Photos By Karyn is undergoing some major web renovations, and the two year old in the house is no help when it comes to devoting time to the computer. Please pardon the mess as a variety of new logo ideas and web layouts change the appearance of my website from time to time over the coming weeks. The camera, I know how to use, the web design software, not so much! Bare with me and hopefully in the end I will find the polished and professional look I am after. All critiques welcome by the way, feel free to let me know if something looks terrible on your browser! Thanks!

Sometimes, when working with toddlers and small babies, there is a need for second chances. I experience this all the time with my own children who are 19 months apart in age. To date I have only three really good photos of my boys together, with neither child blinking, two smiles, and looking in the same general direction. My secret? Patience, and fruit snacks and other edible joys; a big brother will do quite a bit for the pleasure of one solitary fruit snack...

And so it was that this charming young man, on our first encounter, truly wanted nothing to do with his baby sister. It happens. Mama had expressed that her dream pictures were of the kiddos together and I tried my best to fulfill the request. We tried just about every way we could think of to coax him into the same frame or even in the background of the photo. No dice. A forced toddler will only turn ugly, quickly. Fortunately we had the opportunity to meet up once more and by the grace of the photography gods, our little man was more than obliging! A different day = a different child! He sat and cuddled like a champ and we were handsomely rewarded- pun intended! Enjoy Mama, I hope we got what you were after!

We have been blessed this past year with the gift of local Grandparents. My husband's parents live just 20 minutes away. Now, for some families, the idea of in laws living 20 minutes away is maybe a thorn in the side or an awkward inconvenience. However, for our family, their close proximity is an absolute gift. My heart lights up when my mother-in-law calls and asks if they can come over with Thai food, or even better, her own home cooked Japanese wonders! Pop visits frequently for brown bag lunches and a quiet swing on the back porch. A babysitter is just a phone call away. We frequently escape our routine for a drive over to the homestead, and evening spent in "the garden", countless hours exploring the many tiny wonderful treasures that embellish Bachi's (Japanese for Grandmother) counters and cupboards. Recently the family home survived a few weeks worth of construction and the end result is a lovely tiled patio with French doors. We spent the whole evening with the doors wide open, soaking up the warm sunshine and the cooler night air blowing in. The Baby showed off his new crawling skills and The Boy picked through a box of old trains and matchbox cars from his father's boyhood. When it was time to pack up for home The Boy announced "No thank you, I'll stay here." This from a boy who 10 months ago had severe separation anxiety! My favorite part of time shared is when my boys crawl up into someones arms for a cuddle, a story, a tickle, or a love and I get to witness the bonding between Grandparent and babe. It's even better when I actually have the forethought to have camera in hand.

I was SO excited after this shoot that I actually plugged into the laptop and was downloading the images off my camera on the drive home! The only problem with this idea is that I crested the back road coming back towards Fort Hood, driving into a gorgeous tangerine and cotton candy sunset, and a blackhawk helicopter rose up out of the trees in silhouette right in front of me and I had no camera to get the shot! What does Homer Simpson say? "Dope!"

This incredibly laid back family had not one, but two major hams competing for the lens. I mentioned to their mother that I've been wanting to do a shoot out at Belton Lake and she was quick to accept. The day was perfect. There was a cool breeze off the lake, evening sunshine, comfortable warm weather for bare toes and shoulders. The little man was VERY gracious for the camera, oodles of smiles and easy to please. Sweet baby girl was in love with the grass, the quilt, the tiny pebbles on the playground, and chocked full of gummy toothless grins. Thank you for inviting me to share in the joys that have been bestowed upon your family! Enjoy your sneak peek!

