Lauryn's Photo Shoot

We had always wanted to have Little Miss photographed as an infant by a Baby Photographer, but never got around to it. So this time with Lauryn, we were fortunate enough for the following story to have come together.

A good friend had seen on her Facebook that a local photographer was looking for newborn models for a photo workshop that she was hosting. She passed the information to me, I contacted them and we were selected!!  Lauryn would be 2 weeks old on the photo shoot day.

Hubby and I really didn't know anything about the photographers and were just excited to be involved in the experience.  I figured they were local photographers from the Toronto area, holding a workshop.  Boy were we wrong!!

We arrived that Wednesday morning at the studio, a beautiful one at that, that overlooked a beautifully landscaped backyard onto the Welland River.

Studio

Beautiful Backyard

Looking down to the Welland River

Brittany (one of the main photographers~which I didn't know at the time who she was) took Lauryn, stripped her down to her diaper, swaddled her up and started to put her to sleep. We made our way out to the studio to find it full with 12 eager students waiting to learn 'the baby ways' from Carrie and Britt.  Again, we figured all these students were local Niagara/Toronto photographers there to learn.  WRONG AGAIN!!

Looking into the studio

They set up their spot to photograph Lauryn and started to teach about lighting and position and all the 'techy' stuff to do with cameras. Hubby and I stood there amazed as Lauryn was moved and positioned and still sleeping!  We were saying to ourselves...'hurry up and take the pictures before she wakes up!!'  :D We just had no clue how good these ladies were!

Brittany teaching 

Hubby is chatting away with students about where they are from, how did they hear about the workshop etc. Turns out they were from Texas, Florida, Tennessee and someone was even coming from Japan or China for the next workshop!! They proceeded to tell us that these ladies were 'kinda a big deal', kinda like the 'Anne Geddes' of today!!

Turns out their company is called Baby as Art, they are from San Diego and are quite well known! We were completely shocked!! And excited!! They hold a few workshops a year, usually locally for them and then chose another destination and find a site to host one. This year, Daniela Berkhout, from Welland, Ontarion was chosen to host the workshop!

Carrie and Brittany working with Lauryn

We were completely impressed with the professionalism and caring nature of Brittany and Carrie as then worked with Lauryn. We could plainly see that they care about each baby, their demeanour and what their specific needs were. If Lauryn was hungry, they had me feed her, if her diaper needed changing, THEY DID IT!!  And without waking her I might add!  In our opinion they are like 'baby whisperers'! They were fantastic with her.

Shot #1

3 hours later and a sleeping baby, we made our way home!  In return for Lauryn being their model, we received Brittany's photographs of Lauryn in her poses.  We are super excited to have them and to have been apart of this experience!

Below are the professional pictures!

Celebrating the 4th of July!

We missed the big fireworks on Canada Day because of my due date and the baby didn't come. On we went with our lives and enjoyed our family of 3 with what little time we had left.

Pinterest

Tuesday evening everything started to change...Brackston Hicks got stronger, water broke and we started making phone calls!  We were off to the hospital at about 11:45pm and the newest family member arrived at 2am, July 4th!!

Mommy and baby girl

My Mom had about a 2 1/2 hr drive to get to the hospital and wouldn't you know it, she missed her birth by 5 minutes!!  5 minutes!!  Our newest little girl came SO fast compared to Little Misses 22hr arrival!!

Grammie and baby girl

I have to say we were elated when the Doctor said, 'It's a girl!' We had prayed for a girl and when I had my one and only ultrasound at 20 weeks, the technicians were 80% sure it was a girl!  So all along there were people asking, 'what if it isn't a girl?' I went and bought all girl items anyway...however I did keep all the receipts and didn't wash everything until we got home :D

Daddy and Lauryn

Miss Lauryn Mackenzie was a healthy 7.5lbs and 20 inches long...a little less and a little longer than her big sister when she was born.

Big Sister Emma holding the
long awaited Lauryn

We have been home now for 6 weeks and we are adjusting well.  Could use a little more sleep, but who couldn't with kids??  Little Miss is elated to have her little sister finally here and is always ready to help...that is, as long as it doesn't involve changing diapers!

Emma and Lauryn ~ 1 week old

When Lauyrn is upset, she rushes in to sing to her, grabs a diaper when we need one, gets me a glass of water, helps pick out an outfit, watches over her in the backseat, just to name a few...I think this 5 1/2 yr. age difference is working out great!

3 days old with Big Sister

Even Bailey welcomed Lauryn!

Now before I start getting letters about this picture...I'd like to say that this was a completely supervised visit from Bailey. We were there when he snuggled in and he didn't even stay. He hasn't been in there since and actually hardly gives her the time of day!!

Peanut Butter Fudge Cake with Peanut Butter Glaze

I figured since I mentioned this dessert in a prior post, I had better share it for all you who love the peanut butter/chocolate combination!!

This was acutally a recipe by Kraft Peanut Butter from a magazine some time ago...it was shared with me by the owner of the Cafe I worked at in highschool. I searched both the Canadian and American 'Kraft' websites, but neither of them have this recipe...it is from scratch...all of theirs suggest a cake mix as your base.  Blech...(don't get me wrong, I do use mixes as well, but it seems that with 'them', you are always using their prepared products-which I get, promoting their products...I guess I like the idea of I know what I'm putting in!)


Peanut Butter Fudge Cake
1/2 cup butter, soft
1/2 cup smooth or crunchy peanut butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3 eggs
3 squares, unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups cold water

Peanut Butter Glaze
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups sifted icing sugar
5-6 tbsp milk

For Cake
1. Generously grease a 12 cup bundt pan.
2. Cream butter, peanut butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well. Stir in the chocolate and vanilla.
4. In a separate bowl, mix together, flour, soda and salt. Add this to wet mixture alternately with water, make sure to mix well.
5. Pour into bundt pan.
6. Bake at 350 for 1 hour 10mins. Cool 5 mins then remove from pan. Cool thoroughly.

For Glaze
1. Cream butter, peanut butter, vanilla and salt.
2. Add sugar alternately with milk, beating until light and creamy.
3. Drizzle over cake when it is completely cooled.


I'm sorry I didn't think about taking a picture of it when I made it...and haven't had an opportunity to make another one yet.

I did however find this picture when I googled a chocolate bundt cake...I did not use this recipe though. Mine had more glaze over it!!  Mmmmmm.....

Enjoy!

picture