Introducing Madison Elizabeth Fairweather | #MyFairweatherBaby | Newborn Photography

We're delighted to introduce you to

Madison Elizabeth Fairweather

Our precious baby girl Madison entered the world just shy of 42 weeks on May 5, 2015 at 2:27 AM. She is our little Cinco de Mayo baby! We're now calling the holiday Cinco de Madison, thanks to the suggestion of our sweet friend Amanda. And yes, there will **definitely** be some Mexican themed birthday parties in her future! Who doesn't love piñatas?! And baby sombreros! Which I began searching for the day we left the hospital. They **do** exist :) Party City for the win!

I went into labor in the early morning on Monday, May 4 & after about 18 hours of labor at home, Dean packed up the car & we drove the 15 minutes (which, at the time, seemed **much** longer) to the hospital. Madison was born about 3 hours later on Tuesday morning, healthy & pink & with adorable newborn wrinkly fingers & toes. (It didn't occur to me until we realized the date that we had delivered on a holiday. Truly a reason to fiesta!) She weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces & measured 21.5 inches long, & we love her to pieces.

As my mother-in-law later asked, "Can you imagine life without her??" No we can't. At all :)

We are beyond blessed that the Lord would entrust us with this sweet baby girl & bring this diapered bundle into our lives!!! After she was born, I kept adding "She's so cute!" to everything she did - like "Ohh, she did a tiny sneeze - she's so cute!" & "Look, she's asleep. She's so cute!"

And that is still my consensus. I know, I know, I'm her mama so I'm supposed to say things like that buuut truth is I can't help it.

I am SO thankful for my incredible husband who was supportive & encouraging the whole time! Dean pushed on my back over & over ... & over & over during my hours of back labor, made sure I stayed hydrated, kept me calm, prayed for us & read the Scripture verses we had printed (Val Marie's labor verses). He was such a wonderful coach & I cannot imagine having gone through labor & delivery without him beside me :)

And we are really grateful for the wonderful Bradley Birth classes we took for 12 weeks beforehand (if you're in the Columbia area, look up Ruth Glowacki. She is a fantastic teacher!). They focused on preparing us for what to expect throughout a natural labor & delivery as well as teaching Dean how to be my labor coach. We joked during my pregnancy that he would have to wear a referee jersey, carry a clipboard & blow his whistle at the hospital to make sure everything went OK. He ended up leaving the ref gear behind but I still think it would have been fun...

One verse I had been mediating & reflecting on during my pregnancy that really brought me comfort was John 16:21, which says:

"A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born
she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world."

That is the best way I can describe the feelings I experienced after birth. Good-bye, painful contractions. Hello, beautiful little daughter!

Jonathan + Crissy | Folly Beach Wedding | Folly Beach Wedding Photographer

If there was one wedding I would have liked to have been both the photographer AND a guest, it would definitely be Jonathan & Crissy's! They intricately planned a gorgeous, intimate wedding ceremony with their families on the sandy shores of Folly Beach, followed by an elegant, laughter-filled reception on a beach house balcony overlooking the setting sun.

And honestly, the Etters are SUCH a divinely sweet couple, I practically did feel like a guest :) Who could have guessed that an introduction through an old coworker almost 3 years ago would lead to them meeting for the first time in a WalMart parking lot, & then into love -> engagement -> marriage?! God has such a way of bringing people together in His timing & His way.

She loves Jonathan's big heart, who so sweetly (literally!) proposed to Crissy via ring pop, which is evidence of how big Crissy's heart is. (Ring pops, of course, then made their guest appearance at the couple's glitzy reception table. Which Crissy either made/created/put together almost all you see herself! SO creative & talented! I could have photographed them & that table all night.)

Throughout their whole wedding day, she was constantly considered with her guests' needs - did they have everything they needed, how could she help them. Jonathan was right by her side - holding her dress, giving her his hand, guiding her in the small of her back. A true servant-hearted husband right from the I Do's, which were officiated by Jonathan's dad as their family gathered in a small circle around them on the beachfront.

