First, let me start with the back story. I’ve known Richie since before college:

Richie’s Italian and dramatic and hilarious and I love it. We had a lot of good times living the single life. Then I introduced him to Kenny and we had some really good times. I think at one point, we were all unemployed together. We spent our afternoons watching hours upon hours of Grey’s Anatomy, while surviving on only an economy size container of cheese balls. One year, at my annual Christmasy cocktail party - Richie brought a beautiful girl named Liz.

Then, before I knew it, Kenny and I were helping him plan his proposal. Then, before I knew it, we were drinking champagne at their wedding reception (which we made into a winter wonderland in mid-June) cus NOBODY loves Christmas more than me. Except Richie.

Then, before I knew it, I was watching him change the first diaper for his newborn, Maddie.

Aunt Brit used to babysit her from time to time.

SO. My point being, that although I was there for almost every milestone along the way, I wasn’t able to make it to Maddie’s 2nd Birthday party. I thought it would be nice to surprise them with some pictures of Maddie at the location Richie proposed to Liz.  But as I mentioned earlier, things didn’t go quite as swimmingly as I’d hoped.

Let’s start with the headband that I’d made for her, which she wouldn’t wear. I bribed her with a lollipop. The headband lasted 1.4 seconds; whereas, she carried the lollipop around for the remainder of the shoot. We see who wears the pants in this relationship.

And even though this is a bit of a McGrumpyPants face, tell me it isn’t the cutest one you’ve ever seen:

Things learned: never tell a child they cannot do something. For example, open a door. Because all they will do, is try to open that door.Nope. Don’t do it.

Eventually, of course, they get bored.

And here is the infamous window that had lights above it with the words “Will You Marry Me?”

It’s always important to have a change of shoes. Pink Jellies, preferrably.

And if this picture doesn’t make you smile, then you are a cold, heartless bastard.

And in my humble opinion, if you have the ability to make children this amazingly gorgeous, you shouldn’t stop at one.

Oh wait, looks like they didn’t. Two years later, came the arrival of another girl, Riley.

My favorite thing about their babies: arm rolls. I wish they’d keep them forever.

You have a gorgeous family! Hope you like the pictures.

xoxo,

Brit

For part one click here.

This door was stuck shut. Obviously, I didn’t go near it, but I did force my friend to. Don’t explore abandoned houses with me, I become quite bossy. This was the door that led to the basement we avoided like the plague.

Where could a creepy stairway possibly lead? Oh, probably to a waaaaay creepy upstairs with three kid’s rooms!

This was laying on the ground by the girl’s room. It’s possibly the saddest thing I’ve seen in awhile. Suzy’s Zoo used to be my. absolute. favorite.

And I’m quite sure I’ve saved the creepiest thing for last. This was on the outside window by the door that was wide open. I’m not gonna say that this put me at maximum creeped-outness. UNTIL I walked upstairs and saw some ritualistic markings and very preverse language marked on the little boy’s floor. Then I looked at my friend and said, “Uh, bye.”

I wandered around to the back, and noticed a door. Having no clue what was behind that thing you better believe there was no way I was going to open it. 

Then, I turned to my left and noticed this!  You mean I can get in without getting charged for breaking and entering? You mean I can peer through the glass to first make sure there are no medium-sized woodland creatures or degenerates? Sign me up! Oh, so you’re saying there is no sign-up sheet? Well what kind of shoddy haunted house tour IS THIS?

Sadly, this used to be a very nice house. It has been abandoned for awhile, but appears to have been recently occupied as you’ll see in part 2…

This is what we found when my friend opened one of the many doors inside the house. Apparently, it’s a basement. Apparently, it’s full of kids’ toys. And apparently, we were too chicken to actually find out.

Stay tuned for part 2!

This one called for one of my vintage edits:

We sat down in the middle of the photo shoot, had a glass of red wine and some pasta.

Oh, and some bread. Of course.

Albert Einstein

 Or this one?

Audrey Hepburn

Well, they were taken by one of my favorite photographers of all-time: Yousuf Karsh. He had an amazing ability to capture the essence of personality and emotion in a portrait. “You can’t photograph authors, scientists, actors and statesmen without feeling you are touching their creative vitality,” Karsh said in an interview.

Humphrey Bogart

 When Karsh photographed Ernest Hemmingway, he said, “I found a man of peculiar gentleness, the shyest man I ever photographed – a man cruelly battered by life.”

Ernest Hemmingway

 And one of my favorite Karsh portraits: Albert Schweitzer, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize winner. Karsh said that while he was photographing Albert, he asked, “Which is the greatest of the Ten Commandments?’ ‘Christ gave only one commandment,’ replied Schweitzer, ‘and that was love.’”

Albert Schweitzer

Who inspires you?

I did the majority of Kenny’s pictures with an urban edit to them, per his request.

I like to call this one: “Next week… on LOST!”

And then, we have the SUPER urban edit: