Parent's Delight

When I heard that Abby's mom, Jen, was taking Friday off to prepare for the party, I was impressed. She made a big birthday cake and cupcakes. She made her special jambalaya. And she made homemade cookies on a stick, all personally decorated with the names of all the kids who were attending the shindig. She made the day so special, and this was afterall, a most special day.

Two years ago, Jen went to the Dr. for her normal 32-week pre-natal appointment. Her blood pressure was way off, and she was rushed to the hospital to deliver her baby. It was a rough go for Jen (to put it nicely), and her new baby only weighed 2 lbs 7 oz at birth. The Dr. told her that had her appointment been one day later she would have lost the baby. One month after Abby was born, Jen brough her home from the hospital - all 3 lbs 11 oz of her! She was a miracle and a gift, and this 2nd birthday was a special day.

Abby played hard with friends and delighted in eating her birthday treats. Then the moment came to open gifts. And gift one was a home run and I thought the show was over. Yes, Abby was so thrilled with her new shopping cart that her body language pretty much said, "Thanks for coming, folks. It was a great time. You can all continue on with my party, but I am off with my new shopping cart, the best present in the whole world! See you next year." At least that was the case until she got a baby. Yes, the other best present in the whole world! Oh to be two again, loving each thing like it was the best you have ever seen.

But while Abby was looking at her new presents with delight, her parents were looking at her with delight. Their little miracle was two. And she is beautiful and happy and enjoying this life. And what a special thing that is.

Miss Abby loves her big brother Jordan. When we were looking at the selects, she would excitedly shout his name every time she saw an image of him.

This post was almost titled "Photoshop can only do so much" as Abby was always eating, and true to her two-year-old style, most of her fare ended up on her face. And on her clothes. And in her hair... 

A Kid's Life Photography Website

Beauty from the inside out...

My son has a crush on little Freya - it must be that cute smile. One look at her beautiful parents, and you can see she is destined to be a beauty. You can be sure that my little Abe will have a crush on Freya for a long time.

I must admit however, that I would be more than happy for a Freya-Abe crush because Freya's parents are our dear friends. There's no doubt they are beautiful on the outside, but they are even more beautiful on the inside. Yes, I have high hopes for Freya...from the inside out.

I thought I would share a fun spontaneous mini-shoot from the weekend. The combination of this beautiful family and my new video software was way to much to resist!

A Kid's Life Photography Website

Love in a boy's life...

He was speaking in almost a whisper. I had to put down my camera and lean in close to hear 6-year old Bennett count to 20 in Chinese. Then we moved on to "dog" and "mom" and "brother," and you could see he was proud. And he should be. Chinese immersion school was paying off.

Then, just as I was taking a moment to think about what a gentle soul he is, he grabbed a stick and used it to "shoot" his 3-year old brother, Henry. Yup, the gentle soul shooting his brother. That sounds about right for a 6-year old boy.

And although there was lots of shooting and running and shooting (yes, I meant to include that twice), there was also that moment we were waiting for. The moment when two brothers let down their guard and Henry snuggled up to Bennett and rested his head on his shoulder. It was love, even if only for a moment. At least, it was what we adults think of as love. But I seem to know that in a boy's life, love comes not only in the moment of a head resting on a shoulder, but also in a moment of an intense headlock. Or in this case, in the moment of a fierce stick shootout.

A Kid's Life Photography Website

Ode to Baked Beans

Two days had passed and still no shower,

Feeling feverish my breath smelled sour.

Starving children pulling at my legs,

It was lunchtime, and I didn't even have eggs.

No milk, no bread, not much else,

And I was so sick without any help.

But kids don't care if mom is ill,

They just want it or they start to shrill.

And then I saw it, my lifesaver on the shelf,

A can of baked beans, I wanted to yelp.

No work required, just open and heat,

And just enough sugar to get them to eat.

A break for me, Yea! I could fulfill their need,

And without too much guilt, don't beans have protein?

So today I dedicate this blog to the beans,

A bit strange I know, but heartfelt indeed.

A Kid's Life Photography Website

A day of right things...

She was standing in the living room crying out for me and I did nothing except keep quiet and feel a little bad for her. And then my son was also standing there curiously looking at her, looking for me. And I still just stood there. It wasn't about winning. It wasn't about being uncaring. It was about teaching her that in order to play hide and seek properly you actually have to look for the person rather than stand in the center of the room shouting "mom" and wait for me to answer, and then when I don't, start crying. We have played hide n' go seek many times before - she gets how it works. And I wasn't even really hiding - just standing in the corner.

I am not the teach-your-kid-to-swim-by-throwing-them-off-the-dock sort of parent. I am also not the parent who tells their kid with the freshly bleeding knee that they are ok and to get over it. I am the hold-them-in-my-arms-until-they-feel-better sort of mom. So I actually wanted to go to her in that moment and give her a hug. But I didn't.

And eventually she turned around and "found" me and was so happy and proud of herself for playing the game. She giggled and said it was her turn and I knew that I did the right thing by not giving in.

Today is about doing the right things. This has been a crazy week and I feel like I have been the absent parent whose mind is never really focused on my kids even when they are right in front of me. So today I woke up thinking that today would be our day. Not only did we play hide n' go seek, but I suggested it. And not only did we read books on the couch, but I suggested it. And just as soon as my son wakes up from his nap and Bella is done drawing, we are going to the park. And as we swing and slide and climb, I will be thinking about them and nothing else. Yes, I am blessed to have this day of right things.

And now a tiny voice is standing next to me asking to draw her a house, and I couldn't think of anything more I would rather do right now...

The Lyons: Sneak Peek...

My, oh my...what beautiful children and house Jill and Randy have. Hard to go wrong with that family's good looks and the setting and the weather - except for the usual crying and wrestling and runny noses (no shoot would be complete without those elements too!). More to come...

A Kid's Life Photography Website

Bennett and Henry: Sneak Peek...

Two cute boys, one great apple orchard, and lots of running and shooting (both from my camera and their fake guns!). Here is a sneak peek from my shoot with Bennett and Henry. More to come when I get a chance to breath again!

A Kid's Life Photography Website

Miss Abby: Sneak Peek...

Miss Abby turned two years old...and had a splendid time at her party! I will post the full report soon, but thought you might like to see a sneak peek in the meantime. 

A Kid's Life Photography Website

Terrified and excited all at the same time...

You know it's coming. And if you are a true Minnesotan, you are more than likely torn. Excited for the fall and leaves and sweaters and campfires. Slightly excited about snow days and Christmas and crisp fresh air. Yet a bit frightened to wish our short summers away of grilling and biking and swimming. Yes, this time of year I too get terrified and excited all at the same time, but a family trip to Minnetonka Orchards sure helped me move closer to excited...

I could not resist this beautiful girl, Anna, and her faithful furry companion, Randy. She was a good sport once she noticed me photographing her and I am so glad as I love these shots! Thanks, Anna!

I had to get a few of my cuties too of course...

A Kid's Life Photography Website

My blog's new home...

Hello!

My blog is now on a new site (blogger.com)! In changing hosts, I lost some things from my last blogs including comments from you (which I so love by the way). So, if you don't see your previous comment here, you are not losing your mind or vision.

I also wanted to mention that I am not overly thrilled with the colors in my images in this blog, and I hope to get that straightened out soon. Please forgive me if the colors in some of these first posts seem a bit "dull."

I hope you continue to read and give me feedback!

Thanks,

Jessie

A Kid's Life Photography Website