Good Morning Austin

What a great morning. I am in a good mood (I KNOW. It shocked me too!) I made pancakes this morning for the kids. It's 70 degrees and I drove with the windows down and the ac off. The sun is shining and the sky is beautiful. I couldn't help myself. I had to take the point and shoot out of my bag and play. People in other cars were looking at me like I was mad. But we know better, don't we?

The Conversation

I called my dear friend Geni this morning (on HER cell phone) and her daughter Natalie answered the phone. Here was our conversation (Natalie is 4): Natalie: Hello. Me: Hi Natalie. Is your mom there? N: I don't know. M: Do you know where she is? N: No. Talk to David. (I have no idea who David is. He must be a friend of her 10 yo brother Noah.) Davd: Hello Me: Hi David. Is Geni there? David: I don't know. M: David could you please hang up the phone? I will call right back and leave a message, so please do not answer it when it rings. David: Okay. (I call back.) Natalie: Hello. Me: (sigh) Natalie please hang up the phone and when I call back do not answer so that I can leave your mom a voicemail message. N: Okay. (I call back again.) Natalie: Hello. Me: I give up. (I hang up). A few minutes later Geni calls back. She tells me that Natalie told her that I called and that I just KEPT calling back. Oy!

Baby Loving

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I had a family portrait session in Austin last weekend with the fabulous Vicky, Dan and baby Nicholas. I should have the sneak peek up on Monday, but I couldn't resist blogging these two shots of mama and baby. They are just so emblematic of first baby love. Aren't these two adorable? You can just feel the adoration. These are a little more stylized than my usual fare, but it just felt like these two called out for something special because they have such a mood to them. More photos to come. We can't leave dad out, can we? Plus there is Roxie, the Boston Terrier, who is too cute for words.

First Haircut

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With the hurricane coming, I figured it was as good a time as any to give Sam his first haircut. it is no easy feat to cut a one year old's hair while he is crawling around the house. Good thing I only had two cocktails before attempting it and had passed on the third. Just kidding.

Ben's Day

Ben and I had 'our day' yesterday. It was a lovely day spent amongst friends at Freddie's with good food, good company and cold drinks. We met up with my Austin photographer posse and their offspring. They have a playscape for the kids and even allow dogs, so I had to bring the corgis. I brought along the old point and shoot and Ben even took a few (where noted). The first photo was taken on our way home in an alley in Austin that the girls told me about so I had to swing by and get a shot of Ben in front of the 'love' sign. Most of these are of Jen's daughter Maggie but I did manage to get a cute one of Miss Savannah (who belongs to Shannon). Most of the crew left shortly after lunch, but Jen and I hung out with Ben and Maggie who were having great time. At about 2:30 we decided it was 5:00 somewhere, so we moved on to margaritas. Whoo Hoo! This photo was by Ben (pretty good huh?):

Katie and Ryan

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Not only was I fortunate enough to do a shootshop with the wonderful Nate Kaiser, but I also got to work with THE BEST COUPLE EVER. Katie and Ryan were SO great to work with and just so much darn fun. I want them to get married again so I can shoot their wedding. I wasn't really 'technically' shooting them (just observing the master), but I couldn't help but sick my camera on them from time to time. They were just so darn cute. So after you look at my paltry attempts to capture this amazing couple, take a look at these objets d'art. and the man of the hour doing his thing:

The Good Mother

Let me start off this post by saying that it is probably a REALLY bad idea to write on your blog when you not only have a cold, but have your period as well. I posted these pictures of Sam because they remind me of what I strive to be every day to these boys, a good mother. It is ironic that they illicit these emotions in me partly because they are photographed here with Josh and not me. But because I am behind the camera I know that they convey the way I feel about my sons and not simply their physical representation. I want so badly to be a good parent. Some days I do better than others. Today was not a good day. Today I feel like a bad mother. I have no patience. I am irritable. I am unappreciative. Tomorrow might be better. I hope that it will be. With hormones raging throughout my body I cannot help but think about the Nielson family's recent tragedy. Most of you are probably more familiar with their story than I am (Tara also wrote a touching entry about it here). But their story pierces my heart. It reminds me that each day is precious and that my "I will try better tomorrow" philosophy just doesn't cut it. I have to remember that perhaps today will be all I have and that I have to make it count. That I have to be a good mother now and not tomorrow or the next day. Time also feels infinite to us as humans. I suppose we have to feel that way in order to go on. As an adoptee I never want to leave my children's fate up to chance. It is too big of a bargain to make. I want to know that I not only will always be there to love them, but that I will do so unconditionally and flawlessly. This is, of course, not possible. I am, after all, merely human. But I want the world for them and I want to be the one to give it to them. Is that really so very much to ask for?

The Whitneys

As I mentioned the other day, I had dinner with the Whitneys when I was in Southern California and here are some of the photos I took of their amazing children. Not only is Tara Orange County family photographer extraordinaire, but she has the BEST kids. I want mine to be just like hers when they grow up. McKenna immediately captured my heart when she said "Bonnie your hair is beautiful". Flattery gets you everywhere with me. And little Anna was such a sweetie. I really want my boys to hang out with Nate and Drew so I can say, "These are such great boys. Feel free to model their behavior". That is a rarity. It just goes to show that love is REALLY all you need. That and great parents, which Jeff and Tara most certainly are.Handsome Drew: Lovely Nate: Snow White Anna: Angel McKenna: Anna did NOT want to go to bed. She was much more interested in hanging with her mom and I.

Wasting Away (not really) in Pflugerville

I am oh so behind in photo processing and posting. Here are a few from a couple of weeks ago when we went to Pflugerville to visit some friends of Josh's from work. Now they are my friends too. I like to steal Josh's friends from him. It's a little pastime of mine.

Yogurt Drink

The following conversation took place in the car last night:Ben: Can I have a yogurt drink? Me: Yes, when we get home. Ben: Can I have a yogurt drink? Me: What did I say? Ben: Yes. Ben: Can I have a yogurt drink? Can I have a yogurt drink? Can I have a yogurt drink? Can I have a yogurt drink? Can I have a yogurt drink? Can I have a yogurt drink? Can I have a yogurt drink? Me: I already said 'yes'. If you keep asking I will change my answer to 'no'. silence. Me: Thank you for listening. more silence. Ben: Can I have a yogurt drink? Josh and Bonnie laugh so hard they pee in their pants. Ben laughs disconcertingly, as if he knows he has said something funny, but has no idea what. silence. Ben: Can I have an orange soda?