Sunday's Interview with Jane!

Jane Dawson: Jackson, MI

How many children and names, ages: Grace, 4 1/2 mos

What are you hoping Santa gets you this year: UGG Boots, Classic Short Chestnut- I am obsessed with my UGGS

What are the kiddos wishing for: She probably would be happy eating the wrapping paper- LOL. She is getting a "johnny jumper"-like contraption.

What do you love about the holiday season: Getting together with family and friends and vacation from work!

What is something we won¢t catch you doing during the holidays: Shopping last minute- holy stressful.

Favorite holiday snack or dessert: Swedish wafers, they are these delicate little cookies that melt in your mouth-mmmmm....

Your favorite websites: myspace.com, GAP.com, babycenter.com. I could seriously waste an entire day on the internet.

Favorite book or magazine: "This Much I Know is True" by Wally Lamb. US Weekly is my weekly indulgence.

Favorite salon: Number Six Salon in Farmington Hills, MI (so worth the drive)

Favorite restaurant: PF Changs or Olive Garden

Your favorite time of day and why: The morning when I wake up my sweet baby girl and she is absolutely giddy to see me.

Do you go to work outside the home or are you a full time mommy: I work full time as a pharmaceutical rep but wish I could stay home at least part time.

Anything else you would like to share with us: God Bless and Happy Holidays!

Here is adorable little Grace at just a few weeks old. Keep watching... she'll be appearing on the blog as a 6 month old!!

Saturday's Interview with Emily!

Name and city: Emily , Saline, MIHow many children and names, ages: Joshua (3 1/2 Years), Jacob (20 months)

What are you hoping Santa gets you this year: He already got me a new camera!

What are the kiddos wishing for: Trucks, trains, anything with wheels, Thomas the train jammies

What do you love about the holiday season: Everything except the credit card bills

What is something we won¢t catch you doing during the holidays: dieting

Favorite holiday snack or dessert: Chocolate Mousse Pie that my mom makes...YUM!!!

Your favorite websites: Pg.org, slickdeals, nicole barczak photography :)

Favorite book or magazine: The last book I read was 1-2-3 Magic

Favorite salon: She comes to my house to do my hair!!! Gotta Love it!

Favorite restaurant: J. Alexander's

Your favorite time of day and why: I love when the kids first wake up and when they're winding down for the day-lots of snuggles

Do you go to work outside the home or are you a full time mommy: I work part-time outside the home, but am still a full time mommy!

I love this image from their summer session:

Friday's (late) Interview with Nicole!

Name and city: Nicole Ruiz, Lansing

How many children and names, ages: Sienna-3 years old, Adora almost 6 months (seems like both minutes and an eternity since I was pregnant with her!)

What are you hoping Santa gets you this year: Some time to relax would be nice! :)

What are the kiddos wishing for: Sienna won't stop reiterating that she wants clay from Grandma's Lake from Santa. How we are going to make THAT work in mid winter, I have no clue.

What do you love about the holiday season: There's definitely "something" in the air this time of year. I love the sense of "joy" the season brings!!

What is something we wonʼt catch you doing during the holidays: Hmm....not sure on that but you can bet I'll be loading up on holiday desserts!

Favorite holiday snack or dessert: My mom's famous pumpkin bread, sans raisins for me!

Your favorite websites: I can't say I have one!

Favorite book or magazine: Ode, Mother Jones....although I rarely have time to read anymore!

Favorite salon: Douglas J

Favorite restaurant: The most memorable dinner we've had was at the Foxtown Grill in Detroit.

Your favorite time of day and why: I like morning. There's something really satisfying about being up and about bright and early. Plus, sometimes Adora will catch a cat nap and I can enjoy a few sips of my latte in utter peace! :)

Do you go to work outside the home or are you a full time mommy: Ok, ready for this? I am a full time mommy with a full time job! Think taking your child to work day...EVERY day. Minus the commute. Anyone want to join in my quest for insanity?!

Anything else you would like to share with us: I have been THE biggest Prince fan since the age of three. Being pregnant and giving birth has been the most momentous and spiritual experience of my life. Dancing on stage at a Prince concert was a close second. ;)


Here is one of my favorites from her maternity session:

Thursday's Interview with Heather!

Name and city:

Heather Morrison, formerly of Jackson, MI (apparently just so I could meet this great photographer) but now we live in O'Fallon, MO

How many children and names, ages:

Savannah, 4 1/2 yrs

Sawyer, 2 yrs

What are you hoping Santa gets you this year:

Realistically or in my dreams?? books on Photography, a sewing machine, a shopping spree, and I've always wanted a simple diamond solitaire necklace.

