Well hello there (Mrs Mackenzie) ;)

It has been a long time between posts and so much has happened, but I won't tell you here... pop on over to my new blog. That's right Chels, it is finally here :)

I would love to see you over at www.lumin-essence.com.au/blog

I have so much to share!

Fran xoxo

Testing... Testing...

My blog will very soon be getting a face lift... YAY!

Until then I want my images BIGGER! So now that I am a flickr user (thanks Miss Sheye!) I thought I would give this a go. Let's see if it works.

This is my Poppy and HER 'Baby Ellah'. Ellah is HER cousin, NOT my niece apparently, even though her mummy is definitely my sister. This is the world of an almost three year old...

IMAGE TEMPORARILY REMOVED

And because I have already had a few questions about the chair... The chair belongs to my Mum and Dad, or Poppy's Granny and Pa actually (because we all know it is ALL about her). They have had this setting for as long as I can remember and talk regularly about replacing it, but it continues to sit loyally in the front lounge of their house. As kids we jumped on it, dove off it and made cubby houses with sheets around it... As teens we lazed and watched TV on it and hung out with friends on it... As adults we drink tea and chat on it and as a pregnant adult I occasionally have a wee snooze on it while Poppy is off in cahoots with HER Granny.

This setting isn't as comfortable as it once was... The seat cushions are propped up with cushions underneath and the lumpiness is becoming more apparent with each visit - and each snooze. It could, however, tell a LOT of stories and is a bit like a favourite jumper that no longer keeps you warm because it is so threadbare - I love it anyway.
I plan to snaffle it when they do eventually replace it ( I can hear my husband's shudder already - 'where WILL we put it Fran?'). I do have three other siblings who may want a look in, but with two arm chairs, one three seater and two gorgeous 'little people' chairs I am sure we can come to an agreement :)

Have a great weekend.

Fran x

Mr Blue Eyes

Yes, this wee man's eyes really are that blue! His skin really is that soft, clear and pale! He really does smile ALL the time. This was one young man I didn't have to work too hard to capture. He was a dream :)

As always, to see the images better click on them and they will appear in correct resolution...





You can see where he gets his beautiful smile from :)


Have a great weekend everyone

xoxo

Pizza a la Valentine

Poppy is getting on in months... By the time we have our second bub she will be around three weeks off being three. This age has been such an eye opener for us. She is pretty much toilet trained, can tell us where she is sore, what she wants and how she wants it. She MUST wear a party dress EVERYDAY, MUST help us to butter the toast and MUST brush her own teeth. Most of the time she is a complete joy to behold and we love exploring this new territory with her.

On Valentine's Day last week in honour of her new found interest in all things of the 'big girl'kind, DJ pulled the bathroom stool into the kitchen and together they set about making pizza. Not just any pizza - but a heart shaped, dough and tomato sauce made from real ingredients, pizza. Poppy was in heaven.

I made the most of the opporunity and slunk away to the office to get some work done, but it wasn't long before the aroma and squeals of delight drew me back. These are some of the scenes I came upon:




Oh the joy of mashing tomatoes through a sieve:



I love the little trace of tomato sauce on the corner of her mouth - in true chef style she tasted her creation as she went:





The concentration - making tomato sauce is important work :)




Finishing up the dough and saving some for next time (yum):




And the result:



It was delicious and didn't last long, but I think for Poppy the real joy was spending a couple of hours in the company of her daddy. I don't think it was a chore for him either. They a make a good pair :)

Hope your Valentine's Day was just as lovely, heart warming and delicious.

Fran
xoxo

There are no words

that can express the sadness of today.


Sheye, I hope you have seen Ava dancing in everything you have done today and remembered with smiles all the gorgeous things about Ava that make your heart sing.

Much love

xoxoxoxoxoxo

3 weeks and wide awake - {Gold Coast Baby Photographer}

The moment I met Baby A I knew sleepy images weren't on the cards. He was as alert as I have ever seen and already had eyes that knew the world around him. We persevered for some time to capture some newborn sleepiness but it was not to be - Bubba A was just too interested in what was happening around him to sleep. He was so lovely and when I went back yesterday to deliver their images he was just as cute and just as alert - only much much bigger :)

The Photos...

As promised below here are some images of Poppy's Christmas:

The singing:




Working the santa hat:



And the presents! Cooking Christmas breakfast in her new kitchen:





Discovering Upsy Daisy (Makka Pakka's friend):





Upsy Daisy then had pride of place at the next opening:



And was even read too! She was a big hit - thanks Granny Scotland!


It also seems Poppy has come up with a plan to have Christmas EVERY day of the year. When asked by my sister last week whether she was having a brother or a sister Poppy responded "NOOOO - Santa Claus!!!". Apparently I am going to give birth to the jolly man in red!?! Who would have thought? I am not sure I am ready for that...

On the upside, the Santa fear seems to have subsided :)

Hope you are all well.

I have loads of client sessions to post this week so stay tuned!

Fran x

p.s you can see the images larger if you click on them :)