She was much anticipated, and arrived (early) to great fan fare.

Now, I don't have a lot of opportunities to photograph newborns.  Yes, I'm quite capable.  Yes, I enjoy it...  but...I don't specialize in the wee ones (unless they also happen to be horses or dogs) for a myriad of reasons.

Sometimes, though - it's pretty awesome to step outside the norm.

I photographed her parents' wedding.  To this day, it's one of my all-time favorite days of photographing.  I love them, they're awesome people, and when I found out that they were expecting - AND that they wanted me to photograph their bundle of joy - well, I absolutely had to do it.

Like I suppose all parents-to-be do, there were carefully made plans, lots of preparations, and an orderly and expected method to the timeline.  But Oakley had other plans.  She arrived really early.  So early, in fact, that there was an extended stay in the NICU, which meant that her photo op was delayed until she was able to come home.  By that time, the sweet angel was about two months old and weighed all of five pounds (ugh, the tiny little fingers and teeny pudgy toes were enough to send any lover of cuteness into fits of unbeknownst proportions.  I kid you not.)

Unlike most super models, she was a doll to work with.  She napped.  She did a lot of people watching (mainly, of the lady who kept getting in her face, making weird noises, and re-arranging her extremities).  She tolerated multiple outfit and set changes.  SHE ATE.  SHE ATE WELL.  And was generally amazing and awesome to be around.

I don't see myself changing my specialties (equines, high school seniors, and high school seniors with horses) any time soon, but I would definitely agree to work with tiny people again.

Look out Gerber and Baby Gap, there's a new model in town!