Baby Wes

Oh newborns, I'm so done having you, but I will photograph you any minute of the week. Seriously, any minute. More here.

Spurt It Out!

So I think Easton is going through some sort of spurt. And it's not the kind where the child grows bigger, but the kind that completely alienates their prior behavior. Ask anyone that knows my child in real life, he (was) quiet, great at playing solo, highly affectionate, and understands everything and says nothing. Suddenly his sweet, curly haired head has become a battering ram, charging full force into anyone and anything. He squeals and yells and screams, but no one knows what the hell he wants. He's not sleeping, his naps are crap, he's been waking up in the middle of the night, for hours, over and over, mixing in a bit of fake crying and tortured screaming. And that too, he fake cries constantly. Poor thing, I'd feel sorry for his growing pains if I weren't stuffing my ears with cotton from the incessant whining/crying jags.

Will someone please return my baby? Oh wait, did I mention he'll be 2 in 12 days? That explains everything, doesn't it?

Sisters

I've known Karyn since I was about 4 years old. She was the oldest of 3, having 2 younger brothers, while I was the youngest of 3, having 2 older brothers. This made our dynamic interesting, since I never got picked on, and she was constantly being tormented (and tormenting) hers. We reconnected on that funny social networking site called Face.book, and she asked me if I could come photograph her 3 girls. And you know what? Her oldest daughter is just like her 28 years ago. I mean, it's surreal. But obviously, they are all charming and sweet and fiercely independent (including her fully running, fully red-headed, 1 year old third child).

We wanted to do more outside, but the girl's noses turned pink right away, a sure sign to head back indoors. No problem, nothing a big window can't fix!! I'm hoping we can get our girls together soon, I mean she only lives in my hometown! But until then, I am reminded of how ironic and full circle life is. She was so sweet, so patient, so mature, and I loved hanging out with her and her clan.

The Traditional Box ***UPDATE***

I wanted to start Sylvia on a simple tradition around the holidays, so a few years ago we found an organization that ships holiday boxes to really poor children in third world countries. All you have to do is fill a box the size of a shoe box with anything you want (we do art supplies, reusable containers, and toys), fill out a sheet for each box specifying age group and gender, and drop it off at the closes collection site. Though I know there are thousands of children in our country that need gifts too, this organization is specific to helping those abroad. And though it's religious, I have researched that these types of groups get the goods to those who need it without dealing with the political red tape of other non-profits. Anyway, for us, this is what we've been doing. As she gets older, I want to actually take here to do charitable activities locally, but I also want to retain a bit of innocence at age 4.

While we filled the boxes and talked about the kids that would open these boxes, she drew the above pictures for them. As she was working on the drawings, she kept asking me how to write a 'u'. I didn't know why she needed that information, so when I went to check on her, she was trying to write 'I Love You' on the back. It was so simple and so sweet and is exactly why we do this every year.

If you have some spare time and money or craftiness, please consider creating a box to donate. If you live locally and don't have a car, I am willing to pick up your boxes and deliver them for you (you usually get a tshirt or something). It's so easy and simple, and I hope a child opens their box and has a bit more joy in their lives.

*****UPDATE***** They are collecting now!!! Like, November 22 is the last day!!!!!

Kieran

He is 5.5 months and successfully rolling from belly to back to belly. It's the cutest thing! I had a lovely shoot with the Reno family this morning, and I just loved this one of Kieran mid roll. What an adorable baby!

On My List

I want to photograph a wedding.

I want to photograph twins.

I want to photograph a 13 year old.

I want to photograph a birth.

Which will happen first? I'm eager to expand and try new things. And although I've been second shooting lots of weddings, and shot a few on my own, I want to do more. If you know of any couples that are looking for an affordable and creative photographer, please pass them my email. I have lots of ideas brewing and can't wait to see them through. The more I work, the more I crave it. Thanks for listening.

Your Reward for Reading This? Diamonds!

Of course I say I'm too busy to post and then I post twice in a day. This should hold you over for like a week or so, right? Lately Sylvia has been hyper-aware of the whole "making fun of someone" issue. I suppose it's the vast amount they talk about it at school, or perhaps every time it happens on the playground it gets made into a big deal. But my lord you can't say anything around this girl without her feelings getting hurt. It's rather sweet if she gives you puppy dog eyes and reminds you that "that's not a nice thing to say" or "mama, don't call names" but when you're just mentioning to "quit being a goof-butt" or call her the famous "pickle butt" and she breaks into tears, it's a bit dramatic. I understand not calling someone something mean, but where's the sense of humor anymore? Everyone is to PC, I can't even call my kid a pickle butt without an outcry from the cucumber community!

I sometimes wonder if we are teaching our kids not just common courtesy and politeness, but total over-sensitivity in an insensitive world. I already find myself being a bit coddling, over-kind, and constantly congratulatory. I heard a story on NPR a while back about this very issue, about how workplaces are having to accommodate these young, fresh out of college, hyper-sensitive newbies by offering incentives, awards, and daily praises. When I was little, a sticker or a penny for a good deed was good as gold. As of late? I believe the reward has become praise, a sticker, a stamp, a tattoo, a special treat, a hug, a high-five, and 7 extra books at bedtime. It's exhausting and expensive raising kids these days, I think I deserve some ice-cream.

