{Good Family} | Stapleton Family Photographer

I know I have said it many times before, but it is an honor to be part of a family's birth story.  It's a bonding experience, and one that very very few people in their life get to take part in.  That said, my birth families have a extremely special place in my heart.   Do you remember just after Thanksgiving when this little guy made his way into the world?  They are one of the most wonderful families I have ever been blessed to know.  They love each other desperately.  Every moment they are teaching their kids. Heck, Daddy willingly took several mosquito bites just to show how they went about getting blood from the body.

They have grown so much- time just goes way too fast for my liking.  I giggled the entire time I edited these- how fun is it that they all made funny faces?  Even baby brother got in on the funny face action!

I love them all.  And they are moving.  I am so sad- but hopeful that we will be able to still see each other now and then.

Starting summer with a bang.

Or at least a buckle fracture.  Tibia and Fibula.

Our sweet little Teagan broke her leg this week.  No major or dramatic story, just landing wrong stepping off a toy.  It's crazy how that can happen, isn't it?  They can tumble and fall in ways that you are just certain they are broken- and they dust themselves off and keep running.  But sometimes just the tiniest thing and a bone breaks. She has been such a trooper this whole adventure- and didn't even cry when they were poking on her.  She just glared at them until I scooped her up.  Then the tears came.  She is amazing.  We just keep laughing when the medical staff says she's tough.  She has to be!  She's number 3 with an older sister who loves to dress her up and a brother who LOVE to wrestle with her.

She's LOVING all the attention, even though the fact that she can't run is making her crazy.  She's crawling around like a mad woman though, and they gave her a walking shoe so that she can get back to walking soon.  That also meant she got her very first sneakers yesterday (to balance the height of the cast) and she got to pick which ones she wanted- so she picked the brightest, most glittery, busiest ones they had.  AND they match her cast.  Teagan, you're a hoot.  Best part about the cast though?  We can get it wet!  They have an option for water-friendly casts now.  Talk about making mommy's life easier.  Do you remember wrapping casts in garbage bags and putting bands around the top super tight so that water wouldn't get in?  And forget water fun in the summer with a cast.  I'm so thankful for this option!  Keeping a toddler dry in the summer is nearly impossible.  And baths?  Oh am I glad we can give her baths!

I'm challenging myself to take a photo a day during this month of her in a cast.  just for fun- and because *hopefully* this is a once in a lifetime kind of thing.

{Ilias-4 months} | Stapleton Denver Baby Photographer

I LOVE my little baby planners!  It's so amazing to see these little guys their first year, when they are first born, when they are holding their head up and smiling lots, sitting up, and then standing.  Do you remember this stunning little guy?  He's so much fun- and he has grown like crazy!  I absolutely love spending time with his family.  I love the way he made so many fun faces.  So much personality.  I adore him.

I just want to squeeze him.  I squealed when I saw him- can you blame me?

Little Mister Christopher {5 days new} | Denver Newborn Photographer

We had a beautiful Mother's day yesterday.  The kids were so excited it was mothers day that they were up by 6:30.  Then they (Daddy) made me breakfast in bed!  The eggs even were in a smiley face.  They each gave me a card.  What I love about the cards is that my husband, Chris, lets them choose WHATEVER card they want.  From any section at all.  It makes it that much more special- and we laugh the whole time we open them because they are never from the section they "should" be from.  Hailey got a card that was a happy birthday to a sister (It had two lovely teddy bears hugging on the front), Noah picked an anniversary card with two monkeys that were hugging, and Teagan picked a card that was from a mother to her son.  I just laugh- we always date the back and put the occasion they picked.  It's unique and I love the way my husband thinks.  He gives them the freedom to choose, and they come back with things that fit for them. Then we got to spend the day enjoying the amazing weather.  I don't know that we spent more than 10 minutes inside before it was dark.

I have so enjoyed my time with this wonderful family.  Their new little man is so sweet, and so alert!  He made me work, but I loved every minute of it.  We got to try some new things too- I'm so excited.  Doing this session helped me to officially decide to expand my education.  This fall I am going to spend a weekend learning how to do newborns even better.  It's going to be fantastic!

I just love them

Redmond Birth 2011 | Denver Birth Photography

I know I say it a lot, but I love my job.  I love that I am chosen, from so many talented photographers, to share people's lives.  There is no higher honor than that.  I love that the people I shoot let me be a part of their family for a few hours of their life.

