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Butterfly Barn

2010-03-10T22:41:25Z

You must check out the Butterfly Barn consignment shop in Locust Grove...it's located right on Hwy 42 in the little section of brick buildings a couple of doors down from the Zebra House. Jess has a ton of great items! The shop goes on forever and is full of adorable kids clothes in the front, along with toys and then a huge room in the back with strollers, cribs, toddler beds, etc... The store is very organized and includes items that hardly look used and new things as well.

Jess has been kind enough to let our work grace her walls and we are so STOKED. The first area we focused on was the headband/hairbow area. Next up we're taking on the super long wall that goes from the middle of the store to the back.

I don't really think these pictures do the canvases justice---so go check them out in person and buy something while you're there!

Also become a fan of the Butterfly Barn on facebook---she gives facebook discounts.

And while you're doing that, if you're not already---become a fan of us too!

Sweet Charlotte and Sadie!

Check Out Our Buns!

2010-03-08T21:36:35Z

The title...I know, but I just couldn't help it! How often can you say that really?! :) Here they are in all their fuzzy glory---the 2010 MonkeyBean Photos bunnies! Sound the trumpets! We are doing our best this first week before the first bunny sessions to teach the buns how to behave properly when in the prescence of humans and their flesh...so far, not too bad! We call the little one "Trouble" because she is. She explores way more than we'd like. And since we don't officially know if SHE is a she or not...I dubbed her a she because she is trouble and sassy. Mr. Brown I call a HE because he's a little more mellowed and chilled out. :) I think there's going to be two very, very tired photographers after these next two weekends!

For those of you who are on the second weekend of bunny sessions...if we happen to show up with a small dog instead of two bunnies---no worries, it will have the cutest bunny headband on ever. ;) Surely nobody will be able to tell the difference.

Bunnies and small children. Small children and bunnies...will we make it? Will the bunnies make it? Will the children leave happy with their MonkeyBean experience? Will a freak tsunami, hurricane, earthquake, snow storm, or hoard of locusts occur? Do locusts even occur in hoards maybe swarms? Will we have 15 MORE bunnies added to the crew before we are done? To be continued...

Bethany 3 Months

2010-03-03T01:49:14Z

It was so so difficult to narrow Bethany's pictures down for the site. Seriously, every single time I shot a new picture, she had a new adorable expression on her face. We think she just might be the most charming, out of this world cute baby ever...I can say this---this time because she is...and well she does call us Aunt Melissa and Aunt Julie and loves to talk and smile for us. So maybe we're a little biased?! She doesn't exactly say it yet---Mom and Dad do that for her, but she digs us and we are certainly enamoured by her. What a personality! One minute she was saying with her fists that she was going to deck me and the next she was laughing about it all. I LOVE this kid.

I had to refrain more than once from telling her that she is so stinkin' adorable that I wanted to eat her face! Seems like that might would have scared her off, when really I only mean well by it! :)

Here we have what you would call a MONEY SHOT!

Don't even get me started on those lips and eyes!

I call these "Mama Said Knock You Out..."

At the end of the session we had a sad monkey for a minute...after a conversation about how monkeys shouldn't be sad, everything was better.

Love and Hugs to you sweetness! :)

Eston 17 Days New

2010-03-02T01:51:02Z

Another newborn?! HOLLA! Seriously I want to sing-- OOPS, WE DID IT AGAIN! :) It's so much fun it almost shouldn't be allowed. :) Eston brought a serious entourage with him--he brought his Mom, big sister Emalee (3 yrs old) and his Gigi. After Emalee had some pics with baby brother she had a nice time watching princess movies and eating a little PB&J on the sofa. He got to have plenty of snack breaks himself, so it was only fair that his people brought some treats of their own! You get to have some cool relaxation time at a MonkeyBean newborn session! :) I'm fairly certain Emalee didn't want to leave!

Eston was very good to us and behaved very nicely---we'd totally hang out with the little man again, even if he does go down as the number one pooper and pee-er of all time! ;) Comes with the territory and we're more surprised when it DOESN'T happen.

Eston's grandmother bought this next outfit for him! I love his Sharpei wringles in this one!

Knowlen

2010-02-24T01:57:25Z

Oh Knowlen...you will forever be remembered as the kiddo who made me bust out the craziest sounding animal sounds and most ridiculous faces I could ever make...THANK GOODNESS you were the only one on the other side of the camera...so nobody else had to see that! ;)

Knowlen started the session off as the quickest, most energetic little man we've ever seen...I was pretty certain we'd get about three pictures of his back and throw in the towel...I think his mom Hunter may have been convinced of that as well. :) But...with some candy (totally OK to take candy from strangers as long as mom and dad are right there, lol) that took a ride in his tractor and a lot of off the wall animal sounds--along with promises to see some animals, we somehow won the affections of little Knowlen and he was gracious enough to stop here and there for a picture. WHEW. Every now and then to be really nice to the weird lady making faces, he'd even bust out with a laugh or smile. Now that is one cool kid in my book!

