Sometimes when I look at him I think it's impossible that he is only 15 weeks old. The exhaustion, the feeding, the crying, the changing of diapers... it makes things seem... slow. But then I take a picture like this and I think it's impossible that he is already that old.

I have so many beautiful maternity photos to share from three different local friends and photographers (um, yes, my baby boy is 3+ months old and I still haven't gotten around to posting them) and I thought I'd start off with these shots from Gaby J. Seriously? These are beautiful, and shot in film. Love love love.

I live for taking pictures. I suppose that's where it begins and ends for me regarding photography.

I love capturing the every day, forever pausing that moment that my son rolls over for the first time, and freezing those moments... you know the ones. I see beauty and composition everywhere I look. The truth is that it's mostly instinct. Ask me to tell you the mechanics of the photos and I'd stutter out an answer. Ask me what I was feeling when I pressed down on the shutter; well I'll tell you a novel, then.

I shoot with a Canon 5d Mark II that I named Wendy. We've been together for almost two years now and I can't imagine being apart from her. She has captured some of the most wonderful amazing, down to the every day moments of my life and those of my clients. I'm in love.

Recently I have had quite a few people reach out to me wanting to know more about my process, and I'm humbled beyond words to know that I inspire some of you to become better photographers. I can say this: it takes a lot of practice. I practice all the time, every day, in every different lighting conditions you could think of. And I read a lot; digitalphotographyschool.com is a great resource, as well as the ilovephotography.com forums. Here's the truth guys: I'm completely 100% self-taught, and if I can do it, then you all can.

But here's what I can't teach you: photography is in my bones. It's in my blood. My father was rarely without his camera, and his father too. It's engrained in me. It's my passion, and I'm so lucky to call it my job as well.

Picture taking is what I do best. It's what I strive to do best. And it's what continues to define me.

I am a wife, mother, and photographer. Life is great.

I know I'm starting this half way through the year, but that's okay. Better late than never, right? My little man, always with the busy, busy hands. I blame that on his italian daddy :)

The first weekend we were home with DJ I went around announcing to everyone that he would be our only child. The standard response was that it's too early, that I would change my mind, and even though at the time I begrudgingly said they were probably right, as time has gone on this has been something that I think about constantly.

Growing up I always wanted two children; I (for some reason) never liked the thought of raising an only child - but I'm coming around to the idea. A lot of my reasoning is rather personal so I will leave that out of the discussion, but the more I think about it, the more it makes the most sense for my family.

If you are an only child, or a parent having only one child, I would love to hear your thoughts / reasoning / concerns.