Category: Me and Mine

It’s a new year, and a lot has changed for our family since the beginning of 2012. We’ve all grown a little older, and little wiser and our family has grown by one as well. I’m thankful I was able to capture so many precious images in 2012, despite the challenges of a busy life, messy house, dirty faces… And so in 2013 I will continue with this tradition. I’m excited to document our family again, alongside some incredibly talented women who feel the same way I do about capturing images with MUMMA in them!

This month I’m sharing a little sweetness- photographed not by myself but by the incredibly talented Stephanie Robin Photography. She photographed myself and Greg with Zion when she was just 7 days old. I can’t put into words what these images mean to me. I had to wipe away tears as she set us up in this pose below and when I saw the images I couldn’t help myself from getting teary all over again. She did such an incredible job and I can’t wait to print these big! Thank you Stephanie, for this priceless gift you have given me!

It was so cool to be on the other side of the lens as well- helping me to understand just how a mother feels when she brings her new child to my studio and watches them being photographed. I think as a photographer, it’s always important to remember just how stressful/fun/exciting/nerve-wracking/terrifying/beautiful a session can be for my clients. I have a few maternity and newborn sessions booked for this spring already and I’m looking forward to building on their experience with my own!

So here we are, 13/13 Me & Mine posts. I’m sad to say, I did miss the 12/13 post, simply because life was insane trying to prepare for baby and finalize all my work, plus keep up with family life. Something had to go. Thankfully, all of that busyness came to a nice ending on Thursday evening, November 29th, as I shut down my computer at 10:30 pm, done pretty much everything I needed to do before baby arrived. Then at 2 am, Friday November 30th, I woke up in labor… fantastic timing this babe has! She was born into the world at 7:44 am, healthy and perfect in every way.

Just in time for the last Me & Mine post of the year- I’m so proud and happy to introduce Zion Jewel Donker. Blessing #4 for Greg and I, a sister to Kyara, Eden and Kingston. She weighed 6 lbs, 15 oz- our smallest baby yet. Life has been crazy and yet that much better since she has arrived. I have found a new peace… one that comes over me when I hold my new babes in my arms. I honestly believe that I am made to have newborns - I adore every single moment with her and I’m looking forward to staying indoors and cuddling all winter long! God has blessed us so richly!

*sigh* I can’t let go of how annoyed I am by this picture…

Here’s our whole family, celebrating Thanksgiving weekend at the Vineland Fall Fair. If you’re a fan on Facebook, you know how much I love Vineland’s Fall Fair and this year did not disappoint me once again. It was a perfect day! I knew I needed a shot for this month and so I brought my camera and after cleaning up everyone faces (we’d just had our first ever Beavertail, and it was SO delicious!) I got up the nerve to ask someone to take our picture. I had chosen the location, right in front of the Beavertail wagon, which was framed with two beautiful maple trees. I mentioned to the very nice lady that I wanted the shot in front of the wagon to record this memory and yet when I saw her standing at the complete wrong angle, I did not have the guts to tell her to move, nor to ask someone else to do it later… So I guess it’s not the picture I’m annoyed by ( I mean, how CUTE is Eden’s face in this pic!!!), it’s really myself. I have no guts sometimes! Ah well, live and learn. Maybe I’ll be braver next time? One thing this image does do for me- what it’s supposed to do…remind me of a great day out with my beautiful, healthy and happy family. And for that I am grateful!

Bedtime routine. Either Daddy or Mummy (or both) in one of the girls beds with all three kiddos- vying for space, reading books, making memories. Precious memories.

Woot! Only VERY last minute but I managed to get pics of me and all my babies for this month’s Me & Mine post! I am ever so thankful for this challenge, and the girls who are helping to hold me accountable to it. With my crazy busy life, the last thing I would have done this month is take a second to think about getting a shot with my kiddos. We went to African Lion Safari, and forgot…which would have been the easiest way to get in a nice shot. Instead, I set up my tripod and background in my studio this afternoon, slapped on some makeup and took my sweaty, dirty, mussed-hair children inside for some quick shots with Mumma and baby. In total, including the shots taken for setup, I got only 18 frames- but that’s all I needed. It turns out, lollipops work as VERY good bribery and doing only one child at a time is a LOT easier than trying to get a group shot, especially when you’re on a timer. All in all, I’m reasonably happy with these and I think my kiddos look perfectly adorable, even if I look overly…cheesy 🙂

Lately I’ve been taking Greg and the kids along to sessions whenever it’s going to be at a fun location. Port Dalhousie is not too far from us, and it’s full of fun things to do with kids: a long pier to walk, lots of boats (for Kingston, who is obsessed), a beach to play at, a playground and best of all, a carousel. The carousel is only 5 cents per ride, and is totally the highlight of their time there. After my latest session, the sunset was absolutely amazing. The sky and water turned from soft pastels to a fiery red/orange/pink combination and people couldn’t stop staring and snapping pictures. Truly, God was displaying His glory that night. What a beautiful sight! I hardly feel like my images show the true beauty of it. I managed to get some shots of Kingston playing in all his sandy, dirty, drooling glory. He melts my heart.

So at the very last minute I get a picture of Me & Mine… my sweet daughter Kyara graduated last night from Kindergarten. She looked SOOO pretty and was on top of the world! Unfortunately, by the time we got home she was also just about to crash from the huge sugar high that is goodie bags, treats and sugary juice. Rarely does this sweet girl melt down, but melt down she did. She had no interest in a picture for Mumma and I was so sad. At least I got this…with the ring pop, blue lips and grumpy expression. I’ll still treasure this moment for all time. Watching her cross that stage and receive her diploma, sing with all the other kids, and talk amongst her friends made me tear up many times. I am so proud of her and love her to bits!!! God has greatly blessed us with a sweet, caring and giving little girl who would do anything for anyone. I pray that she will continue grow in faith and always keep her sweet nature as she begins her journey through elementary school next year!

(No image as of yet…this one snuck up on me! But let me tell you that you’re definitely going to want to come back and check it out! I hope to have it posted by Sunday 😀 I’m so excited to show you what we’ve come up with for this month!)

OKAY, well clearly I am late for yet another thing. I did mean to post my image sooner- but life got in the way. I’ve been awfully tired, and awfully sick lately, but it’s all for a good cause 🙂 Introducing bebe #4! Yep, that’s right, we’re going to be a family of 6. I’m truthfully feeling a lot better this time around than I ever have before but Diclectin is still my best friend 🙂 I’m hoping the ‘morning’ sickness is less severe all around during this pregnancy, it certainly would be a nice change! We’re very, very excited. A December baby… We decided to tell everyone early as I was sick and getting behind in everything (wedding plans + client work + house work + everything else) and it’s just easier than trying to pretend. Please pray that this pregnancy is a healthy and safe one and that we may be blessed with a healthy child from God in due time. Oh, and I know I didn’t take this picture, but technically I AM in it 🙂