Good friends

I'm trying to get all caught up on my photography editing before the baby arrives next week. This is the last session and the last batch to have been edited. I love this family! Not just because they are my good friends but because they are fun loving people with the cutest kids. Their twins are turning one today and the the oldest is a few months older than my son. The two of them play together quite a bit. They were wanting some family shots and of course some shots of the babies for their birthday. It turned out be a great evening and I believe we got them in a decent mood with some good expressions.

Oh happy day!

I was able to shoot a gorgeous wedding last wedding. The colors were brown and pink and everything had the couples taste written all over it. They were married in the afternoon and had their reception in the evening at an awesome restaurant called Touch. They are such a sweet couple and are so in love. You could see it in everything they did and the way they looked at each other. We were going to do some pictures at a park but it turned out that Springfield received a pop up storm and took that idea down the drain. So in the end we had to work with what we had. They were still positive and I think we got some great images. Hope you guys have an awesome trip to Cali and enjoy the pics.

Almost done cookin!

It's been a long while since I have really done any shots of my pregnant belly. This pregnancy has been so different from the first one. It has gone by fast but I am so ready to have her here. I know I won't get much sleep once she arrives but honestly I haven't really been getting any anyway. I feel like a newborn myself due to waking up every two hours. Everything is ready for her arrival though... the room, the bed, the clothes, you name it. I have week from today.

Such a loving family

Today I did a shoot with the sweetest family. Their little girl is just too cute and has the most gorgeous eyes and hair. She's a hyper little thing and keeping up with her was some work. Might I add that I am 9 months pregnant too. I think I held my own though. It started off this morning with the worst weather. We're talking severe storms and I thought for sure we would have to move it to another day but the clouds cleared and the sun came shining through. It ended up being a wonderful morning and a lovely photo shoot. If you don't mind saying a prayer for this family and for the mom I'm sure they would appreciate it. She just recently found out she has breast cancer and is about to begin a long journey. In some ways I know what she will be going through because of my son but I don't think you can really know until you have personally gone through it yourself. Well I just wanted to post some sneek peak photos from the session. I'm trying to get as much done as I can before the the new bundle of joy enters our world and things start to slow down. Thanks guys for a great morning. I will be keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers! Smile- Jess

What have we been up to?

It's been awhile since I have talked about what we have actually been doing the past 7 weeks. I've been trying to keep Montana busy with fun things before he leaves again for another month at St. Jude. Not that St. Jude isn't fun or anything but it's not the "FUN" he would like. Our little man is such a water bug and with all the rain we have been getting our pool time has been a little limited. During the weeks I try to take him to Whitewater (a water park in Branson) which he totally loves. We go with one of my friends who has a little girl his age and they have a blast. Chris and I took him to the Precious Moments Museum one weekend where he had fun killing spiders on statues with daddy. Other than that, he could have cared less. I don't think we'll be going there again. :) Yesterday, we took him to the river to go swim, eat, fish and kayak. He had a blast doing that but kept wanting to float down stream. I'm not exactly as fast these days being 9 months pregnant so it got a little difficult and Chris would have to run after him. He really enjoyed himself though. He leaves next Tuesday for another month of treatment during the heat of the summer. When he returns we will have a week here and then it's off to Virginia to visit the family and shoot my brother's wedding. I'm looking forward to a little famlily time and to show off our new bundle of joy. I'm sure Montana is going to be so excited to see his little uncles again. But for now, I thought I would post some snap shots of our weeks here.

First "GIRL" Friend!

Just thought I would post some pictures of Montana's first "girl" friend. We hang out with my friend who has a little girl a few months older than he is. These pictures are actually from Montana's birthday party. I can't believe how fast time goes. His party was at the begining of May and now I am a month behind. My goodness, I just can't keep up. Anyways, she's such a sweetie and they have such a good time playing together.

