Personal

Everly’s Fifth Month

filed in:

Well, if you’ve followed our story on social media, you know that the end of Evy’s fourth month was a bit interesting with the news of her hip harness! Whew! We are still navigating through all of the changes that it has presented! However, overall, this past month has been one of my absolute favorites with her! She’s so interactive and funny and joyful! She loves to scream, squeal and unfortunately… SPIT. But hey, it’s just a phase, right?

I think the biggest lesson I’ve learn in motherhood this past month has been learning to TRUST. I’m sure I’ll spend the rest of my life learning to trust the Lord with her life, but this month really challenged me. When something isn’t quite right with your baby… all you can do is pray for wisdom and healing and patience. It’s a hard balance to TRUST GOD and still act on the “motherly instincts” that I am noticing more and more.

I love being a mom. I love this season of our life! However, what I didn’t realize about becoming a parent was the hard reality that when you LOVE someone so much, it physically HURTS to see them hurt! I love Michael with all of my heart, but the love we have for Evy is different. I’ve never experienced anything quite like it. Sometimes I actually feel like there is a small ACHE inside of me when she’s screaming her head off, or when I think about her being frustrated and restrained in her harness. It’s a deep love, and it’s the most rewarding love.

So, I’m currently sitting at the JFK airport because we’re taking our now FIVE MONTH OLD to SCOTLAND! I’m shooting an engagement session over there and then we’re traveling with our friends to see this amazing country! So because there are currently two babies to keep happy in the Delta Sky Lounge for 4 more hours before our flight, I’m going to cut this short and leave you with some things that I don’t want to forget about from her last month!

  • Hopefully this isn’t TMI, but she currently stops nursing for a second, and looks up at me and just SMILES!…. And then proceeds to bury her face into me like she’s shy! The sweetest thing!
  • We started feeding her REAL FOOD! She currently loves carrots, bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes,  and prunes! We tried in the middle of June, but then the most successful eating started in July!
  • She has TWO TEETH!!!!! What?! I cried when I noticed the first one! I thought she had some spit up in her mouth and then I felt it!! YIKES! She bites HARD! The second one popped through within the next two days!
  • She got her hip harness for her hip dysplasia… not the best day of our lives, but we’re SO thankful it’s not a SPICA cast, and we’re praying this harness will work and keep us out of the operating room!
  • Her hair is out of control! It’s just barely long enough to do a mini-Whale-Tail!
  • She loves gurgling, spitting, squealing and ROARING!! It’s VERY entertaining! Just not on an airplane!
  • She went to the Lake for the 4th of July with friends and to Florida for a family vacation!
  • She met her Great Aunt Cindy and Great GREAT Aunt Faye and Uncle Bill!
  • She LOVES to HUG BIG!! When you pick her up, she WRAPS her arms around your shoulder and melts into you. I’m going to be sad when that changes!

A visit to meet her Great Nanny Alsop!
Evy and Knox!  Thanks Jilly for the pics!  Fourth of July at the Lake with Knox and friends!  So glad we got some pool time pics before her harness went on! Thanks Ty!  “If I’m having a bad hair day so are you daddy!” First Pony Tail!!!! First day at the BEACH! Siesta Key is so beautiful!  It was a litttttle hot!  And MICAH showed up!!!! Couldn’t love this little guy more!  First time in the OCEAN!  Hanging with the grandads! Oh my goodnesssss!  She LOVES Aunt Susan’s pool!  Aunt Sarah snuggles!  Oh I love this!  Cousins!!! Bath time!  Not thrilled!  Isn’t he just the best!? Great Aunt Faye and Uncle Bill!  Married 71 YEARS!!! How incredible is that?! Evy slept through these!!! Sooo… I got a new lens…. I’ll blog about it soon! So sharp and so fast!  The spitting! Ah! I took these right after we found out about her hip situation!!! Love these rolls!  Our new and improved EVY GIRL!!!! What a sweet girl!

Thanks for reading!

— Katelyn

15 Poses in 5 Minutes

15 Poses in 5 Minutes Freebie A simple guide to instantly upgrade your posing game

Have you ever started a session, camera in hand, and suddenly felt stuck? Your couple is standing there, looking at you, waiting for direction… and your mind goes blank.

