My little Niece : Williamsburg Baby Photography

It's been really busy around here lately and I haven't been posting a whole ton. It will pick up again soon but for now I've been doing a thousand other things on top of photography. I guess that's just the way life goes. Last weekend my niece, Berlin, came to visit me. She is just as adorable as can be and I want to eat her up. I love the 6 month -12 months stage. Those are some of my favorite times with babies and I really miss that stage with mine. Here she is at a whole whopping 6 months old. 

Sad and Pathetic... Scamming our falling soldiers.

I'm going to share with you the sad news of the world. You have probably read this online or seen this on T.V, but this happens and it has happened to my family and to my brother and to so many other military families that I know. I feel it's important that you share it and spread the news please.

The identity of my brother, his photo, his information and his death has been used to get girls, to get money and Lord knows what other awful stuff. It's beyond sickening and heartbreaking. I know all of you who follow me and read up on my blog, know that my brother is a wonderful man who was loved, is loved and beyond missed. To have his photos taken to scam women into sending money... there are no words for it. This stuff does happen. It has happened to us and to him. If you think it's not real... here is an example of a dating site that STILL has his info up!!!

http://www.confirio.com/id/414900

There is no way to follow who has what or who has stolen what. The internet is a big big world and in this big big world are horrible horrible people. Please DO NOT send any money to someone who is claiming to be a U.S Army soldier, marine or anything of the sort. ONLY send to a legit non-profit!! If you happen to see my brother's photo flying around that has nothing to do with the Dumont/Oatman name or family, PLEASE email me or facebook me. We do our best to stop this... to bring the photos and information down. When you send money, however, there is NOTHING we can do... NOTHING, so don't do it!!

Not sure if you are falling for this scam... read this!!
ARE YOU FALLING FOR A DATING SCAM?

It's sad that I had to even write about this. The families of the fallen have been through enough and dealing with stolen information and images that pertain to their loved one is beyond acceptable. Unfortunately, cyperspace is much bigger than any of us and when something is on the internet it can be stolen, shared and viewed by just about anyone. Even if we didn't post the photos, someone else could and that is out of our control. (copyright is a whole different topic) It's part of the world we live in now and it's just sad that others would stoop to something so low. All we ask.... tell others to NOT send money and fall for this scam. Thank you...

Photo Bows and More.

It's been a little busy around here lately. Lots of things have been going in the house as well as out and about. On top of everything going on, the bow "thing" has definitely been keeping me busy but that's ok. The kids enjoy helping me create some fun and unique hair pieces. I'm also happy to announce that my personalized photo bows are up and going as well as my fundraising for St. Jude. It's our family mission to always do what we can to help give back to the hospital that helped to save our son's life. We are forever grateful. Here are some of the lovely little bows that are up and in my shop now. Enjoy. 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/jessoatbowtique

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

 Do you all have any plans? We rarely do anything for this day. It's usually the same ole thing.. work, dinner, kids and a movie at home. However, and this is a big however, Chris and I are going to the movies!! Did you hear that? WE are going to the movies. I don't think that Chris and I have been to the movies in probably 3 years. I can't even tell you the name of the last movie we saw in the theatre. It's the Redbox for us folks. Not only that, it happens to be on the day of LOVE! You know, cause all those other days during the year don't count. :) Anyways, here are some funny and cute pics of my three little valentine's. Hope you all have a wonderfully amazing day!!  

Richmond, VA Engagement Session

Ashley and Joel have some of the coolest little stories from their dating time frame as well as life. It was almost a year ago that I sat and talked with Ashley about her wedding, how they met and a little about her life. Right from the get go, I thought she was rather neat and turns out we actually had quite a bit in common. She shared stories of living by herself in Alaska in an airstream, traveling, camping, carving wood, and eventually... falling in love with Joel.  Her and Joel have known each other since they were in the 5th grade, separated ways, lived life a little and finally returned to fall in love and plan a wedding. They are simply adorable and life has a funny way of bringing people back together.

On Saturday I met up with the two of them over by Belle Island. That place is kind of like a second home for my family. We like to go up there alot and watch Chris kayak on the James and the kids will play on the rocks. It's just such a neat place. So when they changed locations to this place, I was kinda excited. I've never shot an engagement session up there but I sure can say that it's an awesome location to do so. The weather was a tad chilly but it could always be worse, right? At least there was no rain and it was warmer that 30 degrees. :) I had fun walking around and getting to know them as a couple a little bit more. I'm totally excited to be shooting their BIG day!!! It sounds like it's goint to be one heck of an amazing wedding!!!! Pictures will follow in early June. :)

if blankies could talk....

If blankies could talk, this one would have a million stories to share. It would share his fears, his worries, and all the tears. It would share the happiness, the rejoicing, and all the smiles. It could share just about all of Montana's life.