Truly a Happy Ever Etter indeed!
 

Vendors:

Wedding dress : Mori Lee
Wedding shoes: Vince Camuto
Groom’s suit: Jos. A Banks
Florist: Whole Foods
Cake: Publix
Catering: Sticky Fingers
Favors: Ring pops

Hooman + Priscilla | Salamander Resort and Spa Engagement | Middleburg Engagement Photographer

On a rainy Saturday morning, Hooman & Priscilla arrived at Middleburg's well-known Salamander Resort & Spa, looking at chic as ever. Don't get stuck only looking only on the outside though. These two are among the kindest, most gentle-hearted & thoughtful people I've ever met. I have the privilege to not only be photographing their wedding but to call them dear, dear friends!

When they started dating last year, we were THRILLED!!! Having two of your sweet friends fall in love & get engaged is such a beautiful journey to watch unfold. I could go on & ON about them!

Dean & I have been blessed to the max by having Hooman & Priscilla in each of our Small Groups & as constant encouragement to us, always spurring us on to walk closer with the Lord & seek Him first in all things.

They are so hospitable, caring, stylish, good-natured & like two peas in a pod - meant to be together. We are PUMPED for their wedding this fall, & more importantly, for their marriage!

Hooman, you knocked it out of the park by asking Priscilla to be your wife :) Priscilla, YAY for finding "the one whom your soul loves." We love y'all!

Dave + Leanne | Cobbler Mountain Cellars Engagement Session | Delaplane Photographer

The way he looks at her. The way she smiles back, passing the same unsaid emotion back.

Stop it.

Not really, it's just a silly expression for, "Please, whatever you do, keep doing that during your engagement session."

Photographing Dave & Leanne at one of their favorite local wineries, Cobbler Mountain Cellars, was alllll that & a bag of chips. From the moment we met they were swapping stories & telling jokes with me like we went way back to our childhood years. Add in the fact that Dave absolutely adores his glowing bride-to-be & a beautiful golden hour lighting streaming across the sprawling grapevines & yep, a photographer's dream ♥

Dave & Leanne, y'all were such a joy to photograph! I can't wait for your fall wedding at Cloverdale Barn!

{July Goals}

'Be a branch snapper off-er in a world where people are in the thick of the woods."
Carrie Grace

Earlier this week, I read an incredible encouragement email from the wonderful creator of The Kindness Box, Carrie Grace. It's so like God to have His perfect timing, right? These past few weeks I've been struggling with feeling & showing love & kindness to others. This often-tired new mama was trying in my own strength, & on my terms, to love others...& not quite getting it right.

Then I read Carrie's email:

"Perhaps that is why we aren't called to go at this life alone. Maybe God & others who reflect Him to us are tiny branch snappers...I think we are called to make getting out of the woods easier for one another. That we are supposed to speak truth in love as a means to get others into the clear.

Talk about a change in perspective! In the midst of being in what I'll call an un-kindness rut, God met me where I was & reminded me of the bigger picture - it's not about simply doing kind things or speaking with kindness toward others, it's about snapping those little branches off for those He's put in my life. It's about being willing to walk through the woods with them. As Carrie put it, "It's about staying when the woods are dark & cold & being willing to sit in the hard waiting period with others. And it's also about refusing to let someone stay."

Snap, snap, snap.

July Goals

>> Love & respect Dean well
>> Be an intentional mama & point Madison to the Lord
>> Commit new verses to memory
>> Road trip to Nashville!!!
>> Read The Best Yes & go through the Bible study at church
>> Take a walk with Madison 1x a day
>> Review our budget & plan for August
>> Lovingly serve our LMP clients
>> Treat others with an abundance of kindness

P.S. A first family photo with our little girl Madison! Taken by Casey Edwards Photography. (See My Fairweather Baby posts for more).