Welcome to Maddie Dean Photography The Blog! We're glad that you're interested in us! However, we have moved!!! Please check us out by Clicking Here Be sure to bookmark the new page. We don't want you to miss out on any sneak peaks or specials!!! Look forward to seeing you at our new home!!!

-Sarah-





Tuesday, September 30, 2008

2008 Annual Fund Drive for NILMDTS






With the Month of October being recognized as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness
Month, The Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation holds its Annual Fund Drive for
six weeks starting in mid-September and ending in October.
President Ronald Reagan enacted Proclamation 5890 in October of 1988 to recognize
that each year, approximately a million pregnancies in the United States alone end
in miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of a newborn child. Reagan stated, "A
national observance offers us the opportunity to increase our understanding of the
great tragedy involved in the deaths of unborn or newborn babies. It also enables
us to consider how, as individuals and communities, we can meet the needs of bereaved
parents and family members... " To read the full Proclamation signed by Reagan,
CLICK HERE.

If you are in a place to make even a small contribution to NILMDTS, please know
that doing so will continue to allow the organization to provide improved resources,
training, communication, and other tools necessary in support of our amazing contingent
of professional photographers who provide the gift of free remembrance portraiture
to families in need.

Our next project we are working on is an online, interactive webinar version of
our Formal NILMDTS Training taught by Co-Founder Sandy Puc' allowing anyone in any
country with access to a computer to complete the course online. Donations help
make programs like this a reality!


To make a donation to NILMDTS, please click here.




Your Donations Support the Organization in Many Ways -
* By supporting the continued education of our volunteer photographers
* By allowing us to further our outreach to hospitals and hospices across the world
* By offsetting the costs associated with outreach efforts including Formal NILMDTS
Traingin Seminars
* By supporting the Family Forum which creates a productive and supportive haven
for healing
* By supporting the Photographers' Forum which provides a helpful environment for
our member photographers to express their feelings and receive advice on the various
issues that they face in this noble work
* By supporting the day to day operations of our Headquarters Offices

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Down. Set. Hut Hut.

My little brother had his 1st tackle football game this past weekend. That in and of itself was a big deal... but the even bigger deal was playing the game on Ranger Field! Our high school as a brand new, multi million dollar turf field and each peewee team gets to play one game on it. (Championship games will also be on Ranger Field!) I was excited to be home for this and take some pictures for my mom. Now, I'm not a sports photographer. It's harder than it looks, especially when you don't have a super great understanding of the game!! I think sports pictures are best left to my friend Homer of Cayer's Sports Photography. (I want to be him someday when I grow up!) But at any rate, here are some that I did get. Jackson is #12 and he plays center. #15 is his best friend and our neighbor, Logan.

Way to go guys!!

P.s. yes, the did win... In OVERTIME! Don't know the score but know they won by 2!!

-Sarah-














Finally! A use for all this wind!

My dad and little brother were sent to Alco to pick up a dust pan for my mom. The came back with a dust pan and a kite! I just had to tag along when they headed down the street for an open field. I think it's windy 360 days out of the year here... so it was a good Kite day. Jackson struggled a bit learning how to keep it up but I know the guys had fun! I sure had fun snapping the pictures!!

-Sarah-















Thursday, September 11, 2008

Take a hike Ike!!

Living so close to the gulf has some nice advantages (Family portraits on the beach anyone?) But it also comes with a price - From June 1 to November 30 is Hurricane season and this month is considered to be the "peak". Dolly, Eduard, and Gustav have all made it through the Gulf and we managed to doge-the-bullet with those three. Now Hurricane Ike is barelling down on us and we're not going to be so lucky this time. My husband and I have been trying to make difficult decisions over the past 24 hrs. It's incredibly hard to decide to pack up and leave. I think that if we didn't have 2very young children we'd stay and ride it out. But with 2 babies I think we're better off leaving! This is really the 1st major hurricane that has come our way since we purchased our home so we didn't have plywood for the windows. We do now and in just a few hours Michael will begin to get it up. We'll pack what we think we couldn't live without and hit the road for San Marcos to ride this out with my brother. I just pray evacuating doesn't go as bad as it did with Hurricane Rita - that was a NIGHTMARE. So, guess this is bye for now. Looking forward to posting an "all clear" in a few days from my untouched home!!!


