Nathan Lai...

Today I would like to share this little guy with you all. Lauren & Danny are two dear friends of mine and we have shared many good laughs and a few tears together. They live in the beautiful Lincoln Park neighborhood and share their home with their other two furry children Autumn and Winter. Nathan was born while Daniel and I were still living in Germany, so once we got back to the USA we had the opportunity to meet Nathan. Let's just say it was love at first sight! I immediately claimed him as our future son in law.

We love the parents, we live close together and Nathan is our favorite baby - so it must be a match made in heaven!

We've been so fortunate to see this little guy grow up in front of us and of course, it is beautiful to see our dear friends blossom into great parents! Danny is definitely the fun and wild dad! I love how he always tickles Nathan's squishy cheeks. The latest thing that makes me laugh is how Danny now needs earplugs when he sits next to Nathan at the dinner table! That boy loves to eat and he has a high pitch squeal to show his excitement over the food!

Then you have my dear friend Lauren, she truly is so attuned to her baby! Oh, she loves this child so very much and he loves his "Mamma"! When he was a bit smaller she would hold him and cuddle him so lovingly. Where Lauren went, Nathan went with. So of course, Nathan was there when Lauren and I would meet. We could leave him in the stroller or put him next to us and he would be so content. All he needed was to see or hear his mom's voice and then we could go ahead and hang out for hours.

I was so happy and honored when Lauren asked me to take a few pictures of Nathan when he was just a few months old. He is such a happy, friendly and curious baby, so how can you not get some great shots of him.

Fast Forward a few months later...

We had a small follow up picture day last November. Lauren and I were planning to go out and get some good pictures at the Lincoln Park Conservatory. Unfortunately, we had to change our plans. We decided to go on with the shoot and just do it at their home. In the end, this turned out to be such fun. Nathan was comfortable and we were able to run outside for a few pictures while Nathan was cozy in his bear suit, since it was a very cold day here in Chicago.

Nathan will be one year old in just a few months. He has grown so very much and his personality is really developing, even though we haven't really been able to see him. I just talked to Lauren this morning and she was telling me he now loves to "meow" when he sees the cats in the morning. He doesn't like to brush his teeth so much, he still loves to eat and he now has a little game where he will put all his food in his cheeks and look like a little chipmunk. That is our Nathan always entertaining and ready to make his mom and dad laugh!

I AM SURE THIS BOY WILL BRING SO MUCH LIGHT TO THIS WORLD WE LIVE IN!