My New Favorite Handbags

Oh how I LOVE my Gina Alexander handbags! I have been alternating them since I got them and have received so many compliments while out and about town.

My method for using them is I carry the purse with the picture of the kid that is not with me during my outting. :) If they are both at home, then I carry the purse with both of them on it. :)

Growing Families Expo

Last weekend, I participated in the Growing Families Expo. I met some great families and am looking forward to scheduling session with them.

Here are a few photos from the day. These were taken with my P&S camera. I was so caught up packing everything up that I forgot my SLR!

Halloween Greetings!

Is it just me or are the hardest children to photograph your own? Maybe they are just tired of always seeing mommy with a camera. What can I say, I'm also a scrapper so every moment is a photo moment!

Here are some outtakes from their Halloween Session.

DJ with his best "stop already" face.

I wish I could have found teeth that were child size for him.

Since the kids wouldn't cooperate, I took advantage of this guy posing! :)

Little Muno Cody wanted NOTHING to do with the head. It stayed on for less than a minute. Man, he's fast!

We were trying to chase him down with the head! It was like watching the Three Stooges chasing him down!

And my most cooperative child...

This week in MRS Photography

A real post will come soon, but in the meantime here are random items about my week!

1. My Gina Alexander purses came in yesterday! SO EXCITED and I will post pictures soon
2. I sprained my neck and have to wear an ugly neck brace. Couldn't they make them more fashionable?
3. I am going to watch NKOTB tomorrow night!
4. Cody has a double ear infection - poor guy
5. DJ is starting to read!!!!
6. Gina Alexander purse parties are in the works - any ideas on how YOU would want a GA purse party to run. I am open for suggestions!

Now Scheduling Holiday Sessions! Early Bird Specials!

Avoid the Holiday rush and schedule your Holiday Portrait Memory Sessions in October or November!

Also, as a thank you for scheduling ahead, anyone that books a session in October or November will receive the following incentives and discounts:

1. 15% off any Gina Alexander purchase
   
2. 10% off any wrapped canvas purchase
   
3. FREE holiday card design ($10 value) - select from the below designs (various phrases and embellishments available as well. Ask me about them when we design your card.)

Click above image to enlarge

These specials are available until November 30th, 2008. Email me today to schedule your Holiday Portrait Session and take advantage of our Early Bird Holiday Specials.

Gina Alexander Announcements - Deadlines and October Special

Christmas is only 79 Days 8 Hours and 57 Minutes away!!!!!! But, who's counting?

If you have been considering purchasing a Gina Alexander handbag or wallet this is a great month - especially if you are having a hard time deciding on which photo to use for your handbag!

Throughout the month of October, your 2nd image is FREE (with a $100 minimum order and shipping and handling not included)! This is a $50 savings!!! Don't miss out on this special! It is just in time for the Holidays!

Speaking of Holidays, below are the deadlines to have these hot handbags in your hand by Christmas.

If you already know what pictures you want, feel free to email me, mrsphotography@gmail.com. If you haven't scheduled your session with MRS Photography yet, email me and we can get your session scheduled, mrsphotography@gmail.com. I am already scheduling Holiday sessions so don't forget to email or call me, 1-877-5MICHEL to get your session on the calendar.

Deadlines to Place Orders

11/10/08 - Janie, Audrey and Christine Bags

11/17/08 - Classic line, Casual Luxury Line, Small Vanity Line, Men's Line, Kayla Wristlet, Nicole Bag, Fairfax Line, B&W Candy Bag, Candy Bag with Dark Blue Denim Siding and Koko Handbags

11/20/08 (noon) - $50 Express Fee (plus shipping) - Classic Line, Casual Luxury Line, Small Vanity Line, Men's Line, Kayla Wristlet, Fairfax Line, B&W Candy, and Candy Bag with Dark Blue Denim Siding

11/24/08 (noon) - $80 Rush Fee (plus shipping) - Small Canvas Handbag, Medium Canvas Handbag, Everything Bag, Dana Tote, Emma bag, Men's Line, and Small Vanity Line

MRS Photography Charities - Percentage of Each Memory Session to be Donated

Beginning this October, 10% of each Memory Session total (investment and items purchased included) will be donated to either:

1. Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (NILMDTS)

or

2. National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS)

When you book your session, you will have the opportunity to select the organization that the donation will be provided to.

Please feel free to visit their websites to learn more about their missions.

I accidentally came across NILMDTS' website a few months ago. Their mission amazed me and moved me to tears. They help honor babies who did not have a chance to bless this earth with their beautiful existence.

Many times I have contemplated on becoming a photographer with them. I am torn between emotion and wanting to help. I have been in the NICU and PICU and watched babies battling for their lives. I have not, however, experienced the death of an infant. The thought saddens me. I never think it is fair when a child is taken away prematurely.

Yet, I want to try to put my own feelings aside and be there for families that are not able to cherish the simple things like their infant opening their eyes every morning.

The pain from Cody's own heart surgery and hospitalization, I think, is still too fresh in my heart and makes it more difficult to take on this task. Hopefully, in the near future, I will be able to find in my own healing the ability to help others heal and honor their babies.

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month

This is my Down Syndrome Poster Child. My baby, Michael Cody.

We found out that Cody had Down Syndrome when I was 5 months pregnant. Our AFP test showed a 2% chance for Down Syndrome. I opted to have the amniocentisis just to find out. We had no plans to terminate the pregnancy if the test was positive nor did we even think that the test would be positive. More than anything I took the test for piece of mind that he did not have DS.

2 days after Christmas in 2002, we received a call from my Doctor. I had already forgotten that we took the test so the result from the test was the last thing on my mind.

I cannot begin to tell you how much emotion I felt as soon I heard the words "down syndrome" and "trisomy 21" come from my Doctor's mouth. I was only 33 years old, not quite at the "35 yr old double your chances of down syndrome age" so I didn't understand how this could have happened.

The first thing I did was cry. I didn't know exactly why at the time, but I cried.

Later in the pregnancy, I realized that what I kept crying for was the mourning for my "normal" child. I also realized through online research that this was normal for parents with Down Syndrome children.

Now, 29 months later, I wouldn't change my chubby ball of love for any "normal" child. (I have one of those already and there is absolutely nothing normal with 2, 3 and 4 year old tantrums! LOL Thank goodness 5 is, so far, a much easier age.)

He is intelligent, eager to learn, loving, affectionate, funny, entertaining, beautiful, and I am absolutely in love with him!!!

To learn more about Down Syndrome, visit their website.