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Sunday, December 21

photo session with tara whitney*


{click on photos for larger view}

Last Sunday we were photographed by a dear friend of mine, Tara Whitney.

She sent us the online gallery today and as we looked through each magical photo, tears welled and my heart swooned and my breath was taken away. I told her that seeing each of these photos...the three of us standing, cuddling, embracing, truly solidified for me that we are a family.

You know, there are a myriad of emotions that come with adoption. For me, so much of it has felt surreal and dream~like that I still wonder if it has really happened. I wonder if he knows we are his parents. I wonder if this joy will stop as I am not that used to it. I was used to longing for him when he wasn't here. I still wake up in the middle of the night and for a split second I wonder if I am waking from a dream that we have a son.

But watching our story unfold through Tara's photography just confirmed it all. We have a son. We are a family. We are a "three"...and oh how she captured us so perfectly in and near our home. How she captured our connection, our whimsy, our love.

Tara...you wrapped up our hearts in a cushy package of beauty that day and now, now...we have it forever. Thank you.

Here are some of my favorites...
















{per the request of some commenters...Cedar's clothes are from LovedBaby, his red hat from Everyday Beautiful and leaf elf hat from Elephant Sauce...yummy gifts from friends who know my taste so well.}

51 Comments:

Blogger carlikup said...

Absolutely breathtaking ... you got me in tears o.k. missy!

Carla :0)

December 21, 2008 at 5:48:00 PM PST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

gorgeous! i love how happy and serene you all look! i love the last one, and the ones of both you and boho boy holding boho babe by yourselves. babe's face when dad's holidng him is amazing!

am wondering also where you got all the gorgeous handknits.

December 21, 2008 at 5:48:00 PM PST  
Blogger christianne said...

I've got a huge smile on my face that has been there from the first picture onward. Wow. What love emanates from each picture. Your love for Carsten and your collective love for Cedar. He is adorable and looks so peaceful and happy, surrounded and enveloped in so much love from both of you.

December 21, 2008 at 6:07:00 PM PST  
Blogger Brenda said...

Coming from an adoptee...Yes. He knows you are his parents. You all look so wonderful.

December 21, 2008 at 6:09:00 PM PST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ok, these are all incredible!!!! I love Tara.

But that one, I think the 9th, where your nose is brushing him and he is about to squeeze your finger??? Swoon....... love love love

December 21, 2008 at 6:31:00 PM PST  
Blogger BlossomingSoul said...

Oh my, oh my. Amazing!!!

Thanks so much for sharing.

December 21, 2008 at 6:32:00 PM PST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

sealed with a kiss

Love to the Boho Family
CaroleXXXOOO

December 21, 2008 at 6:43:00 PM PST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I got goosebumps looking at these photos. The three of you are gorgeous (really!) and Tara is just amazing!

I am truly so happy for you, Denise.

December 21, 2008 at 6:47:00 PM PST  
Blogger gem said...

breathtaking...what these images capture is something wholly holy. blessed be.
big love,
gem

December 21, 2008 at 7:39:00 PM PST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am wrapped up with my six month old son right now, tears streaming down my face as I read your stories and look at your pictures. Thank you for being a beautiful family, and for sharing.

December 21, 2008 at 7:49:00 PM PST  
Blogger Guatyen said...

beautiful threesome!

December 21, 2008 at 8:34:00 PM PST  
Blogger heather l murphy said...

absolutely beautiful**
I love how in the second photo his big toe is sticking up. I adore baby feet. Happy holidays LOVEly boho family!

December 21, 2008 at 9:12:00 PM PST  
Blogger Melanie Routhier said...

Beautiful!

December 21, 2008 at 9:16:00 PM PST  
Blogger Alberta Art Classes said...

And then you were three. You are a family...

December 21, 2008 at 11:20:00 PM PST  
Blogger lilia said...

oh, that special tara magic. :::sigh::: tara magic + boho magic = extrasupercalifragilisticexpialidociousfamilymagic :-) love to you guys!!!

December 21, 2008 at 11:29:00 PM PST  
Blogger Silvia said...

oh wow.
beautiful.

xox

December 21, 2008 at 11:44:00 PM PST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

BEAUTIFUL! Dreams do come true....

Trish
patriciadolan@comcast.net

December 21, 2008 at 11:54:00 PM PST  
Blogger Lisa Oceandreamer Swifka said...

These photos are swoonalicious!!! They are heart tuggingly beautiful and so real with emotions!! Your face has such a charming serenity to it - you elicit calm just through your image.
I have to say my favorites are Cedar sleeping in the long knit cap and the one of the three of you close up outside - Cedar at your chest, C behind you!! It could be an album cover!!!
The worlds greatest gift 2 people can receive.
Happy Holidays to the THREE of you!
XOXOXOXO

December 22, 2008 at 12:06:00 AM PST  
Blogger christine said...

The ones in the field are my favorite. Wishing you a happy holiday!

December 22, 2008 at 12:45:00 AM PST  
Blogger Just Me said...