READ MORE
Resources

Have you ever tried to sit down with your spouse to talk about dreams, goals, and vision—only for it to turn into frustration or misalignment? If so, you’re not alone. Vision casting in marriage is hard because it brings up deeper fears, beliefs, and unspoken dynamics that many couples don’t even realize are at play.

Podcast Art Marriage
READ MORE

54 | How to Talk with Your Spouse About Your Vision with Julia Woods

The Doing Life Differently Podcast
FAITH AND FAMILY PODCAST BLOG

53 | How We’re Redefining Success for Our Family Teaching our kids a different way

Success—it’s a word we hear all the time. But what does it really mean? Is it about financial security? Status? Owning a dream home or taking extravagant vacations?

READ MORE
The Doing Life Differently Podcast
FAITH AND FAMILY PODCAST BLOG

52 | Viewing Your Business as a Ministry Opportunity and not just a business!

When you think about your business, do you see it as simply a job—or something more? 

READ MORE
The Doing Life Differently Podcast

Today, I’m diving into an experience that was nothing like I anticipated: my digital detox in December. If you’ve ever considered taking a break from the noise of the online world, you might relate to my journey—the good, the surprising, and the, well, completely unplanned.

DLD WELLNESS
READ MORE

51 | The Unexpected Gifts of a Digital Detox It didn't go as planned!

The Doing Life Differently Podcast
book more weddings in 2025

How to Book More Weddings in 2025 5 practical tips to do today

The wedding industry has faced unique challenges recently, with inflation affecting budgets and couples cutting costs. If you’re a wedding photographer feeling the pinch, don’t worry—2025 doesn’t have to be a slow year.

READ MORE
Youtube

READER FAVORITES

"Best money I have EVER spent on education! ... and I've spent a lot!”

- Kara Abbey, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"I love all the lessons I'm learning from KJ All Access! Thanks Katelyn!”

- Shannon Drummond, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"I find very few educational resources worth it ... this one is!”

- Kate gansneder, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"Recently signed up for KJ All Access and it's EVERYTHING!”

- Kassidy Mowery, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"Being able to see behind-the-scenes of Katelyn interacting with her clients has been SO impactful!”

- Angie mcpherson, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"Recently signed up for KJ All Access and it's EVERYTHING!”

- Kassidy Mowery, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"SO worth it! It's amazing the amount of knowledge you get out of them!”

- Brittany Lowe, ALl ACCESS MEMBER

"I learned just as much in one All Access as I did in a whole course! SO GOOD!"

- Joanna Krueger, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER
10 Steps to Starting Your Photography Business
Helping a friend survive a season of Infant Loss
How to photograph a first look in Harsh Light
OUR KJ COUPLES REUNION
A Lake Como Destination Wedding - Greg and Kate
A Letter to the Go-Getters fearful of Motherhood

The KJ blog
must-reads

The KJ Blog is where you get to know me, where you meet our KJ Couples and see their beautiful wedding days, where I have been building an archive of education for over a decade and where I let you see a peek into our life, our home, and hear about our purpose! 
don't miss the
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ

YOUTUBE

Join 100,000+ others and learn, grow and get connected via our Youtube Channel! This is where I'm constantly sharing new content, talking all things gear, business, tips, tricks and letting you into the behind-the-scenes of our everyday life! 
MORE FREE EDUCATION + CUTE BABIES ON
WATCH NOW

The KJ Learning roadmap

If you're a visual learner, this real-life, behind the scenes training was created just for you!

Create clients who can't help but rave about how you made them feel in front of your camera!

A 4-step educational preset process that will make Lightroom seem like a friend instead of a constant frustation.

The only thing you'll need as a beginner to kick start your photography journey.

The most popular, most transformational KJ Course of them all! Learn how to find great light in any location no matter how challenging!

The course that teaches photographers how to master Lightroom, find their unique style and trasnform their workflow!

Not only can artificial intelligence edit your images in minutes, it can now edit your work exactly the way KJ would if I was editing it myself!

Create polished, scroll-stopping images!  If you’re tired of “normal” and are ready to access the “Next Level”, this course was designed for you! 

"I have invested in all of KJ’s education!

The way she teaches makes so much sense and I’m so grateful for her! My business will be forever changed!"

- Renee Nicolo

"KJ education has been life-changing

 It has elevated my work so I could quit my day job and work from home with our baby boy!"

- joanna k.

"I'VE INVESTED IN SO MANY RESOURCES... 

and none compare to what I get from KJ!"

- LAUREN M.