gigiblog

And baby makes six ...

When I received Janet's call to schedule her maternity session, I was so excited to find out this was her fourth baby ... I LOVE big families! I absolutely love them ....! I find them very inspiring (I know, my hubby's in trouble, eh?) and so wonderful. :) 

Soooo - fast forward a few weeks to the session date ... and I wasn't disapointed! What a LOVELY family! The kids were so amazing and listened to everything I said. I don't think I've ever had an easier session with such willing subjects! 

And mom was just glowing. And so she should be. I would be proud if these kids were mine, too!

I LOOOOOVE this shot! Priceless!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this one, too! 

And here's mommy's little girl ... she'll become a big sister in a few days ...

and the family ...

Janet, I wish you an easy, speedy labour and delivery ... and I am looking forward to meeting your new sweet bundle in just a short while! :)  

My Cup of Tea.

Just as I was about to start writing this post, the lyrics and song "Getting to know you ..." popped into my head. I thought about it for a minute (but only a minute because it's 1:14 a.m. and my brain is pretty much on it's last leg right now - no worries, it's nothing a bit of sleep can't fix!) but couldnt' figure out what movie that song was from. 

Can you hear it with me?

"Getting to know you, getting to know all about you.
Getting to like you, getting to hope you like me.
Getting to know you, putting it my way,
But nicely,
You are precisely,
My cup of tea."

Ah, well, thank God for Google to answer all my questions! The song is from the King and I (and if you have never watched it, RENT it this weekend! It's a classic!)...

Anyway, I am rambling. That's because it's late and I should be sleeping - but my point is these sweet kids are MY cup of tea. I've been photographing them for four years now and have loved each and every session with their family! 

First up - some sisterly love ... :) Always warms my heart!

We always do an upside down shot at each session ... ;) 

Some snuggles with daddy ...

What a munchkin!

I looooove this one because it really sums up this little sweetie in a nutshell!

and the family ...

Thanks, guys, for a fun filled morning, despite the frost on the grass, frozen fingers and chilly temperatures! Your gallery will be live soon!

 

Fifty-seven Days.

57 days. 13 Hours. 47 Minutes.

That's how much time we have until ..... CHRISTMAS! Yeahhhh!!!

And here in the Gauthier household, well, Christmas preparations have begun. I have brought one ONE Christmas decoration for the dining room table, but come November 1, everything comes out (except the live tree - obviously). 

The girls and I decided to make some gingerbread cookie ornaments for the tree this year. We invited our special friend, Nanny Elaine (commonly referred to as Mary Poppins in this house!), to join in the fun.

Five hours later, we were covered in sparkles, paint, dough, flour and we trying to fit over-sized ribbon into too-small ornament holes ...

Yikes! I'm soooo sorry Elaine! Hahaha! I had NO idea it would take that long! My goodness ... and what a mess by the time we were done!

BUT - it was so much fun and I love how the ornaments (all 400 of them!) turned out!

Okay, so we didn't make 400 - but it FELT like it!

So if you're family and if you're reading this, guaranteed you will be getting an ornament attached to your Christmas present this year! ;)

Here's Lacey, making the salt dough ...

rolling out the dough ...

Lyla had to try it out, too.

 

Many hands make light work. Or, rather, MESSY.

Don't worry. She's eating Cheerios, NOT salt dough.

The girls just love Nanny Elaine so much ...

Lyla's doing her new cheese face  in the background... hmm .... what I'd like to know is who taught her that?! A photographer's nightmare! 

and the end results!

Totally worth the five hours of salt-doug-filled labour! 

Let the Christmas season BEGIN!

  (Ducking ... because I know someone wants to hit me since Halloween isn't even over! Hee hee!)

P.S.

If you want to make these ornaments with your kids, here's the recipe:

• 1 cup of fine salt
• 1 cup of flour
• 1/2 cup of water (may add more)

Instructions:

• In a large bowl, combine the salt and the flour
• Make a well in the salt/flour mixture and add the water
• Knead until smooth and shape into a ball

When not in use, wrap in plastic or store in an airtight container

HINT: To get a softer dough you can add more flour. Adding more salt will lend a more granulous affect. Use wallpaper glue and the dough with be more cohesive. To add color to your dough, use different types of flour or add food coloring or paint. Knead to get an even color. You may also paint your ornaments and sculptures after they dry.                                                                                                                                                

A slice of Heaven.

My mother-in-law called me this morning and offered to take my three little ladies for the afternoon ... boy, did I jump on that opportunity! I rarely have an afternoon without them so this is a special treat. I promptly drove myself to the nearest Tim Hortons and bought myself my favourite bagel (for those you in the U.S., you are missing out! Seriously!) and a yummy French Vanilla coffee and I'm snuggled down about to proof and edit like a Mad Woman. A serious mad woman. I am determined that everyone will have their online galleries THIS week as I want to ensure all orders are ready to be placed for Christmas. I only have a few more sessions before the Christmas cut-off .. so time is ticking! 