Absolutely breathtaking!

You look all so sereen, Tara made some very nice photos of the three of!

Happy Holidays!

And thanks for sharing these beautiful photos.

December 22, 2008 at 12:53:00 AM PST  
Blogger Pen said...

just the way it's meant to be.
perfect.

xo

December 22, 2008 at 2:35:00 AM PST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

beautiful!

I wish I had enough money to pay a photographer. I love Taras work very much.... and if I lived in California.... who knows....

Is Tara maybe coming to Germany?


love,
Maike

P.S.: Is boho boy from Germany? Because of Cedars "Omi" :-)

December 22, 2008 at 4:45:00 AM PST  
Blogger Martha-Anne said...

Gorgeous photos, Boho!! :)

December 22, 2008 at 5:16:00 AM PST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

a wonderful window to a dream come true; thank you for letting us peek at your beautiful family. ((dm))

December 22, 2008 at 6:06:00 AM PST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

happy sigh... So wonderful! My heart is split wide open for you three! Yay!

December 22, 2008 at 7:12:00 AM PST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

incredibly beautiful deni --- so so happy for the three of you... enjoy your first of many holiday seasons together...
xxoo g

December 22, 2008 at 7:19:00 AM PST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Such a beautiful family. She captures the magic perfectly.

December 22, 2008 at 7:29:00 AM PST  
Blogger Jacki said...

She's done a wonderful job of capturing the beauty of your family. It gives me goosebumps to write that! It's been a long journey but well worth the wait. Thank you for continuing to share with us!

December 22, 2008 at 7:32:00 AM PST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Those are amazing!!! Lovely...simply lovely!

December 22, 2008 at 8:06:00 AM PST  
Blogger Vivienne said...

i'm all teared up!!!

these are so stunning and its so beautiful to see your family! they are all beautiful but it was when i got to the ones in the field that the tears started flowing!

thank you for sharing them!

December 22, 2008 at 8:26:00 AM PST  
Blogger Alisa said...

so lovely!!

December 22, 2008 at 9:05:00 AM PST  
Blogger Eileen W. said...

Absolutely stunning!! The joy and love is palpable! xoxo

December 22, 2008 at 9:24:00 AM PST  
Blogger beth said...

ohhhh....that tara is a good one, isn't she ??

I love'd them all....especially the one with the oversized hat...so sweet !!!

December 22, 2008 at 10:55:00 AM PST  
Blogger Vanessa said...

i'm swooning like crazy here!

December 22, 2008 at 11:09:00 AM PST  
Blogger Lisa said...

So perfect.

December 22, 2008 at 11:17:00 AM PST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

LOVE the pictures! They are wonderful!

December 22, 2008 at 1:52:00 PM PST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

These are fantastic!

December 22, 2008 at 1:57:00 PM PST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

simply gorgeous.

December 22, 2008 at 2:41:00 PM PST  
Blogger Shannon said...

Absolutely magical.

December 22, 2008 at 5:06:00 PM PST  
Blogger .E. said...

These are seriously gorgeous images you have a beautiful family and are truely blessed.. ( and I keep forgetting to tell you love the name you chose Cedar is awesome )

December 22, 2008 at 5:16:00 PM PST  
Blogger Jacinta said...

You all look so peaceful, comfortable and delighted in each others company.
A beautiful family.

December 22, 2008 at 6:58:00 PM PST  
Blogger Tara Whitney said...

ohhhh denise, you make me feel so good inside! i love you guys! :)

December 23, 2008 at 3:59:00 PM PST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

those photos are just wonderful fabulissimo -- so beautiful -- wait til people start telling you which one (or both) of you he looks/acts like -- it is the coolest...happy holidays to your blessed family...

December 24, 2008 at 5:33:00 AM PST  
Blogger momjeans said...

these are so beautiful...happy new and wonderful year to you all.

December 24, 2008 at 7:55:00 AM PST  
Blogger kendalee said...

Exquisitely captured moments - the love shines out of every one!

December 24, 2008 at 11:06:00 AM PST  
Blogger Harmony said...

This session is so amazing! She seems to have a gift to bring out the lovely in everyone. With your family she didn't have to look far!

I love, love, LOVE these pictures! Congratulations!

December 26, 2008 at 2:03:00 AM PST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i am back for the umpteenth time -- i just cannot get enough of the magic in these pictures...

December 26, 2008 at 12:12:00 PM PST  
Blogger daisies said...

these are so beautiful, what a fun relaxed session :) you are going to cherish these forever i am thinking :)

xo

December 26, 2008 at 2:40:00 PM PST  
Blogger AbraMichelle said...

These take my breath away and bring tears to my eyes. Gorgeous and ethereal beauty.

December 30, 2008 at 1:28:00 AM PST  
Blogger wrecklessgirl said...

*tears*
how truly, truly beautiful is your family.

December 30, 2008 at 6:32:00 PM PST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

GOREGEOUS family. What beauty and peace she captured.

January 2, 2009 at 9:44:00 AM PST  

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