I don't think too many blankies can say they have been to haiti and back. "Blankie" was made by my mom and given to Montana when he was 2 years old. It was part of his birthday present and we didn't quite realize just how important this little blanket would become in our life and his. He received it around May and in November he was diagnosed with leukemia. This little scrap quilt blankie became the most important and stable thing in his life.. besides us of course. It never left his side and I think it was a gift given at just the right time. He was never attached to anything before but now it's actually become a member of the family. :)

His blankie has been through TONS!!! The poor thing has been thrown up on, dragged on the ground, washed billions of times, chewed on, colored on, slept with every single night, and holds more tears than possibly any person could ever know. It has slept through nights of chemo, been through surgeries, had lumbar punctures, and been through rehab and speech.  It has also traveled to Germany, Memphis, Springfield, Kentucky, Dominican Republic, as well as numerous car and plane rides. This blankie has been a rock. After all of that, only one time did we leave it somewhere and I can tell you exactly where that location was and about how devastating it almost became. It was a McDonalds in Springfield, Missouri and boy did we high tale it back there to go and rescue blankie!! And to think that back then we thought it was rough looking. :) Poor blankie has been sewed and restitched three times but now there is nothing left for us to do with it really.

So in honor of blankie and Montana's "best friend" we did a photo session with it. Montana is now 7. It's been 5 years since he received it and this is what a blankie could look like after all the trips, experiences and stories. We have required Montana to leave blankie at home when we go places. It's not allowed to leave unless going on a trip. He still sleeps with it and watches TV with it. When he cries, he still put his head into blankie like he has always done. We're scared to wash it because we're super afraid that we may stick it in the washer and nothing will come out. When all is said and done... we will have it framed for him along with some photos of his life and trek with the most loyal blankie of all.

The photo session with Montana and his blankie.... 

time

I'm just gonna throw this out there. Time does NOT heal all wounds. I know, I know... but, the saying says that "time is the healer of all things", so I must be wrong, right? Wrong! I am so tired of hearing, "give it time, it will get better" or "in time, things will get easier" or blah, blah, blah. Did you know that my brother left this earth exactly 1131 days ago? Today is no easier dealing with his loss than on the day we found out. Yes, the shock is not there anymore, however, the pain is just as deep. If anything, other pains and problems have actually formed because of his death. These are problems that not many people would understand so I won't be getting into those.

I really don't think that time is the healer in the situation of death. It may be to those whose relationship with the person who went to heaven wasn't as deep, close, tight, etc. But to those whose loss can not even be put into words, time has not healed anything. I actually think that people "think" time heals because we get better at hiding the pain, hiding the feelings, and hiding the loss. People don't want to keep hearing about "the loss" or seeing you cry. They want you to go back to the person you were before your heart was ripped from your body, thrown on the ground and stomped on. So explain then how will I ever be who I was before those tragic events happened? I won't. Simple as that. We are shaped by the events that happen in our life.. happy or sad. Is it wrong to miss our loved ones beyond belief when we wake up every single day with the reality of knowing we will never see them on this earth again? Heck NO!! And this is where our friends begin to change. I'm pretty sure I have friends who have maybe blocked me, deleted me, rolled their eyes, or ignored me. You know what though? I don't care. I simply just don't care. I don't care that others may think "I won't move on" , " get over it", or "be healed". I know who my good friends are. The ones that are caring, understanding and who have been there. I know who it is that writes to ask how I'm doing or calls to check in on me. And then I have my new friends. The friends who know exactly what I'm going through. The friends who read my posts and blogs and cry along with me because they know the loss all too well. Time has not healed our pain.

This whole time healing thing also goes along with the attitude and misconception of others in their phrase of "it's been 3 years, shouldn't you be over this?" Excuse me, I didn't lose a goldfish. I lost a loving, caring, amazing, hilarious brother. Someone who I knew my entire life, shared secrets and dreams with, got in trouble with and who became a best friend. I lost a lot the day he died and it's not until days and months later you realize just how much you lost. It might not actually even be until years later that the reality actually sets in.. no more phone calls - EVER, no more crazy moments -EVER, no more laughing so hard you fall off the couch - EVER, no more memories with him - EVER... EVER... EVER!!!! Time will not heal these wounds... EVER. He still lives because we are not afraid to speak his name, bring up the great memories, cry over the loss and share his life and legacy with so many others. He lives because we allow him to live ... through us.

To be honest, I don't want time to heal a thing. It gives me the passion to share his name, his love and his life. Even writing this does the pain of missing him no justice. It actually can't even be put into words. We try to explain the loss and the pain but it's like it simply can't be done.. that's how much I miss him. I miss him in ways that just can not be conveyed. Time is not a healer in everything.

Valentine paintings

Last week, I stepped away from the blog for a few days and did some other things. I've been spending more time creating, sewing, gluing and upkeeping my little bow shop. I've also spent some time doing art projects with the kids in honor of Valentine's Day.

My kids love to paint but then again, what kids don't. I like to do projects that involve taking lots of time to paint because they will usually paint until there is a hole in their paper. :( Then we start over and it all happens all over again. Needless to say... watercolor isn't my favorite with them. haha. So, I came up with this quick and easy project and they loved it!! It had glitter, glue, confetti, and paint. Perfect for elementary age children. Plus, it looks all festive! They were proud!