Raise 'em up | Welcome Eden Marie | Indianapolis Children's Photographer

So you meet someone
The only one
Take (them) by the hand
Buy some land
Make some love
And then...babies come

Raise 'em up
Raise 'em up

Raise 'em up trophy high
Raise 'em up to the sky
Raise 'em up, show everyone that newborn smile
Raise 'em up tall and strong
Raise 'em up right from wrong
Raise 'em up so damn high they can hear God singing along

These are lyrics from one of my favorite songs by my absolute favorite artist Keith urban. Every time I hear this song I look at my kids and smile.  I think about this journey that we are on raising them.  Watching them grow and learn and play every single day - seeing them as newborns with eyes of wonder and discovery and then all of a sudden they morph into little people with ideas and thoughts of their own.  Every day is an adventure - not always easy - but we do our best to "raise 'em up" to be proud, kind, hard working, self-giving human beings.  

Miss Eden Marie was born on July 6th.  I don't think I realized how much I wanted a daughter until she arrived.  Not that I wouldn't have been happy with a boy - I do really like the two that we already have (:  but there is a certain level of excitement and unknown with adding a girl to the mix.  She has stole all of our hearts, especially my oldest son Louis who has worn the biggest smile on his face from the moment he met her.  He ADORES his little Eden.  He talks to her, gushes over how cute she is, kisses her about 50 times a day, and helps gives her baths. Nick is sweet to her too, but is feeling the effects somewhat that she knocked him off of the baby podium.  

As with all of my children, I look forward to watching Eden grow and develop into a little person.  What will she like to do?  Will she be shy or outgoing?  Princess or tomboy (like mom)?  Will her brown hair turn blonde???  I can't wait to see her interact with her brothers as she grows.

Parenthood is so crazy.  It's nonstop and sometimes you just want a break.  But when you do get a break from your kids, whether it be for a night out or a few days away, the one thing constantly on your mind is them.  And you talk about them.  And you miss them.  And you are so happy when you are all back under one roof again, because well, that's when you are whole.  I think it's hard to understand what real, self-giving love is until you are a parent.  I sometimes tell my kid-less friends that yes, you love your spouse, but, wow, you LOVE your kids.  It's different.  Hard to explain unless you experience it.  

Raise 'em up (:
 

My Louis kissing my belly the morning I went into labor.  He loved his baby sister long before she was born.  (:

My Louis kissing my belly the morning I went into labor.  He loved his baby sister long before she was born.  (:

Eden Marie weighed in at 8 lbs. 4 oz.  She was 20.5 inches long.  For some reason my husband and I produce large babies, even though we are pretty small people.  (:

I was excited to hold a couple different newborn sessions with her.  A couple months ago I stocked up on some new wraps, backdrops, outfits, etc - both boy and girl.  Business expense (:  Also, my "independence day" photos below with the red, white, and blue were NOT taken with a real flag - it's a scarf from Old Navy. 

I'll end the post with a few of my favs of the boys from the past couple weeks.  Having a newborn around hasn't slowed them down one bit.  (:

Kelly Martin Photography offers custom on-location lifestyle and portrait professional photography services in Indianapolis and surrounding areas.  Session types include family, newborn, maternity, children, couples, engagement, seniors, lifestyle and more!  Real. Creative. Personalized.

If you are looking for a newborn or children's photographer, please contact me at kellymartinphotos@gmail.com or 765-749-4388.

Girls of Summer | The Wigand Girls | Zionsville Family Photographer

I met up with an old PwC co-worker of mine on a steamy and humid evening to capture some photos of her two girls.  Brooke and I worked together over 10 years ago (has it been THAT long???) and both of our lives have changed a lot since then.  I was excited to meet her two littles, Hadley and Norah.  We had fun chasing them around and generating some sweet smiles.  I think we also accomplished a few of the photos that sometimes are impossible - natural and fun sibling pictures.  (:  Thanks to the Wigand's for trusting me with capturing this time in the girls' lives and I can't wait to do it again! 

