samantha and natalie

This is a strange post to do because Dan is having me write it before I see the photos! We were so excited to do a photo session of our own girls to put our Christmas cards together (It's not too late to book your session for the holidays!), and I asked Dan if he would put me through our entire "process" just like our other clients get to do. So, tonight I get to check the blog over and over and over until I see the sneak peek (because as I am writing this there are currently no photos).....and I am jumping out of my skin excited!!!!! Then, I will get to see all of my images in our viewing room on the big screen this weekend and I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

I met Dan at the park with the girls, a stroller full of clothes and hats, and bags full of snacks, milk, and candy (bribes)! Considering sessions of our own children are usually the most difficult ones we do (near impossible), we were both delighted with how the girls got along and behaved! Hence, my excitement for the photos! So, here is the sneak peek! I can't wait to see it! :) Special thanks to Carrie for helping out and putting up with us and our kids.

vote for BRAND PHOTODESIGN

We have been entered into the RTV6 "Indiana's Best Local Businesses" contest in the category "Best Portrait Photographer". Please click on the box below or CLICK HERE to vote for BRAND PHOTODESIGN! We appreciate your support and your votes so much!

brand family photos

When my friend Sarah came to visit last weekend, I asked her if we could use her help for a family photo session. Dan usually sets up the photo, and we have a remote that we use to fire the camera.....but it just gets frustrating because we can't get the girls to look at the camera. So....this time Dan set up the shots, and Sarah--- bless her heart--- she stood behind the camera, waved her arms bearing puppets, threw toy monkeys, sang, hollered, and whistled to get the girls to look up. And...voilà! We have not just one, but TWO new family photos!!!

(And we did some new ones of the girls too! Enjoy!)

My favorite...

Chubby cheeks!

Wearing mommy's shoes...

Beautiful bebe...

Love my girl...

Our new family photo!

Thank you so much, Sarah!!! This was the least stressful family session (of us) we've ever done, thanks to you!!!! We're going to "hire" you (will work for food?) every time! :) :) :)

natalie is 2 days old

Our little Natalie is actually four days old, but these photos were taken a couple of days ago. We are excited to post photos of Samantha and Natalie together, but Sammi is having a hard time with the new baby at home, so it might be a while before we get those taken. :)

If you are interested in dipping into our personal lives, you can visit our personal blog for more photos and the birth story of Natalie by going to www.indybrands.blogspot.com. 

We'll keep the photos coming on this site! Thanks for stopping by!

natalie paige brand has arrived

I am absolutely thrilled to announce the birth of our second daughter, Natalie Paige Brand!! She was born on Jan 14th at 3:10pm. She weighs 6lbs 14oz and is 19.75in long. Both her and Brooke are doing great! Natalie looks so much like Samantha did when she was born it is freaking us out a bit. Same features, same expressions. We are setting up the Samantha/Natalie introduction tomorrow (the 15th). Sammi has been having some separation issues lately so we'll see how this helps that out! Here are a few photos from Natalie's 1st day...

it's a...

GIRL!!!!

It came as quite a shock to me! Going into the appointment I was 99% convinced it was going to be a boy. Neither one of us really cared what we have, in all honesty, but I just had that gut feeling this was a boy. We asked the Ultrasound Tech to write the gender on a piece of paper and put it in a sealed envelope so we could open it during lunch. While she was doing her thing she panned across the "zone" and I swore I saw a definitive sign, if you know what I mean. I didn't want to ruin the surprise for Brooke so I kept my mouth shut. Now I was 100% sure it is a boy. Then the U/S tech pointed out the umbilical cord. Was that what I saw? Couldn't be. I know it is a boy. So we finish our appointment, the tech puts the photographic proof in the envelope and we head off to a few meetings and then lunch, The Cheesecake Factory. We ordered our food and then tore open the envelope. "Don't forget to look surprised when it says boy," I thought. It's a... it's a... GIRL?! Wait, what?! Check again. Even with the proof in front of me I don't believe it. My jaw drops to the floor and all of a sudden it hits me. It's a girl! That means, two tea party schedules, two boyfriend related set of issues, two weddings! Do you have any idea what weddings cost these days! But it also means two daddy's little girls, two little sweethearts, two beautiful little ladies, two little souls I am madly in love with, and a million other great things girls bring that I'm too shocked right now to think of!

I am slowly getting used to the idea of being completely outnumbered in my home. Anyone who has multiple daughters please email the meeting info for your support group. I'm going to need some help!

rafting through the grand canyon

What did you do last week? Oh me, I just went on the trip of a lifetime! 28 men from my family and some close friends took a 3 day 100 mile rafting trip on the Colorado river through the Grand Canyon. We rafted and hiked through the day and slept under the stars at night. It was the most unbelievable experience I think you could ever have. Every turn was more beautiful than the last.

We started out in Vegas and took a chartered flight to a gravel runway in the Grand Canyon. From there we took a helicopter to our starting point where we met our 4 guides and two rafts. The river was the same color as the one in Willy Wonka's factory but didn't taste nearly as good, especially if you thought about the "liquid hits liquid" restroom requirement. Gross. Every single rapid was a blast and provided quite a few splashes to keep us from melting in the hot sun. The breeze felt like a hair dryer so the wetness didn't last long.

We had to hunt rabbits and rattlesnakes for lunch and dinner and had rock soup for breakfast. OK, that's not entirely true. We did have breakfast, lunch and dinner, but the food was more like eggs, bacon, sausage, coffee, spaghetti, shrimp cocktail, steak, salmon, cheesecake, poppyseed cake, blueberry cake, birthday cake (happy birthday Tim!) and all the lemonade and water you could ever want. The last night the captain announced that the dinner was black tie. The two male guides then proceeded to put on a tuxedo shirt and bow tie. The two women guides put on black formal dresses. I wore a dirty swimsuit and t-shirt and my formal Colts hat. That night ended with a fire twirling extravaganza by Kelly, one of our female guides. Both nights we were treated to a great meteor shower.

The trip ended at Lake Mead and from there we took a bus back to Vegas. In total, no broken bones, one bug bite (sorry James), 2000 images for me to edit, and probably a combined total of 100 pounds gained. We sure were roughing it!

Here are a few shots from the trip...