I had such a great time with Tre and her fabulous family. They live out of town in a much more rural part of Central Texas. It was so great to get out into the fresh air and see land and horses. I particularly liked shooting them on the John Deere lawnmower. It brought back memories of my grandpa who used one in Kentucky. I would love to live somewhere more rural if Josh would agree. But he thought Berkeley was too suburban and Austin is about as far as he is willing to stretch.The first photo is of Tre cutting off Cooper's long stray hairs he had around his ears. Her hubby Matt and I bullied her into it. She was so sad to let some of his baby hair go. But we convinced her it would look better and I think it did. Plus we got to capture the 'first haircut' moment for posterity.
Welcome Baby Phoebe
Our dear friends Amy and Chris welcomed baby Phoebe on October 23rd. It is definitely the craziest birth story I have EVER heard, but I don't want to broadcast it on the web since it's not my story to tell. But it's a doozy (how DO you spell that?) We can't wait to meet baby Phoebe. Here she is with her wonderful moms and with her new big brother Will, who looks completely mystified.
The Keepers
All the baby gifts you get are great. But some you know are destined for the hand-me-down pile and others you know you will always keep. That is how I feel about my friend Clare's hats. I met Clare a few years ago right after Ben was born at a gift fair at CCA. Clare and I both went there but had never met as students. She got her MFA in painting there and she is an AMAZING painter. She was selling her fabulous baby hats and I bought a few. Ben wore his proudly before he outgrew it (it is waiting for Sam). We ended up doing a trade where I designed her painting website and I got one of her paintings (which I think would be the first thing I would grab in a fire—after the family photos of course). She has since moved to Sweden and sent us these amazing booties and hat for baby Sam which he proudly models below. If you are looking for a unique shower gift check out her etsy store. She makes great stuff and she's just a REALLY nice person to boot.
If ONLY Men COULD Breastfeed
This video is SO funny. Thanks to the women at austinmamas for sharing the link.
Crowe's Nest Farm
On Saturday we went to Crowe's Nest Farm in Manor, Texas for their Fall Family Fun Days. They had animals and special events and hayrides. It was great. We went with our friend Geni and her husband Kel plus their four kids and then had pizza and beer at their place afterwards. It was so much fun and just so nice to hang out with friends and family on such a beautiful day.
The Cupcake Fairy
Our dogs bark so much that it is hard to tell when someone is REALLY at the door. They bark over the sound of the knock or the bell so that we don't even hear it. Our doorbell rang last night and once we finally figured it out, Josh went to answer it. He told me later how five year old Gracie (pictured above with her kitty) from next door was standing there with cupcakes and a note she had made for Ben. Saying it was soo cute is an understatement.
Welcome Eva
Our friends Bob and Ann have finally got their baby after a long and patient wait to adopt. I can't think of two people who would make better parents. Welcome to the fold Eva. We love you already.
Mess
Tagged
There's this thing going around amongst photographers where one tags the other and then you have to tell 8 interesting things about yourself. Erin Vey, the very talented Seattle photographer, tagged me in August but I didn't know it and by the time I figured it out I was overwhlemed by babyland. But now I feel that I am up to the task, so here goes.1. I have seen EVERY episode of all the 'Law and Order' franchises. 2. I hate the word "lady". 3. I like that some people are intimidated by me, although it makes me laugh because I am a TOTAL woos (how DO you spell that word?) 4. I look up old boyfriends on Google when I am REALLY bored. 5. Being a parent is WAY harder than I ever would have expected. 6. I wet the bed for a REALLY long time. 7. I met my husband online. 8. I HATE having my picture taken unless I am skinny (which is almost never).
Mad About ID Photos
These were all taken in 1988 when I was living in France. They are wild about ID photos there. You need one for EVERYTHING! So here is a sampling of a few I came across the other day. What is up with that HAIR?
