So the countdown is on. In 6 days, brother boy, as he has been named by Mads, will be here. So what does one do while waiting? Well of course a photo session with their most favorite subject

Mads and I waddled out today (well I waddled, she ran) to do a belated 4 year old session. Since I wasn’t up to traveling very far, the old stand by of Mill Race was used. And of course I had to dress her in some Matilda Jane   Who by the way is having an online art fair this weekend!

For those clients waiting and wanting to book summer sessions,  I am unavailable ALL of June!  June will be my official maternity leave, but it’ll also be jammed packed w/ other events (NKOTB BABY!).  Starting in late June, I will begin contacting those baby plan clients that are waiting on sessions.  After that, the calendar will slowly open to the general public.  I will say, I plan on hosting a studio blowout event with EXTREME discount sessions (talking $50 people) to celebrate my studio’s opening (yes, it’s been open, but I haven’t been shooting).   So look for information on that to follow!

Now without anymore waiting….My Princess

Back at the end of February I managed to convince my mom to yet again join Madeline and I on a trip to Disney (the joys of being a tax season widow).  We made the trip last year, very last minute (we booked 2 weeks before we left), and loved it, so we thought to do it again.  The difference this year, I’m of course pregnant, LOL!  Oh and instead of 3 days, we did 8!  Since we planned this more in advance, I was able to book a ton (6) of character meals for Madeline, which she LOVED.  In fact she became quite the snob when it came to waiting in line to meet a character outside of a meal, LOL!

I do have to share a cute little story.  While waiting in line for Alice (one of the VERY few characters Madeline would wait for), Mads asked me if I thought Alice would ride the teacups with her.  I told her Alice is a very busy person, but she could ask.  So we get up to Alice and Madeline asks her.  And much to our shock, Alice says YES!   So we wait for Alice to come back from break (about 15 minutes) and Alice walks up, takes Madeline’s hand and walks her right onto the teacup ride (which had over an hour wait, LOL!).  Alice asks her which color teacup they want and Madeline gets to chose before all the other people are allowed on.  Now of course people in line can’t believe Alice is on the teacups.  I heard so many mommies commenting on how lucky “that little girl was”, LOL!

I have to say Disney knows how to make Magic.  Last year she got the private meet and greet w/ Cinderella, and this year it was Alice and the teacups.

Oh and Denise, Alice loved Madeline’s Matilda Jane dress.  In fact Madeline’s MJ was complimented all week (as you can see, she was in it nearly everyday, LOL!

*Disclaimer….since I was about 28 weeks preggo in Disney, all I was willing to haul around the park was my little point and shoot.  It was quite liberating and at the same time I had to laugh while nearly every other stinking person in Disney was hauling an SLR, LOL!

Yes, I’m a nut job that gets excited over the little things.  You know like the annoucement that Jimmy Buffett is touring MI again this summer, that my 5 boyfriends (New Kids on the Block) will also be touring, and that Denise has announced the launch of her spring line; Hotline.  It’s the little things that get me going.

If you’re addicted to Matilda Jane, like I am, you too are probably stalking Denise’s blog to get a look at the sneak peeks.  You might also have been tempted, like I was, to go to the UM/LSSU hockey game just to get some inside dirt, LOL!  For the record, I didn’t go, but I wanted too, and Madeline wanted to see “her friend Denise that makes her clothes”, but schedules didn’t work out (Michigan won both games for those wondering).

For those addicted like myself, I will be hosting a trunk show w/ the wonderful Rachel on March 6th at my Northville home.  Clients are welcome, blog readers are welcome, friends of clients and blog readers are welcome, grandmas of MJ addicts are definetely welcomed

If you’d like to order but can’t make it, that is also welcomed!  Just drop me an email for more details   Email Me

Yes, I’ve now known for nearly a month what Baby Porter version 2.0. It’s amazing how fast time can get away from you. Those of my clients on facebook were able to get the announcement already (which reminds me, I need to add that info here). Baby Porter 2.0 was not shy in showing us what HE has. Yes, that’s right, we’re expecting a boy.

Those of you that know my Matilda Jane obsession can understand my intial disappointment that I only get one little princess.  But the shock is wearing off and I’m accepting that instead of another princess, I’ve got the next great U of M hockey player from Northville.  (For those rusty on their UM Hockey players, Kevin Porter of Northville, no relation, won the Hobey Baker last year – Hockey’s version of the Heisman).  But enough of that tangent.

I’m happy to report my client forms are now online.  You will be able to fill out all that session paperwork online now.  It’s my attempt to go green

For those clients on facebook, I invited you to friend me, Amy Porter.  You can also join the Lil Sweet Pea Photography Group, or “fan” my business page.  Just another way to spread the word   I’ll possibly start posting sneak peeks on facebook as well that you will be able to tag

One last announcement that will get it’s own post as well.  I will (I mean of course I will, LOL) be hosting a Spring Matilda Jane trunk show with the LOVELY Rachel on March 6th, a Friday.  So start saving those pennies.  More information to follow, but drop me an email if you are interested!

I am so excited.  I decided this fall to host an actual Matilda Jane Trunk show at my home in Northville.  And I want to invite all my clients, customers, friends and blog readers   And like last time, I’ve secured one of the opening spots for the fall shows (yes, I am that good!).

