Duygu and Yusuf's new family set-up

Back in May I got to photograph little Deniz's birth (a major highlight in my job!). Then in August I went back down to Palo Alto to photograph everyone as they adjusted to life with a newbie around: Duygu and Yusuf, Derin (3yrs), Deniz (3mo) and Grandma (still visiting from Turkey). I remain a huge fan of this family- such thoughtful and warm people.

Derin makes me realize I don't think I was cut out for boys; I think 80% of what he does involves wrestling of some sort or another. He spent much of the time just climbing on and over anything and everything, especially the rest of his family! Every once in a while he took a short break and lounged around on the big bed for a minute, and he showed me how he fit "perfectly" into Deniz's bassinet, but mostly he's just pure, joyful energy! At one point, as if I couldn't love these guys more, they pulled out their VitaMix to make some smoothies! (If you know me at all, you probably know I love that machine as if it were one of my children). At the end of the day we left the house and headed over to Stanford, where Duygu and Yusuf went to school together, and where they still go almost every weekend to let Derin ride his bike around, and we spent the warm evening running and lounging around there.

I absolutely love this next one of Duygu and her mom- such a beautiful bond they have.