Remember the gorgeous maternity's from March?  Well the little guy decided he didn't want to turn over!  That's right- he decided to be breech.  The difficult decision was made to schedule a c-section for his arrival, since he had zero intention of flipping over.  The hospital has a strict 1-person-only policy for c-sections, so both of us were worried that the birth wouldn't be captured the way we had hoped.  So Nicole asked her doctor and the hospital if I could be in the room.  What's the worst they could say?  We didn't even know for certain what the answer was until just minutes before the surgery- I think that the anesthesiologist was worried that I wouldn't be considerate of a medical procedure. (Note to photographers- make sure you let medical staff know that you will stay out of the way and only in the spaces they designate as appropriate.  It goes a REALLY long way to be respectful)

With C-Sections, everything moves pretty quickly.  It's really amazing to watch.  And then.... They arrive.  I have a mask on to hide my tears.  Babies coming in to the world... I can't help but be overjoyed.  Especially for families whom I have grown to know and love.  Daddy's first glimpse, Mommy's.  Together those first moments- I wish I had adequate words.

When everything settled down, big brother got to meet baby brother.  When they are so little- like mine, these two kiddos are a little less than 2 years apart- the older kids don't know what to think of Mommy being strapped in to a bed.  I'm sure all of those cords are scary.

Oh- and you were SERIOUS about a baby in your tummy?  WHAAAAT do you mean we get to keep him?

Then love.

The slideshow contains images from a real medical procedure.  Please use discretion when viewing.

Redmond Birth 2011 from Kimberly Rodgers on Vimeo.

Welcome to the world little one.  We are all so glad you are here.  Congratulations Redmond family!  Nicole, you are so brave and strong.

I am so honored to have been part of your day.  Thank you again and again.

Spring Mini Sessions | Family Photographer

Spring Mini Sessions are here again!  Can you believe that spring is here already?  The trees are starting to blossom, the grass is turning green... It's one of my favorite times of year.  I'm so guilty of not having enough photos with me and my kids.  I am always behind the camera, and I know a lot of parents who feel the same way.  I also know how deeply I cherish pictures of my with my mom and my daddy, and I need to be better about getting pictures with my babies so they have special pictures when they become adults.

Mini sessions are a fantastic way to try out custom photography for the first time, and the session makes a great Mother's Day gift (hint, hint, hint, Daddies!)  These sessions book up pretty quickly, and we are only offering 10 this year- so please contact me ASAP to reserve your spot.  These sessions will be held in the greater Denver area, exact details of our location will be sent in an email upon booking.

Mini Sessions( $185) Include:

30 Minute session (up to 6 people)

10-15 images in an online Gallery

2 mounted 11x14's

2 mounted 5x7's

All other prints & Products sold separately

So here's the surprise: One booking will win the whole thing for free.  In celebration of my birthday, one booking will win their mini session on me.  How do you enter?  Just book a session!  Your $50 deposit will be fully refunded if you win!

Email me at kim@brinkstreetphotography.com to get additional details, book, or if you have any questions at all.

And for those who have just had a session, or are waiting for fall, or if you live in the greater Denver area and LOVE cupcakes and say, maybe want to meet me (I promise I'm fun and I smile a lot!) you can enter for these:

Well, not specifically these cupcakes, they were eaten*YUMMY*... But half a dozen delicious, oh so addicting cupcakes from C'est Chic Cupcakes, hand delivered by yours truly!  All you need to do is go to the Brink Street Photography Fan Page and "like" it, then come back here and let me know that you did!  If you already like the page, just let me know you already like the page.  Pretty easy huh?  Oh, and anyone who buys a mini session automatically gets 2 entries!

Don't forget to share with your friends- if I get more than 15 entries I will be giving away a second set of cupcakes!

Good luck!  Contest runs from today until 11:59PM on April 9th (MY BIRTHDAY!)

I can't wait to hear from you!

{Xander, 10 days new} | Stapleton Newborn Photographer

Meet little Mr. X.  I have been so blessed to meet so many new babies lately!  Xander was so sweet and awake during our session.  I don't think I have ever gotten so much eye contact from a newborn before- it was neat to watch him just take in everything going on!  He slept for about 20 minutes, then when I switched backgrounds he gave us a cute little yawn and was awake again.  Such a sweetheart.