Sarah Mahen Photographers

Three years ago I was sitting in a hospital room waiting for my baby to make her way from my belly to my arms. I was a week over due, bigger than a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and ever so ready to be a mom. Lauren finally joined our family on October 6, 2006 at 7:26pm after 20+ hours of labor that ended up in a c-section I can’t remember thanks to an epidural that didn’t quite take. I don’t remember her being born, but I remember them placing her in my arms when I finally was awake enough to hold her. I KNEW her. It wasn’t like they handed me a stranger, it was like they handed me an old friend. I knew that girl from the moment I first laid eyes on her, and though sometimes she mystifies me with her actions I still KNOW her.


Lauren has been talking about her birthday for the past several months. She always tells me she wants a High School Musical cake, and what she wants for her birthday changes from day to day. Sometimes she only wants books, sometimes candy, other times a game. But one thing she has said over and over was that she wanted to go to the store to have her picture taken. Can I tell you how that totally flabbergasted me? At first I couldn’t figure out what she was talking about, but then she showed me on a trip to Target. At the front of the store they have a display for their portrait studio. “Mama!” She called to me so excited as she jumped up and down and pointed at the sign. “I want pictures THERE!” Talk about breaking your mothers heart! I tried to explain to her that pictures are WHAT I DO and that Mommy has her very own studio, but nothing seemed to get through. Then I said, “Lauren what if we go to Mommy’s studio and Bethie takes your pictures?” Let’s just say there was squealing and jumping up and down in agreement to this proposition. Sorry Target, but I have my pride.

So my beloved Beth so graciously agreed to photograph our girl for her birthday. We went over to the studio and Lauren and Beth turned on their magic. Seriously, I have NEVER seen Lauren like that. She LISTENED intently to EVERYTHING Beth told her, did EXACTLY what she was told and basically knocked the shoot out of the park. When I am photographing her, it’s like trying to direct a wild boar. But with Beth Lauren was an absolute professional. Talk about thinking you knew someone! Lauren surprised me with how poised she was during this shoot, and once again my little girl knocked my sock off. I mean, to think that I just put her together with things that were lying around the house! Thanks to Beth for the photos and letting me get in on the action too, and thanks to Lauren for being our little girl and biggest blessing. Check out a slideshow of her shoot HERE or in the box below. Happy 3rd birthday Ittle-Bittles.