On why pictures are important to me

I wrote yesterday about taking professional pictures of my children for their birthdays but I don't think I really explained why it is important to me. There are 2 pictures of me as a baby. Only one as a newborn and a squishy, disgruntled newborn at that. And then one when I'm a bit older, maybe 3 months with my sister. And that is it. I don't think my mom had time for pictures even though there are a ton of my older sister from birth on. And to be fair, taking pictures 35 years ago was not nearly as easy as it is now. But still, there are almost no pictures of me. From about maybe a year on, there's a bit more. I'm assuming the stress of dealing with a 2 year old and a new baby is a contributing factor to the lack of baby pictures of me. There's nothing to be done about it now obviously but I'm missing something with these lack of pictures. After all, we have albums full of my husband as a baby so it's easy to compare him to our kids' baby pictures and say Oh s/he has your (fill in the blank). It's not easy to do that with me.

So I was determined that my second child was going to have many, many pictures of herself and I take way too many pictures of my kids altogether. I need this for them and for me. Who doesn't like to look back at baby pictures of themselves and think about how small they use to be or an event that happened? We have so many pictures of both them and I don't want her to have less than him. After all, she is not less important or less pretty or less anything just because she is second. Of course, the digital age helps. It's so easy just to snap a quick photo with your phone or go outside and take a few pictures of them playing outside. Bub is harder to photograph now that he's at that silly grin age. But one day I'll be happy to look at those pictures of that silly grin. And he will too. And she will have that for herself as well.

Leave it to the professionals

My cousin, Kia, and I were discussing photographers the other day. Specifically she wanted to hire a photographer to take pictures of her and her 8 month old son with her (half) sister and her newborn. The problem is that my cousin's dad's family doesn't seem to believe in professional pictures. For the aforementioned sister's wedding, a neighbor with a nice camera was going to take the pictures (that wedding didn't happen). And so when Kia mentioned to her sister about taking pictures her sister agreed but then wanted the entire family which wasn't the point of the whole thing. And then it became well so-and-so has a nice camera. He can just take them. But what I think people often fail to understand is that it is not all about the camera. It's knowing how to use the camera. It's knowing how to edit the pictures later. I have a pretty decent camera and it doesn't compare to someone who knows what they are doing all around.

I didn't take newborn pictures of Bub. That wasn't popular like it is now. BT actually took a few of Button out in the garden and they turned out nice. I like to take pictures of my kids and I'm slowly learning good photography skills and tricks. And that's fine for just snapshots. But I try to take them to a professional for birthday pictures. I'm not sure why this became important to me but I like having really good, really awesome pictures to commemorate their birthdays.

The photographer we used for Bub's first 4 birthdays was amazing but he was really expensive and it got to the point where I couldn't afford the pictures anymore. I actually skipped his 5th year picture because I was pregnant and didn't have the energy for it. I know, bad mommy. And then I stumbled on the boutique photographers. You know the kind that basically only do outdoor photography. They aren't too much cheaper but they often run specials. I found one girl and used her for family pictures/Bub's 6 year pictures last year. She did a great job and so I used her again for Button's 1st year/cake smash pictures. She, unfortunately, is focusing mostly on senior pictures so we are trying out another lady who was running a fall mini-session special. And once again I'm combining Bub's pictures with family pictures. Somehow I don't think he cares. One day I'll devote these sessions just to him but for now we can update the family pictures every year and it isn't too expensive. I like the packages that include the digital images. That way I can keep them and print them however I choose. I notice last year she did a Spring/Easter mini-session package and now I'm considering doing that for Button's 2nd year pictures. I'm trying to be frugal and keep up with the tradition I started and don't want to give up on. It's just important to me to have quality pictures of them for later.

Sunday pictures: Wicked

Back in May for my birthday, my sister took me to see the musical Wicked when it was playing at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts in New Orleans. It was really good and I enjoyed it immensely. I'd like to see it again one day in fact. The theater adjoined a beautiful park and it was a beautiful day. I've also enjoyed musicals and I really want to take Bub to see Beauty and the Beast when it comes to New Orleans next year.