Kelly Martin Photography offers custom on-location lifestyle and portrait professional photography services in Indianapolis and surrounding areas.  Session types include family, newborn, maternity, children, couples, engagement, seniors, lifestyle and more!  Real. Creative. Personalized.

If you are looking for a family or children's photographer, please contact me at kellymartinphotos@gmail.com or 765-749-4388.

First Father's Day | Indianapolis Family Photographer

I LOVE it when photo sessions take on special meaning.  I was contacted to photograph a special multi-generational father's day session for a family - dad was celebrating his first father's day and grandpa was celebrating his first father's day as a grandparent.  Baby H was SO adorable and the love the family has for this child was so apparent.  The emotions were even a little stronger because mom, dad, and baby H live on the west coast, so visits with the grandparents are limited. I loved hanging out with this family and capturing some sweet moments - especially between son, dad, and grandpa. 

Kelly Martin Photography offers custom on-location lifestyle and portrait professional photography services in Indianapolis and surrounding areas.  Session types include family, newborn, maternity, children, couples, engagement, seniors, lifestyle and more!  Real. Creative. Personalized.

If you are looking for a family or children's photographer, please contact me at kellymartinphotos@gmail.com or 765-749-4388.

Aneesh on the Prowl | The Hrivnak Family | Zionsville Family Photographer

He's TWO and he's a jungle man - Aneesh is on the prowl!  Mom and Dad planned a safari-themed party for his birthday and wanted his session to reflect that.  Mission accomplished!  I can't tell you how much I love photographing the Hrivnak family - it was my third session with them and little Aneesh's happiness and cuteness in front of the camera never ceases to amaze me.  And I love the way Esha and Dustin interact with him - total sweetness.  They are such a beautiful family and I am so happy to also have them as wonderful friends.  We had a great session at Turkey Foot Nature Park in Zionsville, the most safari-like place I could find on the north-side.  (: 

Kelly Martin Photography offers custom on-location lifestyle and portrait professional photography services in Indianapolis and surrounding areas.  Session types include family, newborn, maternity, children, couples, engagement, seniors, lifestyle and more!  Real. Creative. Personalized.

If you are looking for a family or children's photographer, please contact me at kellymartinphotos@gmail.com or 765-749-4388.

Silly Sisters | The Hufford Family | Indianapolis Family Photographer

This might possibly be one of my favorite sessions to date.  For one, my clients were our good friends the Hufford's and we know them pretty well and love them to pieces.  Second, their girls, Lilly and Sammie, were in the most giddy and happy moods during the session that it really made life easy for me.  (:  Lastly, it was plain fun.  I seriously almost peed my pants at one point when the girls got a hold of the wagon and started running downhill with it and Matt had to run after them full steam.  It. Was. Hilarious. Don't worry, Matt, I didn't include any of those photos in the blog.  (: 

My husband and Matt go WAY back - they attended grade school and high school together.  They have this great group of grade school/high school friends that we keep in touch with and see fairly often.  I love how we all have watched each other's progress through various stages in life - dating, marriage, and now kids.  There used to be beer pong parties that lasted until the wee morning hours and now there are birthday parties in the afternoon that involve dozens of kids running around as we try to get a few words in with our friends before hearing "Mom, I need to go potty" or running to break up a quarrel.  At least we have each other through this stage.....and there is still beer.  (: 

Thanks to Matt and Amelia for the opportunity to take some family photos - it was a blast!

Kelly Martin Photography offers custom on-location lifestyle and portrait professional photography services in Indianapolis and surrounding areas.  Session types include family, newborn, maternity, children, couples, engagement, seniors, lifestyle and more!  Real. Creative. Personalized.

If you are looking for a family or children's photographer, please contact me at kellymartinphotos@gmail.com or 765-749-4388.