The day to get our groove on finally came! We threw on our SSP shirts, strapped on our cameras, threw on some headbands, slipped into our running shoes, and out we went to explore!
We had 2 maternity models and 1 newborn model planned into our day so we headed downtown to incorporate some "D.C." in our pictures!

Our first maternity model, Abby was such a blast to work with. We picked out a royal blue gown for her and the color was a perfect match for the marble buildings! She had people stoping and a crowd forming. We even had a cop car pull over and stare for a while.

Up first was our second maternity model, Anna, in a little piece of heaven we found online called "Hidden Oaks." LOVED it! It had a little stream, that we clearly took advantage of, different plants, plenty of trails, and no fee to photograph in the part. It was fantastic and Anna look great in yellow. She was as stunning as the scenery.

As we were finishing up Anna's session, two women and a child are walking down the path we came from. One of them was expecting. Daniela and I locked eyes and we knew. As she got nearer, we asked the expecting momma the most awkward question of the day. "We see you are pregnant. [We introduced ourselves]. We just finished a maternity session and have a few extra minutes before our newborn arrives, would you like to take a few pictures?" She looked at us crazy, but before she could say anything, her sister who was standing next to her says "Uh, YES! You guys are awesome! I have seen your work on Facebook and my sister would be more than honored!" WHAT?! What are the chances?! Karen, he daughter, and her sisters just happened to be at the right place at the right time I guess. Anyway, we get Karen in the gown and take a few shots for her to remember this beautiful time in her life. Score.

Sooo... this random tepee. Yes. It was just sitting there. Calling our names. So we worked with it and incorporated it into a "native shot" that Idriss rocked in the awesome bear bonnet from Avonli Cottage, one of our vendor sponsors! And let's not forget our two amazing layers from Devoted Knits! Check out their work by clicking the buttons below:

AND last but definitely not least, this beautiful sage bonnet is from Zoe & Oliver and fluff from Beautiful Ewe! Check out Zoe & Oliver's work below:

Now it is clear, the kid is not leaving without a fight. 
Ok, well I bathed him last light.
I suppose I can let him win this battle.
I turn on the water and let it run,
while he well, gets in his birthday suit and
"patiently" waits as the tub fills up and the bubble pile grows taller...

Atlas, the tub has reached its appropriate height.
I only ever know this because Liam lets me know it has.
He comes and tugs at my shirt as he babbles non sense and points in the direction of the bathroom.
"Alright, alright. I'm going."
I pick Liam up and lower him into the toy infested waters.
He couldn't be more excited about this.
This is more than probably, more like definitely, the highlight of his day, everyday.
For sure.

"Liam, it's time to get out."
He shakes his head no as he sticks his tongue out. (I have NO idea.)
"Come on baby, let's get you out and dry in some fresh pjs."
Liam shakes his head no.
Alright. Cool. He's cute, so he wins. 
"I'll give you five more minutes."

Daniela is 22 years old. 
She is a full-time student working a part-time job with two, 
yes TWO, internships. 
She also has a fur baby in the form of a husky, a rather large on I might add.
His name is Rocko. Rocko is cool. 
Sometimes he goes by Stephen. Don't ask.

I, Jamie, am 21 years old. 
I am a full-time mum to one happy 1 year old.
I too am in school full-time
and I co-own a prop shop (www.pocketfullofpebbles.com). 
On top of that, we are entrepreneurs.

We were Brokeeee with a capital B for a long time 
because, well, college does that to you folks.
Welcome to the real world.
Anyway we were stuck shooting from my house, 
for what seemed an eternity
where space was becoming very, very limited.
Just take a glance at our old prop room...

Mid January we fell in love with a location Downtown (Milwaukee, WI).
We loved the space and location.
We didn't love the work we knew we would have to put into it 
or the fact that we have no windows with natural light -but- we fell in love none the less.
We envisioned the three rooms as a nice little waiting room, 
a nice little office, and a spacious shooting area.
One week later, we signed the lease and we got to working!

So we got to priming. 
It was the very first thing we knew we had to get done 
because it would be extremely hard to cover up this two-toned red.

