Life as a family of four is turning out to be quite the blissful existence.
Sure, I know we still have plenty of ups and downs ahead of us, and I’m not saying the transition is over. Everyone seems to be experiencing some growing pains, but THIS makes it all worth it.
Last weekend Jessica Marchetti, new-found friend and DFW photographer, came out to the house to capture some intimate family moments and some fresh outta the baby oven pictures of Leyna. The images blew me away, and just remind me of how incredibly lucky I am.
I don’t know what I did in this life or another to deserve to be so blessed, so lucky, so loved. I know I do my fair share of complaining on here, but know that at the end of the day, this life and all the chaos, clutter, stress and noise that come with it is SO MUCH more than I ever imagined for myself.
Happy doesn’t even begin to describe it.
I’m so happy Jessica came by and captured these moments for us. If there’s one thing I learned from Kendall, it’s that as tough as this newborn phase can be, I should never wish it away. So we spent a few hours posing Leyna…
Fuzzy butt! Love me those Kissaluvs.
And then I threw on my beautiful nursing gown and robe and put Leyna in her matching sleep sack (sent to us by Belabumbum Maternity), and we got some amazing breastfeeding shots. I am so, so grateful for these. I have nothing like this with Kendall, which is a little sad, but I have to remind myself that at this point with my little barracuda, my nipples had chunks of flesh falling off of them, so perhaps it was best I didn’t document the process the first time around.
Leyna is much more picky about her latch than Kendall was. Sometimes we have to work for 15 minutes before I can finally get her to latch on, but the upside to being patient is she seems to be much nicer to me when she finally starts eating. Either that, or the nerves in my nipples are completely frazzled from Kendall and don’t know the difference anymore. All that is to say it seems to be a little tiny bit easier this time… it’s just testing my patience more.
Scott got some great daddy/daughter pics with Leyna, and then he and Kendall made French toast together (a weekend morning ritual around here).
There are so many more amazing shots…
That sweater is what I wore home from the hospital.
… but I can’t possibly share them all. So I leave you with this last one…
"This little piggy went to market..."
Jessica did SUCH a phenomenal job. Money well spent to have these small hours documented and preserved. Not only is she super talented, but she’s super nice and just a ton of fun to be around, too. If you’re in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and interested in having her capture some of your intimate family moments, you’re in luck! She’s extending an offer exclusive to Baby Rabies readers. Just tell her I sent you and she’ll give you 20% off all package pricing between now and January 21st. Also, sign up between now and next Friday, the 14th and get a FREE 8×10. Check out more of her work here.
Kendall is 2 2/3 and Leyna is 10 days old… and waking from her nap in her swing
Available now: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
51 comments
Adore. I adore these pics. The color one of Leyna with her fuzzy hat and green bow, the ones of you nursing, the 2nd to last one of you smelling or kissing her head…awwww….I’ve got 2 boys under age 3 and I think you just turned the baby fever back on anyway! 🙂 Congrats!!!! (And your hubby is hunky!) 🙂
Just beautiful.
the ‘this little piggy’ pic totally made me cry. Really. So happy that you’re documenting these moments! The breastfeeding pics are AMAZING. The thought never even crossed my mind when I was nursing my kids. And the hat w/ the bow? That’s the hat you made, right? It’s awesome. She’ll cherish it forever, and keep it for HER daughter to wear home from the hospital. One last thing: you look amazing. Good job taking care of YOU as well as your little ones. 🙂
GORGEOUS pictures, I love them all!!
I want to go back to Dallas this weekend (like jump in the truck and go now). I miss all of but I really miss Kendall and Leyna.
Jess did an amazing job as always!! But then you guys are such a beautiful family… 🙂
I ? all of them!!
that is suppossed to be a heart, lol!
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jill Krause, Jill Krause. Jill Krause said: New blog post: I Found Some Kind of Fairytale https://www.babyrabies.com/2011/01/07/i-found-some-kind-of-fairytale/ […]
🙂 Beautiful. All of them.
So beautiful.
Beautiful! I need to start saving now so that I’ll have the funds for pics that I didn’t have when Caroline was born. I can take pics of her myself, but it’s nice to be IN the pictures, too! Swooning over the bfing pics. I want those next time, too!
These are so wonderful and precious! What a great idea to get pictures of your daily life with a newborn — the phase passes so quickly.
Through my teary eyes, those are beautiful words and gorgeous photos. A wonderful family of four… two precious babes… you indeed are VERY blessed! xoxo
And the nursing photos… so beautiful.
These are beautiful! I wish I had done this with both of my kids, but I never felt human enough after giving birth for like the first 6 months!
BEAUTIFUL!! These moments truly are fleeting and should be captured in such beauty. Currently experiencing the tsunami of pregnancy hormones with my third, they brought me to tears. 🙂
I just have to tell you the nursing pic is by far my favorite. That moment between a mom and a baby is hard to put into words and that picture exhibits EVERYTHING my heart felt when I was nursing. THANK YOU so much for sharing it. Also…you could be on the cover a LLL magazine with that one (it also reminds me of this nursing mother art print my mom has).
Truly lovely! I’m teary eyed. Those photos capture a lot. Here’s to a great start with #2!
