Newborn: Emily Lynn

Photography is ever so evolving for myself.  I have shortcomings, I have a lot more to learn, I continually strive to make whomever I'm photographing happy. I, as well need to be happy with my photographs or else there would be no need for me to be in this business.  You can bet if I am your photographer, I am going to put my all into your photographs. All of what I have learned, studied, and practiced until the day I deliver your photos. 

With all of this being said, I am super happy with these photographs.  One day I may look back at this and roll my eyes of everything I have overlooked but at this very moment in my photography career, I am happy.  I am happy that I get to do what I love to do creatively and stay at home with my baby boy.  Yes, it sometimes makes for very long nights of editing once he has fallen asleep and cramming in bits of editing during nap time or tv time but I get it all, the best of both worlds. 

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Now to welcome miss Emily! 

I had the pleasure of spending a morning with the beautiful and very sleepy Emily Lynn.  She was so tiny and hardly even made a peep.  Emily was born three weeks early of her due date and maybe this is why her sweet session went so well because she should still be in mommy's belly.  Instead she was already here and spending quality time with me, I am such a lucky lady!  

Emily with her aunties teddy bear. 

That little foot just had to come out, made us all giggle.

 Daddy was so super excited to be able to give us an idea for a photo, we just couldn't say no.  It was beyond adorable to see dad excited! Mommy says Emily isn't allowed to go hunting with daddy, so this is as close as it gets, and maybe some fishing... 

 Emily's nursery was to die for and it had this most amazingly beautiful pottery barn chair that I just had to incorporate some way.  I just love these photos. 

 One day they can look back and compare how much she has grown by this 

same beautiful chair. 

Nothing like a mothers love and gentle touch.  Mommy spoke to her 

so softly during these photos, it was a beautiful moment. 

Congrats Jamie and Doug, Emily is beyond beautiful.  Looking forward to watching her grow!

xoxo - Christy

Rocco's LoveSickThreads

Since becoming completely and utterly hooked to Instagram shopping, yes, you can shop on Instagram, I've never loved Rocco's clothing as much as I do now.  I've entered him into a few (ok...maybe more than a few) brand rep/enthusiast searches via Instagram.  @LoveSickThreads (Instagram username) chose Rocco as one of their brand enthusiasts! We couldn't have been happier. I was totally hoping they would pick him. I was able to work with the amazing designer/shop owner to come up with these custom jeans for Rocco!  

They are even named after him! 

The "Rocco" skinny stonewashed jean. <---Click there to see Rocco modeling his awesome jeans for her shop. He's such a hunk in them! 

Click here for her main Etsy storefront

You can use Rocco's code and receive 10% off of your order 

of any items in her shop:  CHERMO100

You may be able to work with her to design and name your own jean for your kiddos!

 "Babe, you wanna go for a ride in my truck!"

 You can also get his adorable raglan baseball tee shirt from here!  @BohemianMinis

It's one of our favorite tees!

Are these not the cutest pair of jeans?!?! I know I'm in love with them! and SQUEEEEEEE! when I see him wearing them around. 

Don't forget to use code CHERMO100 to get 10% off your order

xoxo - Christy

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family at Happy Genes Photography!!



It's Rocco's 1st Christmas and with that said, it means all kinds of fun exploring with photography with our little model. But for now I will leave you with these few photos on Christmas Eve that we thoroughly enjoyed taking of our sweet guy.   

Rocco is mesmerized by the glowing of lights.

Waiting for Santa

 Santa had his midnight snack and left Rocco his gift.

Tomorrow is the big day.  But honestly the fun of Christmas is all the days leading up to the holiday.  The excitement peaks tonight.  


Stayed tuned for more Christmas photos of our cutie-patootie.  

Merry Christmas!

xoxo - Christy

Happy Snowy Day!

What a beautiful day today was! Our first gorgeous serene snow day.  Just a nice dusting on the ground and trees. I mean I could go for a lot more but it was just enough to make a beautiful day, so I'm a happy girl. Of course we had our lil Roc-star outside for just a few minutes to snap a few photos. 

We hope for many more too! :)

 His first "sleigh" ride, don't think it was made for this but hey Roc seemed to love it. 

 He also enjoys chewing his hat straps.  

Oh, and see the tree behind him, that's our living Christmas tree that we purchased locally, put it inside, decorated it, and then freaked because we thought we were killing it so we took it back outside! 

xoxo - Christy

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

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

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