Valentina came over my house for a  playdate, and I just had to steal her from my girlfriend to take a photo of her.  Her eyelashes are to die for, their super, duper long just at the very front tips of her eyes, and then begin to shorten towards the end.  I was admiring them and just had to take a photo of this little angel.

My little bunny #3, you’re 5 months old now and everyday I fall in love with you more!  You’re eyelashes melt my heart and I just luuuv smooching on you’re sticky hands and feet –because of this, you’re big brother has nicked named you “our little Lollipop.”  You’re hands and feet are always so sticky from all the sucking you do to them, and you’re just so delicious –JUST LIKE A LOLLIPOP!   

I did some Father’s / Mother’s Day mini sessions in my home town of Santa Monica.   Stepping on the same sand that I stepped on as a kid, is always so comforting because right where I do all my sessions, is also where I played and laughed A LOT  as a kid.   I have so many fond memories of this exact spot and it’s such an amazing feeling for me when I’m there .  I had 10 sessions this day, so there’s more to come, but first up is….

This is Jake, or as his mamma calls him “Jakey.”  He is such a sweet boy, and I was lov’in that missing tooth!

This is Franky, Tony and their Dad Francisco.  Through email I asked mommy Griselda (not photographed here) to describe her boys’ personalities and interests to me.  She spoke very proudly and fondly of them (including her hubby of course).  The words she chose to described them in was truly special, I could tell just through email that she was one very proud mom.   Within 5minutes of our session, I knew why mom was so proud; they were such nice boys, very respectful, happy teenagers.  Franky attends an elite arts high school, and Tony has just been accepted to a math/science magnet high school.   Hello!  I’d be a very proud mamma too!  The bond this family shares is felt in their presence.   These boys are destined for great things and will most definitely make very fine husbands one day…..

This is Raul, his mini “Raul” Mateo, and Raul’s Dad.  Three generations right here! and I was so honored to capture these sweet moments.  Raul has so much love and respect for his father, it’s simply beautiful to watch them interacting.  And the love they both have for little Mateo is more special than words can even describe.  I can’t even tell you how happy it makes me that little Mateo now has these photos that he will cherish and hold dear to his heart for the rest of his life….

This is the Roarke Family.  When mommy Leighton emailed me to to sign up for this session, I immediately felt her kindness (Leighton, not featured in these photos).  I always rave about the great moms I get to work with, but there are some that really stand out to me, and Leighton was one of those moms.  Leighton, thank you for all the referrals, thank you for being so genuinely nice, thank you for all the compliments, thank you for simply appreciating and praising my work.  Your many compliments truly made my day!   We met for only 20 minutes, and for most of that 20 minutes you hid from your kiddos so that they wouldn’t be distracted –hahaha, but in that short time, and just through email, you came across to me as such a down to earth cool mamma!

This is May and the love of her life Brandon.  Through email, May explained to me that her and Brandon are very close, and these photos prove just that! We had a blast!

I’ve been dreaming up a photo of Nevaeh reading a book to her baby sister for weeks –cause this is what she does, and Natalia loves it!  Natalia was so uncooperative and gave me 3.2 seconds to take this photo, so this is all I got for ya!  This photo was taken in my yard, cause my husband was too busy watching the LAKER game to step out with us to the beautiful nature location near our home where I originally wanted to take it….   When he reads this, he’s going to tell me that I’m the only girl who’d rather be taking pictures rather than watch the game, and he’s right –hahaha!

I also took this photo of Thalia in this doll high chair that belonged to me when I was a kid!  I remember I played with this high chair a ton!  7 years ago when I was pregnant with my first daughter Nevaeh I took a trip down to my father’s basement one day while visiting him, and there it was, collecting dust at a corner of my father’s basement –I remember I yelled so loud that I made my father jump! I gave my father the biggest hug and sobbed like a baby.  I was so happy that he had saved this for so many years and expressed to him how dear it was to my heart.  I was head over heals and placed it at the corner of my daughter’s bedroom.  My daughter has outgrown it, so it will now adorn Thalia’s bedroom.  This is quickly becoming a family heirloom, and I hope to keep it in our family for decades to come….  Here are also some quick pics I took of Natalia right before we stepped out for an outing this weekend–she’s 4 months old now and her legs are just super scrumptious!  

I mean seriously –how gorgeous are these siblings! These gorgeous kiddos are my Dentists’ children.  By the way my dentist rocks, she’s super down to earth and best of all we have conversations about shopping, the latest gossip in the tabloids and our families –gotta love that! She’s a great dentist and has taken care of my teeth for over ten years now.  Doctor Lilia is located in Beverly Hills, so it’s the perfect excuse to go shopping afterwards since she’s so conveniently located near all the great shops.  If you are looking for a new dentist, you can visit her site at  http://drlilia.com/  

Alright, back to Steve and Lana.  Steve is a sweetheart and was so sweet to ask me for my opinion on everything, he listened to all my advice and followed my lead on all my suggestions.  Lana has such a fun personality, whoever hangs out with her is guaranteed a fun time!  she was super, duper silly, I can’t even tell you how many times she cracked me up!  Every time I told her how beautiful she was she would tell me how beautiful she thought I was, despite my messy hair due to all the wind and despite all my smeared make-up on my right eye (by the middle of every shoot, my right eye is tore up from pushing the viewfinder against my eye).  She was such a good sport, the beach was freezing, but she still worked it for me, no complaints, she just had fun! 

You too can get this lovely red parasol Lana is holding at http://www.nanaluluslinensandhandkerchiefs.com/  They have them in all kind of beautiful colors, including mini one’s!

This is Isabella, I thanked her repeatedly because she worked it! Isabella did  everything I asked her to and more without complaining.  I have photographed Isabella several times, thank you Vikki (Isabella’s mom) for your dedication to me –I luv clients like you!  Isabella arrived with not a hair out of place, but after an hour, I decided to ask mamma Vikki if I could “let her hair down” and with no hesitation she said “yes.”  Thank you Vikki for always being so open to my vision and for buying Isabella’s converse the day of per my request.   The bible you see Isabella holding in some of these photos was the bible her mother used when she did her first communion.  While I was photographing Isabella reading the bible, she noticed her mom’s writing on the first page, it said “My Communion, May 8, 1976 –guess when Isabella was doing her first communion –YES, May 8!  Now “ain’t” that special! 

When I saw this beautiful parasol, I knew I wanted to use it in one of my upcoming sessions, and it complimented Isabella’s dress perfectly, you can find it at http://www.nanaluluslinensandhandkerchiefs.com/