Have you ever loved someone before you’ve even met them? That’s how it was with Candice.

Although she lives a world away in South Africa, Candice & I developed an almost immediate friendship the day she first reached out with an e-mail. She’d written to say that she’d stumbled upon our website and spent the rest of the day “Oohing & ahhing over all of the beautiful photos.” I mean, how can you not love someone who makes you feel so good and asks for nothing in return?

It wasn’t just her very generous comments that made us fall for Candice. She just has this way about her that makes her irresistible. Truly, Candice is one of those people who instantly lights up a room….even if she’s not physically in it. She is kind, generous, totally sincere, funny, seriously sweet, humble, wise beyond her years and yet with so completely innocent. She is beautiful in the truest sense of the word. She is unflappably positive, full of life and boundless energy. She is creative & fun with a capital F-U-N! If ever a person could be a star, it is Candice….self-luminious and held together by pure goodness.

All of my assumptions about Candice were confirmed when she came to visit us a couple of months ago.

For nearly four years, Candice & I have exchanged e-mails and shared instant facebook message chats, and I would often say that I hoped our paths would one day cross in person. During one of our instant chat this summer, Candice surprised me with some exciting news, “I’m coming to America,” she said. Of course, the immediate reply was, “You must come stay with us!!!” I wasn’t sure she’d actually take us up on it, but, happily, she did.

Just after Thanksgiving, Candice walked out of the international gate at Logan Airport and straight into our hearts. She came with a dear friend of hers, Julia, who quickly became our dear friend as well. The two of them brought with them such love & goodness.

I must admit, Andy & I were more than a little nervous about meeting Candice & Juls. In the weeks leading up to their visit, we would get e-mails and messages with updates on the countdown to their arrival. Candice would say things like how excited she was about meeting “The bellos” and how it was, “a dream come true.”

We were left wondering how we could we possibly measure up to what were surely unrealistic expectations. Honestly, we’re quite boring. Yet, from the first hug, a bond was solidified and the three days we spent together were truly some of the happiest.

Andy & I took our new besties to Boston and showed them the sights, including an evening of ice skating on the Commons’ Frog Pond, which was so fun as Candice was a pro skater in South Africa and had some serious moves on the ice. We also showed them around the Cape and on our last day together, we took them to our favorite spot, where Andy & I said “I do.” Candice is a budding photographer, so we gave her & Juls a few pointers on how to use their cameras and then turned our cameras on them. We had an absolute BLAST!!!

Here are a few of our favorite photos of these two beautiful young women. Sweet, sweet Candi….

Girls unite….

Juls (left) and Candi (right). Doesn’t get much prettier than these two lovelies!

Seriously, can’t you just feel the love coming out of these two sweeties?

Love is…..the embrace of a good friend.

Love this next shot Andy stole of Juls. love, love, love!

The shot on the left of Candice reminds me of a Lancome ad. Her beauty absolutely radiates from within!

Another ad-like moment…

girlie giggles…

Hummuna hummuna…

Sun-kissed…

Besties….

Our amazing day together was capped off with a picnic on the beach (Yes, in November), where we watched one of the most stunning sunsets over the Sandwich boardwalk.

Later that night, Candice & Juls made us the most amazing traditional South African dinner, with a dessert that blew our socks off. I still can’t believe we didn’t take any photos of it! What were we thinking!?! I guess we were just too busy having fun! They even did the dishes afterwards. Honestly, we never wanted them to leave! And their visit created memories that Andy & I will cherish forever!

Come back you two….we miss you! Seriously, Candi & Juls….thank you from the bottom of our hearts for including us in your big adventure, for being THE best house guests ever and for loving us without reservation! We love you both to the moon and back! C&A xoxoxo

My youngest sister, Kimmy, is pregnant with her third child. Our family is thrilled at the prospect of having another lovebug join our happy little clan. But, it hasn’t been an easy pregnancy for my poor sister.

Kimmy’s second child, Sadie, came 3 months early, weighing just 2.5 pounds. She was in the neonatal intensive care unit for 3 months and there were some pretty scary moments when we thought we might lose her. Miraculously, Sadie survived  her ordeal unscathed and is now a happy, healthy, delightful little girl, who is excitedly making plans for her 4th birthday in February.

We had hoped this third pregnancy would be much like Kimmy’s first, when her son Calvin made his way into the world at 41 weeks, tipping the scales at 9 pounds 15 ounces. Andy & I were there at the hospital with my sister & brother-in-law when Cal was born and I was blessed to be in the room when he took his first breath. It was one of the most profoundly beautiful experiences of my life….something I will never forget and hope to experience again this time around.

