J Cooper Photography

I can’t help it…but all I can think about is BABY!  Maybe it’s because in ONE WEEK I will be heading to Africa to meet mine.  Or maybe it’s because one of the MOST amazing families I know just added to their family on Sunday and brought Baby R over to play this morning.  Just smelling his freshness about put me over the edge.  I am beyond thrilled for this sweet family to finally have this little boy in their arms.  He has been prayed for and will be loved by so many!

He was full of activity and body noises in true BOY fashion.  He didn’t want to sleep and miss ANY of the action.  But after a couple of feedings and a full diaper…he was finally lulled into La La Land.  There is no question that this little guy is loved.  His parents are beautiful both inside and out…full of compassion…and always ready to minister to others.  I’m so happy they allowed me to capture these early days with their newest love.  Four days fresh and he has already won their hearts!

We love you baby boy!  Welcome to the world.

I’m really trying to get as many of these adorable families here on the blog as I can!  Stick with me…going to try to give everyone their moment in the spotlight   We did this session at least a month ago.  They were the SWEETEST family!  We had a BIG agenda…family portraits for their Christmas cards, 6 month images, and captures of big 3 year old brother.  WHEW!  But we made it…and everyone left with smiles still in tact!

I love how each family session takes on its own personality.  No two are ever the same.  I can bring the same props, head to the same park…but every session has a unique feel.  I think of this sweet family as “classic”.  Don’t they look like a Ralph Lauren ad?  Beautiful people inside and out!

And let’s not forget a couple of the little man…not much cuter than a boy with his bike!

I may need to switch gears and do a marathon sneak peak post…anyone up for a late night client sharing extravaganza???

This was officially my last session of the season…and it could not have been more fun.  This little gal was due for her 6 month portraits as part of the “Grow with Me” package and I just HAD to squeeze her in before our Africa trip.  Fortunately, we got the most glorious fall day with 70* temps, falling leaves, and sunshine.  And I got to photograph Daniel’s future wife (they are just 5 days apart!)…how perfect is that?

It seemed fitting to document her growth.  She went from this little bundle…

To this {slightly bigger} bundle…

Same cozy basket…same chunky thighs…only this time she had a shock of peach fuzzy RED hair and a sweet smile to go along with it!

She let us play “dress up” and we changed her outfit a kazillion times.  Ok…only 4….but she was such a trooper and gave me a thousand different expressions.  I LOVE 6 months.  {Can you believe I have a little guy like this waiting for me??}

Here we go comparing again….

We were cracking up over this next shot.  I thought it would be fun to put her back in the baby buggy to compare sizes again.  Only this time she looked like a poor neglected baby who was lost in the forest   Lost or not…Isn’t she the cutest thing ever?

And with that I’m all caught up!  This is even a TRUE sneak peak!  Now I need to get my act together and share the rest of the fall sessions from September and October before we leave!

Can’t wait to introduce you to Daniel little friend.  I’m sure it will be love at first sight

It’s not like he needs a designer nursery.  Or really a nursery at all {after the last year I will probably rarely let him out of my sight}.  But working on his nursery has been a way to channel my pent up emotions.  And it has been great therapy.  I really, really LOVE kid rooms.  They are such happy places!  I promise to do a full tour once the room is really complete….I’m still sewing bedding (fitted sheets), hanging some pictures, and looking for a rug.  I am held up on the rug.   I have several I love {but can’t afford}.  It’s really kind of silly.  A rug for a baby in his room he’ll rarely use.  Oh well.  It is what it is.  I tried really hard not to go overboard on a “theme” but you will notice that I couldn’t help but succumb to my weakness.  I’m a theme-y kind of girl apparently.  I had so much fun searching for the little details I used…at flea markets, antique stores, garage sales, etc.  I’ve been collecting little vintage metal cars…setting a $10 limit…that has been a fun little challenge when I am out poking around.  I will share all the details about when and where and how I picked up all these “treasures” when I reveal the entire room!  If anyone can give me some advice on how to get a $300 Pottery Barn rug for next to nothing…I’m all ears

A fun session at the crossroads!  A lot of my fall sessions have been at nearby parks so it was fun to switch it up for a night.  We only had to fight off a few other rogue photographers (Sara…just had to get a good jab at you!) for a spot on the dock.  My favorite alley was a pile of rubble too…but that didn’t stop us from getting some fun shots.

So much personality!  These little guys were so fun…they definitely put my funny-face-making-potty-talking to the test.  But we ended up with some cute shots so it was all worth it.  I hype them up on inappropriate talk, load them full of sugar…and then send them home with their parents {have I mentioned I love this job?}

I still have 10 more fall sessions to showcase here on the blog {I know, I know Mom…more pics of the Cooper kids}.  I will try to get them up and loaded for the world to see as soon as I can!  A BIG THANKS to all the KC families who have allowed me to capture your family…you are helping us bring Daniel home!!

I love being a mom.  I love that I get the privilege to run around town looking for just the right Halloween costumes for my kids.  I love that I have the opportunity to drive them to my parent’s house…load them up on sugar…take them to the pumpkin patch…annoy them with pictures…take them trick or treating…

And as much as I enjoy these fun memories with them there is a little piece of my heart that I’m having a harder time ignoring these days.  And it asks me, “what about the others??”  What about the fatherless children who don’t have a Daddy to hold their hands.  What about the children who have never tasted a sweet candy…who rummage for their daily bread in a garbage can.  What about the children who own no clothes.  What about all those children? And what are we supposed to DO about them??