What a busy month

May has been a wild and crazy month. I can't believe it's already come and gone. We have officially entered into June and I now have four weeks left until our new bundle of joy enters this world. I am so ready and excited. May was busy with photo shoots, coaching swimming, doctors appts. for both my son and I and a little time enjoying the outdoors. The last shoot for May was this past week when I got the chance to meet this wonderful family. They were here in Springfield on vacation and thought they would do something a little different by getting their family photos done. I had such a great time trucking around downtown finding some great locations to shoot their photos. The weather turned out to be a little cooler than expected but they were such troopers and basically went along with all my wild ideas. The kids were fun and seemed to enjoy the extra camera attention. I have fallen in love with many of their pictures and had a hard time choosing which photos to put on the blog. So, I just picked some at random. Hope you guys had a wonderful vacation and safe trip back to Kansas.

Montana in Missouri

Back in January I did an engagement session for this couple. He lives in Montana and she lived here in Missouri. Well, their wedding was on the 17th of May and boy was it awesome and unique. It was totally their style and so designed to them. Every detail was thought out and carefully considered. He traveled down from Montana along with all his groomsmen, sisters, and family to marry the girl he is in love with. After the honeymoon they will both be going back and starting their newly married life up in MT. I loved the cowboy hats, the cowboy boots, the branding, the bandanas... oh, I loved it all. SOO COOL! Here are a few shots from their amazing country wedding!! Congrats guys and best wishes!!

Graduating Senior

This is the most versatile senior I've photographed yet. He's involved in pretty much everything and these images show that. He loves to race his bike and actually travels all over to do that. He's a swimmer and also loves to play football. In other words I think he refers to himself as an athlete. He'll be graduating really soon and then heading off to college to go study and swim. I'm sure he'll continue to race his bike because that is something that his entire family takes part in. I on the other hand will not be getting on a bike any time soon. :) Congrats on graduating!!

A gorgeous wedding

It's official, wedding season has begun. Last weekend I got the privilage of shooting this awesome wedding. We did their engagement session about a month and half ago. What a great couple and wonderful ceremony. These two are just meant for each other. When you photograph a wedding you get to know the bride and groom really well. I guess you would have to because what you do during the day is follow them around, snapping tons of pictures of them being in love. They are a very relaxed, laid back, fun, and romantic couple. Every bride HOPES that on the day of her wedding everything will go smoothly and nothing will be forgot. But every bride KNOWS something will go astray. She had a few obstacles thrown her way and handled them with such a great attitude. Their ceremony was perfect, with perfect family and friends, perfect weather, perfect location, and most importantly the perfect love. Congrats on your marriage!! Hope you guys had a wonderful time in Jamaica.

Target House

Montana and I had nothing to do today after his visit to St. Jude this morning so we decided on taking the bus over to the Target House. It's the most gorgeous place first off and then on top of that they have the coolest kid areas. Montana was in heaven with the mini kitchen. We spent most of our time there where he whipped up some tasty treats. :) Luckily I brought my camera so that I was able to capture the little chef that he is.

This little cutie is just so sweet and adorable. She is our next door neighbor at the Ronald House here in Memphis. Montana and her have become quite good friends. Tomorrow they will get the chance to be honorary duck masters at the Peabody Hotel. I think they're looking forward to that. It'll be a special treat for them. She is also the very first person to take advantage of Images of Hope. (www.hopeconquers.blogspot.com) Little S was so easy to photograph. She didn't mind smiling and standing infront of the camera at all. It was such a joy to photograph her and hear her little giggles!

Being a tourist

Montana and I have been keeping busy here in Memphis. We have been able to do alot of the tourist type of things. Today we went to the Peabody hotel to see the walking of the ducks with a little friend from the Ronald McDonald House. I think they really enjoyed that. Montana actually got told to quit making the ducks swim around the pond so fast. He was sort of chasing them. That's my son! Afterwards, Lynn and I went to Habitat for Hope. It's a really nice place and a wonderful organization. They have about 50 acres of land out in the country. Montana loved being a boy, playing in the dirt and getting dirty. Plus, there were about 4 other boys there and he just ran around with them. It was nice to see him be free and act like a normal child. Beats the hussle and bussle of inner city life and the hospital visits all the time. Take a look at their website. www.habitatforhope.org

The house that love built!

