Saturday, August 28, 2010 Posted in My Family
So, I borrowed these shoes from a friend and this morning Ruby found them in my room. She brought them to me and asked me to help her put them on. Actually she just held them up and said, “flip-flops?” Knowing it would be a good photo-op I told her to wait a sec and I ran to grab my camera. I opened the laundry room door to let some light in the kitchen and set my exposure before putting the heels on her. My hope was to just get a picture of her standing in the kitchen, but she headed straight for the door because for some reason she is obsessed with playing out there. So I called out to her, she turned around and I snapped one shot before the heels fell off as she walked out the door. I tried to coerce her into putting them back on, but she was sooo over them. She is more of a crocs kind of gal.
24mm, f/2.8, ss1/60, ISO 1250
Well, we found out a couple of weeks ago that sweet Ruby needs glasses. She has accommodative esotropia, which is a form of strabismus. When she tries to focus on something she has to strain which causes one of her eyes to turn in. She doesn’t have blurred vision, but apparently she will lose vision in that eye if it goes uncorrected because her brain will tell her it takes less work to focus if she just uses one eye. The glasses will focus for her so she doesn’t have to strain her little eye muscles anymore. I was sort of hoping the Ophthalmologist would tell us that she’d need glasses for a year, maybe wear a patch for a while, and then it would be all better. However, it looks like she will have them until she is at least 12, maybe forever. We got these cute pink Miraflex glasses. No hinges, no screws, no metal, so nothing to break! She is doing GREAT with them. She does take them off and leaves them in random places. And after every meal I have to wash food off of them. Also, they get foggy inside every time she cries, which, lets face it, she is 23 months old… she cries a LOT. My biggest complaint is that the light reflects off her lenses and ruins all my pictures!!! I did worry a bit about kids making fun of her as she gets older. Then I remembered, we are going to homeschool. The only kid that will make fun of her is her big brother, and he was going to make fun of her anyway!
I am so thankful to have two happy & healthy children. Anytime things like this come up, I am awed by how incredibly complex our bodies are and what a miracle it is for us to be ALIVE, let alone have so many of our bazillion parts working correctly. To me, it is a reminder of how much I have to be grateful for and to not take this gift of life for granted.
O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! – Psalm 39:4
Note: It is August in South Carolina, so don’t be fooled by the winter hat. Ruby loves accessories… which works out well, since she will have an accessory attached to her face for the next 10 years!
And just so I am not accused of playing favorites, here is one of Cogan. He has been the best big brother through all of this. Not once has he complained about all the attention Ruby is getting. He helps find her glasses when she loses them, and tells her how beautiful she is when she puts them on. I love my kids. 
Earlier this week I got to shoot my FAVORITE type of session! I just LOVE visiting new babies in the hospital. I am not one of those ladies that is obsessed with the smell of babies and makes all those crazy high pitched noises when a stroller rolls in the room. But there is something about being able to see a new life when it is only a few hours old. It is incredible! I remember when my son was born and how intense those first couple of days were. The shock of sleepless nights. Trying to keep those squirmy arms in the swaddle. Deliriousness combined with pain killers and bad hospital food. And how terrified I was thinking about having to do it all on my own once we left the hospital! It is all so overwhelmingly new and amazing! It is a joy and an honor for me to capture these images, since mom and dad will most likely won’t remember any of the details. Congratulations Matt & Anna!
Last month my sweet boy turned 4. We set out on a muggy Sunday afternoon to take some pictures of him with his favorite things. Fort building, milk & cookies, ferocious dinosaurs, his best buds Woody & Buzz, and some favorite books. I know people love their kids, but he is just plain great.
Last year I made up some questions to ask Cogan on his birthday. I found the list and asked him again this year. It is funny to see what things stayed the same and what his new favorites are:
Favorite TV Show: “Clifford”
Favorite Movie: “Flipper” not really a movie, but we watch the old episodes on Hulu
Favorite Food: “Cereal” This is totally not true, he just happened to be eating cereal at the time. Here is your proof. Right now he is eating pretzels. I asked him what his favorite food is, and he just said pretzels. His actual favorite food is peanut butter & jelly.
Favorite Fruit: “Peaches. No juice.”
Favorite color: “Blue & Green”
Favorite Restaurant: “Chick-fil-a”
Best Friend: “Hadley & Levi”
Favorite Sister: “Ruby”
Favorite Dessert: “Chocolate cake with chocolate icing”
Favorite Drink: “Soda” “Really, soda? You don’t like tea best?”, I asked. “Oh, yeah, I like TEA!”, he replied. And, for the record, he doesn’t ever get to drink his own tea but he is always trying to sneak sips of mine. I have a bit of a sweet tea obsession.
Favorite Time of Day: “Wednesday. No Dinner Time!”
Favorite Sport: “Ice Skating” Interesting, we live in South Carolina. Not sure where that came from.
Favorite Train: “Emily & Molly”
Favorite Toy: “Woody”
Favorite Mommy: “You”
Favorite Song: “Blessed Be Your Name”
Favorite Book: “Dr Seuss” He does really like Dr Seuss. But, his FAVORITE books are the ones in the pictures above. My grandmother sent them when he was a baby, each book discusses a different issue kids struggle with, like sharing, lying, being bullied. He calls them his “Greedy Books”.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010 Posted in Weddings
I had so much fun shooting Jake & Katrinka’s wedding this past weekend and can’t wait to start editing them! Unfortunately, my children don’t seem to share my enthusiasm. Already today we’ve had bee stings (which included a discussion on why NOT to hold a yellow jacket), blue crayons stuck in an ear (which included a discussion on why NOT to put a crayon in your ear), and lots of laundry (which included what seemed to be every article of clothing in the house).
Off to fold towels! More pictures from Jake & Katrinka’s beautiful day coming soon!
We also took some pictures of Marseille eating her first cupcake. Yum Yum!
by Molly Flanagan
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