Way back in my college days… between attending classes at SCAD, I worked for a small retail company in City Market. During my breaks, I grabbed lunch or dinner (mostly from The Lady & Sons) and wandered around all the shops. I always gravitated to this one shop owner who created the most unique jewelry & illustrations that really captured a little piece of my heart. After many trips over to her place, I finally and somewhat ridiculously blurted out, "I NEED TO KNOW YOU." And that was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

I was there in Savannah when she married Tim. Years later she stood by me in Nashville when I married Mathew. Distance has never derailed us though we have lived mostly apart from one another. I moved from Savannah to Atlanta. She moved to Houston. I moved to Colorado. And for just a short 18 months she moved to Colorado before moving back East! I'm so happy our paths crossed again and I got a chance to spend some time with her. She now has two beautiful girls, big-sis Olympia & new baby Maribelle, that I was fortunate to photograph last Fall.

Here are my favorites from an afternoon with the Barelli girls:

This is Olympia. I loved this one so much I used it up there in my header. Those eyes are to die for.

This is Lucca. He loves his sisters.

Again with the eyes…

And this is Maribelle.

Just look at that precious little mouth.

I love quiet little moments.

An armful of girls.

Baby toes never ever get old.

So much personality in those little eyes & eyebrows.

I think this one is funny and that's exactly why I love it.

Mom had to take a minute to change her and I HAD to grab one with this mirror!

Hi there Maribelle. I see you looking at me.

Then she got a little sleepy.

I shot an almost identical picture of Allison in her shop by a window when I was taking some photography classes at school (which is around here somewhere and of course can't find)!

I wasn't sure we'd get this one. But we sure did try and at the last second she woke up and pulled her legs in.

Thank you ladies for a wonderful day and I hope you have all kinds of fun in your new home! Hope to see you again real soon!