This is the house that love built. We have been at the Ronald House in Memphis for four days. The first day we checked in, the second and third day were spent at the hospital and today we are hanging out. Montana has been enjoying the arts and crafts room along with the toy areas. This place is wonderful and does their best to keep these kids healthy and entertained. When it's not raining we spend alot of time outside at the playgrounds. We just have to make sure we clean his hands alot. We will be here until the begining of May so we try to make use of everything they have to offer.

Seniors Rock!

I did a last minute session today for a graduating senior. It's always a blast to take pictures of seniors because they are so excited to be done with school and on to new and bigger things. This guy, however, was done with school about 2 years ago at the young age of 15. He's already been taking college classes and knows what he wants to do. I didn't know what I was going to do until I was like a junior in college. This kid has a great head on his shoulders and is putting his smarts to use. He brought along his brother and a friend, which is a good thing because they make him laugh and from that I get good smiles. Congrats on graduating and good luck with all your classes!

The coolest couple

Yesterday I met with a couple to do their engagement session. I was a little worried about the weather because it was supposed to rain for most of the day but it stopped and held off for us. They are such an amazing couple and were so much fun to work with. With everything that has been going on with my son, the weather, and life, we didn't get to do their photos until now... their wedding is at the begining of May! Wow, that is like right around the corner. I am so excited to get to shoot their wedding. They are so relaxed, fun and in love. It really shows in their images. I fell in love with all of their shots and could not decide which ones to show. So here are a few in no order. Thanks Steph and Tim. Hope you enjoy these and I'll see you in about a month!

Ready for warm weather

Spring is trying to arrive... thank goodness. I am so ready for warm weather and a little sun. Montana is so ready. He wants to go outside all the time to play with his bubbles, sandbox, trike, and slide. It gets rather annoying when the temperature is 77 one day and 48 the other. Try explaining to a 2 year that it's cold outside today but not yesterday... not good! I let him out a little today so he could get it out of his system and he had such a good time. I know the next few days are to bring a lot more rain, which means more indoor activities. Uh! We are dying to go swimming and go for our daily walks. Until then it looks like more of mommy being the jungle gym.

Those days!

Yesterday was one of those days! Montana had a rough night of sleep because of the medicine they gave him the day before. He was complaining of leg, knee and jaw pain. We were up all night and then he was cranky all day. It finally got a little better later on in the evening. He gets in one of those moods where he wants what he wants when he wants it...typical two year old! But when he is medicated it gets worse. The doctor warned us of this so I knew what to expect. It just wears on you after awhile. I try to capture his whole experience with photos, so one day he can look back and realize all that he has been through. I think he will appreciate it later on down the road.

Images of HOPE

I have finally gotten my website ready for Images of HOPE. It is a non-profit organization that brings awareness to childhood cancers and illnesses through photography. If you know someone in the Springfield, MO area or at St. Jude that may be interested send them to www.hopeconquers.blogspot.com for more information. I have also had other photographers interested in starting an Images of HOPE in their area. If you are a photographer and you feel this is something you would be interested in doing in your area feel free to email me through my photography website at www.jessicaoatmanphotography.com.

There is HOPE in the face of a devestating diagnosis!

Crazy Weather

The weather here lately reminds me of when I lived in Colorado. One minute it was sunny and warm and by the evening we would have a snow storm. Well, two days ago we were taking Montana to the river and then today I was bundling him up and taking him on sled ride. We haven't really had any snow and the snow we did have we were in Memphis for. So, I can't complain and am just enjoying our winter wonderland. Montana had a great time eating, playing and falling in it. I just can't keep him out for too long because we don't want him to catch anything. I'm sure he'll get all bundled up later to go out with Chris one more time and make a snowman.