Oh, and I also wanted to wanted to announce that it's been TWO FULL years of blogging for me! Wow! Time just WHIZZED by! Seriously. I can't believe it's been TWO years?! 

To celebrate this two year mark, I'm going to offer a prize to the first blog reader who can answer these two questions correctly:

What is my FAVOURITE movie ever?

What is my dog's name?

Hee hee!! I have you been reading my blog for two years (or even a year!), you'll know those answers for sure! (Check the archives if you don't know the answers ... they are both posted in the history of the blog.)

The prize for the first blog reader to answer my question (answer by commenting on this post) is this stunning photo Christmas ornament (which I am selling this Christmas). If you have had a recent Gigi session, it will come with a photo of your choice from your session included. 

These beautiful glass ornaments are handmade by a fellow Ontario resident! I have ordered quite a few for my Christmas clients and they will be available online in the accessories store when you login to see your proofs. 

Now, on to a sneak peek that I know is overdue!

We had so much fun together ... running around, looking for animals, hanging out... 

Isn't she just gorgeous?! You may recognize her as she is also on my website (www.gigiphotography.com).

Enjoy the sneak peek, Andrea! :) 

Edited to add: Claire was RIGHT! She is the winner of Christmas ornament! Claire, I will get that to you as soon as I receive my first shipment! Thanks everyone! :D

P.S. I LOOOOOVE Little Women and Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones, so you guys were pretty close! ;)

As close as family ...

It's the friends you can call up at 4 a.m. that matter. 

Marlene Dietrich

Are you so blessed as I am to have a friend like that? I hope so. I am!

Leanne Button is that friend for me. I know she'd do anything in a heartbeat for my family. I know she loves my kids as much as I love hers! And I know she'll be there for me no matter what. We often say we're sisters from another mother! ;)

My family has been so blessed over the past few years to have struck up a rather unique friendship with the Buttons. Isn't it wonderful to have friends that you can feel so incredibly comfortable with that they feel like your own flesh and blood? Yup. That's how it is with the Button family - and we wouldn't have it any other way! 

Enjoy your sneakiepeakie, Button Family!

Would it be cheesy to say they're as cute as a button? LOL!

Little Daws-man!!! Dude!!!!

and Chais ...

We love you, Buttons! 

Never alone.

A mother's joy begins when new life is stirring inside...

 when a tiny heartbeat is heard for the very first time, 

and a playful kick reminds her that she is never alone.

 -- Author Unknown

There is nothing like it.

Nothing like carrying a tiny little person inside of your own body ... knowing a new life is being created in your womb ... knowing a tiny miracle is taking place ... feeling each little roll and kick and hiccup ... hearing your baby's heartbeat for the first time ... seeing your body change and grow with this new little life inside of you ... knowing you are never alone wherever you go. In the first few months when no one knows you are pregnant, it's like carrying around a little secret of incredible joy and immense love.

Sometimes I feel like we, as women, really have some true challenges (read: harder challenges than men!) to face in life  - examples being: birthing children, raising children, being moms, working careers, volunteering, riding emotional roller coasters, PMS, menopause ... and the list goes on and on ...) 

... and then I remember what it was like to carry around a new life inside my womb. 

It's amazing. An absolute, absolute, absolute amazing miracle.

This sneak peak is for Stacey - I know she's been waiting! Enjoy!

Isn't she gorgeous? 

Enjoy these last few months of your pregnancy. I cannot WAIT to meet your sweet baby! :) 

P.S Go on, leave some blog lovin'! I get lots of people saying they read the blog but .... hey! Where are your comments?! Go on, leave a comment or two here on the blog! I'd LOOOOOOOOVE to hear from you! It'll make my day! :D

Sweet as {sugar}

Here's a little sneak peek for the Harris family ... :)

Sweet as sugar. 

These two little cuties were so easy to photograph - and they were sooo cute to boot! 

Big sister was all smiles and such a happy go lucky litle girl - and you could see how much she loves her little brother. She knew just what to say to make him smile and grin and giggle. She's doing a great job being a big sister!

Oh my word - they are so cute! Look at those sweet faces!

(Photographer's favorite!!!!!)

Some loving for daddy ...

(Ohhh, I love this one, too!)

What a cutie-pie. This little man also stole my heart!

Even though it was freezing cold during the session and right smack dab in the middle of the supper hour, this little sweetheart barely complained at all! He was amazing ... 

