7 months old - Rocco

Our baby boy Rocco is 7 months today!!  

About me...

19 lbs

Almost 30"

Says mama (only when he is upset)

Screamed bloody murder when he saw a cat for the first time

Also not sure of any animal that is not white like his dogs

Mastered the fake cry

Loves...

 Drinking water out of an adult glass - like screams he is so excited! 

To play airplane with his Lolo, jumping in his jumper, 

anything outdoors, playing with his daddy

Food!  Oatmeal, Bananas, Oranges, Prunes, 

Carrots, Squash, Mix Veggies, Noodles, Ice Cream, 

Everything but GREEN BEANS!

Here is one of his happy scream faces!

My little Gerber baby :)

Loves showing off his two teeth

7 month old birthday suit. I just had to. I'm sorry.

 Goodness I love this little boy

My inquisitive bub

Happy 7 months baby!  We love you.

xoxo - Christy

Downtown Dover Romance - Shawn & Alexis

Cuteness overload. 

Shawn and Alexis wanted to have their photos taken in celebration of their 1st year of dating Anniversary.  He even surprised her with a beautiful promise ring.  Isn't that cute?? Seriously come on. Beyond adorable! Oh to be young and in love!! 

These two are so loving to one another and show such kindness and adoration for each other. Both supportive of each others future and driven to be outstanding in their own lives. Honest to goodness true love right here. AND they were naturals for the camera.  :)

 Never lose this feeling towards each other. 

 Traffic Stoppers

Love the way he looks at her.

Alexis, you are so beautiful. Inside and out.

Beautiful Colonial Downtown Dover

Reminds me of..."Life is like a box of chocolates"

 Never short on affection.

 Are they not like the cutest couple?? 

<3

I wish you two forever lasting love.  Never lose that "thing" that you two have, it's organic and one of a kind. Keeping moving forward but never lose focus of your love. 

xoxo - Christy 

Marfan Syndrome and Cardiologist Appointment

Most days I feel like I am a happy little red balloon floating high in the sky, sometimes playing in the clouds even.  And then there are days that I'm the sad, deflated, ugly balloon that has had it's air sucked dry. Yep, that's me today. Completely Deflated. A day where I ask myself over and over, why me, why HIM?

My baby boy, Rocco had a follow up visit to his cardiologist today.  It sucked. Sorry to be so frank...ok, not sorry.  But it did. As a mother, I just want to protect him. But I can't protect him from his own body.  I feel helpless. 

You may or may not know, Rocco was diagnosed at birth with Marfan Syndrome.  It is a connective tissue disorder. Connective tissue is what everything else is built upon or so it keeps everything in its place.  It affects in many cases, eyes, joints, and heart to name a few.  Many that are born with Marfan Syndrome don't even know that they are affected until teenage or even adult years. Sometimes people find out when it's almost too late or some never find out until it is too late. 

In Rocco's case, his little heart is already affected. It's rare for a baby to have the heart affected so early. It is rare and it is scary.

In normal circumstances, the heart pumps the blood through the main vessel, the aorta, to the rest of your body. In most normal cases, the aorta stretches to accommodate the flow and then returns to its normal size.  For Rocco, as his heart pumps blood to the rest of the body, his aorta stretches but then does not return to the normal original size.  It stays enlarged.  Think of an elastic hair band, first few times you use it, it returns to original elasticity but then the more you use it, the more stretched out it becomes, and then pretty soon the elastic becomes weak and busts apart.  

Rocco is on medications to help reduce his blood pressure and heart rate to hopefully slow the flow so that it does not stretch the aorta as it is pumping out the blood to the rest of his body.

Well today told me that his medications are not working as well as I would like or need them to. His aorta is more dilated than our last appointment in August. Maybe he isn't on enough medication? Maybe it's just the Marfan and can't be slowed down?  Maybe I allow him to be too active?  Too many unknowns.

There is no cure for Marfan Syndrome. And I might as well say it again, it SUCKS. 

But you know what? This little boy is amazing. He makes me want to live my life every day better than the day before. I guess I need days like this to keep me grounded and not let my focus waiver from him. To keep fighting for him.  

Waiting for the blasted Echocardiogram

He makes those hospital gowns look good

I love the way he looks at his daddy

Yummy sock monkey

Daddy is silly

 Playing with our feet waiting on our results.

 You are my world. Period.

Ok, that is enough emotion from me today. But I feel better. 

xoxo - Christy

Delaware Christmas Tree Farm - Rodney, Jamie & Jadyn

I could not get home fast enough tonight because I was just so anxious to post this happy little families photo session from the tree farm.  I'm just in love with them. They are such an adorable couple and Rodney's son, Jadyn is a CUTIE!  

Jadyn even came to the photo session with a few requests of his own in regards to pictures. Love it!  Rodney and Jamie are engaged to be married in September 2014.  Happy they chose me to take these family photos.  I had a great time with them and was able to get my creative juices flowing.  

I heart them all so much. <3   Just adorable. 

 1st request of Jadyn - Swinging in the tree farm with Daddy & Jamie. 

Jamie. Just Stop!  Isn't she seriously GORGEOUS?!?  

Many times while editing these photos I held conversations with myself about how Jamie should be a model.  

