Some days I wish I had a teleporter sitting in my garage. ‘Cause if I did, I’d be shuttling Nick and I out at least once a month to pay a visit to Emily, Joe and Baby Juniper in Idaho. Yes, IDAHO. Where they live. As in hundreds (thousands?!) of miles away. But they were back in the Muncie area over Thanksgiving to visit with Emily’s family and so we took advantage of the opportunity to take their first official photos as a family of three.

Visiting with long distance friends is so bittersweet because you are reminded of how amazing these people are. How much you wish they lived closer to you or you lived closer to them. How much y’all have in common. Joe is Mr. Outdoorsman. (No, really, he’s an assistant forest archeologist with the U.S. Forest Service—and totally looks the part, right? :) ) All of which means he and Nick are two peas in a pod when they start talking about fishing and hiking and Mother Nature. And Emily? Well, I adore her warm and generous (and hilariously sarcastic) heart to pieces. Hers is the kind of smile that doesn’t just light up her own face, but that of everybody she’s laughing and joking with. A natural beauty, that girl.

Joe and Emily’s love story in one sentence? Free spirits who met in the Peace Corps in Honduras, married there and then, three years later, became the parents to the sweetest little girl (who my husband is totally smitten with), Juniper. Emily and Joe, let’s do this again sometime okay? And no more of this “years” stuff when it comes to the wait! Love to the three of you and a happy new year!

WATCH THEIR SLIDESHOW

AHHHH…this baby girl has STOLEN MY HEART. She is so cute and so sweet. And TELL ME AGAIN WHY YOU THREE DON’T LIVE CLOSER? ;) Trying to decide if this is my favorite …..Or this. So we’ll call it a day and say they’re BOTH my favorites :) I wasn’t kidding when I said above that Emily is one of the most naturally pretty ladies I know. A picture like this is classic. Someday, I think Juniper will think so too! A sweet little family of three!And finally, I have to share one last shot: Nick with Juniper. On the count of three…1..2..3…AHHHHHHH. Right? Because this was a quick session and we were all going to dinner to visit afterward, Nick came along. He’s so great with kids (nieces and nephews) and like me, was totally smitten with this little june bug. So I had to catch a quick snap. ‘Cause, you know, it’s shots like this that make you think warm and fuzzy thoughts about the idea of parenthood. ;) And THAT folks…is the last session of 2010 for Gail Werner Photography. I’ll be sharing highlights of the year next week on the blog..so stick around. And thank you all for making 2010 such a great season!

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