What are the kiddos wishing for:

Savannah has a short list: The Barbie Island Princess Movie, The Wizard of Oz Movie, and gum. Yes, gum. haha!

Sawyer would say balls, balls and balls. Maybe bats, hockey sticks, golf clubs and goals thrown in there too.

What do you love about the holiday season:

Every thing. Seriously... I catch myself saying "this is my favorite part of Christmas"... about every thing.

What is something we won¢t catch you doing during the holidays:

Drinking Eggnog. It scares me.

Favorite holiday snack or dessert:

Mmmm... pretty much any Christmas cookie. Oh, and I loooove a good peppermint cheesecake!

Your favorite websites:

Storypeople.com -I could read the stories all day

My friends' blogs -I love keeping up on the little details!

Craigslist

Favorite book or magazine:

Just one? Hmmm... Love Max Lucado books. Magazines; who can turn down a good People, InTouch or the like??

Favorite salon:

Um, I forget what a salon is....

Favorite restaurant:

I like steakhouses... the kind where you have a bucket of peanuts on the table and you can throw the shells right on the floor.

Your favorite time of day and why:
Weekday evenings after the kids go to bed. I like that time that my husband and I can hang out, decompress from the day, play a game or watch a movie and just relax.

Do you go to work outside the home or are you a full time mommy:

I'm a full time mommy for now

Here is Saw-Man from back in March:
And Miss Savannah this summer:

Wednesday's Interview with Courtney!

Name and city: Courtney Doty

How many children and names, ages: Penelope James Doty, 3 months

What are you hoping Santa gets you this year: How sad is it that I really want a Dyson vacuum???

What are the kiddos wishing for: She is too little to even think about it! Not to mention she has everything since she was just born! Secretly, though, she is wishing to gain some more weight! She is up to 10 lbs, but a few more pounds would be great!!

What do you love about the holiday season: I love buying presents for everyone else! Seeing peoples faces when they open a gift you know they will love is the best! I have organized a "secret santa" every year at work for that exact purpose!! Now with a little one, I can only imagine how fabulous the holidays will become! I also love the music...I listen to WNIC 100.3 starting in early November when they start playing holiday songs!! I sound great singing along in the car....

What is something we won't catch you doing during the holidays: Sleeping in! I am still a little kid at heart, and can't wait to get up and open presents!

Favorite holiday snack or dessert: 'Nuts and Bolts' - Basically it is my husband's family recipe for Chex mix. Super buttery, super salty, super delicious!!!

Your favorite websites: I don't really have one...Our computer has been on the fritz for some time, so I don't get to surf much....

Favorite book or magazine: I have subscribed to US weekly for years!! I love the hollywood gossip. Even when I was in college and couldn't afford food, I paid for my US weekly!! I read a ton of books, and enjoy chic lit by Jane Greene and Jennifer Weiner.

Favorite salon: Luigi Bruni. Love it.

Favorite restaurant: I love the Cheese Ravioli from Papa Vinos. Only like $10, and so yummy!!

Your favorite time of day and why: When I get home from work - 3:30 pm. I get to be with my daughter, relax, and enjoy the rest of the day.

Do you go to work outside the home or are you a full time mommy: I work full time (not that I want to...) at Beaumont Royal Oak as a Surgical Physician Assistant. I work in OB/GYN surgery, and have delivered over 2000 babies via c-section! I love my job, but would love to move to part time. I am working on my husband for that wish....

Anything else you would like to share with us: Just this: I never imagined I could love someone so much so quickly, and could not imagine my life without my daughter. I love being a mommy!! Happy Holidays!!

Thank you, Courtney! I'm sure Penelope has grown so much since I saw her last. Here she is, at just a few days old and under 6lbs!

Tuesday's Interview with Leslie!

Name and city: Leslie Collins from Concord, MI

How many children and names, ages: Reyna almost 11 months

What are you hoping Santa gets you this year:a pedicure and manicure.

What are the kiddos wishing for: fun new toys

What do you love about the holiday season: It has been so magical enjoying it with a child this year instead of just my husband and I. My husband, who usually dreads putting up our tree, was the one who initiated it this year.

What is something we won’t catch you doing during the holidays: Drinking egg nog...Yuck. :)

Favorite holiday snack or dessert:My mom's dough balls. They remind me of when my grandparents still lived here. My mom, grandma and I made them every year together. I miss that.

Your favorite websites: Target.com, Gap.com, Pottery Barn kids.