-Sarah-

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Our 1st Graduate

Aiden successfully completed the nursery program at GCFC. Last week was "Promotion Sunday" but the kiddos and I didn't make it to church so this week I took his certificate back down and had him pose for a few pictures. I don't think he really understood that he was going to a new classroom but I think he enjoyed the Lil Leapers. I'm excited to have him out of the nursery and in an actual class learning of God's Love!!

-Sarah-






Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Please pardon the mess....

Maddie Dean Photography Blog will be undergoing many changes over the next few days. Just ignore the wonky look - it's only temporary!

-sarah-

Sunday, September 7, 2008

3 Months Old!

I cannot believe sweet Madeline is already 3 months old! Wow, how time flies! She has really begun to develop a personality. The little lady is totally in love with her daddy! She will talk and talk to him. I love seeing them together. Not much in this world that is sweeter than a dad and his new daughter! Other than the talking she really isn't doing much 'new' stuff - that'll change in another month or so though! I really wish I could figure out how to slow time. She is changing so quickly! I do think I've learned to appreciate each stage with her - moreso than I did with Aiden. I even appreciate the middle-of-the-night feedings. She has started to smile and talk to me while eating and it totally melts my heart! I just *love* this little girl!!!


Thanks for listing to me ramble on. If Ike doesn't run us out of town I'll try to take a few more this weekend! But for now, these are it so enjoy!



-Sarah-







Monday, September 1, 2008

Too cool for school!

I have no idea where Aiden learned what school is, but yesterday he was determined to go! He got up, used the potty, put on his hat and backpack and drug me out the door. He was too cute, I had to run back in to get my camera. There are times when I'd love to know what is going through that little mind of his. It was almost a little sad watching him wait for the bus - I knew he be disappointed that it wasn't coming but I was relieved. As much as he drives me bonkers, I'm not ready to send my baby to school! So for now we just pretend and I hold on to having him at home for another 3 years!!


Out the door he goes....



Waiting patiently for the big bus


"chhheeeeeessse heead mama"

RJ & Pals

Recently we've noticed that our trash is always knocked over and Mike has been accusing me of just not getting the lids on good. Well HA! It wasn't my fault. Our neighbor stopped me while I was getting the mail today and told me about seeing 4 raccoons hiding behind our AC when they arrived home last night. Mike got all excited and decided he was gonna go 'coon hunting. He put out a bowl of cat food and waited and waited and waited and waited.... We gave up and went to bed. A few hours later he woke back up and behold - a family of raccoons on our deck! Mike drug me out of bed so I could see what he didn't have the heart to shoot (think Over the Hedge!) I couldn't resist getting my camera. They were pretty cute and kinda friendly as well. Mike ended up feeding them several cups of food (yah, like they'll go away now!!) There were originally 4 but only 2 stayed for their photoshoot :)




Labor Day 2008

We really didn't do much today so I guess we had a great labor day! Took advantage of the rest! I ran a few errands while Mike watched the kiddos then we went to a friends house for dinner and a bit of swimming. Madeline had a new accomplishment today - she sat in the bumbo for the first time! We've had it put up in Aiden's closet for well over a year now, but decided to get it down tonight for miss lady. Well, Aiden did not like that and really had his 1st fit of jealousy since she was born. Daddy came to the rescue and pointed Aiden to his own new set. Soon he had his chair scooted up next to her and was enjoying the movie.


Madeline's New Chair!




This time mommy got in the pool and daddy was in charge of the camera!





Lizzards are so fun :)