Looking over some images tonight from this past summer of my little monkey, realizing I never blogged any of her 7-year photos. Makes me miss the sunshine and warm temperatures. I’m so not a winter girl.
Lashes
I have been wanting for some time now to get a picture of her eyelashes. They are so incredibly long that they smear up the inside of her little eyeglasses with tears whenever she cries. I have no idea how she sees anything out from under them. What a wonderful problem to have.
A little bit wonderful
I realize I haven’t been around much lately. I have been busy doing something I don’t usually do outside of the post-holiday/winter season. It’s called “relaxing.” Or, well, kind of relaxing, since that’s not something I’m particularly good at doing. I’m a very fidgety person, you know. Keeps the dry rot from setting in. But I need to “relax” a little every year to recharge, to fill up my creativity well, to re-evaluate what I’m doing and where I’m going. Something I don’t get to do much of the other months of the year. I’ll continue this for a little while until the call of the next client comes, but know that I am here, soaking up the good life. A good life which unfortunately involves cleaning out my fridge and organizing the pantry.
Last spring (or summer…it’s been awhile and I’m old and can’t remember things), I did a session for some dear friends of ours. Mom is the Godmother to my oldest daughter and a friend of ours from my husband’s seminary days. Dad was there at the seminary, too (though back then they hadn’t made it to the alter yet - but we knew they would, of course). Over the years we’ve watched their little family grow, and this fall they “officially” grew by one more. A long hoped for and yet challenging adoption process lead them into parenthood a third time. And we couldn’t be happier for them. I posted a shot of their two boys when we first did the session, but could not post any others since they were in the process of adopting their daughter and it was against the rules to have any photos or information about her published anywhere. So we waited until we got the thumbs up, and now here they are, the three amigos, in their glory. And it couldn’t be more wonderful.
Yes, it’s true. It’s impossible to not want to touch her hair.
From my home to yours…
Sending you love, peace, joy and hope during the holiday season and for 2012.
Leigh Wilcoxson Photography
Leigh, Kory, Sydney & Molly
The Season Finale
Last weekend was my last outdoor session of the year. I’m still getting used to the fact that November is somewhat mild (at least intermittently) here. In Chicago, I would have been in my parka by mid-October and having any November sessions would have been scarce. But not here. November chugged along at a happy little pace. And I am thankful.
My final outdoor session was with a super sweet family of girls, much like my own but with better manners. It was the perfect way to end a very busy fall season and prepare for the holiday season.
Thirteen
I was 24 when I had her. Close to 25. I had been married for one year and three months and my husband was in grad school full time and working part-time when she came along. I knew nothing about babies. I never babysat growing up. I had no siblings. I probably could have counted on both hands the number of times I had held a baby by the time I gave birth to her. I was, as they say, “clueless.” I felt incredibly far behind and completely underprepared for motherhood. And yet, I was also convinced that no one knew how to take care of her but me. Maybe I still am.
I’ll admit…it was hard when she was a baby. Really hard. We lived in student housing a stone’s throw from the Butler University campus in Indianapolis, surrounded by college students who were pretty close in age to myself. I blearily pushed her big clunky stroller in my sleep deprived state around campus while she fidgeted and fussed and squawked. I wondered how it was that I wasn’t a college student anymore when it felt like just yesterday I had been running to class and hanging out on my college campus with my friends. And doing whatever the heck I wanted. I functioned on very little sleep, and not well at that. She was a good baby, but a baby who did not like to sleep, got bored very easily, and was very picky about how she liked to be held, seated, laying down, fed and just about anything else you can think of. She liked things done a certain way in a certain order and did not like to stray from the routine. (And she still possesses these characteristics to an extent.)
I look back at those days now, unbelieving that my roly poly, curly haired, brown-eyed ball of love can be a teenager. A TEENAGER. Good Heavens. Thirteen years has whizzed by in some ways. I am amazed…AMAZED at how awesome she has become. When I think back to how little I knew in the beginning of her life and how far she has come despite it, I think it can only be the work of God. She is brilliantly smart, creative, beautiful, hilariously funny and sweet as can be. Most people dread the teenage years, and I’ll admit they are a little daunting, but I think she gets better every year. Even when she is moody and grumpy (which happens about once every 45 minutes.) ;)
My baby. My love. My cup runneth over.
Yup. Definitely a teenager.
One Year
Wow. How did a year go by so fast? I know it’s not just me…pretty much everyone who knows this little guy is shaking their head at how fast this past year has gone, and how quickly he has gone from a tiny, helpless, sleepy little newborn to a curious, happy, mobile little machine of destruction. 
Plug up those outlets, lock up the toilet and hide your fine china…the little man is on the move! I wish I could say that phase will end soon, my friends, but I am still grounding my teenager for creating unruly messes (and not cleaning them up) and breaking my valuables, so…think happy thoughts. I am so thankful to have spent a year photographing this cute, sweet, precious baby boy. It is such a joy to watch my little clients grow and become the people they are meant to be. Truly the very best part of my job.
A year in review. Pretty amazing, huh?:
And now…
His first taste of cake. He felt it was overrated and way too messy for his liking.
Happy birthday, little guy. And thank you to mom and dad for letting me capture his very first year. I am honored.
Blondies
I saw the cutest pair of siblings yesterday afternoon along with their wonderful parents. They were both so quiet…barely a squeak but such big smiles. Either they were being shy or they were up to something. I bet I know which one their parents would guess. Love those mischievous grins. We had a cool and windy day, but they were troopers. No one blew away. Always a good thing.
by Leigh
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