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the fresh baby plan – [St. Louis Baby Photographers]
Posted on September 23, 2009
Fresh Art debuted on July 1st and we realized recently that our July babies are hitting the big 3 month mark! And so to welcome them into their third month we are announcing our Fresh Art Baby Plan!
The Baby Plan consists of 3 mini sessions for baby at 3 months, 6 months and 9 months. Then they get a full session at their first birthday with a cake smash too if they want! They ALSO get 4 shirts with the numbers 3, 6, 9 and 12 on them and at the end of it all they get a storyboard with images from each session!
Email us for pricing if you’re interested! This makes a GREAT baby shower gift!
Remember this little one?
She was one of our first babies! And our most FAMOUS!
Well now she’s a happy, rolling, smiling 3 month old who Kim and I got to hang out with for a short time yesterday!
She was SO good for us and it was great to see her momma too! Thanks for having us over Kristin!
Let us know if you want us to track YOUR baby’s first year!
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sneak peek for baby liam – [St. Louis Newborn Photography]
Posted on September 22, 2009
Meet Mr. Liam. Liam was a little bit older than we try to shoot for a newborn session, but he was a DREAM baby! DREAM! He slept for us. He gave us eye contact. DREAM!
He was also our first 100% indoors session together. And it was rainy. And chilly. So we definitely looked like we were moving in dragging in all our normal stuff and lights. Yes, my friends, Jodie Allen shot with artificial light! I have proof on my iPhone (and if you follow us on Twitter, you’d see the proof).
Had to include an outtake too!
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my PSA to all moms of boys – [St. Louis Child & Family Photographers]
Posted on September 22, 2009
So what a way to introduce myself to some Jodified blog followers who may not know me… going straight for a little personal PSA!
First off, as Jodie loves to share just to see reactions, I have seven children. Four of which are boys. I never in all my boy raising have heard of such a thing as testicular torsion (I *told* you it was going straight on personal… and cringing at the google hits we’ll be getting now since I typed that word out). Never knew it was possible, and definitely didn’t know the symptoms and how serious it was!
My littlest boy, Thomas, will be 5 next month. My husband, Bill, mentioned a week ago Sunday after I got back from a session that he was swollen down there, he had noticed it yesterday, thought he had a bug bite or something, and didn’t give it much more thought, but now it was pretty swollen.
I checked, and definitely was and he said it was sore when I asked, but he hadn’t been complaining one bit. Just the morning before at a soccer game, a mom was telling a story of a friend who’s son had severe swelling, something about a testicle twisting and having to have it removed…. so I said I was taking him to urgent care right then. Bill thought I was over-reacting. *I* thought I was probably over-reacting, but had to go in just from hearing that story, otherwise it was probably something I would have waited until the next morning to take him to our pediatrician.
It was at urgent care, once we got in and the doctor looked, that I began to understand the seriousness of what this was. He told me to go NOW, right NOW down to Cardinal Glennon. Do not go home. Do not feed him. GO! After and agonizing drive down, they whoosed us right back and called in the ultrasound tech, and later urology team.
You see, testicular torsion is when the testicle, for whatever reason, gets twisted. Specifically, the spermatic cord does, which provides the blood supply. And when twisted, the blood supply is cut off, so the testicle and surrounding tissues begin to die. If caught early enough, it can be saved. So Thomas was rushed into surgery, not knowing how long the supply had been cut off. Not knowing if they’d be able to save it. And still trying to digest all that was happening. That this could really happen, and it was happening to my baby boy… who was stoically handling it all like a champ.
Unfortunately, they were not able to save it, but they did anchor down the other so it would not do the same thing. The urologist told us over and over not to question ourselves, or play the “what if” games. But we do. But mostly, I’m now on a mission to tell all moms of boys that something like this is possible and what signs to look for. So many that I’ve talked to so far had NO CLUE. None.
So if your boy ever complains of pain (which Thomas didn’t) or has sudden swelling, take them in right away. It’s better to be nothing. I’ve also learned that stomach pain and vomiting can be symptoms, which Thomas had the Thursday night prior. We thought at the time it was a tummy bug, but looking back that might have been the point it started.
The good news is it should not effect his future fertility. He does need to be super careful and wear a cup for any sports… or even Tiddlywinks the urologist said. He’s handled it all great. No pain meds after, which really just blows my mind! I’ve had to remind him several times to not run, jump, or bounce down the stairs while recovering.