How does a show work?  Well you’ll come to my house and get to touch, feel and see all of the goodies from the fall Matilda Jane line.  There will be sample sizes for you to try on your little girls.  I’ll have some yummy snacks for you to munch on while you shop.  You stop by whenever you’d like, within the 3pm-7pm time frame, and stay as long as you like.  And like in the past, you will get a $50 gift card to Lil Sweet Pea Photography for any purchases you make!

If you would like more information, please email me.  I will share all the info (dates, times, locations) with you.  And of course I can’t post this without sharing those lovely photos of Mads in MJ

Seems to be an annual tradition now getting Mads photos in front of the tulips in our front yard.  This year’s session was really forced.  We were in between going to the mall and dinner.  But nonetheless, I have to share.  If you notice her shoes they are her first pair of All Star Converse Chucks   And I HAD to buy them for this outfit!

Without further ado… Mads and the tulips.  Oh and yes, that is Matilda Jane once again.  Well MJ skirt and leggings w/ a lilly pulitzer top.

Two weekends ago was the first weekend that my husband was off since January. Such is the life of a CPA. So we decided to head out of town, very much on a whim! He came home from work Thursday night, we packed and hopped the train to Chicago (all within an hour, LOL!).

We spent Friday out and around Chicago. We went to Navy Pier, walked Michigan Ave, of course stopped by American Girl and got Mads a mini-Madeline, and checked out Millennium Park. Madeline absolutely loved Millennium Park, she even kissed the bean good-bye when we left.

So now I share some of our images from Chicago…… And yes, that is Matilda Jane she is wearing.  It’s the Betsy Knot Dress and the Allie Ruffles

So what happens when you are a photographer (well and a teacher)? Well if you’re me, you don’t get to your own family’s images for awhile. At the end of February when I was on mid-winter break, my mom and I took Mads down to Florida to meet Mickey Mouse. Now I don’t want to sound like one of those bragging parents, but Madeline has had a thing for her US puzzle. And every time she placed Florida on the map she would say “Florida, Mickey Mouse, princesses and alligators live there. Can I goes to Florida?”. So on a last minute whim, we decided to take Mads to Florida to see Mickey Mouse, princesses and alligators, LOL!

When we got to Floridas (as Mads calls it), it was nice and sunny. By day 3 it was cold even for us Michiganders. That is why some images I’m sharing are in shorts and some are in coats, LOL! We started off the adventure at MGM by meeting Donald and Daisy….

As you can see, she was TERRIFIED! However she had something going on w/ Chip and Dale. She absolutely loved them!

After the chipmunks we ventured to Hollywood and Vine for some lunch where she met Jo-Jo, Goliath, June and Leo.

On day 3 we visited the Magic Kingdom. On our way in we were stopped and given one of the Million Dreams. Madeline was given a private one on one princess meet and greet. Now let me say Mads wasn’t that into princesses when this happened. Sure she was one for Halloween. But overall she could take or leave the princesses.

Her princess meet and greet was with Cinderella. And can I tell you, since meeting Cinderella her world has become all about the princesses. We now have the Cinderella DVD, princess dress, doll, book, mirror, magic wand, etc. It’s amazing how quick the princesses can take over your life, LOL!

That would be my Princess Madeline w/ Cinderella. (And yes, she’s yet again in Matilda Jane….I’m telling you, I’m addicted, LOL!).

After Cinderella it was time to meet Belle (who has also become a fixture in our house!).

Now by our last day in Disney, Mads was a character pro! We booked a breakfast w/ Goofy and Friends before we caught our plane out. Minnie was the first to greet Mads but she was a FAST mover, so excuse the crappy photo, LOL!

Goofy was next to our table, and made himself comfortable in my seat! We forgot to ask him to do the hotdog dance though!

And finally the Chip stopped by to swoon Madeline again. She just loved those dang chipmunks, LOL!

So that’s a quick overview of Madeline’s trip to Disney. She was at the perfect age. #1 she was FREE because she was still 2, LOL! #2 she soaked in EVERYTHING and loved every minute of it. #3 at this age the princesses are still very real! Honestly I can’t wait to get back again. But I’m trying to remember she is only 3 and we have lots of time at Disney left

Are you sick of me singing the praises of Matilda Jane yet? With the warm weather we had this weekend, I was able to get Mads outside and take some photos of some of my new goodies. I believe Mads has 3 dress, 2 shirts, a skirt, 2 pants, a pair of leggings and a pair of “shorts” from the new line, and no, I’m not done yet, LOL! In fact my husband said last night (as we were doing this shoot) that Mads looks so fabu (yes, he used the word fabu….I rub off on people) that she should ONLY wear MJ. I informed him that is quite possible, and we nearly own the entire Spring line (LOL!). Um, Denise are you reading this? Not only a photographer but a complete MJ addict here! (and willing to shoot for your next catalog, hint…hint).

Without further ado….Mads in her MJ….Oh and for my photography friends, these were shot with the Canon 50mm 1.2L lens. Oh boy do I want this lens. Maybe if I stopped buying Matilda Jane clothes, I could afford it