Reward
How Texas Made Me a Bad Recycler
in portraits
I was such a good recycler in Berkeley. We recycled everything and painstakingly broke down all of our boxes and tied them up with string so the recycling truck would take them. Here it's a different story. We do have curbside recycling but they will only take paper, aluminum and plastic. No glass and no cardboard. Oy! I find myself not buying things at the grocery store if they are packaged in glass in favor of their plastic encased counterparts. And then we have all of our cardboard and glass piling up in the garage until we take it to the recycling center on the other side of town. How often do you think THAT will happen? Right.
Haircut
Blast From the Past Part II
Found another one taken with Val and her husband (then boyfriend) Rik in Austin. I think this was a subsequent visit. Guess I SHOULD have listened to my grandmother when she told me that it would be a good idea to write the names of people and the date on the back of photos because some day I would forget. Yeah right. Like I am going to FORGET?
Halloween Dry Run
We are gearing up for Halloween around here. I must admit that it is not my favorite holiday. I am not one who is much for dressing up in costumes. I used to love Halloween because I could eat all the candy I wanted and not feel guilty. Now I still eat it but the guilt is such an annoying after effect. I bought a bunch of big bags of candy about ten days ago at Target. Because THIS year I wasn't going to dip into it. Yeah right. I have already eaten so much of it that I will need to get more to replace all that I have devoured.
Ben tried his costume on the other night and ran around the house in it. As you can see, he seems quite pleased with his Thomas costume. His first Halloween he was dressed as Tigger but too young to venture out. Last year he was dressed as Elmo but when it came time to go trick or treating he wanted no part of it. We are more optimistic about this year.
Josh will take him trick or treating while I man the door for candy seekers. I think the trick or treaters will be a bit different this year in Texas. In Berkley we mostly got teenagers who looked a wee bit too old to be out asking for candy. I always gave them lots of candy so they wouldn't egg my house (or worse).
Here's an old Halloween pic of me and my brother Brian:
The Days of Keys and Wallets
What a morning! Trying to get out of the door is a marathon that I am not in shape for. When I was younger (and childless) I would grab my keys and wallet (not even a purse) and go. Oh how I miss those days. This is what my morning looked like today trying to get Ben to school:Woke up to Ben's voice which of course made Sam wake Nursed Sam Downstairs for breakfast (bowl of cereal) Remind Josh to put extra car seat in trunk Make coffee Change Sam's diapers and clothes Let dogs out and back in Make Ben's lunch Get myself dressed Put on my shoes Spill my coffee all over the floor and break mug Mop up coffee while the dogs greedily try to lap it up before I get to it Ben slips on the wet floor and cries so I go to comfort him Get Ben dressed (where are his DAMN shoes?) Put Sam in car seat and in car Carry Ben to car and put in seat B-R-E-A-T-H-E! time passed: 86 minutes
Blast From the Past
This was taken at a photo booth also at Amy's but at the original store in central Austin. I think the year was around 1992ish and I was visiting my friend Val who I have known since we were 11. She was at grad school at UT and has since moved back to California. She was my introduction to Austin and I will always associate her with this place. It's weird when I drive around her old neighborhood I keep expecting to see her walking down the street.
Baby's Got a New Polka Dot Outfit
in portraits
Our dear friends James and Claudia sent this adorable outfit for Sam. Doesn't he look
handsome in it?
Photo Booth
I took Ben to Amy's after his haircut today because he was so good and they had an old photo booth. I couldn't resist, but I couldn't get Ben to look in the lens for the life of me.
Breakfast of Champions
Ben had quite the healthy breakfast this morning. He had plain spaghetti and several pieces of French bread. That's our carbohydrate kid. Takes after mom and dad. I of course had a bowl of cereal (not bad) and then a few cookies (oy!) In general Ben eats pretty well but he definitely likes his carbs. He has no desire to eat much meat.I keep telling him that they will kick him out of Texas if he doesn't step up as a carnivore. Texans like their meat so much that there are people who come door to door to sell you meat out of their truck. In order to spare these guys their sales pitch (and to save me some time) I just take one look at them and say "vegetarian" and let them saunter back to their truck thinking "F*@king Californians" (because they've seen our license plates by now). It's not that I don't like meat, it's just that I sure as hell am not going to buy it out of some guy's truck. I do have some standards (however low they may be).