Henry is 6 months old!

Well… 6 months and a couple weeks.  At least this time I took the photos close to the mark, just a little late on blogging.  But that’s progress, right?!

Either way, he is big and cuter than ever!  

This past month was a big one for Henry.  First of all… his first Christmas!  We had so much fun with him, and only makes us more excited for next year!  

He also made lots of progress in the baby world… He consistently is rolling over both ways, and with great ease.  He sits up for a few minutes at a time (but then flops over as soon as he sees anything that he could put in his mouth).  He finally got to ride in the front of a cart at the grocery store without being in the carseat.  He started really jabbering some syllables (lots of da-das!).  And he started getting his first tooth!  It’s taking a good ol’ long time, but it’s definitely poked through and I think in the next week or so, others will be able to notice.  It’s so cute!

We’re still doing cloth diapers, but definitely did quite a few disposables during the holidays.  With all the parties, and unfortunately, sickness for Patrick and I, we just didn’t always keep up with the laundry.  But, it was a good reminder of how expensive diapers are and how grateful I am that we don’t have to buy them on a regular basis!  Henry’s still exclusively nursing, too, but I think we’ll probably start some vegetables by 7 months.  He’s really getting the spoon thing down (we let him play with one whenever the kids are eating).

And now onto the photos!  Watch out… there’s a lot!  This month I did some with some of his daycare friends (who he loves SO much), and some with Patrick and I.  It’s hard to remember to get us in there all the time!  Anyway, here they are!

Look at my blonde, blue-eyed little guy! He’s so handsome!

Henry and Lucy. He really does love her… I just couldn’t get him to show it.  

Just today Dexter was making Henry crack up.  I love their relationship… it’s so sweet!

Chase could have cared less about me… he’s ALWAYS excited to see Henry.  

And I think Henry will probably out-weigh Ashton within a few months. ;)  

This is the swim…. Henry puts his arms back and kicks.  I don’t know how he thinks he’s going to move by doing this.  Silly boy.

Oh. My. GAWSH.  Watching my husband be a father is the most amazing thing in the world.  Henry can only hope he gets his daddy’s charm. ;) 

Hands down he thinks his dad is the funniest.  I mean, he knows I’m really funny, too, but for whatever reason he thinks his dad is a little more…

My heart…

Me and my baby.  I just couldn’t imagine life without him!

Nikki’s having a baby!

I am so excited to share Nikki’s photos from her maternity session.  I went to her house a couple weeks ago and got to spend some time with her and her husband, Chris, and their “four-legged kiddos”, as they call them. :) I had such a great time!  I’ve known Nikki for awhile now, but I had never met her husband.  I love getting to see how couples interact.  I had so much fun seeing how much they made each other smile and laugh.  I have no doubt that this baby will be born into a very loving, happy home!  I can only imagine how much fun they will have!

So, we started with just some shots of Nikki…I mean, come on, is she not just gorgeous?!  

And then of course we had some with Chris, too!  They seriously were so funny together!

These next few are my faves!

And of course, a family portrait. :)

Thank you so much, Chris & Nikki, for letting me come hang out!  I am so excited to meet your little one…and hopefully soon!

Best of 2011

2011 was definitely a unique one for Katy O Photo.  We made great strides, met some wonderful people, and made it out with some great photos!  I’m so excited to get back into the swing of things next weeks, with lots of updates for you all!  But in the meantime, here’s a year in review from Katy O Photo.

Wishing you and yours a very joyous and blessed New Year filled with the greatest of health, wild success, and most of all, a whole bunch of love!  

katy o

Cheers to the New Year!

Henry is 5 months!

Oh man, I can’t believe my baby is 5 months old!  He is seriously sweeter than ever!  How did we ever get so lucky?!

Henry now can roll over both ways!  He was only rolling over from his back to his stomach, which is kind of backwards, but now he rolls from his stomach to his back (only in his crib, though).  He loves his exersaucer best.  And he is constantly interested in whatever we have.  No more eating when he’s on my lap, he goes right for what I’m having. 

Still doing great with cloth diapers (I just have to not slack on laundry).  And he’s still exclusively nursing.  So many people ask me why I haven’t started cereal, and really, it’s just easier this way.  He’s getting all he needs already, so it’s not a necessity.  And once he starts food, it will just be one more thing to pack up for him, to add to our schedule, to have babysitters do.  So, I will gladly put it off.  We’ll never be able to go back once we start! 

This month Henry had his first trip to Chicago!  We’ve only traveled with him one other time, so it was fun to do.  He was so good and easy going.  We are so fortunate that he makes everything so easy on us.  He loved looking at all the buildings when we were walking around.  Chicago has always been such a big part of our lives, so it was so fun to bring Henry there!  

