It's not burlesque, it's lunch.

I didn't choose to breastfeed my children. I just never thought there was another option. My body can grow a complete and perfect person and is thus fully equipped to feed that child.  It all works, just the way it's supposed to. My milk is the perfect combination of nutrients and is always sanitary and at the right temperature. It cannot be denied that breastfeeding is the way Nature intended for us to raise human babies.

Somewhere along the way, science came up with a way to fake it through with powdered formula and plastic receptacles and rubber nipples. Humanity embraced it for reasons I'll never understand and now, the most natural and perfect way to raise a child, requires laws to protect mothers in public.

There are lot of judgement worthy options out there. Can't you go pick on something else?

Breastfeeding is not sexual. It doesn't feel sexual and it doesn't look sexual.  It doesn't hurt you to sit next to a breastfeeding mother. It shouldn't offend you to see a child eat. Whatever strange stigma that makes people feel uncomfortable with breastfeeding must be changed. In a world of synthetic everything, we must at least let our mothers give our babies the milk they deserve in peace.

I've breastfed two children exclusively, past one years old, often in public. Often sitting in a booth with a baby eating in one arm and my own fish taco in the other. Or on a plane. Once at Christmas dinner in a fancy hotel. Frequently on a bench. Etc. I'm currently pregnant with sweet Lucy who I will also breastfeed. I'm pretty good at not showing you my boob. I'd wager a large lump of cash that most nursing mothers have no desire for you to see a boob. But for those who are still working on it, or find it more difficult, or have a wiggly baby, for goodness sake, give them a break. It's not burlesque, it's lunch.

I've recently been introduced to the idea of nursing portraits. Love it. Many thanks to Cassidy for letting me post this one.

*Note: I'm quite aware that there are many good reasons to bottle feed a baby. This post is not about that.

Oklahoma Summer Vacation

This summer we vacationed in Oklahoma with Daniel's parents and sister's family. Their family own a beautiful plot of land with a large "Farm House," and ponds for canoeing and fishing and trails for riding atv's or taking a stroll. It is pastoral and relaxing from any vantage point, even under the hot hairdryer winds of Oklahoma.










Grandpa Miller treated us to pancakes one morning.


Penn was extremely hesitant to swim in the pond. It reminded me of when he was extremely hesitant to step into the ocean on our trip to the beach in 2007.  He is slow to explore the dirty and unknown. Exactly as before, he watched from the sideline and waited for someone to say the right thing to get him in the water.  And then, of course, he had a blast.


I've noticed all three of us tend to have a different sort of "fun" than others. I can't quite put my finger on it. It's not as boisterous or evident when we are enjoying ourselves. Sometimes people have to ask if we're having a good time, just to make sure. We'll hold our nose and smile and jump in for the photo, but  left to our own devices we'd probably spend more time on the dock with our ankles in the water. It's good to have people to push us past our boundaries.








We played a lot of board games. Apples to Apples, Sequence, Rummikub and Chess were high on the list. Aunt Jan got Penn the game Blink and even as I type he is beside me begging for another round.




There was fishing! And fish caught! What you should know about the above photo is that the children are ages 6, 7 and 9. Penn, the very shortest by a longshot, is the 7 year old. The Millers are all giants.




Daniel and I managed to get some work done despite having no internet or signal which is basically "roughing it" for us.


We took a drive through the country and discovered that Oklahoma backroads are home to the most bizarre collection of mailboxes.


We visited the National Cowboy and Heritage Museum which is totally worthwhile although I'm still disappointed the gift shop didn't have mocassins in my size.


Daniel took this photo of Penn and I looking unmistakably related.


On our last day we ate dinner in town with Daniel's enormous family and then celebrated "Aunt" Virgina's 94th birthday. Daniel is 100% correct that she is at least as healthy and energetic as we are. No kidding.  It's truly remarkable. She has been a thoughtful and generous inspiration to me since before I even met her in person.

These cousins are the spawn of only 3 couples and there are MORE where they came from. (Four, if you count Penn.) The little boy standing next to Penn is FOUR YEAR OLD. I repeat, these people are all giants. Smart, beautiful, kind giants. They played a game of Capture the Flag with ping pong guns on the rolling back yard of the fun and hospitable Aunt Kay and Uncle Tom.  Watching the children, it is obvious this family is also highly organized even at a very young age. It must be genetic. Score.

I don't remember having the standard Family Vacation growing up. But Daniel, Penn and I have been somewhere once a year since even our early dating stage. I love it! It's important. I have entire future vacations planned out in my head. And I feel fortunate to have this extended family with children that can all come together once a year, despite our homes in Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania.

Click here to read Daniel's account.

Click here to see all off the photos.

Happy Summer.

The Phan's

Jackson and Cassidy and sweet Evelyn are so amazingly perfect I can't stand it. They are the calmest, most down to earth couple. Smart, funny and generous they all perfectly compliment one another in enviable ways. And that little Evelyn, I could just eat her up!

Melissa Woody Interiors

Melissa Woody is an awesome interior designer who required some new headshots for her website and the press. It was a treat to get to shoot them in her beautiful home.

Five Months Pregnant

We are five months into our pregnancy. I am a whopping 99 pounds and Lucy is 9 inches tall and moving all abouts. The placenta has moved off of the cervix so we had only one short and non alarming month of previa. I'm beyond excited that there are no activity restrictions and that super slight potential for a c-section is now off the table. I feel great!

We've painted the hallway and the kids rooms. I'm looking forward to finishing up all of our home improvements so I can show you!

The Shopping Bag Six

Six pups, thrown into a shopping bag on a sweltering summer's day by a kid who had a price on our head ($10 each). We were hot, sick and panting...darn near dog-gone dead when we crossed paths with a rescuer named Paige. She took us in, took us to the vet and we're getting fat and happy in our foster homes but we need permanent places to put up out paws. 

Read the whole story and visit their Facebook page here.


I couldn't resist this story, much less the puppies. When Dog Rescue Extraordinnaire (and awesome Lovie musician), Cari, was looking for a good photo of the pups I raised my hand super high on the internet for the opportunity. Today the pleasure came to pass and the studio was filled with puppies!


These puppies are soft and sweet with little waggy tails and full of puppy breath perfection. I think they're about 8 weeks old and they are ridiculously delightful.


They've had their shots and now they need a forever home.   Having raised Ringo from a very young and adorable puppy, I can tell you that it's quite a special experience.  Please contact Paige at paige@agentbeast.com if you would like to adopt (in order pictured) stoic BB, feisty Vincent, silly Turtle or chilled out Jules. 


Click here to see more photos.

Marcarpone and Lingdonberry

I recently took two days to eat one slice of tiramisu cake after dinner. For those two days I was up until 4 and 5 in the morning and now believe I underestimated the power of the espresso in that dessert. Then I remembered that Marscarpone  is one of the main (and caffeine free) ingredients and decided to bring a tub of it home.

I like it on wheat bagels with lingdonberry jam.

Dee's Bubble Bar featured in Modern Luxury Magazine

I shot Dee's Bubble Bar for Modern Luxury Magazine. It is sparkly and glossy and beaming with super high end, ritzy lounge decor. The surprise is they also serve fantastic food!