit this smile. No lie. It was ugly. But it was worth it!

Thanks so much to Ben and family! I’ll have your entire gallery ready soon!

Sorry for the disappearing act on the blog lately…the Johnson household has been in such a whirlwind for the last couple of weeks…Claire turned a whole year old (sniff, sniff), my beloved also celebrated a birthday, and three-quarters of us were hit by a nasty stomach bug. Macy was the only one who escaped the bug, because as her PopPop puts it, she’s too fast for germs to catch her. Tis true.

Now that I’m feeling better, I’ve been a busy bee getting galleries and slideshows uploaded and orders packaged for delivery, as well as trying to straighten up our neglected house and tackle the mile-high piles of laundry. I also need to get packing! We leave after work tomorrow for my parents’ house in Virginia to drop off the kidlets while Mike and I head to Vegas, baby! We’re going to a big photography convention and are counting on some much needed away-time - away from work, the kids, the responsibilities, the obligations. I think we’re due for a little break.

But of course, not even a little vacation comes without its share of stress. It’s supposed to snow here overnight tonight, putting a big question mark on our planned drive to Richmond…it’s supposed to snow in Richmond, putting a big question mark on our early morning flight on Thursday. And then, just for fun, we’ll be taking the red-eye back Monday night/Tuesday morning, grab the kids and drive home, just in time for me to repack my bags and drive myself to Charlotte for a day of work training on Wednesday. Whew!

Since I will be out of town, I may be a little slow to respond to emails or voicemails. I will get back to everyone by Thursday or Friday next week. I also want to share some of Claire’s one-year photos as well, so stay tuned for those.

And just because I can’t post without a photo, here’s several. I’ve been playing around with the ShakeIt photo app on my iphone…it’s so much fun! And free! So some random happenings from around our parts…