But, things got scary for my sister, when, at 23-weeks, she once again started having problems. As a precaution, doctors ordered her to bed rest. Unable to walk around too much or lift anything, it’s been really hard on her. Me & my dad have been helping out by going up once a week, on Tuesdays & Thursdays, to take care of the kids, do laundry, grocery shop…whatever she needs. And, Kimmy has the most unbelievably supportive group of friends & neighbors, who have been dropping off meals, taking the kids and just generally providing the most loving support.

Still, it’s hard for Kimmy….relying on the kindness of others and having two children to take care of, while also needing to take care of herself and her baby.

As she enters her 32nd week, and we continue to move past the marker of when Sadie arrived, I’ve been thinking a lot about the sacrifices mothers make for their children and how being a mother starts long before our children officially make their way into lives.

I am so in awe of my sister…of the incredible mother she is to her two amazing children, and of the grace she has shown as she struggles bravely through her pregnancy.

I was fortunate enough to go with her to her most recent ultrasound appointment, with Cal & Sadie in tow. Getting a peek at our sweet girl in 3D was so cool and although we want her to stay put a bit longer, seeing her sweet little face made me excited for the day she does finally join the family.

In honor of my sister, of the sacrifices she has made for her beautiful children, and the boundless love she has for them, I wanted to share one of my favorite poems by E.E. Cummings, along with some photos from Kimmy’s ultrasound appointment.

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in

my heart) I am never without it (anywhere

i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear

no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want

no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life: which grows

higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

With much love & admiration,

Auntie Chrissy xoxo

Every now and then we get an unexpected visitor at our Mashpee home-studio that makes us stop & take notice. This morning, I was looking out the window when I spotted a beautiful ring-necked pheasant patrolling the backyard. Still in my slippers, I grabbed my camera and dashed outside for a closer look. As soon as he spotted me, he got visibly nervous and headed for cover.

Measuring 20-28 inches in length, with a wingspan of 22 to 34 inches and weighing sometimes as much as 6 1/2 pounds, these colorful birds are not native to the Cape, nor to the country for that matter.

The Ring-Necked Pheasant was introduced into North America from Asia in 1857 as a game bird and over the years has become an established species over much of the continent, especially in agricultural lands.

Today, the Massachusetts Division of Fish & Wildlife stocks & maintains pheasant populations in various wildlife management areas across the Cape, including the Francis A. Crane Wildlife Management Area, which is located along Route 151 in Mashpee, just a stone’s throw from our house. It is apparently a popular area for hunting. I really can’t imagine killing one of these beautiful creatures…

A cool pheasant fact: In very bad weather, pheasants are known to stay on a roost for several days without eating. So glad I’m not a pheasant. Then again, with their diet, what are they really missing.

Pheasants eat seeds, especially cultivated grain, grasses, leaves, roots, wild fruits and nuts, and insects. We’ve seen ring-necked pheasants in our yard before and I like to think it’s because Andy has a lot of bird feeders all over…but maybe today’s visit was due to our inattention to the fallen leaves. See honey…it was good to wait another week before raking!

Whatever the reason for his visit, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that this little guy stays safe. Thanks for visiting little buddy….you’re welcome here anytime!

On this Veterans Day I find myself thinking of my great-grandfather, Perry DeVito. Pop, as he was known to me, served in two major wars and lived to be 92.

I was too young to ever talk with him about his military experiences or what it meant to him to be a veteran. I wish I had. And even more I wish I’d thanked him for his service, for his courage, for fighting for the freedoms I so openly enjoy today.

So, to my great grandfather, and to all the brave men & women who have or are currently serving in the armed forces, particularly those who have had to go to war, and most especially to our Bello Veterans, Andy & I salute you, and dedicate this beautiful version of America the Beautiful by Keb Mo to you.

In peace & love,
Chris & Andy

The weather was classic New England today. We woke up this morning, in anticipation of our wedding at the Chatham Bars Inn with super sweeties Amy & Ryan, and it started pouring. Then, the rain stopped and the skies cleared….honestly, a little too much for my liking. We ended up doing photos down at the beach with Amy & Ryan’s families and it was ridiculously bright. But, they were troopers and weathered the sun. Then, the haze set in, which provided fabulous lighting for our portraits with Amy & Ryan. And, then what looked like a tornado over the water moved it. It was soooo cool. A little scary, but very cool. This photo really doesn’t do it justice, but thought it would be fun to share anyway.

At this point, it seemed that the storm broke off into 3 spouts, the most visible is on the right…but again, this photo doesn’t really look as good as it did in person.

Oh, and the evening ended with a rainbow over the ocean and seals swimming off in the distance. How lucky are we to live and work here on beautiful Cape Cod? Super luck! Stay tuned for more photos from Amy & Ryan’s fabulous wedding!