Oh, October. Beautiful October. Let me tell you why I loved October.

We’ve had the most wonderful fall this year. Colors for days  –  all the days in October, actually. Pumpkin flavored beverages everywhere I go (yes, I’m one of those girls). Also, it’s officially boot/scarf/cardigan wearing season – hooray!

Family – oh, I love them to pieces, but man do my nephews have a lot of energy!! My sister-in-law snapped this of me and the boys after we wrapped up their family photos. They thought it would be more fun to tackle and tickle me than it would be to sit and smile for a photo. I’ll take it. :-)

What else did I love about October? Passing my glucose test, dates with friends, feeling our baby wiggle and kick more and more, and taking pretty pictures of people in love. Pretty good October.

I feel extremely fortunate that my job allows me to meet people who are way more interesting and far more adventurous than myself. For example, people who are given a canoe, learn how to maneuver said canoe together, and then a couple months later get engaged in that very same canoe! I’d like to introduce you all to Luke and Cori – my latest cooler-than-me couple. :-)

We had the most perfect fall day to spend some time on and around Pactola and get some photos showing off how super-duper-in-love-and-excited-to-be-married they are, and I couldn’t be more proud of them!! ‘Them’ meaning Luke + Cori for not tipping over, and also the resulting images. ;-)

I hope you enjoy!!

Luke + Cori – THANK YOU for sharing with me your love-filled adventure that is your engagement! Your happiness truly radiates from each of you, and it is such a treasure to witness. I am in awe of your balance (seriously – so impressed with how you both maneuvered in that canoe!!) and I can’t wait to see you again in the summer for your wedding! :-)

I am over-the-moon excited to share these photos with you!! I can’t even talk about it. Mainly because once I started I could just go on and on…. Just look! :-)

Eric + Allison’s wedding was nothing short of sweet and lovely. From the first look on the grand staircase to the impromptu dance at the end of the evening, they had my heart smiling! 

I loooove these next two images – the one on the left, because I got the sweetest hug from the flower girl on the left, and the photo on the right because I asked the wedding party to ‘act casual,’ which led to Eric’s brother with his fists up. Apparently his ‘casual’ look is the same as his ‘ready for a fight’ look? Thanks, Mark, for being so entertaining. :-)

While everyone was arriving, I stole Eric + Allison for one more photo in front of this lovely window upstairs at the Lead Opera House.

Mr and Mrs!!!!

Allison grew up admiring her mother’s teapot collection – so she asked to use them as reception decor! The books are for Eric + Allison’s love of reading, and were also take-home gifts for guests.

Walking in to the reception smelled WONDERFUL thanks to Mike’s Grill & Catering. They roasted a whole hog, and the children were either mesmerized or thoroughly creeped out – it was hard to tell. :-)

Shout-out to The River Liffey Boys for providing the excellent background music during the reception!

They didn’t have an official dance, but when one song was requested specifically for the couple, I whispered to Allison – I think you should dance. I’m so glad they did. :-)

Eric + Allison – thanks for having me as a part of your day! I am so happy for you, and I wish you all the best in your lives together!

September was overflowing with weddings and well wishes after our big announcement last month. In between photographing and editing, I had a few moments here and there to snuggle a baby, celebrate an anniversary, stare at ultrasound photos, and tend to my propagated succulents –  it’s these little moments I love to savor and share with you each month!

1. My best friend had her baby!!! He spent some time in the NICU, but is safely home now and is continuing to grow stronger by the day!  I have a list of people I should probably contact when I travel to Sioux Falls, but spending an entire afternoon holding a sleepy newborn and sipping half-caf pumpkin spice lattes with my bff was all I wanted to do on one of my few ‘free’ days this month. It was *so* worth it!!! :-)

2. Just a few days later, my husband and I celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary! We both had to work, but we were able to spend the morning together and celebrate by making french toast and eggs for lunch. I’m so thankful for the little ways he makes me smile – leaving me notes, fueling up the car and returning with flowers, and the happy look he gets when he feels our baby kick. We don’t need a whole day to celebrate our anniversary – we spend a little bit of every day letting each other know how much we love each other. :-)

3. A couple days after our anniversary, we had our anatomy scan ultrasound and were able to see every little part of our baby – both hands, both feet, all four chambers of the heart – all of it so miniature and healthy. When the ultrasound tech switched the machine to 3D to take a peek at baby’s face – all we saw were arms and feet! This profile photo shows what I think is baby’s leg all the way up, with toes touching the head. No wonder I feel movement so frequently – our baby is doing gymnastics!!

4. All month long I’ve been watering and watching my propagated succulents. Apparently I’m great at growing things now… baby – check! new plants – check! On the left is a ‘leaf’ I plucked a week ago, on the right is one I plucked a month and a half ago. Since we don’t get to see our baby again until ‘the big arrival,’ it’s fun to watch the daily growth of these baby plants. :-)