You are a ridiculously gorgeous family and Mommy wishes she looked half as good in everyday life as you do mere days after popping out a baby!
absolutely beautiful!!
SO amazing. Those breastfeeding pictures are fantastic. I wish I had let someone take photos like that.
Jill, these photos are absolutely gorgeous!
Amazing pictures! Everyone looks so happy & at peace! You have a beautiful family! Congratulations!
Also? You look phenomenal for just having a baby! Go Jill!
Such beautiful pictures. I started getting teary midway through and by the time I got to the end I was nearly crying. I MIGHT blame this on out of control pregnancy hormones (second child due in July), but I think it’s mostly because those really are wonderful pictures. Thank you, too, for easing my fears about bringing another baby home. I’m terrified for the chaos the second might bring. You are making it down downright lovely. I will try to remind myself of how well your family is doing when I start getting anxious about what might happen come July.
LOVE. <3
Classy, sophisticated and artistic. I miss that stage- I am glad you are savouring it. I also did this with my third and it was one of the best decisions ever… My doula also took black and whites of the birth and they are stunning!
Wishing you more beautiful moments:)
You guys belong in a catalog. I’m not sure what to price a “happy life” at…seems to me to be priceless.
You are making me remember how amazing and fleeting that newborn time really is. Your family is absolutely gorgeous. Congratulations again!
the pics are so great! you guys must be so happy nowadays, it shows =) def moments to capture forever! congrats again.
gorgeous shots.
the breastfeeding ones are especially awesome:not just because they’re beautiful, touching photos, but because there’s no way they show more than what everyone sees on the front of a magazine: and they’re *about* breastfeeding. I will never understand why some people are so righteous about a small bit of boobflesh!
Enjoy your lovely family, you all look beautifully happy:)
Fantastic shots of you nursing. You will treasure these special photos for the rest of your whole life. They are gorgeous.
So sweet! Glad you’ve acknowledge these days are soo important (despite the stress, chaos, and no sleep, lol)
The photos are beautiful. You’re truly blessed!
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!
Oh my, what absolutely beautiful pictures. There’s just a magic to them that words can’t do justice to – they’re the perfect way to capture moments that will now linger on forever 🙂
Beautiful! I hope you are all feeling as relaxed and peaceful as you look! 🙂 I especially love the fuzzy hat/Fuzzibunz shots! Too cute!
I totally agree with you on all counts. Adjusting to two kids is a little hectic (I did think adjusting to one was harder.) And I also wish I had enjoyed the early stages more the first time around.
Now my guys are almost 1 and almost 3 and they are total BFFs. It’s adorable to see and great for me because they entertain eachother.
What I love about these is all of the honest moments that are captured. I have this one great picture of Big Brother, Big Sister and me taken at a photo shoot where I am rocking her and he is looking over my shoulder. It is my favorite picture ever.
Wow – these photos are spectacular! I so wish that I had taken more nursing photos with my son. You are so blessed to have these. — Judy
Absolutely beautiful.
They turned out absolutely beautifully! Love the fuzzy bunz one, and the one of the two of you when she’s in the pink sweater.
I think it’s beautiful that you take breastfeeding pictures. I didn’t with Ava, and if I ever have another, it’s one thing I definitely want to do, since that time has come to mean so much to me 🙂
as much as I am sure you love these photos, you will love them even more in the coming years ahead! big big congrats!!!!!
These pictures? PERFECTION.
You’re so beautiful, Jill. Your whole family is beautiful!
And those breastfeeding photos … what a wonderful idea. I was not comfortable. It took me a few months before I would breastfeed without my cover. But now I’m totally jealous of those. Especially since I’m no longer breastfeeding and probably won’t ever again 🙁
Jill, yet again, you have infected me. My little guy is 16 months old, and we are in full swing of trying for the next one. My little guy had an awful night last night, and I was wondering, “What am I thinking? Am I crazy? I want this again????” But I look at these pictures, and I’m reminded of my own fairy tale, that’s only just beginning. Thank you for infecting/inspiring me once again.
Aaaaahhhhh…gorgeous!! Thank you for posting. I am always hearing about how difficult it is with two kids (which I don’t for one second doubt), but I am pregnant with #2 and LOVE seeing positive things like this. Enjoy your beautiful family!
Those pictures are beautiful. I think the first is my favorite. I never got any pictures of my breastfeeding my son and that makes me sad, but hopefully when we have number #2 we’ll get some.
You look amazing and your family is gorgeous.
Congratulations, Jill! You have a gorgeous family and deserve every minute of the happiness you found!
Congratulations on your beautiful little girl, she is just precious!
Oh, congratulations, Jill!!! I adore all these pictures, especially the breastfeeding ones, and I just love the name Leyna. It’s so beautiful
I had professional pictures taken of L and me in the summer and am so glad. I wish I would have had the guts to ask her to take some pictures of him nursing, because at 4 I’m sure he’ll be done soon and I’ll miss it so much.
All my best for your little, perfect family. May your life always be a fairy tale!
Dagmar
YAY!! Congrats!
Your family is so beautiful.
[…] still trying to figure that out, but as I’ve said on here before, I feel at peace and happy with my path in life now more than I ever have. Obviously, my family has […]