Day one of hard work was done and we were on to splashing some color on the wall.
We made several trips to Menards before we finally 
agreed on the colors for the office, waiting, and shooting area. 
We'll talk more about the office in a bit.
We knew we had to go with something light 
for the shooting area, but we also wanted something warm.
*HUGE thanks to our friend Carlos and MJ, Daniela's younger sister, 
who helped us get all the paint done!*

(The color is much lighter in person.)
Day 2. All the painting was done after hours of dancing and painting.
It was time to apply the "mint" color we picked to the office walls.
We opened the can and what we thought we had loved,
now looked like a blue highlighter had exploded in our paint can.
The color was waaaaay too bright. 
We made yet another trip to Menards.
We took into consideration that the lighting at Menards (bright!) 
was different than at our studio (dim).
So we chose our new color and back to the studio we went.
We applied the new color and.... well, again, we weren't in love. 
It just wasn't the color we remembered seeing at Menards.
But as lazy human beings that we are, we went ahead and painted anyway.
When it was finished, we loved it!

Anyway, on to the fun stuff! 
Day 3. Floors! 
Daniela's Dad did most of the work;
*thank you Orozco Dad!*
And we ladies, along with MJ and Enrique, got to working alongside of him.
*Thank you MJ and Enrique! You guys rock!*

Day 5.
Moving our loads of stuff!
Surprisingly we did it all in one day
with the help of our friends Luz and Juan... and his truck.
* Thank you truck! Annnnd Luz and Juan! :D *

We haven't organized it all to the T but here's what we got so far,
except now we have dividers that separate the "prop area" form the "shooting area."

There is still soooooo much to get done but little by little we're getting there 
and the process has been beyond exciting, refreshing, and fun!
We are now finishing the office and we are looking into what canvases to hang up where.

Summed up, a lot has gotten done and a lot has yet to get done.
This is not our final stop. It is only the beginning.
It is also not our dream studio, but it's a start.

We will post updates as we go and when we finally have the finished product!
Thanks for following our story. Thanks for being a fan.

If we can do it, you can do it!
Chase your dreams and make them reality.
You have the POWER, act on it.

I have to pinch myself just to make sure I'm not dreaming and that you truly are one today.
I can't even recall how perfectly you fit into my arms as a newborn which was only 12 months ago...
My first year with you has been nothing short of... well, amazaballz to say the very least.

Your daddy and I are working really, and I mean reeee-hee-hee-lly (Ace Ventura thing, you'll have to go watch the movies Liam) hard to one day give you the future you so richly deserve. 

Daddy's current job has him working 
12+ hours a day, 
5 days a week, 
every week.
...so that makes weekends are very favorite thing in the world. 

This is what our weekends with you look like:
First and foremost, your Dad and I have become masters at compromising. 
Well, I'm still working on it to tell you the truth, but I'll get there eventually.
We watch an hour of Super Why, your most favorite show at the time, 
whose theme song you dance your little butt off to.
This same theme song happens to be very catchy. Has me singing it all day long.

After the very   l   o   n   g   hour of Super Why,
we force you to sit and watch an episode or five of American Horror Stories with us. 
That being said, if you now have nightmares on the regular, it is highly probable that it is entirely your father's fault, and for that I am deeply sorry.
After our daily dose of Netflix, we go spend the time by the Grandparent's
who sometimes don't let us take you back home.
So let's see, after visitations we go out for a nice little dinner
and come home to snuggle the night away. Or I should say, we (your Dad and I) do.

I should add that you never liked cuddling 
or giving mommy and daddy kisses, or anyone for that matter. 
But you do have the most adorable "kissy," well,  more like "mug face," if you ask me.
We would curl your top lip up and it would trigger a mad pout with squinty eyes. 
Ohhh, and wait till you hear this. 
Anytime I ask you if you love me, you shake your head no and laugh about it. 
Every. single. time.
Evil little boy.

On to a serious note of your first year of life...
Liam, you are one hell of a happy baby! 
I feared you would be a cranky baby
because I was in the middle of studying for finals 
right up until you were born one year ago.
Thank God that isn't the case!

Serious note number 2...
Sleep. You were, and I said were a great sleeper. 
Day three when we got home from the hospital, you slept through the whole night.
But of course, all good things must come to an end.
Now you wake up 2-5 times a night. 
Have some mercy on me Liam!
I wake up looking and feeling like a zombie as I drive myself to school every morning
still half asleep.


Serious note number 3...
Food.
You and food are best friends, but well you got that from me. 
I love food too, mijo.
And with that, let's talk about CAKE!
The one you smashed below is just one of the three cakes you got for your first birthday.

Happy birthday my sweet boy! Until next year,
which I am sure will go by just as fast as this first year.
(tear)
*(tears)
Ok, now I'm figuratively bawling inside.