Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!!!!!

Ok guys, I'm closing up shop for a week or two while my kids are out of school. I'll still be shooting here and there and checking emails/messages every few days in case something comes up, but for the most part I'll be baking, ice skating, wrapping gifts, visiting Santa, and enjoying my wonderful kiddos for a bit. I hope you all get a chance to do the same!

I blogged about stressing over the holiday cards this year...so had to share what I finally came up with. My clients should have all gotten this in the mail. And the number one question has been: "Did you photoshop the noses on them??" The answer is no, I actually taped red pom- poms onto them, including the baby. Anything for a picture. If only I had thought of the photoshopping :)


I've got SO MUCH planned for 2007 so stay tuned!!

PS-I am in desperate need of a new part-time babysitter--if you know of someone, can you please email me? deanna@devine-memories.com

Congratulations!

Voting in our Image of the Year Contest is now closed.

Congratulations to our winner, "Dance Like No One is Watching"! It was close all the way until the end. I really appreciate all the votes in this fun little contest and all the wonderful feedback.

Look for our little dancing girl to be featured on the splash page of my website in 2007! The other nominees will also be featured throughout. You can also check out lots of my other favorites in the end of the year slideshow, 2006-A Year of Love

More fun contests are coming soon so be sure you subscribe to the blog so you can have my blog posts sent right to your email! Click here to subscribe.

I'm off to spend the evening decorating cookies for my son's classmates, I hope you're all out there enjoying the holiday fun :)

Deanna

Wow, it's close!!!

I'll be closing the voting Wednesday...it's still a close race so if you haven't voted already, please do! Thanks so much to everyone who has voted so far!! See the blog below to vote.

Back to the holiday madness.

Vote for your favorite image of 2006

Vote here for your favorite image of 2006!

It was really, really hard to narrow it down to these six, and I wanted to only do five but couldn't let any go. Please vote for the one that evokes the most emotion when you look at it, no matter what emotion that is (laughter, joy, sadness, etc.)and the one you feel could be a Devine Memories signature image.

The winner will receive an 8x10 of the image and a $50 gift certificate, plus will be the new featured image of the main page of my website!

Please vote only once. You can click on the image to view it larger. I will announce the winner here next week.

Image #1-Little Ballerina

Image #2-Kiss from Mommy

Image #3-Dance Like No One is Watching

Image #4-Waiting

Image #5-Monkeys on our Backs

Image #6-Choked up Dad

Voting is now closed.

Christmas Lights

I know everyone probably saw this video on the commercial, but I love it and wanted to share...be sure you watch the grand finale at the end-unbelievable!



My goal is to someday do something like this to my house ;) Wouldn't my neighbors love me!!

Can you imagine the electric bill?

Dance Like No One is Watching

I had the absolute pleasure of being invited into the world of little Mia and little-er Ella this past week. The moment I met Mia, I wanted to get my camera on her...at our consultation she was taking me by the hand and leading me from room to room to play with her. With those big brown eyes and sweet curls, she is completely irresistable.


Ella was born just a couple of weeks before my own Maddy, so taking her picture tugged at my heartstrings. I recognize at a heightened level right now the amount of emotion that those first smiles and coos evoke from a little baby girl of only 2 months. Her porcelain skin and gorgeous eyes that photograph like crystals made her an easy subject.


After we were finished, Mom and I were sitting and chatting and we looked up across the hallway, and Mia was dancing away, having the absolute time of her life. Ah, to be a kid again...

(click on image to see it bigger)


***side note---I had a manic rush of creativity after my last post and finished my holiday cards in record time...they may actually arrive before Christmas Eve this year!!

Little Miss Sunshine

I'm sitting here in a complete stressed out daze. You see, when you are a) a children's photographer who has created thousands of Christmas cards for local moms and dads, b) a mother of three, and c) mom of a brand new baby.... there is A LOT of pressure to have the greatest cards ever. Best pictures, best designs, best ideas....here's what I have so far....




yep, that's right, nothing.

Why oh why do I wait til the last minute every year...I keep telling myself that I am most creative when under pressure. It's not helping.

In the meantime, I thought I'd make myself feel better by sharing some pictures of my little sweetie, who is turning 2 months old tomorrow!! I haven't taken her picture in a few weeks, and while I was shooting I couldn't believe how much she has already changed. Her little personality is coming out and I have fallen in love with her all over again. I can't imagine life now without her.

Anyways, here she is, little Miss Sunshine, Madeleine...


Also, make sure you guys subscribe to the blog (just enter your email address and follow the instructions over here on the side) because starting next month, I'm going to be having tons of giveaways, prizes, and other really cool stuff. We're working on some ideas that you are not going to want to miss, so sign up and you'll be notified when I post a new blog!

Back to stressing...

Holiday Gift Ideas - Gift Certificates

GIFT CERTIFICATES for Devine Memories Photography are such a great gift for moms, dads, grandparents, sisters, brothers, and friends. Portraits are gifts that bring an entire lifetime of joy, what better way to show your love?

Gift Certificates are available in any amount and can be picked up or mailed to you the day you order them, so they make great last minute gift ideas.

Call 972.596.5500 or email us to order your gift certificate for the Holidays!

Why you should book the Baby Plan for your baby...