And so far we are having such a great time celebrating Henry’s first Christmas.  I know he won’t remember it, but I love all of the traditions we are starting with him.  And I’m already looking forward to all the years to come!

And now onto the cutest little babe of mine!

He melts my heart.

Wouldn’t smile for anything.

But falling over…that’s funny stuff. 

And what is this face?!  Such a funny little kid. 

Landon is 1 year old!

I can’t believe it’s been almost a whole year since I first spoke with Jess about taking her little newborn baby’s photos.  I have had such a great time getting to know the E family, and watching sweet little Landon grow over the year.  They are such a kind, loving family, and I cannot wait to watch them grow!  

So, for Landon’s 1 year old session (which we did early so they could use the photos for his birthday invites), I headed over to their house for a little birthday session.  But first, we had to grab a few in front of the tree. Jess was even so good as to have a gift for him to open.  She’s always so on top of things! 

And then we went over to the cutest set up for his birthday photos.  

Jess had the whole thing so perfectly done.  She even made the cute cake!

And Landon went crazy when he saw the balloons!  

The cake…well, he was a little more hesitant with that.

But then he realized it didn’t taste so bad, and got more into it.  Still, one of the cleanest kids I’ve seen.  

And we ended the session with a few kisses from his mom and dad.  

Jess & Ryan, thank you so much for letting me be part of Landon’s first year.  I have had such a blast getting to know you and watching Landon grow!  Congrats on doing such an amazing job; Landon is so blessed to have such amazing, loving parents!

The Pyper Family

The Pypers are one of my favorite families…ever!  Sarah and I have known each other for years.  We met as teenagers when we worked together, and have been friends ever since!  She was the photographer for my wedding, and I did photos for her reception.  Then we both got pregnant and had babies just 6 weeks apart!  Sweet Olive is so adorable!  And one of Henry’s best pals.  I am so exciting to be doing family photos for the Pypers.  Oh, and Jarrod is making the new Katy O Photo website (coming soon)!  See?  Amazing family!  Us O’Dells love them lots, and I’m sure you will after you see these photos, just radiating their awesomeness. 

So, Olive was quite the trooper, but had just had it with the photos.  Such is the life of a 3-month old.  So, we took the opportunity to take some photos of Sarah and Jarrod.  I think it is so important that couples have photos together, and Sarah and Jarrod didn’t get a lot when they got married.  And I’m so glad we did!  Look at this smokin’ couple!

Henry is 4 months!

Okay.  I’m way behind.  He’s 4 1/2 months now, but, better late than never, huh?  I did take the photos right around the 4 month mark.  Okay, fine, I was a little late on that, too.  Either way, it’s documented!  Here’s a little update on Hank:

We mostly call him Henry, but yes, we do call him Hank—mostly Patrick.  His other popular nicknames are Henny, Henny Penny, HP, and Hanky Shanks (I get it… it’s weird.  But we love it.)

Still happy.  All the time.  Like, ALL the time.  The kid is sweeter every day.  He loves petting our cheeks now when we hold him or lay next to him… gets me every time. 

He can roll from his back to stomach—rarely vice versa—which means he is now a stomach sleeper about 40% of the time.

He sleeps great in his crib.  And in our bed.  And in his car seat.  Really any of places we put him.

He likes to cuddle, but does not like being rocked to sleep, especially by me.

When he’s on his stomach, he reaches for things and brings his knees in.  I think he’s at the very early stages of crawling!

He loves playing in the exersaucer.  Impartial to the bumbo.  Getting sick of the bouncy seat.

He will watch anything on television if it’s on.  

Still exclusively nursing every 3-4 hours.  Sleeps maybe 6 hours at a time during the night.  

Still in cloth diapers and it’s going great!  

Favorite pastimes:  reading with his dad, bathtime, singing, being thrown in the air, bouncing on our knees, and laying in bed with us. 

Henry last month….

Henry this month…

These next two are favorites of mine.  Definitely framers. 

Love my dear Henry!

Alaina Jo

Sweet baby Alaina was only 5 days old when I had the privilege of meeting her.  She was so precious and did such an amazing job.  And not to mention, her first-time parents who were total pros.  They were so calm and relaxed—what a feat with a 5-day old!  And it never ceases to amaze me how a brand new baby who has never known this world, knows her parents in an instant.  Anytime she started to fuss, she would settle right down if she was with her mom or dad.  I have a feeling that her family is feeling awfully blessed by their new little bundle.