Gage Ryan | Chicago Newborn Photography

Shannon & Mark are quite literally two peas in a pod. Each has been described by friends and family as fiercely loyal, incredibly smart, diligent in work but happy to play, well-traveled, well-liked and most certainly, well-loved. They make decisions with care and research but in the end they always follow their hearts and on Saturday, May 3rd their hearts grew near to bursting when they welcomed their (sweetly nicknamed) “little Bean” into the world. I believe the love story a child is born into is important, especially when it’s a Love Story that they can draw on for strength and reassurance and to set the course of their own lives. Gage is blessed with Love Stories in abundance, legacies of happy marriages and happy lives from his parents, grandparents and even great grandparents, one of which he’s named for – my own girls’ great grandmother – born to the family Ryan some 92 years ago. She passed away while little Bean was in his mama’s tummy but she was able to feel his kicks and wish him a happy, grace-filled life with her granddaughter and the grandson-in-law that she would be mad at me for calling an “in-law.” Her picture hangs in Gage’s room as do the pictures of Gage’s other soon-to-be-favorite people. Welcome to the world and to our family Gage Ryan ~ we can’t wait to tell you all our Love Stories and help you write your own.

And a note about this last image ~ Gage’s mom and dad had a wine themed wedding and they’ve spent many hours touring their favorite wineries in California who supplied the majority of their seriously wonderful wedding wine so I couldn’t resist letting baby Gage take a nap among the corks that decorated their wedding tables.