A few pitiful photos… after all, this *is* a blog of photographers…. though it’s just phone camera images.
pre-surgery.. he should be in excruciating pain about now, but kind of okay watching Disney channel!
post surgery… enjoying one of MANY green popsicles. His nurses quickly realized Thomas’ favorite color is green and he LOVES popsicles.
Still a little groggy and facinated by his glowing finger:
poor pitiful guy!
Feeling much better after sleeping and having a big breakfast!
I promise next time to blog about something fun… and no more mention of testicles. Or not that much anyway, I do have four boys!
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scavenger hunt rules changed a bit…
Posted on September 21, 2009
Ok… so there are a few women that are RACING through this online scavenger hunt and then they hit a certain clue that tells them to take photos for three days in a row… and well… it’s killing their momentum!
And I KNOW that can be frustrating!
So, in an effort to encourage GAME ON mentality… just send photos from three different days to fulfill that certain task and you can move ahead!
ALSO… don’t forget that just because you might be behind and won’t win the GRAND prize… still play along b/c I’ll have fun prizes for other people too!
Here are some more photos hitting my inbox today…
And, what I am finding out is that maybe it’s just photographers that have trouble remembering to take photos of their own kids, or maybe it’s just ME, b/c everyone else seems to have TONS to choose from! Love that!
AND… are you overwhelmed with all the POSTS today? I’m feeling the need to stretch my legs a bit over here at Fresh Art! But just wait… Kim hits us tomorrow with a CRAZY public service announcement for all moms out there with little boys!
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captured innocence?
Posted on September 21, 2009
In the comments on the Jodified blog someone mentioned a Walmart lawsuit about bath photos. I never watch the news so I hadn’t heard anything about it. So what did I just do? Googled it of course.
And found THIS.
Have you heard about this?
It made me cry for those parents. And wonder how a Walmart employee could be so ignorant but my pro-lab just sent me this photo in a 20×24 standout mount?
And now it’s hanging in my bathroom. And I adore it. And yes, it will come down when the kids are old enough to be embarrassed by it. But for now, it’s just their cute little tushies!
Anyway, I would love for you to read THIS article and let us know via comments what you think! Because EVERY parent out there has some kind of photo like that I think! But I also know my husband isn’t a huge fan of their bottoms in our bathroom so maybe I’m the crazy one?
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the Jodified scavenger hunt is ON!
Posted on September 21, 2009
Hey everyone!
See? I told you I would just pick up HERE where I left off THERE! No worries and THANK YOU for your emails and comments and concerns about the big change. This is a good thing. A really really good thing for me and my family and also for Kim and her family. We couldn’t be more excited!
Now.
I just have to tell you that the HUNT IS ON! Oh man! The emails are hilarious and the answer to CLUE#1 is having a blast answering your emails today!
It is not too late to start the hunt if you want to play along… the prize is WELL WORTH the hunt! This is for SURE the best giveaway I’ve ever done and I have to tell you that I was pretty excited about the Crocs giveaway last winter! HA! If only I could tell you what great things you were getting… but that would give it all away I’m afraid. So you’ll just have to trust me!
Here are a few of the photos from the first round though…
NATURE:
And well, let’s just say that there is ONE woman determined to win who has sent over her photo from CLUE#2 already! HA!
There is no time line, although some of the tasks force you to slow down and take photos for a few days in a row… which will drive Sara crazy I’m sure! And it is not too late to get in on the game…especially b/c there JUST MIGHT be prizes for OTHER people too… like my FAVORITE photo from each CLUE! So even if you get a late start you could still win something!
However, at the end, it’s the first one to the finish line that wins the GRAND PRIZE!
SO THIS IS A RACE!
GAME ON!
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Fresh Movies {St. Louis Maternity Photographers}
Posted on September 20, 2009
Bethany is a HUGE fan of Tara Whitney’s and fell in love with our fresh movies so we incorporated one into their maternity session yesterday! It was a blast! Although thinking like a videographer instead of a photographer was HARD for me! HARD! But it was still so great and again, we had a BLAST at this session!
Please watch the video and we would LOVE to hear what you think of our new movies in the comments!
fresh movies: bethany and michael and baby makes three from jodie allen on Vimeo.
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