spider on my neck

I catch him singing that song all of the time. No more "Itsy, Bitsy, Spider". He's moved onto darker things. Since I was late this morning, I didn't get a costume shot of him, but last night he took this spider from the neighbors and started singing away...

strangers no more

I had a fun session with the H Family. J and K were my first "strangers" session last year. This is the third time I've met with them in one year. I feel so blessed to have seen their family grow.

It's funny how things lined up. We had been trying to get together for another session for months and then we finally set it and it was almost exactly a year to the date. Last year, our session was during the Chicago marathon and it was again, this year.

Below are some previews from the session. The first one is a cute outtake...Baby H was so serious in this photo.

acceptance

Finally...they are finally becoming friends. It's taken almost three years for Roan and his cousin, Gabe, to finally be chummy. I think Gabe is still a little afraid of Roan, since Roan tends to make himself at home anywhere he is...sometimes at the detriment to us and whomever's home we are in. But alas, I was able to capture one cute photo of the cousins.



Yesterday, we spent the morning at the Morton Arboretum for their annual "Trick or Trees". It's getting cold now. I'll post up a collage later (hopefully), but he was following another boy around because the other boy was Venom. The other boy was a little scared also, since Roan decided to be Mr. Incredible that morning. He lost his face mask for his Spiderman costume so we had to get him a new costume.


I asked Choua to take some photos of Roan and me and he did a great job!

This is why I love Autumn--colors! I just need to get a bike now so that I can take Roan for bike rides here. The Arboretum always has great events going on, like: theatre in the park, free wine tasting, and biking events.

Yesterday evening, I got the great idea to let him play with our rice grains. I had heard/read that children with sensory sensitivities like the feeling of rice (and sand). He played with the rice for over 1/2 an hour, until I made him stop. He tried so hard to put his feet and face in the rice, but since it's the stuff I bought for us to eat, I had to restrain him. I also found rice in his hair later. This morning, he and I picked up a big, shallow Tupperware so that I can put rice in it for him to play with now that it is winter.

He is speaking a lot more since he started preschool so I let my guard down. This made me realize that I still need to work with him on his sensory issues. I was so angry with him a few weeks ago when he was at soccer and could not focus. I have to remind myself that he is not purposely misbehaving. Oftentimes, it's very hard for me to find that line. I'm not complaining, I'm grateful. He is the best thing in my life that is filled with blessings.

practicing for picture day

I know...what's up with the multiple posts in one day after weeks of nothing? Well, I've been so busy with my day job, my family/personal life, and my serious hobby that I have not been able to be very good at handling any of them. I have to keep reminding myself **chanting in my mind** "Moderation, full life, moderation, full life..."

I realized that I have not been paying attention to my most favorite (and most difficult) subject, my son. He had picture day at his preschool yesterday. I was worried that he'd pull a PCS (photographer's child syndrome) act. I guess we'll see when the pictures come out. We started off the day practicing looks for his first official school pictures. I really need to put these into a storyboard so there aren't so many pictures.

BTW: I noticed that the prints for his mass produced school pictures were higher than mine! I really need to start valuing my work more!

Last night, we went for a walk and took a few more photos. He did not want to participate at all.

In this one, he started walking into the woods and said that he was a lion king.

[pretty] sisters preview

What would I do without mine? Look at how sweet they are together.

We walked around their neighborhood and T said that that was her friend's house so we jumped up and used it as a backdrop.

Above: Thank goodness the camera loves her. She was not into the photo session at all! I managed to get some lovely shots of her.

Above: Roan's most favorite (next to me of course) person in the world. She just celebrated her 9th birthday and in lieu of gifts, took donations for UNICEF. She is the sweetest girl ever!

v family

She was my first skill building subject. Here she is 18 months old now. She has such a personality...and what a cutie?

I was able to do a quick mini-session while her father, who is working in Africa, was home visiting. We still need to get together to do the rest.

I have to say, I have the most attractive friends!

Above: An outtake...it was too cute not to show. Totally unprompted!

presidential

I finally registered to vote last week. Roan and I have been going to the library a lot lately. I rediscovered it recently. I am horrible at getting materials back on time though.

Anyways, I've been trying to watch the debates. It's kind of late news now, but I have a hard time taking the candidates seriously. I can't tell if they are giving facts or just throwing in numbers and trying to make the other candidate look bad. I am so lost. I'm not undecided, just conflicted about what I am hearing. Where does an ignorant citizen get more educated with facts and insights?

spins a web

Is it Halloween yet? Is it wrong that I let him wear it just about everyday? Every morning, the first thing he says is, "I want to be Spiderman."


It's funny because this is the first time that he's actually let me know what he wants to be for Halloween. I was sad that he didn't want to be a cute, fuzzy little animal like he's always been in the past. I guess he's grown up a bit.

I've been a mean momma lately. I don't know if it's my older age, but I just have been so short with Roan. I have to remind myself that he has hyper sensory needs and cannot always control how he acts in certain situations.

I am so lucky to have such a sweet little boy. He tries to make me smile when I am down. I can already tell, with mixed emotions, that he is going to be a jokester. He will do and say the funniest things when I am trying to discipline him. I have to try so hard to keep from laughing.

seven days

Little A! She's the youngest I've ever photographed! What a good little baby?

Funny story: when her mom sent her first photo to our group at work, several people remarked that Baby A looked like me. My boss, said that he knew that her mom and I were good friends, but how did that happen? I said that I would take her. Look at her...she's precious!

I made the cocoon and hat...a little too small and she was tiny. I'll need to adjust for next time. Baby A is so pretty!