I am remember very vividly the first time I met Bianca (Eloise’s mommy).  My husband and I were considering moving to the DC area from Columbus, Ohio for the PhD program in Criminology at the University of Maryland.  When we originally got the offer from Maryland it seemed too good to be true.  So, we took a little trip to tour the campus and “interview” some professors and students about the program.  We wanted to see it and feel it before we made such a major move.  The Chair of Graduate Studies ( I think I got that title right:) ) made us six appointments that day.  One of those appointments was with Bianca.  After multiple meetings already we walked into the all white conference room and met Bianca.  She was such a bright smiling face in the midst of so much uncertainty.  We had such a great visit with her and she told us the good and the bad of the program.  Both Brandon and I felt like she was so real with us.  It was so refreshing.  She didn’t care what funding level my husband had been offered or for how long.  She cared about us as people.  The thing that won me over is that she cared for us, not just Brandon.  She recognized that it is a hard move for the spouse as well.  I was won over:)  When we left Bianca to meet with Brandon’s future advisor I remember recalling to Brandon that if all people in the program were like Bianca then we could do this:)

Throughout the first three years of the program I have been able to get together with Bianca for dinner and girl time.  One night after a great dinner at Ella’s Wood Fired Grill, I came home and told Brandon that Bianca was pregnant.  She had not told me but I just knew.  Sure enough, a few weeks later she made the announcement:)  Both Brandon and I could not be happier for she & Nathan.  The beautiful baby girl, Eloise, is the result.

Bianca just graduated with her PhD (YAY!!!!!!) and will be headed to the the University of Massachusetts.  As I type this the movers are packing up their house and they will be heading out.

Bianca, Nathan, & Eloise – I had such a great time photographing your family.  We will miss having you around the help bring some reality to the UMD PhD Crim program.  You will be missed:)  Hope you enjoy the pics of your sweet family.

♥ Heather

Before the photo shoot started I was warned that the moment the camera came out Eloise would become very serious.  I think I heard a challenge in there.  Well I had some back up arsenal in the form of my husband:)  He is amazing with kids and can totally make them laugh and smile.  I think I won the challenge, but what do you think?

I LOVE watching first time parents with their first born.  It is such a special connection.

Seriously, does it get any cuter????  I won:)

If you have been a regular reader of my blog you know that I love baby feet:)  You will probably see baby feet from every baby session I do because I love them that much.  It is my blog though so I think I am allowed:)

Do we have a future Criminologist here? (the bars, get it?:) )

We ended the shoot with just a couple of Bianca & Nathan.  At this point it had gotten to be pretty hot and sticky, but we had to get a couple of the two of them.