...because they grow THIS FAST!!!!!!!

This was just in August, twins Caroline and William had the first of their 4 photo sessions when they were only a few weeks old...



And here they are in November, only 3 months later...need I say more...


And here is big brother, who was busy at "work" while we were shooting away...


The Baby Plan is 4 photo sessions over the course of your baby's first year of life. At the end of the year, we create a coffee table book with pictures from each session that documents all the changes and milestones during that precious time. This is a very popular option for new moms and dads so space is limited, so it's best to book while you are still expecting. A maternity session can also be substituted for any session. Call us or email if you would like more information or want to book your Baby Plan, 972-596-5500.

Back to work

Hey everyone!

A couple of weeks ago, after what seemed like a very short maternity leave, I went to my first shoot since having Maddy . I have to admit, it took everything in me to get out the door and leave Maddy behind. I had to hold back the tears as I kissed her goodbye. I know that all my "real" working-mom readers are rolling their eyes at me right now; believe me I realize how blessed I am to be here with her most of the day. But still, leaving her here for the first time after becoming accustomed to staring at her all day long was really stinkin' tough!

But when I drove up and walked in the house, I remembered...this is what I live for. Melain and her gorgeous family welcomed me in and let me do what I do best-capture their life right now...loving each other to death and anxiously awaiting the birth of another baby girl. I was so uplifted and felt whole again after leaving the shoot, and haven't looked back since.

Meet Parker, another one of my little ballerinas! And her adoring Mommy and Daddy.

Happy Thanksgiving

I am having to close a day early for Thanksgiving due to my two oldest being sick! I'll be back next Monday. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Deanna

Maternity Leave is over

I'm baaaaaack!!!

I'll be back to work this week and will be available for you again. Thank you so much for your patience during my absence. Pam will still be working in the office part time to help me get back into the swing of things.

I'm looking forward to shooting again (NOT looking forward to leaving Maddy yet...how did time go so fast!!) and meeting all my new clients.

"So, how have the kids been since Maddy arrived?"

This is an account of my morning:

I'm sitting in the living room, nursing a very hungry Maddy, and hear the water in the kitchen suddenly start running...

"Gabby???? What are you doing, Gabby?"

"Nuffing, Mommy."

"I hear the water running, why is the water running?"

"I'm hewlping you."

"Gabby, turn the water off."

"But Mommy, I'm hewlping youuuu!"

"Gabby, I'm going to count to three, and that water better be off..."

"Mommmmmmy, I doing the dishes!!"

Suddenly, I'm intrigued...I had managed to empty the dishwasher but not load it, oh the mess she must be making! I detach a screaming Madeleine, walk to the the kitchen, and see that indeed, Gabby has rinsed every dish carefully and scrubbed them with the scrub brush, and they are all ready to be loaded into the dishwasher.

"Seeeee, Mommy??? I hewlped you!"

"You sure did, Gabby-girl." Big sigh. Can you believe she's only THREE...she looks like such a big girl doing big girl things...

It's too bad that she gets no attention...

She's going to think that I have a big black camera growing on my face.

And she wouldn't know a world without their smiling, attentive faces in it...


And our tiny dancer, I just can't get over how much she's turning out to look like me!!! (do you know how many times in a DAY that I hear my kids don't look a thing like me?!?!?!) 2 1/2 weeks old-she's eating and sleeping tons, and has gained well over a pound and almost 2 inches since we brought her home.

Someone please tell me how to make time stop!


The answer to the number of pictures I have taken of the kids since Maddy's birth- 929.

Daddy and Maddy

Yep, he's as in love with her as I am...






And two others who are crazy about her...what a lucky little girl!!


And had to show off one or two of the poor, *neglected "middle child"

*ya right!!




And just for fun---the first to email me with the closest guess to how many shots I've taken of my kids since my maternity leave began 2 weeks ago gets a gift certificate for $50! Leave your answer in a comment below, be sure I have your email address, and I'll announce the answer in a couple of days.

D

You thought I was kidding...

...about taking pictures of her everyday...

Sweet, sweet baby girl... 6 days old.
















And look who I got together today!!
It speaks volumes to me about how much these two little girls already look up to their big brother...

Two Outta Three...

I managed to get my two girls in one frame...will have to work on Mikey later!




And one of my sweet Maddy that I love-eyes wide open (she still looks like such a baldy to me!)

I am in complete and total heaven :) :) :)

(Drumroll please...) Introducing....

Madeleine Grace Silvestre
Born Saturday, October 7th, 5:18PM
7 pounds 2 ounces, 18 inches

She surprised us with about half the hair of her older brother and sister, and seems to look just like her Mommy! Yay, finally!!!

These were taken in her hospital room the day we went home. The 70's polka dot and scary-lace dress belonged to Mommy exactly 30 years ago, and is what Mommy wore home from the hospital, as well as big sister Gabby.

She is the sweetest, most angelic little baby and absolutely adored by Mikey and Gabby. They are madly in love and she adores them as well.

Life is a little nuts adjusting to having 3, and you would think I'd never had a newborn before...it's like starting all over. But it's wonderful and we are in heaven!

Everyone wants to know where we got the adorable spotted blankie w/ her name stitched... Two of my clients make these-- http://www.chicpetitemonogrammedgifts.com/