More sneak peeks to come soon! Stay tuned!

________________________________________

Also, in case you're wondering, yes, I'm still doing giveaways! It's just been SOOOOO busy in the studio lately that I haven't had a chance to select which giveaway I want to do next! I will announce the next one SOON! Keep checking back for fun, fabulous giveaways! :) 

Bump.

Hey! Wow - the weekend flew by and I can't believe I didn't have a chance to blog! I'm so sorry! My apologies. I have been working very hard lately and I think it's hitting me physically. I'm starting to feel a little "off" ... here's hoping I don't get what the kids were sick with last week.

I have been meeting such great new clients and having so much fun with all the sessions in the past week. One extremely special session was that of Gillian (who was one of my bridesmaids) & David - my dear friends - who are expecting their first baby this Christmas. 

Yipppeeeee! I'm soooooo thrilled for them! What an exciting, amazing, challenging yet INCREDIBLE new chapter in their lives ... they already have the sweetest love story to tell their kids and I know they will make AMAZING parents. :) 

We drove half an hour for this location and it was WORTH the drive, don't you agree?

Just two months till we get to meet your newborn - what a blessing!

________________________________

Also, it's that time of year again. 

Time to star thinking about  .... are you ready? ... Christmas. Yup. That beautiful, wonderful, amazingly-shiny-sparkly-lovely Christmas season. 

I don't know about you but ever year, the Christmas holiday gets my mind thinking of how blessed I am. VERY blessed. In fact, I don't think I could be more blessed. 

And I am grateful. Extremely grateful. And I want to pass on these blessings to others - especially during the Christmas season. 

If you are looking for a way to pay it forward this Christmas, why not join forces with Operation Christmas Child.

All you need to spread the love this Christmas is a shoebox, a few presents and a little love. 

Operation Christmas Child packs up more than 61 million shoe boxes - all stuffed to the brim with presents specifically chosen for children of various ages - and shipped them across the world to children in need. 

How can you help? Pick up a shoebox from my studio (Gigi Photography 12 York Street -you can pick it up when I shoot your session) or Broadway Tabernacle (www.broadwaytab.com), go to the store and fill up the shoebox with gifts suited for a boy or a girl (you can choose an age, as well) and the drop off your box back at my studio by November 17th. 

Your shoebox will be collected and shipped appropriately. 

Just imagine the joy you will share with a child this Christmas season ... 

It's a small world - er, town.

It's funny how things turn out.

 I first met this client four years ago when we, toting our four month old babies, enrolled in a stroller fitness class together here in town. Life continued - three years sped by - and then last year, we met up again, by chance, at a local fall festival and found out we're nearly neighbours. Since then, I have met up with this family for a few playdates and have re-connected with their sweet family ... I always find it so wonderful when clients become friends!

And it sure makes the session all the more sweeter, as it was this past weekend when I got together with this family for their portraits. 

First off, is Macy. 

Sweet, sweet baby - she steals the show when she enters a room ... look at that adorable face!

and here's her big brother - he was sooo easy to photograph! Full of love for his parents and his sister - and his car (note the car in his hand) ...;)

He is the BEST big brother ...

Proof is in the kiss!

Look at her go! :) 

I ADORE this precious image ... 

I can't wait to unveil your full gallery - :) Stay tuned!  

You are loved.

*screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech*

Ya hear that?!

That's me.

Slamming on the brakes.

Yeah. It's been BUUUSSSSY lately and sitting here, in my upstairs hallway on the floor, surrounded by 24 loads of (clean, ahem) laundry that needs to be put away. Things sometimes are shuffled onto the back burner - things like laundry! - when I have so many sessions jam packed in such a short span of time- as it has been lately.

VERY busy - but also VERY wonderful.

It's been FUNNNN this fall! I've met new clients and spent afternoon playing in the leaves with old clients ... good times all around. 

Like this family. I met them two years ago and had a FANTASTIC time with them! I think, actually, they were one of the very first families featured on my blog, believe it or not. 

Now, they have one more wee boy to add to the family fun.

I don't think any baby has it better than this little guy ... (I LOVE this shot!! LOVE it!)

You could just see the LOVE pouring out of his parents and into the life of this sweet baby boy..

Doesn't he have fantastically gorgeous blue eyes?

and his big brother has grown so much since I saw him last!

Hello, cuteness. :) 

Who can resist some brotherly sweetness?! Love it!

and where it ALLLL began: two people who fell in love. 

What a fun session! And while we were shooting, mom pointed out "There's a deer behind you!" and LO AND BEHOLD - there were two BEAUTIFUL deer standing quietly about 20 feet  behind me ...they didn't run away, they just stood there and stared at us - it was beautiful! What a way to end a session!