Sunday pictures: Butterfly

We were at my in-laws' this weekend for BT's birthday which was Friday. It was a nice time but I've had a cold since Wednesday and now BT has it and I'm afraid Button is coming down with it too. Hopefully Bub won't get it as well.
Still it was a nice weekend. Quiet even. Friday I made BT a cake and we went out to eat. Saturday everyone but me swam and the men grilled. It was nice though it rained a little. While we were there a butterfly got wet and allowed BT to carry it around while it's wings dried. He took a few pictures of it on a flower. It was a fairly large butterfly.

Sunday pictures: Four-wheelin'

Bub got a mini four-wheeler for Christmas last year. It is really fun but we made sure it doesn't go too fast. The first time he got on it the speed wasn't regulated so it went fast and he got scared. It's much more powerful than the 12 volt battery powered one he had before. He's gotten a lot more comfortable on this one and he loves to ride it around his grandparent's property.

Sunday pictures: Shiny

I'd love to take credit for these photos but BT took them. It is my bouquet from my cousin's wedding and our wedding china though so that should count for something.

Happy Father's Day!

I've posted this pictures before but they seem appropriate for Father's Day. I hope everyone has a great day.

Scenery

A few pictures from around town

In bloom

One of my favorite flowers is the magnolia.Luckily for me I work on a campus filled with magnolia trees and we have a dwarf magnolia in our front year. The trees are all in bloom and they are so lovely. The only problem with them is that they don't last long and you can't touch them at all without browning the petals. But they are gorgeous to look at.

Took it the day it bloomed and the next day it had already browned

Spring

It's been beautiful weather lately with the exception of a couple of days this week. It's finally snowball and crawfish season and the perfect weather for blowing bubbles and watching a little baseball.

Tee ball

Bub started tee ball last weekend. They are starting batting from pitch unless they just can't hit. Then they use the tee. So far he is turning out to be a decent hitter. They are playing 25 games this season! It seems like a lot for a group of  6 year olds.

Nature Walk

Recently we went to a nature center in Baton Rouge to hang out with BT's family. It was very pretty and a very nice walk. Afterwards we visited Mike the Tiger at LSU.

At the Zoo

A few pictures from a recent trip to our local zoo.

Disneycation

So we were on vacation at Walt Disney World last week with BT's parents. We had a good time but Disney is not a relaxing vacation. It is a lot of walking and people and heat. But it is fun. We stayed at the Beach Club Villas which were pretty awesome. It was a 2 bedroom suite with a small kitchen and living room. The bedrooms were big and a pack n play and high chair were provided though Button didn't sleep in the pack n play very much. It was a 5 minute walk to Epcot from our hotel and that was super nice. We had a 15 minute boat ride to Hollywood Studios but had to take the bus to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom.

We ate at some great restaurants. My favorites were Be Our Guest, the Beauty and the Beast themed restaurant in New Fantasyland and The Yak and Yeti in Animal Kingdom. But I also liked Via Napoli and Teppan Edo. Bub especially like the hibachi the last night we were there.

We did a park a day and then the last day we used to wrap up the things we didn't get a chance to do like Bub's Jedi training and souvenir shopping. Bub and Button both got Micky ears though he picked out Buzz Lightyear ears and she got pink baby Minnie ears.

It was a long trip home but we made it and come to find out that my mom and sister had cleaned my house while we were away. Bless them for that.

Here are a few pictures from our trip.

Beach Club Villas were very pretty.

View from the hotel room.

Illuminations at Epcot.

Be Our Guest restaurant. The food was so good.

Bub got to do Jedi training at Hollywood Studios.

Cinderella's castle at night.

Mother and Daughter

BT also took this picture. I wanted one to match a maternity picture that was taken of Bub and I looking into the water in silhouette but he wouldn't stand still for it and wandered off so it is just Button and I. We will have to try again later. But it turned out to be a lovely picture.

Father and son

I love this collage. I didn't take the pictures but I made the collage. BT was trying to do a self-portrait silhouette and Bub walked into the picture. It makes for a sweet picture. My fellas.

Family Portrait

Easter Egg Hunting

What my day will look like today

Playing bocce with my family. I am yellow.

Walking along

A picture that I took at our birthday visit to the zoo in December.