A Christmas Lifestyle Newborn Session at Home with the Yeary Family | Northern VA Newborn Photographer

I got the coolest email on Christmas day!  John and I were hanging out with the family and I believe I had just polished off a (HUGE!) delicious Christmas brunch after watching our girls enjoy the magic of Santa- completely surrounded by torn shreds of gift wrap and new toys.  When I checked my phone, there was an email from little Baby Iris' mom, Kira, telling me that she had made her appearance a bit early on Christmas Eve.  Iris was originally due on Dec. 30th and I thought for sure that she would be a little New Year's Eve baby.  Instead, she had her own plans!  What a wonderful Christmas present to her mommy and daddy!  It put an even bigger smile on my face that day!

We wound up scheduling her newborn session for her original due date (the 30th!) and Iris was so fresh and new- and also so sleepy!  This little sweetheart had kept her mom and dad up ALL night long so she wasn't the only one who was a little worn out ;-)  Ah, the joys of being a new parent!  I can remember those early days sort of blurring together....happiness, frustration, joy, and exhaustion!  That's one of the reasons I love doing in-home lifestyle newborn sessions.  It's one of the only true ways that you can 'freeze time'!  Now, despite the whirlwind that is having a new baby, Kira and Iris' daddy, Wes, will always be able to look back on these images and remember these moments.  

And there were SO many special ones!  Kira and Wes are completely wrapped around little Iris' fingers (and so are her grandparents who were in town visiting!) and I loved watching how they looked down so adoringly at her.  For so long, you dream about what your baby will look like and then -POOF!- they are here and you get to marvel at all the ways that he or she is so perfectly unique and special!  No wonder we spend so much time just staring at them!  Even the family kitty-cat liked watching over her!!

During Iris' session, I was able to incorporate some special items to the family, like Wes' baseball t-shirt quilt, bat (engraved with the couple's wedding anniversary!), and glove.  Baseball was- and still is!- a huge part of his life and I'm sure Iris will grow up to be quite a fan of America's game.  And of course, there wasn't a dry eye in the room, when we curled Iris up on her late uncle's uniform.  Kira's brother wasn't able to meet his niece, but I know without a shadow of a doubt that he was there with us and that he holds her in his arms and will always serve as her guardian angel.  

We ended the session downstairs by the Christmas tree.  I loved wrapping things up there because it was kind of symbolic of the true gift that Iris is to her family.  Sure, everyone loves Christmas for the decor, the food, and the presents.  But really, Christmas is about love and family.  And what better gift is there than that of new life?  

I can't think of a single one.  :-) 

Congratulations to you, Kira and Wes.  Iris is a beautiful gift and I wish you all the best and that your days with her are always merry and bright!