Introducing Jonah John Peter Elias

Unfortunately, updating our blog and website hasn't been as much of a priority as we'd like lately but we promise we have a very good excuse.  On Tuesday January 21st at 8:48pm, we were introduced to our beautiful baby boy weighing in at 8lbs, 8oz. He came a week late but made up for the delay in the delivery room with a mere 2 hours of contractions and 7 minutes of pushing - and instantly our hearts melted.

Much like with our first, we had a few names that came about on our Starbucks date but we fairly quickly settled on Jonah. The Biblical accounts of the stories of Noah and Jonah are two of the most unbelievable in the Bible and yet we have faith in their truth and so it just seemed right that Noah's little brother should have an equally unbelievable story to go with his name.  We also love the idea that our children can relate to these incredible Biblical characters and hopefully one day grow to trust and follow God like their namesake's learned to.

Jonah's middle names hold meaning for us as well.  John is my father's middle name and was my grandfather's first name.  Both are men whom I've had wonderful relationships with.  On July 12th of 2013 I called my grandfather to give him the happy news that we were expecting our second child.  He was elated for us and eager to tell my grandmother.  He did, but died suddenly a few hours later. I treasure the fact that I was able to share this news with him. Jonah's second middle name 'Peter' is Mark's father's name. Another man who has always been a faithful family man and wonderful father to his sons. Our boys are blessed by great Grandpa's!

Jonah is now 5 months old and is the sweetest, calmest baby I've ever encountered.  He is the epitome of patience and never ceases to surprise me with his smiles and joy.  His big brother adores him and the feeling is mutual.

As the youngest of three I know how difficult it can be to capture all of life's moments for all of your children, but modern technology has made this so much easier so we've determined to try and capture as many of Jonah as we can.

I'll leave you with a few of my favourites from his first five months.

And without further adieu, our second son...

1 hour old

1 week old

2 months old

4 months old with Noah

4 months old with cousin Georgia (8 days younger)

5 months old

<3

The Bumstead Family

It may have taken a while for summer to come, but when it finally did it came with a vengeance and we picked just such a day to photograph the Bumstead family! These guys did so well with the intense heat and bright sun - typically a deterrent for photos, especially with young children.  But they persevered and I even picked up a little photographer's assistant in the process! :)

The Mullett Family

It's always a joy for us to be able to photograph family and friends because there's already an existing camaraderie that makes it special.  In celebration of this beautiful lady's first birthday, we were able to do just that and capture some wonderful family photos for the Mullett's. It was a very cold and very windy fall day but they took it all in stride and allowed us to really make the most of this lovely location.

Happy First Birthday Beautiful!

John and Sofie

When we first met John and Sofie (visiting from England) we instantly had a great connection with them.  They are lovely people and had a great vision for their wedding.  We couldn't wait to capture their day.

With the wedding date in the books for over a year we had no idea what the weather would be like but we knew what we were hopeful for!  Their wedding was taking place outdoors at the gorgeous Ancaster Old Mill and photos would be at the falls nearby.  We wanted sunshine, or at the very least cloudy skies, but as the day drew nearer, we were uncertain. The weather reports were clear on what to expect - rain and thunderstorms!

With umbrellas in tow, we headed out cautiously optimistic that the early humidity and sun would hold on -  and it did! We were able to enjoy all of the beautiful locations the Old Mill had to offer and more importantly capture that very special moment we love - when John and Sofie saw each other for the first time.

What a special day you both had.  We enjoyed every minute of it and wish you a lifetime of happiness, love and sunshine. Thank you for letting us be a part of your magical day!

Hoang & Vicky

We love this couple.  They're just the real deal - honest, fun and full of faith!  We'd known Vicky for several years but had the opportunity to get to know Hoang really well during their engagement. For that reason we were really excited to capture their wedding.

Their day really symbolized their love and faith and so beautifully captured THEM! From watching Vicky whipping something up in the kitchen after getting her hair and makeup done (that shows how relaxed she was!) to the fun photo booth for guests and AMAZING spring rolls made by Hoang's family for the late night buffet and everything in between, these two made sure their day represented them and it was wonderful!

We pray your marriage would be blessed for years to come and that you can look back on your day through these pictures and treasure each precious detail and moment.