Always Changing
I have been photographing these kiddos at least once a year for the last nine years, and wow have they changed over those nine years!
- I’ve seen the baby teeth come and go.
- I’ve listened as they’ve learned to talk, answer questions and even weave stories – some true and some not so true!
- I’ve seen short hair and long hair and even no hair!
- I’ve seen growth spurts…I’m positive by this time next year, Madison will officially be taller than me! (Either they are growing or I’m shrinking!)
- I’ve watched as their hobbies, likes and dislikes have matured.
- I’ve seen personalities develop…and even got a peek at some sassiness along the way!
Every year I am amazed by how much they have changed, both physically, emotionally and mentally! Those little babies who wouldn’t listen to a word I said, now actually follow directions – sometimes! Those sweet little kids that loved to give hugs, now have to be bribed for good bye hugs!
Some of those changes are great and some of those changes are sad, but we all experience them and they make us who we are today!
I can’t wait to see what changes these three have in store for me next year!
Built in Entertainment
Mila has three older siblings, who each had a chance to be my assistant and make Mila laugh and smile. Not surprisingly, all three of them were very successful at bringing out the smiles and laughs. They played peek-a-boo, made silly faces, danced, jumped and laughed…all in attempts to get the biggest smiles out of Mila.
When you’ve got such great entertainment on a daily basis, like Mila does, I can only imagine how boring everyone else must seem. It’s obvious that Mila adores her older siblings, and it is just as obvious that they think she’s way cool!!
Treat Motivated
It took Daisy a little while to warm up to me, but once I busted out the treats, she was putty in my hands!
She sat, she lay down, she smiled, she cocked her head. It didn’t matter what I asked her to do, if it meant she got a treat, she was all about it!
Even when we were done, she wasn’t done. She followed me around, sitting at my feet, ready for more treats. She knows how to work those big eyes…so expressive and so able to pull at your heart strings!
Holding Still!
Spring time always means First Communion time. For Madeleine, her First Communion session replaced her normal annual birthday session. We celebrated her eighth birthday and her First Communion at the same time.
I’ve been photographing Mad for quite a few years now, and normally she comes out to the studio, gets to wear an outfit that she likes and gets to act a little unruly and a little crazy, all while I’m snapping photos, chatting with her and she’s smiling up a storm.
Unfortunately, that is not quite how her First Communion session went. She had to hold still and stand just right. If she wiggled or slouched, her special necklace would end up hiding behind her dress. If she swayed, her rosary turned backwards and swayed with her.
It was quite the test of patience on her part, and although we had a few moments of complaints, she toughed it out and worked through it!
Mister Opinionated
At just ten days old, Will has a strong opinion and just like his name a strong “will”.
Although he was great at sleeping in my arms, when I would put him down, he would squirm and flinch. I would get him adjusted just like I wanted, turn away to grab my camera and he’d throw his arm up and flop it somewhere else, making me start the adjustment process all over.
He was the master at making faces! Although he made lots of cute smiley faces, he also had the scowl and the grimace faces down cold! If I adjusted him a way that he didn’t like, he was sure to throw out that bottom lip, or lift the upper lip in a grimace.
He may have had a strong will, but I have lots of patience, and my ability to wait him out broke his will more than once…resulting in adorable images of a teeny tiny Will!
Squealer
Allie’s newest talent, that she showed off for me, was her squeal! Anytime she got really excited, she would bust out with a great squeal!
Big brother, Matthew, came to Allie’s session as a helper and made the perfect assistant for coaxing out the squeal. He played a great game of peek-a-boo with her. Anytime he’d poke his head up he’d yell peek-a-boo, and she’d squeal right back at a similar volume. It would have been quite the sound track for anyone listening!
Mine, Mine
Jake must be channeling the seagulls from the Nemo movie, because he has their lines down perfectly! “Mine, mine, mine, mine…” Everything from the chair to the monkey to the goldfish crackers was Jake’s!
At 17 months old, Jake is a very stubborn, independent little man. If it’s not his idea, he’s not going to do it. If it is his idea, he’s going to do it his way…even if that means the only thing you get to look at is his back!
It took some creative thinking, some bribing and lots of patience, but we captured Jake!
Not Everything Changes
The first time I photographed Gillian, she was a year old. I blinked and she turned into a growing young lady, full of laughter, sassiness, strength, happiness and, if you catch her at the right second, quiet moments!
They just change SO fast! She’s grown out the adorable bob into long, full locks. She’s lost baby teeth, which have been replaced by adult teeth that are now sporting their first stage of braces to bring them under control.
But, some things never change! She still works the cheesy, smiley, over-exaggerating grin until it hurts! She still strikes dramatic poses right and left! And, she still knows how to work those big brown eyes!
Knowledge Sharing
When it comes to computer and video games, I know practically nothing. Luckily, the fact that I know very little did not phase Paul, who is definitely an expert in that department!
Paul spent his session teaching me all about the ins and outs of a variety of games – from the bad guys I would meet, to the weapons I would have to defeat them. He even told me the games to stay away from because they are tricky and unfair.
If I was a video gamer, I would definitely want Paul as a friend. His thirst for knowledge and ability to remember small details would give me a leg up for sure!
A Good Eater
Abigail was born weighing 8 1/2 pounds, so she didn’t start out super tiny, and she’s not holding back! At just seven weeks old, she’s definitely got the round face, double chin, chunky thighs look going on…and it’s adorable! Being a baby…it’s good living! It’s the only time being a chunky monkey is an awesome and adorable thing!
I was so excited when we were able to rock her to sleep, and once she was really out…she was out! She let me move her and pose her just like a newborn. Of course, the rolls made some posing a little more challenging, but it was all worth it!
