Well, the time has finally come…Christy Johnson Photography is now Be True Image Design!

Please visit the website here.

The new blog is here.

And the new Facebook page is here.

And today is a good day to visit, because there’s a Groovy Giveaway starting today!

Don’t forget to update your RSS/google reader/feedburner thingys (heehee) and thank you for joining me on my new journey!

Yes, I know it is literally 100 degrees out there! But my fall calendar has a tendency to fill rather quickly, so I want to give a special gift to all you overachievers out there (like me!) If you book and pay for your family photo session by July 31st, you’ll receive a FREE set of 25 custom holiday cards! I’ve got some super cute new designs this year!

To book your session, please email me at christy@christyjohnson.com!

Almost three years.
Three miscarriages.
Seventeen weeks of bedrest.

And on January 14th, Rachael Lenore was born. Two months early. Three pounds, six ounces. Fifteen inches. She spent two months in the NICU at Duke, and finally made her way home on March 8th, into the loving arms of her mommy and daddy. Who, by the way, are absolutely over the moon thrilled with her.

Can you blame them? She’s a beauty!

Rachael is almost five months old now, and just thriving.

Sara and Mike, your perseverance and positive natures are just inspiring. Congratulations from the bottom of my heart on your beautiful daughter. You are such fantastic parents, and the joy just radiates from both of you. I only hope she’ll be a little less rascally when she becomes a teenager!

So after this morning’s session, I tweeted about how gorgeous these children were. And now I’m blogging them and saying “told you so!”

See what I mean?

And if anyone can figure out how to get a photo just like this of my two girls, I will pay big, big money for it!

Sweet, beautiful Riley made my job so easy.

And Sheamus is your typical almost two-year old - very busy and very curious.

Sarah and Scott, thank you so much for having me over this morning! It was a blast, and I have many favorites to show you very soon!

I’m so sad that Harper is a year old. I mean, I’m happy for her, but I’m sad that our baby’s first year plan has come to an end. And I’m sad that babies don’t stay babies forever. Somebody should make a law about that.

I’ve been photographing Harper since she was in her mama’s belly, and it has been pure joy to watch her grow. It crossed my mind during today’s session to sneak her into my camera bag and take her home with me. But I guess her mama and daddy probably wouldn’t like that too much. I think they like her.

A whole lot. It’s too bad, really.

Of course, big brother Jack might have something to say about it too. As he so seriously informed me today, he is BIG. He might beat me up if I stole Harper!

Good thing he thinks I’m funny.

I think I’m safe.

THANK YOU to one of my favorite families in the universe! I love and adore you guys, and I’m so thankful we’re friends!

Maddie is turning one year old - today! We celebrated with a photo session on Sunday at one of my favorite parks in Raleigh. We did her mommy’s maternity portraits at this very same location a little over a year ago, and it was so fun to see it come full circle.

It was terribly hard to narrow down the cuteness for a sneak peek, but here are a few faves so far…

Maddie’s uncle serves in the US Navy, and is just returning from a long deployment this week. Mom and Dad thought he’d love this little sailor dress…how could he not? She’s stinkin’ adorable!

Of course we saved a little time at the end of our shoot for some birthday cake! Maddie was content to just peel off little bits of icing at first.

Then she really got into it and showed us how it’s done!

Maddie, happy first birthday! I’ve loved knowing you since before you were born, and to see you turning a year old is just amazing. Your parents are over-the-moon in love with you, and who can blame them? Stay little as long as you can, for their sakes, ‘kay? Smooches!

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!

It’s been awhile since I’ve shared my own kids on the blog…far too long, in fact! I got some cute shots of them playing earlier this week in our (messy) playroom, so I thought I should come and share.

Claire will be a year old in February, and I just can’t believe it.

I know I’m biased, but admit it - you think she’s seriously cute too.

Awwww, sisterly love.

It just makes your heart melt. Until the big one grabs the little one in a headlock and spins her to the ground. Not that that ever happens around here or anything.

Claire’s latest thing is brushing her own hair. Good thing, since she’s got quite the messy mop!

OH! And she said “mama” for the first time today! I was cooking lunch, and she was really upset that I couldn’t pick her up. She kept pulling up on my leg, and I’d have to sit her back down on the floor as I moved from one spot in the kitchen to the other. Finally she pulled up on my leg one last time, and literally yelled “MAMA!” clear as a bell! Of course, she hasn’t done it again since, even though we’ve been trying since lunch. Lil stinker.

Is it just me, or does Macy look so grown up here?

She’s really giving me a time lately. Defiant, independent, stubborn, actively ignores me. We thought we were lucky because we never really had to deal with the terrible twos…but I honestly think this is worse. She is so smart and has comebacks that make me stop in my tracks!

Tonight, she absolutely refused to eat one. single. bite. of dinner. I know she was hungry, and I knew it was a control thing. I also know that I’m not the kind of mother who is going to get up from my dinner to go make something else for her. I tried taking away privileges. I tried reasoning with her. And as lame as it sounds, I even pulled out the old “choooo choooo…open up, the train is coming into the tunnel!” Oh yeah, she opened up, I deposited the “train.” One second later, she spit the food out and said “the tunnel is broked.”

Seriously! How am I supposed to discipline this child when I can’t stop laughing? (By the way, we compromised on 6 bites of dinner. And then some healthy, no sugar applesauce to make me feel better that at least she got a vitamin or two in her.)

No matter what though…this girl has me smitten.

We got about 5-6 inches of snow here today, and I got to stay home from work and enjoy some super awesome family time. I got a lot of fun pictures from today, so look for those to come (hopefully tomorrow!)

Four month old Tucker was just a doll for our session! He lasted exactly one hour before he let us know he was, well, tuckered out.

The family spends a lot of time playing and just hanging out on the bed, so we had to capture this special moment.

Love this little lip bite! Almost makes me want to have another. I said almost.

Our last shot of the day.

Peace out, little dude!

Little Harper wasn’t feeling very well when we tried doing her 6-month session last weekend. But look who was feeling better yesterday!

We had much better luck getting some happy smiles this time!

Aren’t those curly toes just too precious?!