Welcome to another fabulous day in the lives of the Oertel family! You all know my bestie Libby by now. She’s been modeling for me since I started my photography degree. I mean Sam and her are such old friends that I actually shot their engagement photos on film & developed myself in an ISU lab. That’s a LONG time friend. One that knows all your dark matter & still loves you. Yes that’s a lifelong friend. These two are vital to my life & I couldn’t make it without their love, endurance, never stopping never giving up love.

I know, I know… I’m totally responsible for the entity of Sam + Libby. But really it was very easy – all it took was “Hey Sam, you should meet my best friend Libby- she is beautiful & real”.  “Oh Libby, so my friend Sam-He’s very handsome & full of life…” “we should all go to the barn dance together… ” and they flew from there. So I would like to take the opportunity to lay claim on the adorableness of these girls. Because they wouldn’t exist without me… just saying…. LOL. You know I’m totally kidding but seriously HOW cute can these sweeties get? I’ve watched them grow from baby bumps to little people & I’ll never get sick of it! I hope we can make these happen every year we have had great luck so far.  It’s crazy how when your closest friends have babies they somehow feel like your own children. Something special happens & I would do anything for these girls! ANYTHING!

I had so many favorites from this shoot this is going to be a long post. I just can’t wait to snuggle them again in November @ Kayla’s wedding.

how cute are the props & outfits Libby planned?

and this my friends is real life with toddlers right?

tiny little cuteness!

Watermelons snuggles 🙂

Also Sam was due for some updated headshots so we made those happen at the same time.

If you live in Central Illinois & are looking for a trustworthy, talented, sincerely interested chiropractor- Dr. Samuel Oertel is your friend.

Sam graduated top of his class at Palmer five year ago with a concentration on the Gonstead method & he’s just phenomenal.

He is serious about health & nutrition & living as well as we can! Check out his website here to learn more!

 http://www.livingwellfamily.com/

How let’s talk about Libby & what treats she has in store for us!

Libby is inspirational, she is beautiful inside & out.

She has so many intriguing thoughts about our masterful creator & who we were designed to be. She has had specific training for living out of our natural born gifts & skills- included strength finders & life coaching.  She is excited to partner with women who want to be fully alive – so we have teamed up to create beautiful things. I am so incredibly excited about this step in her life & can’t wait to be apart of it.

Libby is getting ready to launch a blog specifically for women who are ready to live life the best they can. She is passionate about seeing all things redeemed; relationships, childbirth, health, beauty, and our lives as a whole. She will be offering up lots of thoughts on authentic living, love, and all things soulful. Redemption stories are on her heart.

Want to be apart of her journey?

Start following her micro blog on Instagram today! https://instagram.com/soulfulmama/