Because Knowlen did love to do his own thing, I feel like we got some shots that are my very favorites of all time...I LOVE when you can just let them be themselves and get some awesome-ness of just that!

A VERY fav:

Two of my very favorite images of all time coming up next! LOVEEEE!

"Knowlen, you're so cool that "TELL IT!" called me to see when your pictures would be up! What do you think about that?"

Luke 5 Days New

2010-02-22T22:23:50Z

2010 is so full of adorable newborns, I'm on a cuteness high...keep 'em coming people! Luke is the cutest little bundle of pure chunk! He's short and squishy which is a perfect combo for newborn greatness. He was still so new, so he slept pretty much the entire time and his session flew by because of how easily he went into changing positions and setups. Doesn't he just look so comfy and cozy? I know one of my favorite critics (that's you R.R.) :) out there was worried for the comfort of the babies in all these crazy positions we put them in...but you can tell from the snoozing that they don't mind it one bit. ;) Luke was one of the really easy ones---all he needed was the heater blowing on him and he was good to go!

Those lips...

Khollen 21 Days New

2010-02-15T17:42:15Z

Little Khollen is our second newborn of 2010 woohoooo! He sure did give us a run for the money too! There's somethng about a newborn that is 10 days or younger, they are almost always still in the eat/fall right to sleep mode. But something happens after 10 days and they can eat and eat and stay wide awake--that's exactly what Khollen did. The conditions were all perfect---he was full and the house was like Valdosta in July. Plenty warm!! He just didn't want to miss any action.

He lasted through big sister and Dad watching Shrek, the family having a McDonald's snack and the first snow falling. But I told him I could outlast him...and usually I'm fairly confident about that, but it was getting so close to the end that I was starting to worry. But right when the session was almost over, he passed right out and I got some shots that I know Mom and Dad will feel are worth the efforts!

Here is what Khollen looked like for about three hours straight...

Now the money shots! :)

His hair was perfect and I couldn't help but SPIKE it!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-13T04:30:20Z

Valentine Minis Part 2 Thea, Taylie, Cailyn, Katie, Cameron and Jordan

2010-02-06T06:05:45Z

Finished up editing Valentine Sessions....brain is still floating in a sea of red and pink! So glad that Valentine's Day has colors that ROCK together! I BIG PUFFY heart Valentine's Day---there's something about the colors, the cupcakes, making the paper hearts, the smell of too much sugar, construction paper and LOVE....it's my favorite faux holiday! ;) You want to really experience an insane time---teach little kiddos with all that sugar and love in the air, you'll go home dizzy as well.

First up, Thea and Taylie----boy did we have a better time hanging out somewhere other than a reptile house for photos this time! Though I do think Thea was a little disappointed about no alligators and turtles at first---she perked up when she found out candy would be involved! It was a blast playing with these ladies once again.

Next is Jordan who is best buddies with Rylan From V-day Mini post 1. He was a champ and would stop and let me get a shot every now and then before he was off exploring something new. Whenever he wanted to explore for too long, all Mom had to do was tell him what we needed him to do and he would do it...I've never seen a 16 month old listen that well to his mama! His favorite was the lollipop and DON'T worry---he was well supervised!

Cailyn, Cameron and Katie are the children of a good buddy of ours and we knew we'd have some fun with this crazy clan! They are always up for anything and after having fun with the little kiddos, it was fun trying some different ideas with these seasoned pros!

If the hearts had been placed further down---this photo would have an entirely different feel to it, lol!

I love this next series!

Valentine Minis Part 1 Hunter, Ava and Rylan

2010-02-04T02:57:00Z

Here are cutie-pies Hunter and Ava and a sneak of their Valentine mini session! To have these smiling ones of Ava is like having gold! The last time we saw Ava for a family session, she was NOT feeling us...actually that is probably an understatement----when a kiddo won't stop crying even for a lollipop, they are pretty much hating it! But I think she's sorta lovin' us a little more now! :)

I'm so excited about being able to use the old school---Literally OLD SCHOOL desk for Coop's session and these...can't WAIT to take it outside in a field--that picture has been in my head for months.

Next up is cute little Rylan! Very well behaved little guy, never fussed and was so willing to cooperate--even when his naked back was sticking to the white fuzzy blanket, he barely complained. :) Such a sweet boy...and the fact that his last name is VALENTINE...well, really---does it get any better?! The shirt his Mom found for him, is perfection.