Imagine you’re lying in the hospital bed, holding your precious newborn in your arms. You feel such a sense of peace, now that you’ve been able to see him or her for the first time. You can see they’re safe there with you, hear them breathe and watch them move their tiny little arms and legs. You’d love to shout it from the rooftops, to announce all those details, how much he or she weighed, or what day your long awaited baby was born on.

I will never forget the feeling in my heart when I found out that you were here, that you were alive, that you were growing on the inside of my swelling stomach. I won’t forget the look of joy and celebration on people’s faces as we told them with their gasps, and tears and squeals, as if you were the biggest gift. Because you are.

It's impossible to look through the images in this post and not smile. It's a fact - Old English Sheepdog puppies are adorable. I believe a well behaved dog can absolutely improve family life.My youngest child is 7 years old. My kids don't need help with as much as they used to. It seemed like a great time to introduce a gentle puppy into the mix.

In everything we do, we are creating legacy. In everything we do, we are writing a message.Guaranteed, there will be days where we don’t feel that, but how we live our lives and the priorities we make create a declaration to the world. It's a message that declares what we believe to be valuable, what we believe to be true and what we believe to be precious. It is filled with our stories and our courage and those subtle nudges of advice; how we would do things just a little bit different.

Children are unpredictable, and photography sessions can seem hard to prepare for. Clinton and Jill's session was so loving and genuine, even if sometimes little big brother Oliver wanted nothing to do with being photographed. Their newborn baby girl, Eleanor, was content and wonderful. To help my clients keep their stress levels down when preparing for a session like this, I’ve put together some helpful hints. Reading these over and following them will be sure to help you feel completely informed, and to reduce your stress levels before and during your photo session.

Local businesses are a big part of what make the Niagara Region an amazing place to live. I love driving through town and seeing which shops have updated their window displays and take great care of their buildings. There is so much available to us.What we often don't see is the many businesses that are within people's homes. The shops handcrafting baby toys, clothes and so much more. Kaitlin's K Kraft Handmade Children's Items is one of them, and here's a bit about her.

Every year I get in front of a camera lens. I do this for many reasons. I having my family documented and the connections we have to each other, I love to compare the portraits and see how much my children are growing.

What does happiness mean to you? Maybe it's pay day. Maybe it is when all your kids are at home. Maybe when you’re sitting with your husband on the couch after a long day. To you, maybe happiness is a good conversation. Maybe it is doing something you love…

The birth of a child is remarkable. It is remarkable in conception, in anticipation, in pregnancy and in their arrival. Like a breath in these seasons, it is almost like you can just feel it, like you just know it deep inside, “This is remarkable.”…

You know that feeling when someone is truly gentle with you? It is almost as if they are full of this peace and kindness that invites you to be yourself, to be okay with where you are in life and to just breathe deep because it is good. Gentleness is something I strive for every single day in my parenting, my work, my play, and in my walk with God

Mamas are such an important part of our everyday lives. It can be hard to find a gift that says you love her, but also that you know her well. You want to find something practical, and sentimental too. Think about what makes her smile. Does she love to bake, or often stop to smell beautiful flowers? Does she love to read a good book or attend Yoga classes? Is one of her favourite things just playing with, and being with, her little ones?

There is this feeling you get. You can feel it in your soul. It comes when you’re watching a family play, like really play, with their kids. And if love could be seen, it would be bursting out of every single moment and every single interaction.It is this moment where all the busy is set to the side and forgotten and all that matters is the connection between family.