Pack it up and move it out....

After more than two years of blogging at this address,
The Sweet Life has a swanky new home-

come check it out!

Cutie Carmen...

This morning I had the chance to play with our newest little baby planner, and we had a ball! She is not exactly a sleepy, curly little newborn as most of our new baby planners start out, and it was a fun change of pace.

She was smiley, talkative, and big on eye contact and cutie expressions.


She also knows she has these two wrapped around her little finger, dontcha think?
This qualifies as one of those "they made me do this" clothing choices (I think you could hear Carmen and I both saying this to ourselves)...this outfit came off of her build-a-bear. And yet...I happen to *heart* this photo...look how proud Dad is!
Welcome to the Sugar club, Miss Carmen!

True love, passed down, from one to another...

There's a very special project in the works here at Sugar, aimed at showcasing the beauty of adoptive families and inspired by our own upcoming adoption.

Almost every Sunday we'll feature a family that has been touched by adoption and share with you a few of my favorite images from their session.

This is Maile (front and center). She came home from Vietnam at two years old and is the perfect match for her two older brothers, Samuel and Joseph. Hers is a wonderful story of love passed down from generation to generation, as her Mommy was adopted at 3.5 from Vietnam (as part of Operation Baby Airlift), and her grandmother was adopted domestically.



I think it's safe to say that Miss Maile completes this family in the most darling of ways.

"Waiting..."

I eluded to this a few weeks ago, and the time was never quite right to follow-through with our big news. But for some reason I feel compelled to share our fabulous news with you tonight and the wait is officially over:

We are adopting!

I know, I know...it's heady stuff. I get the chills every time I type those words. It feels so official putting it out here in bloggy land.

I've been keeping a little blog dedicated just to our adoption journey, and you are welcome to bookmark it, comment, and follow along as we turn our little family of four into a party of five.

There hasn't been a lot of action to this point, just lots of paperwork. We've selected our agency (not that there was any real question of who we would work with), attended orientation in February, and have completed our home study. We are waiting for our background checks to come back, and sent off for our fingerprints yesterday. Which means we are still at least three weeks away from being approved.

But, for whatever reason, tonight feels like the right time to say those three little words.

We are expecting.

We are waiting.

We are thrilled.

We are petrified.

We are adopting.

When Matthew Smiles...

The whole world smiles with him!
This morning was Matthew's 4 month baby plan session. His mommy combined our 2 session "Sweet Beginnings" package (maternity and newborn) with our 3 session "Sugar and Spice" baby plan (3 sessions in the first year). This means I get to see a LOT of Matthew, and I look forward to it like crazy!

For one, his sister Caroline is the munchkin that prompted me to create a baby plan in the first place.

For another, she looks forward to seeing me as much as I look forward to seeing her. I've known her since she was just 4 months old, and there is nothing more special than seeing these sweet babies grow up, learn to sit, crawl, walk, talk, and then become big sisters and brothers to new babies.

It's a special thing, this job I have.

So anyway...Matthew.

He smiles.

A lot.

And I don't mean just with his mouth or cheeks...He smiles with his entire body. Take a look:
And here:
Admit it...you're smiling now too!
He is just a joy! And a bit of a chunk...I can't wait for his next session when we get to showcase all those rolls as he sits up like a big boy!
And when Matthew cries...he cries with his whole body too.

Nash...

Remember that cute little baby bunny from last week? That is baby Nash, resident little brother to the superstar that is Hopper, and hands-down the *easiest* newborn I've ever had the chance to photograph.

I told his mommy more than once to tell me her secret, because I have NEVER EVER worked with an easier little one.

Hopper, however, kept me on my toes. He's a fast one!

Their mommy casually mentioned that they just happen to have this gigantic shell...could we incorporate that?

This is me = Giddy.

Their silk curtains were the perfect backdrop. And again...he slept!Just to prove that Nash really does know how to cry...this is the one time that he expressed dissatisfaction.
And then he rolled over and did this:

Seriously...easiest kid. Ever.

In the immortal words of Lighting McQueen...

"Kachow!"

Here ya go Tracey...take that!

97 words

Speedtest

(I have *seriously*t a life)

Hoppy Easter!

One quick sneak from today's newborn before I head out the door to Houston (because seriously...how could I *not* post this little guy?).

I'll have more in a few days. And they are ALL gorgeous...just get ready for newborn cuteness overload!

Have a great weekend everyone!

ETA: The adorable hat was purchased by this little guy's mom HERE