My Funny Valentine

Yesterday I photographed the adorable kiddos from the Bell Center for Early Intervention before and during their race, as part of the Mercedes Marathon weekend. I walked into the Boutwell Auditorium, Command Central for the marathon, and met this adorable little guy. He blew me a kiss. Best Valentine I've ever had. xoxoxo

Get Ready.....Get Set....

RUN!

 WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM YOUR FRIENDS

THEN GET YOUR MEDAL!!!

Tomorrow is the best day of the year. It's the Mercedes Marathon weekend and the precious kiddos from the fabulous Bell Center for Early Intervention will have their very own run in the morning at Linn Park. Later runners and relay teams will run to raise money for this wonderful place. Seeing these courageous and happy kids and their parents, along with the staff, fills my heart more that you can imagine.

It's National Down Syndrome Awareness Month....Yippee!

As many of you who read this blog now, I have had the pleasure of photographing the Bell Center Run at the Mercedes Marathon for the last several years. The Bell Center for Early Intervention provides a variety of support for children ages birth to 3 years who are at risk for developmental delay. Named for their former director Betty Bell, this is a loving place that provides emotional and physical support for their precious children and their families. Many, but certainly not all, are Down Syndrome kiddos, but this month it's all about bringing awareness to this chromosome abnormalities that affects approximately 1 in 1000 babies born each year. Today one of the very excited Bell Runners, there may be more this month!

World Down Syndrome Day... Let's Celebrate!

Spotted at the Bell Center Run 2015, as part of the Mercedes Marathon. Look at these precious faces and celebrate this day!

Mercedes Marathon Bell Center Runners - This Is How They Roll!

These kids and their parents along with the loving staff at the Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs make this event so very special!

On your mark!

Get Set!

Go!....ummm not!

GO!!!!!!

Go!!!!!

You're almost there!

Get your medal!!!

Mercedes Marathon Bell Center Runners 2015- The Teaser

Yes, today is the teaser. I photographed the Bell Center Runner Event as part of the Mercedes Marathon weekend yesterday for the third year. If I had to choose a Birmingham event that I love the most...this is it in spades. Today, Chambers as she shoots off the starting line. She and her family are very special to me. For the next few days you will have more precious kiddos to ooh and ahhh over.

SATURDAY...

10:00 a.m.... be there or be square. I can't post enough precious photos to drum up business for the Bell Center's Runners. This, in my humble opinion, is the BEST part of the Mercedes Marathon Weekend in Birmingham. Great cause, great kids, great parents...... my heart.

The Face of the Bell Center

This Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m., the Bell Runners will take to the streets as part of the annual Mercedes Marathon Weekend. These precious children are running to raise money for the Bell Center For Early Intervention. It is a loving place that touches so many families in our city,  and I would put up a photo every single day on this blog if I could. There will also be terrific runners and relay teams running for these fabulous kids all weekend long. It is a great weekend for Birmingham and the Bell Center.

I Love Bell Runners!

Forgive me if I overdo the cute photos this week but I LOVE the BELL RUNNERS. That's the run shortly before the Kids' Mercedes Marathon Run this coming Saturday. It benefits the FABULOUS Bell Center for Early Intervention and is the best event I have the privilege to photograph all year long.

CDP Theme Day - Photo of the Year

Today is Theme Day for all of my City Daily Photo blog friends around the world. This month we were to choose our favorite photo of the year. This was a piece of cake. I posted this collage on World Down Syndrome Day, with all of my sweet little friends from the Bell Center, as they participated in the annual Bellrunners Run before the Mercedes Marathon. 

Click HERE to see the great photos chosen by my CDP blog friends!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I thank all of you for stopping by my blog and for the wonderful comments that you leave. I hope you will come by often in 2015.

CDP Theme Day - People On The Street

Wow, it's already the first of the month again and I almost let City Daily Photo's Theme Day sneak up on me. Well to be honest, it sneaks up on me every month.  This theme was pretty easy for me as I love street photography here in Birmingham and in Paris.  I had a lot of choices from the Bell Center Children's Run held recently during the Mercedes Marathon.  This little guy took to the streets and made it to the finish line with lots of cheers from everyone there!

Have a look at my fellow bloggers' choices for this fun theme right HERE.

Some of the Bell Center Kiddos....

were more excited about the race......

than others!

 Bell Center for Early Intervention run.