I would love to say that I have all the answers figured out.  But it is a complex issue that will require MANY of us joining together to create change.  But that doesn’t mean that God won’t honor a few small steps by each of us.  A Thanksgiving meal to a homeless family.  Relief items sent abroad.  Opening up your home to an orphan.  God wants us to just DO SOMETHING.  And the more I realize that we have been given a tremendous amount…the more I feel compelled to do something worthwhile.  It doesn’t matter how you give yourself away….just that you do it!

How I would love to show up at an orphanage with enough Princess Dresses and tiaras to go around.  No…I wouldn’t be meeting any physical needs…but wouldn’t it be fun to watch those little girls light up with wonderment?  Wouldn’t it be fun to deliver something extravagant to “the least of these”.  Wouldn’t it be SO FUN to honor those little people with the BEST gift we have to offer?

We will be leaving for Ethiopia in 2 weeks and would LOVE to help meet the needs of the transitional home where Daniel has been lovingly cared for for the past few months.  Would you consider helping us bless the children there with our BEST GIFTS?  If you’d like to send anything by mail or drop it by just leave me a comment or email me!  Below is a list of some of the most needed items at Hannah’s Hope!

♥Diapers (all sizes, especially size 2)
♥Formula (all kinds).  Soy formula is particularly challenging to get in Ethiopia. [We think they use Nestle]
♥Older children shoes (all kinds are fine)
♥Clothing for older children (elementary school age)
♥Developmental Toys for Infants 0-18 months (i.e. rattles, mobiles, or anything else that may be stimulating and interactive for our babies)

• Ceftriaxone (250 mg)
• Miconazole (oral gel)
• Hyoscine (antispasmodic)
• Sulbutamol (bronchodilator)
• Cannula
• Vitamin D Syrup
• Powdered Pedialyte (that can be used for all ages of children including infants)

If you aren’t able to send anything don’t worry!  These children could mostly use your prayers while they wait to be united with their forever families!!

This little monkey thoroughly enjoyed the candy and spoiling this past weekend and can’t wait to pass down his monkey suit to his little brother   If you would keep him in your prayers as well we would really appreciate it.  After having his cast off for a full week he started limping badly again.  We had some tests run at the Children’s Hospital and they are certain that his fracture is healed.  They have booted him back up and are waiting for a rheumatology report before making any conclusions.  We’ll be seeing the doctor again in the morning for more x-rays!

Family is such a beautiful thing.  I’m so thankful for parents who love the pumpkin patch as much as we do…and who are willing to love our little one from the other side of the world!

Thanks for all of your encouragement and help…we are SO blessed to have so much support!!  We can’t wait to share all about our trip!

We spent the weekend in Nebraska with my parents and then made our way to Wichita to WELCOME HOME the PERUVIAN PRINCESS!

If you haven’t been following my SISTER’S BLOG you have missed out on the her amazing journey to this little one.  I can’t even describe the PURE JOY my family felt watching this sweet little one come home to her forever family!

I have always looked up to my sister…her sewing, decorating, bargain shopping.  But this last year while we both pursued adoptions of little ones far away…we grew even closer…and I simply could NOT be more proud of her.  A month long stay in Peru, stomach bugs, language barriers, loneliness, foreign travel, home sickness, financial drain…the list goes on and on.  But there is an underlying STRENGTH to her story about the redemptive power of God.  She gave their journey to Emma over to God from the beginning and he moved mountains to BRING THIS CHILD HOME!!

We started the airport party with balloons and signs in hand… ready and waiting!

I COULD NOT WAIT to see them coming down the ramp towards us!

My Dad helped me document the event and this photo of him waiting for his newest grandaughter brings me to tears everytime I see it.  His shirt reads, “I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters.”

Emma’s “Mimi” was pretty excited to see her as well!

Then the moment we were all waiting for…Mom and daughter…HOME AT LAST!!  This was the moment that Emma searched the crowd and spotted her “PAPA!!!”  She yelled for him and came racing into his arms {insert major waterworks here}

So excited to see Papa again after a week apart!

Then the party began…introducing Emma to the many people who have prayed for her over the past 18 months.  It was so touching to see how many people found a way to leave work and other activities to be there to support my sister.  It was such a beautiful picture of the loving community at their church!

You would think she would have been tired from 2 days worth of travel.  But there was a party going on…and she KNEW it was for HER!!  She was having an absolute blast smiling and waving to her new found friends.  It didn’t take long for her to spot my girls.  She had seen many pictures of them on the computer and knew exactly who they were…she spent the rest of the evening pointing to them and practicing their names. {She had fun poking little man and running away too…such a tease!}

The bond is definitely already forming.  Ms. Middle cried for 30 minutes in the car when it was time to leave…they were having SO much fun and my girls are absolutely IN LOVE with Emma.  {She’s a tiny little peanut…she shares a b-day with A and is about 3 weeks older that J…she’s going to be all set for hand me downs!}

“Baboo” checking out his newest “favorite granddaughter” while she practices saying J’s name

My little man chillin’ with a little Ethiopian buddy…I think he was saying “Hey…have you heard about my brother??”

My favorite picture from our AMAZING night.  The JOY on her face says it all….HOME FOREVER!!

We LOVE YOU EMMA!  WELCOME HOME FOREVER!!!