Favorite book or magazine: Parenting. Real Simple. Glamour. Any chick lit books or non-fiction biographies.

Favorite salon:Rocci's. They have a great staff and great pedicures.

Favorite restaurant: Daryl's Downtown.

Your favorite time of day and why:I am definitely a morning person. I feel refreshed and ready to start another day.

Do you go to work outside the home or are you a full time mommy: I work 16 hours a week for Catholic Charities of Jackson. The rest of the time I am a full time mommy.

Anything else you would like to share with us: hmmmm...I need to book my next session with Nic since Reyna is almost 1!!!!!

Thank you, Leslie!

And, of course...

Reyna as a newborn:
And at 6 months old:

Mom Interviews

I got this neat idea from another photographer (Phreckles Photography) and I wanted to try this out with my clients. Now, Karen is right on the ball and responded almost instantaneously. (Just tell me HOW does she do this with three little boys? LOL!). Of course, she must be the first I post here. I hope you all enjoy hearing from the moms who are behind the scenes.

Name and city: Karen Vavrick - Rochester

How many children and names, ages: Ethan, Dylan, & Parker - 4.5 years old - I LOVE this age... yet I've said that at every age :)

What are you hoping Santa gets you this year: Honestly, healthy children...that's my greatest prayer...if their happy and healthy, everything else will follow.

What are the kiddos wishing for: Power Rangers, TMNT, Pirates, etc....total BOY stuff! I love it!

What do you love about the holiday season: Spending time with family and reflecting on WHY we all celebrate...JESUS!

What is something we won’t catch you doing during the holidays: stressing out..that's not what it's about.

Favorite holiday snack or dessert: my husband's Christmas cookies...yes...he's the baker in the family and I love it! :)

Your favorite websites: mothering.com, tripletconnection.org

Favorite book or magazine: Kiwi, Alternative Medicine, Mothering

Favorite salon: salon? what are those? ;o)

Favorite restaurant: oohhh! That's tough! Just one? It's a tie between P.F. Changs and California Pizza Kitchen

Your favorite time of day and why: The morning..everything is fresh and new with endless possibilities!

Do you go to work outside the home or are you a full time mommy: Full time mommy and Praise God that He's provided for us so I can be home!

Anything else you would like to share with us: Nicole ROCKS! ;0)

Thank you, Karen! And, here are her little dudes from this spring. They were a riot to work with, and sure kept us on our toes!

Cutest Baby-to-Be Contest

I’m in the baby mood lately, and have decided its time for another contest around here.

The Cutest Baby-to-Be Contest will feature the baby pictures of Moms-and-Dads-To-Be... yes, you heard me. If you are due in the months of January, February or March you are eligible to enter. Send in baby pictures (0-12mos) of you AND your spouse and we will vote on which set of parents could make the cutest baby! (Yes, yes.... ALL babies are stinking adorable, but this is all in fun and games, right?). The winning couple will receive a free newborn session** from Nicole Barczak Photography!

Send your pictures in an email with "Baby-to-Be Contest" in the subject line to nicole@nbarczak.com. Please include you and your spouse's names, your due date, and city you live in.

**Entries will be accepted until January 5th, 2008 at 5:00pm
**Voting will begin January 6th, 2008
** Travel fee apply to locations outside a 20 mile radius of my business address
** Newborn session must be scheduled within the first 2 weeks of delivery
** Session must be held Jan 15-April 1, 2008

Second Trimester Special!

There is big news to be spread from Nicole Barczak Photography… in honor of my now being in my second trimester (Yep! A new little bundle for me to photograph 24/7 is expected in May 2008!), I am offering a Second Trimester Special… All newborn sessions booked before January 1, 2008 will receive a $25 print credit and 10% off albums and storyboards!

I am currently booked through the first week of January, but am accepting sessions from January 15th through April 1st, 2008 and then from July 1st, 2008 through the rest of the year.

Newborn sessions must be scheduled within the first 2 weeks of delivery.

Noah │ Jackson Ann Arbor Newborn Photographer

This little guy had the biggest, droopiest, most kissable cheeks ever. His mom and dad can vouch for anyone how high-maintenance newborn sessions can be. Noah was rocked, patted, walked, shushed, fed, hummed to... the works. All to get him to sleep for a whole 5 minutes before repeating again. And again. And again. Ahhh... that's how it goes. They're so worth it, though, aren't they?

Enough already! │ Jackson Ann Arbor Newborn Photographer

Beckie and Travis.... I just had to post this one real quick. I about peed my pants when I saw it!