Crystalyn Roberts Photography

One of her favorite things to do is to video chat and she does it almost daily. It’s always an extra-special treat when we’re able to chat with her 85 year-old great grandma, GG.  And since we don’t get to see her often, I feel incredibly blessed for her to have the opportunity for have the face-time with GG, and for my grandma to be able to see my kids grow-up real-time, even though she’s 360 miles away.

Not long ago, she wrote notes daily in a little notebook and tore the pages out to store in an old baby bottle.  A bottle full of scribbled notes that I’ll probably treasure always.  Now, she’s graduated to a larger notebook… a gift from her daddy.   I love her sweet notes.  And, I’m looking forward to the day when I can read them by myself… sans translation.

I’m finally working on getting my herb and vegetable gardens together.  Today, we worked on the courtyard herb garden.  She’s the best gardener helper, ever.  Her curiosity, love for nature and gardening reminds me of myself when I was a little girl… and now.

almost.

tea time

She’s started doing the “boohoo” hand gesture for dramatic effect when she cries. Anything to add drama. She’s destined for the stage…

Chadurday.

She loves to perform and is practically always on stage. He enjoys banging on anything that will make a loud noise, and so far shows great promise of following in his daddy’s footsteps to becoming a drummer.

Back in February, lovely Claire was a newborn and her dear parents Lydia and Eric were sleep deprived and over-the-moon in love with their precious girl.  Eight months later, they’re still all a swoon, but hopefully a little more rested.  And I’m back from my sabbatical and finally catching up on my blogging.  So before I post pictures from this lovely little lady’s eight-month session, here’s a little peek into our time together when she was a newborn…

We were lucky enough to schedule their session while Lydia’s dad was in town.  He’s quite smitten with his first granddaughter. Such a special bond.

I just adore this sweet family.  So proud, so in love…

Lydia and Eric – thank you!  Claire is absolutely perfect.  I’m so happy for your new family and all of the adventures that await the three of you!

I’ve been missing, I know.  So much has happened since I last blogged… I attended an incredible and intense photography workshop in January and learned so much that I am still processing the information — almost daily.  And, I took an 8 – 9 month sabbatical from photographing families (other than mine) so we could get ready for and welcome our son into our lives.  Kai Christopher arrived May 12… more on that later.  And, I’ve spent the past six months snuggling both Kai and Harper, and memorizing every inch of their beings.  I’m head-over-heels in love and want to savor every second of their lives… it’s all passing so quickly.  Kai is already six months and almost crawling, and sweet Harper turns three in just two months, and is one passionate, active little girl who keeps me on my toes.

But… I’ve missed being behind my camera and watching families love each other, and capturing a little slice of that love in images… and I’m ready to get back to work!

I’ll be playing catch-up over the next month… blogging about my photography workshop; sharing some incredible photos from Kai’s birth; and giving you a little peek of what our sweet little family’s been up to the past few months.

First up, though… two posts of a sweet little girl named Claire.

Until then… two favorite pictures of my children that I snapped back in June when Kai was almost three weeks old… there’s a lot of love between those two! (and yes, he really was *that* pink!)

A full day of celebrating our precious love started out with her breakfast favorites: pancakes, grits and eggs, served with neighborhood friendliness…