bumpin' up and down in my little red wagon...

Today was a nice overcast day so I decided to steal my little guy away for a 10 minute photoshoot to try out a new prop find. With the promise of a red sucker, we walked literally one minute to the 'forest' by our house (it's actually a small treed area but a forest in the eyes of our boys) and snapped a few shots before getting eaten alive by mosquitoes. Here's Theo in my new (old) red wagon. And I'm now quite certain I love my new lens.

Five is a pretty big number...

When they're first born you could sit and watch them for hours. Watch them breath, drool, snore… you name it. Then as they get a bit older you watch again in amazement at all the things they do - how quickly they learn, how fast they grow and wish it would all slow down. Then you have those days you thought would never end. When their will, determination and all other things you want to instil in them threaten your sanity and you long for those younger days. But then you come to realize the pleasure they give you - having real conversations, not goo-gaga kind of stuff but real talks. How they develop their own ideas and opinions as they get older. Make their own choices and you start to see glimpses of the kind of person they're going to grow up to be.

It has been five years now. Five years that Quincy has been a part of our lives (not including those many months in my belly). Five years we've watched him grow, learn, become the little man he is. Half a decade… it's a big one and to celebrate we had a party. Nine of his closest friends came over for a little bash and, having learned from last year's party, this year I sought out a bit of help. We found a magician and that magician was Ricky Magic. What could be more perfect for a child's birthday?

Not only was Ricky a great magician, he keep the interest of eleven 3-6 year olds for a full hour. Magic, puppets, songs, lots of interaction... I think maybe one of the kids got up quickly to use the bathroom during that hour - that's it. That alone speaks volumes! He was great - the kids had a blast and it's written all over their faces...

Thank you Ricky Magic for a great day   : )

A little peek and a note for moms-to-be...

Newborn shoots are best done between the 5th and 10th day (I've personally had the best luck with days 5 and 6) and I know that seems early and as new parents... there's so much to deal with that first week or so but honestly, if you really want to capture that true 'newborn look', that's when to do it. It's during that time when newborns sleep soundly making it easier to reposition without waking them, their limbs are still in that curled position allowing for the 'newborn' poses and baby acne and colic, if they're going to appear, haven't yet! 

This little guy came to me well past that 'newborn' stage. In fact he was in the month old range so I was unsure of what we'd get and he definitely gave us a run for our money but persistence pays off and we managed to get some cute shots.

(but note to all moms-to-be... please don't wait this long - newborns must be within those first 2 weeks for a newborn shoot)

Can't wait to watch this little guy grow. He's going to be a heartbreaker!

Back in the hood...

A gorgeous summer evening, a super cute wee man full of personality, and a simple walk around the neighbourhood (my old hood in fact). Erin is a friend of mine from university who I found out, now lives only a block away from our old house in Toronto. Too bad the timing wasn't right... I know our boys would have been good friends. I have a real soft spot for this neighbourhood - our first house, great neighbours, both our boys were born there... it was nice to be back!

And sure we had other plans for the shoot but it's sometimes best to just follow the lead of children...

...and if any photographers out there have any tips on how to make your images look better on blogger, I'd love to chat. They look so much better than they appear - so frustrating!

Sundresses and bare feet... hellooo summer!

Another visit to London, another great family and two more sweet girls... I'm starting to sense a bit of a pattern and I love it. And as you can see from mom's belly below, these two girls are about to become big sisters (what a lucky little baby).