Jamie supporting her big burly manly man fiancé.  

Simply a beautiful happy loving couple.  

It's that love thing! 

The best tree on the farm!  

Daddy & Jadyn

Mistletoe is for kissing. Snap to it, you two!

Trimming the tree. I think he would have rather eaten it.  

2nd request of Jadyn - Silly face pose.  100% Happy Genes right here!

Daddy & Jamie may not be so happy with me for posting this but I know Jadyn will be!  ;)

This truly was a beautiful day and couldn't have asked for a better family!  Many happy wishes to you!

xoxo - Christy

Delaware Christmas Tree Farm - The Fausey Family

I am so in love with my JOB.  I just am so happy I get to capture these moments with and for people. I work hard at it too. And I am proud to do so.  

I was so excited when Alexa contacted me about photographing her family, as I knew they were a handsome one at that. We honestly could not have had a more beautiful day in November.  Here are a few favorites of many from their session on the tree farm. 

I swoon over their gorgeousness. 

 My favorite in between moment.  I feel like I was a spy.  

Just love seeing Bob & Alexa laughing at one another.  

 They found their tree.  :)

Here is the adorable Preston making his appearance in the family photo.

Alexa's handsome boys, Ryan & Grant.

Handsome guy, Grant. 

Happy Genes right there!

Alexa's stud, Ryan

Brotherly love, right boys? ;)

Laughter is beautiful. For real.  

Alexa, seriously, thank you for sharing your family with me for the day.  It was a beautiful day for a beautiful family photo session.  Enjoy.

xoxo - Christy

Christmas Tree Farm Mini Sessions

'Tis the Season!!

Now taking portraits for this Holiday season at a local Christmas Tree Farm!  I have found a beautiful location and can not wait to share it with you.

$75

Mini-Session includes:

 30 minute session

10-15 edited photos on a disc

Facebook Cover Photo

Add $25 for 20 greeting cards

Now taking reservations for November 17 and December 1.  May open sessions up on November 23 based on demand. 

Please email me if you are interested!  HappyGenesPhotography@gmail.com

xoxo - Christy

Tree Farm Scouting

Yesterday I decided to bundle up and go hunting for a tree farm.  I have been throwing around the idea of offering Christmas Mini-Sessions at a tree farm.  I think it sounds like a chilly good time!  Still working out whether to offer prints, cards, or just a CD of the images.  Any thoughts?

I seriously can not get enough of this hat!  I just love it on him.

(The lil guy not the big guy)

I may even open up a session as soon as this weekend if anyone is interested!

xoxo- Christy

Weekend Recap

Here are a few pictures of how our weekend went in the Hermogenes household. Baby feedings, pumpkin doughnuts, salt dough keepsakes, play time and bath time.

I can not get over how big our little baby is already, almost 6 and 1/2 months.  Sitting up all by himself without nose diving into the floor every other minute. However, instead of nose diving into the floor, now he nose dives onto the spoon.  You can't get the food in his mouth fast enough!

Daddy playing choo-choo train with baby food. Rocco readily anticipating. 

(I need to post a video of this routine. It's just too cute watching them)

I'm getting the stare down because I've got the camera.  Oh, I was also busy making pumpkin doughnuts. He probably saw me tasting the batter.  You can not get anything by this boy. Seriously.

Here are my finished pumpkin doughnuts and doughnut holes. 

 Rocco playing on the floor with daddy and Dinky.  I think Rocco was pretending to be a bull.  All Dinky wanted was that little orange toy by Roc's foot.  

Oh, please don't judge Roc's outfit, Daddy dressed him. ;)

 Ooooh...nice doggy.  These two are still trying to figure each other out.

I have been wanting to make Salt Dough keepsakes of Rocco's not-so-little baby feet and hands.  I'm so happy I finally got around to making them.  They turned out great so far...still waiting for them to completely dry. 

 The hands were definitely not a one person job especially for my son.  But I just love this before moment between him and daddy. 

 My baby's beautiful handprints before I popped them into the oven to bake.

If anyone is interested in making salt dough keepsakes, ornaments, etc. Here is the recipe I used: 

http://theimaginationtree.com/2010/10/salt-dough-handprints.html

 Belly time! Just trying to encourage a little bit of crawling. Rocco usually just looks like a fish out of water.  We will get there in due time.  But its fun watching him get excited. 

 Rocco and Sophia in between sneak-attack licks to the face. 

Oh bath time, how we love thee...Rocco used to scream bloody freakin' murder at bath time in his first two months but now he can not get enough! 

Of course Dinky is there to watch him the entire bath.  I believe Dinky was traumatized those first two months with Rocco screaming at bath time and now believes the bath is going to eat Rocco up.  He seriously will not leave his post on the side of the bathtub.

After bath. 

This is our new "thing."  Putting his delicious toes in his mouth. 

It's making diaper changing time hard however.

Oh, this is another new "thing" we are trying out this week.  We are using his bedside co-sleeper (that he never used but twice btw), and converted it to be used as a little play area for him, so I can attempt to get a few chores around the house completed. 

So as you can see pretty much everything revolves around Rocco these days.  And it is so much fun!  

xoxo - Christy