gigiblog

Back and in action ....

Hey! I'm back! We had the MOST FABULOUS time at my friend's cottage ... ahhhh ... summer. You gotta love it: beach, sand, sun, fresh air and massive deerflies. Lots of them. ;) The highlight of my trip was seeing a momma bear and her three baby bears! Oh my gosh ... what a beautiful sight ... just 15 feet from us! AMAZING!

But today, it's back to business - I'm shooting a wedding near Barrie today and have to get a move-on soon and pack up the truck with my gear. 

Just wanted to pop in and say hi ...

.... post an image ....

ANNNNND ...

announce the winner of this week's giveaway! 

Using random.org ... this week's winner is:

#10 - Simone 

Congratulations, Simone!!! Just e-mail me and I will hook you up with Michelle of Bebe EnVogue for your giveaway prize! Thanks for all who entered! Check back on MONDAY for the next giveaway ...! 

Have a great Saturday! It's GORGEOUS out there!

{green}

I have a confession to make.

I still love Anne of Green Gables. 

Okay, not just love - rather ADORE. I know I've mentioned this before way back in the blog history, but I absolutely LOVE Anne of Green Gables. The movie. The book. Anything that has to do with her, I love. 

And so, last week, when my oldest daughter, Lacey (4.5 years old), sat down with me at night and sat through the first two CDs of Anne of Green Gables, I was thrilled to bits! Turns out, she loves it as much as I do! I've always wanted a little girl who would cuddle up at night, drink tea and nibble on cookies and watch all of the Anne-girl movies ...

And now I have Lacey to join me! 

And what's even better - we were walking downtown to the Farmer's Market this weekend and we found a keepsake of Anne of Green Gables in one of the thrift store windows. (Thanks, Nanny, for telling us about it!) We were able to buy a porcelain Anne of Green Gables collector's doll AND the Anne book for $6! Lacey was overjoyed!

I wish I had taken a photo of her with her new Anne doll but I'm afraid she's going to break it. So far, it's safely sitting on a shelf.

But here are some recent photos of my darlin' girl ...

What are your thoughts on the chair? I spotted it at a friend's house the other day (Alex and Michelle - this post is for you!!!!) and fell in love with it. I knew it would be awesome for photos! And guess what?! They GAVE me the chair! How sweet is that?! 

I have great friends. ;)

I jumped in the photo ... tickle fight began ... hence the funny faces, but hey, this is love/life/us right now. xo

I'm going away for a few days with my girls to visit a dear friend at her cottage. .... wahhhoooo! I'm SUPER excited. I'll be back to shoot a wedding on Saturday, but will probably (90% sure) post on Friday. Stay tuned for the winner of the giveaway!

And feel free to leave some comment lovin' on the blog! I love to know who's out there reading the blog ... let's meet! Drop me a line!

Meet Ireland.

This little precious bundle visited me last week in the studio - my oh my! She was sweet! I could tell she has already stolen mommy and daddy's heart, not to mention her big brother's affections, as well.

with big brother - they look so much alike. Are they not the sweetest little brother-sister duo?

I don't normally photograph babies clothed, but she looked so sweet when she came to the studio all dressed up in this precious gown. How could I resist?

with daddy ...

and with mommy ...

It was awesome meeting you, Baby Ireland! Thank you for coming by for some more photos! ;)

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And hey ... it's Monday. Although, to me, it feels weird - maybe because tomorrow is a holiday? It just feels off today ... strange ... like Saturday thrown into the week? Maybe I just need more sleep! Hah!

Anyway - because it's Monday, let's do another GIVEAWAY!

Michelle Green of Bebe Envogue has provided this week's giveaway ... and you don't have to be a mom to enter this contest as it would make a great present for a friend who may be expecting or your niece or nephew perhaps?! ;)

Michelle, a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom) to one-year-old baby girl, Makenna, recently purchased Bebe Envogue as a way to stay at home and raise her daughter, while still working. Located in Kansas, Bebe Envogue caters to online customers world-wide. 

This week, Michelle is offering one super soft chenille snuggle blanket, a value of $15. The winner can choose the colour/style of their choice!

Personally, I looooove this one! Look at those cute colours!

To enter the contest, just leave a comment on this post. The winning name will be drawn on Friday. Happy posting!

My little babe.

So, Lucia is almost six months old now. 

*sigh*

You know what I'm going to say next. 

How is that even possible? Where DOES the time go? It's crazy. 

