Lifestyle portraits, yes, I think that would be an appropriate term for this session. I have been photographing this wonderful family since before baby number one {Austin, 3 yrs old} was born. Almost exactly one year later I was called to help them celebrate the arrival of number two {Mason, 2 years old}. Then, our session last fall, marked my fifth time working with this family and I have to admit, they just get cuter every year! Needless to say, when Mom called me announcing the impending arrival of baby #3 I was beyond thrilled!
I knew the session would be a challenge given the ages of the boys and the lack of duct tape in my camera bag. Luckily this Mom & Dad are two of the most wonderfully patient, calm, take-it-as-it-comes type of parents I have ever met. They don’t need, or necessarily want, some unattainable “perfect” family portrait. You know the kind where everyone sits like little angels and smiles for the camera on cue. That’s fiction! Life with two toddlers (soon to be three) is messy! They’re loud, they don’t stay in one place for more than a millisecond, and <gasp> dare I say it, they’re sometimes whiny. But oh gosh are they ever cute and if you take a deep breath, let them be who they are and let me capture that for you – you might just find yourself with a true portrait of a family in love. I’d like to dedicate the first two shots I’m sharing to wonderfully patient Mommy and those of you who email me thinking I just walk in the room and everything magically comes to order and the scene practically sets itself. Trust me, it ain’t always easy – but it sure is funny! 
Mom and Dad seem to understand that with love, laughter and occasionally suffering through The Doodlebops together, they can survive all things.
It was just one week after our session together this family was dealt one of life’s most difficult hands. Their unborn child has been diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a very rare type of congenital heart disease which will require several surgeries throughout his young life, the first of which he will undergo at just one week old. Now that you’ve learned a little about this very special family, please take a moment to stop by their blog to offer your prayers and support as they make their way through this very difficult time.
![0523Sliva-7WM]](http://lifexpressions.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/0523Sliva-7WM.jpg)