Just A Quickie

So yeah, I keep thinking I'll have a moment to update you all with silly stories and quips on my life, but things keep moving, I'm still busy, and I have less childcare than ever due to my in-laws moving and family issues with my mom (when are their not family issues?). I keep chugging along, thinking out loud that 'next week will be lighter, I'll have time then' and it just isn't happening. And don't get me wrong, I love it. I'm actually getting used to it, learning some sort of balance (thanks to Noggi.n), and am going to miss the chaos when the dead of winter sets in. But on the upside, I have a lead on an awesome, but small, square room to call my studio. No, I didn't initially seek out a studio space, but it's a pretty amazing situation, I have lighting, and would have the potential to photograph newborns and maternity and kids in the dead of winter, with snow on the ground and 20 degrees out. And that, my friends, is awesome!

Belly!

It's hard to miss Jessica's mondo tummy, but when you ask her when she's due, and she tells you in a week or two, you want to be real jealous of how insanely gorgeous she looks. I mean really, a week or two? I was HUGE! And you know what else will make you hate her? This is her third baby. THIRD! On top of it all, she is fantastically awesome, her kids are so sweet, and she brought cookies and a desire to pose in almost nude (as a gift for her husband, can't post those!!).

It was an amazing shoot, but you know what this did to me? No, no, not want more babies. You are evil for thinking that. It made me yearn for a studio space of my own, one with my lights always set up, with capabilities to do maternity, kids, babies, and newborns in the dead of winter. And chance just has it that this may be happening...

Bread

We baked some bread, I practiced with my new lens and camera, it was amazing. More here.

Gavin, Gracie, and Family

The weather has been chilly, but that didn't stop this family from meeting me Friday morning in Forest Park. I think we're dwindling to our last warm days, which means I'll be doing some catching up on editing and crafting. And then there are the holidays....

More images here. Happy daylight savings! May your kids go to bed early tonite.

Gracie

Upon recent discover of this ginormous muscle in her mouth, 4 month old Gracie decided to showcase how she felt about the photographer. I guess I deserve to be put in my place every now and then.

How to Annoy Me

Warning~ it's 4:45 am and I've been up all night, all but maybe one hour. This is going to be one of those over sharing totally annoyed at the world posts. Skip it if you're all cheery and whatnot, cuz that's not flying 'round here right now.

How to annoy me, make me cranky, disrupt my day, and force me to be blogging at 4:45 in the morning, all in one day:

~son has croup, or something real bad and cough-barky, and the ped doesn't want to see him, because she is all-knowing and has no solution for whatever it is. so he stays up all hours of the night with the saddest, most disturbing and interrupting cough. which, btw, keeps Dave and I up. but when Dave falls back asleep, he snores so lour and E is coughing (now in bed with us) so loud that I can't sleep.

~get period. on the way to gym. totally unprepared.

~write a to-do list and run out of room on the paper. hide the list because it's overwhelming.

~look at my kitchen full of the days dishes and wonder when that'll happen.

~think of the laundry that's sitting in the washing machine that'll have to be washed again because I totally spaced that I started laundry this morning.

~realize there is 1 roll of toilet paper left in a house that has 3 toilet paper users.

~realize it's November. Shit.

~wonder if I'm busy enough to hire an assistant. No? Shit.

~purchase the most awesome lens only to realize it's broken. Shit. Return it and get a less awesome but fully working and way cheaper lens. Hope it was the right decision. (On a plus, the tech guy clues me in on a new, amazingly fast way to focus and fire using 2 different buttons on my DSLR. I think it's gonna rock my world)

~went to the store, yet am almost out of milk. I blame the cereal.

~2 sick kids at home all day (well, it was kinda nice actually)

~get annoyed at my annoyed list. considers washing those dishes in the sink.

More of my 1 month old Niece

Well hello there

Too Much Candy

Hi, are you still in a post-candy coma? I sure am! I made buckeyes, which is southern dessert, but one my mom made for us growing up. It's a bit time consuming to roll out the balls (ha!) and dip them in chocolate (ha!ha!) but they are soooooo worth it. I used this recipe, which is a bit less over-indulgently rich. But don't be fooled, it's still over indulgently rich. Halloween was rather crazy for us. My family all came down, and my in-laws all came over. All told, there were 15 people in my house all day on Sunday! I don't know why everyone decided this holiday, this year specifically, would be made such a big deal. We cleaned all day, only to have my house immediately trashed by 5 kids under 7 years old. Syl wanted to dress as a "Cat Superhero that turns into a Butterfly" for over a month (simply enough, put a cat mask on the girl and butterfly wings on her back. done.) but at the last minute changed her mind to be Little Orphan Annie (post adoption). Luckily I found her a Christmas dress at the used kids store and called it done. I don't know who has all the photos, but it's easy to visualize. You'd think the photographer of the family would be more on top of these things, but with a meeting of the families, my mind gets really stressed out and jumbly. It's not pretty.

On top of the crazy holiday, this month has been insane for my photography business. I don't know if I'll offer a holiday promotion next year, maybe I'll do a deal like in March, when life has slowed down. I guess October is the craziest month for photographers in this area, due to the beautiful weather and impending holiday doom, but I was totally unprepared. I have a back-log of sessions to edit and everyone is on a deadline. I need a babysitter.

So sorry this blog has become a simple update of sorts, with an occasional photo here and there. I can't promise this will change anytime soon, but I want it too. I liked it when I could come here and rant and be goofy. I miss you. Good-bye.