I'm enjoying having such a sweet baby around the house. The girls just love her - which blesses my heart! There has never ever been a snitch of jealousy at all. Both Lacey and Lyla wake up in the morning and head to wherever Lucia's sleeping to coo and kiss their baby sister. So precious!

Lucia will be six months old on July 5th. She's also getting dedicated to God in July, so it will be a fun, joyous month celebrating our blessings. 

I love this photo ... Daisy snuck in and wanted in on the action. 

Look at those little sticky-outie ears! That's from my side of the family! ;)

Hope you all enjoy your weekend! Happy Canada Day!

Rose Cottage makes her debut.

We had a VERY exciting week here in the Gigi world with the grand arrival of Rose Cottage ... a delicately, hand-made, INCREDIBLE playhouse that my father built for my three girls. 

It arrived while I was shooting a session on Wednesday ... I looked up from my camera and saw a rooftop floating by my studio window. It was here! The long-awaited, highly anticipated arrival of Rose Cottage! My heart skipped a beat.I had been waiting for this day for over six months ... we had seen the playhouse, being crafted in my dad's workshop in Cookstown, but had not see the final product. 

Well, SHE IS GORGEOUS. ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!

I don't know who loves her more - me or the girls! ;)

Introducing: Rose Cottage. 

here it is, arriving .... YIKES.

and coming into our backyard.  It was quite the event. People were stopping and pointing ... some even set up lawn chairs to watch the happenings!

stretching the boom truck arm as far as it would go. Look at it bend! We, ahem, I mean, the MEN had to roll the house into the yard from here. 

My father, the magical craftsman himself, Dale Clair of KD Clair Construction ...

WAHOOO! It's in!  (Note the tutu up Lyla's bum crack - Lovely, Lyla, just lovely!)

The first visitor ... the first tea party ... with Lacey's cousin. 

the details - flower boxes ....

the lighting ...oh, I love this! There is even electricity!

a little bit of shabby chic ...
each piece is hand made and cut and designed by my dad ... he did an amazing job!

What is a pretty, pink playhouse without a tea set?

Yes, we LOVE Rose Cottage!

Just wait till you're a bit older, Lucia. I know you're dying to get in there, as well!

a kiss for the man responsible for all this pink-loveliness. 

Guess where we will be all day today? 

Yup, in Rose Cottage. I should get wireless there, eh? 

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Now to work out the details of the Rose Cottage Limited Edition Mini Sessions! 

Details TO BE ANNOUNCED!

Belly A!

It's been pretty busy in the Gigi world lately - shooting tons of fun sessions and lots of proofing going on! Not to mention a few personal/business adventures happening at the same time. 

(STAY TUNED FOR INFORMATION ON UPCOMING ROSE COTTAGE MINI SESSIONS! You won't want to miss this if you have little girls!)

So I know one particular client has been waiting a while to see her full sneak peek ... so ... Belly A, - aka, Aunt Donna to my girls :) - here is your sneak peek!

I love this one... :) 

Donna, I should have your full gallery up by tonight. Thank you for your patience. :) 

The life of a mother.

A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, 

bankroll smaller, 

home happier, clothes shabbier, 

the past forgotten, 

and the future worth living for.

It's 12:28 a.m. and I am sitting on the bed, beside my eldest daughter, who cannot fall asleep tonight. I think she might be sick ... and so I'm just waiting for her to drift back into Dreamland. I have a session at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning. I know I will be tired. Before my session, however, I do have to feed, dress and clean up the three girls, not to mention myself, clean the studio, wash the floors (I always wash the studio floors because I hate to put a baby on a dirty floor!), get my camera gear ready and the likes. I also have to strip two beds and put the bedding in the wash  (long story, but that's how I know my daughter is not feeling well).

But you know, I wouldn't change this for the world. 

As tired and as exhausting as it can be some days, taking care of my three girls is what I love. I may go on less than the regular 6-8 hours sleep per night (Lucia *was* sleeping the night but she stopped - what's up with that?) and I may only shop in the little girl's clothing section when I hit the stores (why do moms go straight to the kids clothing department when we hit a mall?!) ... I may have to eat my veggies disguised in tomatoe sauce for dinner ... and I may have to listen to kids' music in the car instead of rockin' out to my own music ... I may never take a shower without getting interrupted by the kids again ...  I may always have three loads of laundry per day ... and I may be getting wrinkles every time I get up in the middle of the night to tend to a little one ...

But I love it. 

And I feel so blessed to not only be a mom, but to LOVE being a mom. 

