Welcoming Baby "C" // Mount Dora, FL Newborn Portrait Session
This sweet boy made his entrance into the world just 3 short weeks ago.
Last Sunday, I joined Corey & Rhea for portraits in their home and met their son for the first time. Soft afternoon light spilled over the room as I quietly watched our friends - as if transformed into parents before my very eyes - patiently tending to their little one.
With the arrival of our son just 2 short months away, I couldn't help but watch Rhea in awe. With grace, she approached each cry and gazed at her boy with love that overflowed into each gentle touch. She is beautiful to behold - a mother who nurtures and cherishes her little one through and through.
I often joke that my time is consumed these days working on growing a baby. But even as he is knit together day by day, I'm the one being transformed. Slowly but surely, God is weaving motherhood into my bones, settling my impatient heart, and guiding me into dreams of the future with our little one. Meanwhile, He brings along beautiful glimpses into the lives of other momma's as they walk through the same season of transformation. Rhea's graceful transition into motherhood was a such sweet reminder of just how beautiful His preparation can be.
Joy spills from Corey and Rhea as they watch over their little one. I hope you can feel the love that I experienced in their home...
Welcome to the world, little one! We can't wait to watch as you develop your own unique gifts & encourage you along the way...
Mike & Sarah: an Intimate Atlanta, GA Wedding
This post is particularly near and dear to my heart... And for the first time ever, a post will feature at least 2 images of me stepping out from behind the camera. (Gasp!)
Over the past two years, Megan and I have adventured together all over Florida, New York, Southern California, Atlanta, Savannah and about a hundred stops in between. We love to travel and explore new cities - our love of food, design, and beautiful spaces mapping out each trip.
In March, Megan and I flew home to the U.S. for what was going to be a quick 3 week trip and dash between cities to see as many friends and family members as possible. Our quick trip ended, however, with an unexpected goodbye and parting ways in the Atlanta airport: me to Orlando and Megan back to our shared home in China. But more on that later...
We made the long trip back for my sister's wedding. Sarah, my beloved Sally (a nickname that will forever lack much explanation other than our odd sense of humor - like my own: Klaudine), is just 2 years older than me. We grew up in the same small school and spent every waking moment together for much of our childhood. By choice or by force, we were best buds through and through. Separated from collecting many neighborhood friends by woods, fields, and living in the country, we stuck together and pestered each other endlessly. Sally was my protector. Although her fear of bears and the great dark outdoors much exceeded my own. In our early twenties, we moved to different cities and eventually to opposite sides of the globe.
For years, she was the mischievous one; while my own sassy and outspoken self took a few years to develop in her wake. We're more different than alike... most days. But every once in a while, a mannerism or expression will pass through me and James will point it out as unmistakably Sally.
When Mike entered the picture, Sarah was living in Atlanta. Their love story began as a blind date and humorous email thread in which Mike became known for his mustache - a joke gone wrong (or at least we will continue to insist that's the truth every time that caterpillar creeps back above his lip). They wrote letters and fell in love slowly. Sarah is nothing if not careful and a ponderer. Meanwhile, we did what sisters do and pestered them for details and teased Mike endlessly. James and I took every opportunity to get to know Mike, but one thing was instantly clear... His sense of humor and earnest heart for the Lord was an unmistakable match for Sarah.
Fast forward to the fall of 2014, when James and I began insisting that they hurry up and elope (with us present of course) so we could be there to witness their wedding day. They declined. (I can't get anyone to work within our life plans... sheesh!). Mike instead enlisted me for help finding the perfect ring. Their story continued to unfold while James and I adjusted to a new home in China, until finally the wedding day arrived...
I'll cut the sentiments short & proudly introduce to you, my glowing, stunning sister, Sarah, on her wedding day.
View the rest of our favorite images from Mike & Sarah's wedding in the gallery below...
Atlanta & Orlando Family Portrait Sessions Available Now!
Megan and I are getting ready to hit the road (jetway is probably more accurate here) for a 3 week trip back to Orlando and Atlanta.
We're opening a few opportunities for portrait sessions in each city.
Atlanta: Friday, March 27th | Sunday, April 12th | Monday, April 13th
Orlando: March 30th - April 5th!
We would love to catch up with our favorite clients & meet some new friends! If you are interested in booking a portrait session, please contact us: kate@kateandco.us
And what's an announcement without a few cute kiddos? From the Fall 2014 archives: a sweet session with some of our favorite Atlanta families! Fun in the backyard + a trip to Jeni's at Westside Provisions for ice cream = a perfect afternoon.
A long-overdue update...
I thought I would write.
I thought I would share our story and work out our life changing in front of you.
I so want to share our struggles, our ups and downs, our months of adjusting to life here in China. But most days... I'm empty. I've jotted down titles and topics over and over again. But when I sit down to write, I get a sentence out and start over. Or close the computer and move to the next project.
Here's the truth: There are beautiful miracles happening around us. And there is so much to share that we simply can't.
If you've followed me on instagram, you probably know some the triumphs we've celebrated and the seemingly huge roadblocks we've faced. We've been snowed-in in tropical towns, celebrated the wine aisle at our local Walmart, spent an amazing month with friends from home before having to say one last goodbye, jumped through hoops to obtain visas, travelled to Thailand for a stress-filled "vacation", planned and designed the interiors for a new local shop with friends, and started the long road to learning Chinese. We share what we can and we pray through the days.
I've cried more lately than I'd ever like to admit. This move has been hard. If I can drop the adventure talk for just a second and be completely real: being away from family, moving to a foreign city (even though we "know" and love it), and generally living every moment outside of your comfort zone is tough. We are being stretched and taken to our limits constantly. But He is breathing new life into us. He is teaching me what trust looks like, when all I want to do is run home and hide out for a couple of months/years.
So we press on. We breathe deeply when there is joy and reason to celebrate. We hope for the future and the relationships that are already sprouting up.