You are now looking at two reasons why haven't been blogging... The Baby has had many firsts this week. Among them: his first swing in the park, which made him cackle with laughter; his first successful effort to sit up by himself, which he has since mastered; his first time pulling up to standing completely alone, which came at the lake today, pulling himself up onto the soft top cooler, and then proceeding to open the top of the cooler to serve himself; his first bottle feeding with Mommy at the helm; and last but certainly not least- two new teeth! The teeth have caused many a sleepless night which in turn has caused "Mommy stupidity". "Mommy stupidity can be characterized by putting 2 1/2 year old little boys to bed without a diaper, taking children to the lake without a single towel, and completely forgetting an hourly care appointment made a week ago for this afternoon so Mommy could go swim laps. To The Boy's credit, he stayed dry the entire night without the diaper! To my credit, I did pack extra clothes for the lake and improvised the drying and cleaning of little ones with a burp cloth. But I cannot believe that I missed that appointment, a weekly appointment that I typically LIVE for- 2 whole hours child free for exercise and sanity. A blessing in disguise I guess as the lake was breezy, no more than 82 degrees, and my boys were on their best behavior. The Baby even napped for 40 minutes in the stroller by the beach allowing me to build an impressive sand castle with The Boy. Funny thing I can't seem to get over: even in the southern states, where the temperatures soar well into October and November, the beaches and outdoor pools still close on Labor Day!

There are some days where I feel a little bit older than usual. For example, when I hear from my Mother that someone has graduated from college and I know full well that I used to change their diapers. Today was one of those days.
Today was The Boy's first day of "preschool". I suppose we used to call it "the first day of school" when one started Kindergarten. In Germany you only celebrate the first day of "school" once, but in a high style that rivals Christmas. But as I have learned through casual observation, "school" is now a term used loosely to define any sort of regular daycare that one attends. I have a friend whose son has attended "school" since he was an infant. So by now he must be enrolling in AP classes... The Boy has started a two day program, but it's the same two days every week with the same schedule and it follows a "wee-learn" curriculum (no, they don't teach potty training), so by golly, we're calling it "school"!
I've dropped off and collected plenty of other people's children in my nanny days, but this is the first day that I dropped off my own son. To my surprise, there were no tears welling up in my eyes; ah shucks, I had to stifle the urge to sailor skip and click my heels as I departed down the corridor from the classroom- and boy would I have gotten some air if I had as I was pushing The Baby in the stroller! It's not that I don't love The Boy with all my heart and soul. It's not that we didn't have a fantastic summer filled with exciting outtings, picnics, and adventures. It's not that I don't still believe in the importance of my role as "stay at home mother". The little man has grown exponentially in his abilities to actually be helpful from time to time. But over the summer, as his daring/reckless/curious nature began to show itself, climbing to the top of the sofa for a better bounce, playing derby cars with the laundry basket and baby brother as the "driver", it became more and more clear that maybe it was time for The Boy to learn how to hold hands, how to walk in a line, how to eat lunch with his peers, and most importantly: how to appreciate his Mommy. Being ever so sensitive to the "big day" I spent the whole evening prior cutting his most favorite fruits into bite sized pieces, locking the cheese and turkey bites into little reusable, eco friendly, snap-and-go containers that he loves so much (the opening and closing of them more than what is inside). I packed two extra sets of undies and shorts, just in case. I stuffed it all, security blanket included, into his new construction truck backpack, and set it by the door. To my delight he emerged from the kitchen this morning announcing "The Boy's going hiking! Yeah!"
The Baby didn't follow the plan so well however (he was supposed to go to daycare too, giving me an entire morning alone), waking in the night with a green snotty nose, evident in his portrait, and a cough that would have made me look like a total jerk for leaving him in daycare. So The Baby tagged along for the adventure and thankfully, was a doll.
At first we were all systems go, arriving just a moment early to oggle at the playground and talk about our cool backpack. When someone else's child began crying we did waiver for a moment, The Boy's eyes brimmed with tears as I gave him a quick smooch and excused myself from the classroom. A good friend, also dropping her daughter for the first time, confirmed that those tears were just for show as two minutes later, when executing her own drop off, The Boy was happily playing and tearless!
When all was said and done, I got my wish; a quick and painless goodbye, an hour of girl talk and breakfast out. I lingered for an hour of peace and quiet in the city's new Barnes & Noble with The Baby slumbering in the stroller. I ate lunch in total silence at my kitchen table, I chewed and TASTED every bite. I posted this blog well before midnight. Perfection!