Tonight, Lucia is sleeping in our room because she has a cold and is snuffly and coughing more than we'd like. 

But I don't mind. I looked down at her earlier tonight, snuggled beside me in bed, and tried to memorize her little facial features. 

She's growing faster than my other two babies - I wish I could make time stand still for a while (okay, so I would make it stand still ONCE she starts sleeping the night! Hah!) and just drink in this season of parenting and babies and toddlers and crazy-sleep-deprived-happiness. 

But I do know there are more joys, more fun times, ahead as the children grow. And I look forward to that - but not as much as I am loving TODAY. 

Lucia - a whopping 5.5 months old. 

Inside+out.

I had the pleasure of photographing the most gorgeous girl this weekend. 

And during her session, not only did I realize how beautiful she is on the outside, but also on the inside. And I'm not just saying that! Sarah truly is unique ... she's humble, gentle and she's kind with children ... a hard worker, the oldest of four kids (and the only girl) ... a daddy's girl ... has a great relationship with her mother ... she wants become a doctor and work with children when she graduates ... wow, what an amazing girl! I would *very* pleased if my three girls turned out like this incredible gal when they are teenagers. 

Sarah, it was great getting to know you better during your session! Thanks for being up for anything! Hope you had fun, too! :) 

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I also want to pull a name for last week's giveaway - a gift certificate to Baby Ola  - an incredible baby store, located in Newmarket, just a short drive from Orangeville. 

The winner is .... (drum roll, please ...)

Number 5: Kris

Congratulations, Kris!

Just e-mail me and I will hook you up, girl. ;)

Thanks to Baby Ola for hosting the giveaway - hope you all can get a chance to go in and check out their shop for your baby and mommy-related products. 

I'll do another giveaway tomorrow ... stay tuned! 

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Also a quick shout out and thanks to Chad Evertiz of Evertiz Consulting! Last week, Chad made some subtle yet wonderful changes to the Gigi Photography blog. Did you all notice the drop down menus, how the comments appear on the blog and the size of the photos? Yup. Chad did all that. Thank you, Chad! I appreciate your hard work! 

Jared+Amanda

Well, here it is .... the sneak peek a lot of you have been looking forward to!/

You see, the trouble is - there are so many shots from this beautiful wedding day, it's hard to narrow them down to ONE sneak peek ... so let's just say this is J+A's Sneak Peek: Chapter 1. 

At the salon ... getting ready for the big day ...

makeup time ...

the bride's shoes... almost ready ...                   the last few moments of being Miss before becoming Mrs. 


......... and that is the end of the today's sneak peek! Sorry! I promise - I will do another chapter from Jared+Amanda's wedding soon! Stay tuuuuuned!
P.S. Also, there's a little bit of time left to enter to win this week's giveaway! Just scroll down and enter your comment for a chance to win your prize of a gift certificate from Baby Ola! 

Today, let the laundry slide.

*Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, 
and pick you up and take you to the park to play. 
*Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes 
in the sink, 
and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together. 
*Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and 

keep the computer off, and sit with you in the 
backyard and blow bubbles. 
*Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once , not even a 
tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the 
ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by. 
*Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are 
going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision 
I have made where you are concerned. 
*Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, 
and I won't stand over you trying to fix them. 
*Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy 
us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys. 
*Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you 
a story about how you were born and how much I love you. 
*Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry. 
*Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars. 
*Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows. 
*Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God 
has given me the greatest gift ever given. 
*And when I kiss you good night I will hold you a little tighter, 
a ittle longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask Him for nothing, 

except one more day... 

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My friend sent me the above in an e-mail last night and it touched my heart. Again, it's been too busy this week ... so I'm taking today to regroup with my kids ... we're just going to hang out and not do anything too crazy or hectic, but just spend the day together. 

I hope you can have the same kind of day with your kids. :) 

Here are some photos from a recent session with the CUUUU-TEST family ever - they are in Ontario, vacationing all the way from Ireland. I have had the pleasure of photographing them a few years ago, so it was a special treat to meet Baby Jack, just 4.5 months old. 

And his big sister, Emma, grew so much since I saw her last year ... she reminded me a LOT of my own little Lyla. 

How can I not show this one in FULL colour?! His eyes just *sparkled!* 

He loved his mommy - you could see the connection easily. 

And little Emma was a daddy's girl, through and through!

I hope you guys enjoy your vacation here in Ontario - and hope you liked your sneak peek! I can't wait to unveail your full gallery!