This lil’ darlin’ came to see us at three weeks…a little bit on the senior side for newborn images, but such an adorable little pumpkin. I just lost my heart to him and to his beautiful big bro, too!

Say hello to the brilliant Mr M, my sweetie-pie nephew, who made his way into our world in early September while Joy and I paced like anxious dads in the waiting room. We got to chat with the most awesome 12-year-old, Amanda, who wants to be a writer when she grows up, and she really helped us pass those wee hours (and Amanda, I hope your mom and the baby are doing well). When we went in to greet little Mr M after he was born, our hearts just swelled with love and pride. Way to go, J and R! It was a hard delivery, but my sister-in-law was really amazing through it all. We took my father-in-law, 88, back out to meet him a couple days later when the new family was safely home, and at dinner afterwards, Dad was heard to exclaim that little M was very good looking. Not just regular good looking, but special good looking! Joy and I totally agree. He is the first grandson on both sides of the family (though Joy’s dad has five grown granddaughters).

Here are some words from the brand new mama:

Your new son arrived a little late…what were your thoughts and hopes as you waited to go into labour?

We were getting anxious to meet our baby and hoping that everything was ok. We were booked to be induced on Sept 2nd and sure enough I went into labour the night before and he came on his own time on Sept 2nd.

Were you working right up until the end?

Yes, I actually worked past my due date. I always felt, right from the beginning, that he would be late.

How did you know you were in labour?

I was feeling a little unsettled when I went to bed that night and by 1 a.m. mild contractions started. I walked and walked all through the night to keep things progressing (I did not want to be induced).

Did you have a natural birth?

Yes, we were very happy that everything went ok and we had a natural birth. It was long and painful but knowing that we would soon have a baby kept us both going.

How long was your labour? When did you go home?

My labour was about 22 hours from start to finish. Since he was born at 11:29pm Thursday, they kept us in until Saturday afternoon.

How was the first week at home with little Mr M?

It was crazy, we were both going constantly and there was so much to do for this new little person.

Were you surprised by anything in the experience of new parenting?

I would say that we were unprepared for how demanding it really is and how tired we would be.

Is there a time you watch your hubs with his son that just melt you completely?

It is so cute when they are hanging out and watching sports together… baby is feeding and hubby is watching sports.

What is your favourite thing, so far, about being a mom?

Having this little person depend on you for everything and watching them change and develop every day.

Is there anything you’re finding challening about being a mom?

Lack of sleep!

Is little Mr M keeping you up at night?

Oh, yes.

Do you have any advise for other pregnant moms about to be in your shoes?

Relax and don’t be too hard on yourself.

What do you wish for Mr M as he grows?

We want him to be happy and to enjoy whatever he does.

Thanks, D family, for the delight of photographing week old Ms K. She was the most smiley baby I’ve ever worked with, off in a sleepy land of bliss. Her grins and chortles and giggles must surely have signified perfect dreams. Do you wonder what newborns dream of? I know I do. Their experience is as tiny as they are, yet some of them seem to bubble over with happiness. Like little Ms K, my second daughter was the most delighted newborn…

Here are some loving words from mom:

Your little girl, Ms K, arrived in mid-August. Were you over the moon?

We were ecstatic! It had been a long pregnancy due to some unforeseen complications so by the time our daughter arrived we felt so lucky and thankful that she was here all perfect and healthy!

How early was she?

She arrived 2 and 1/2 weeks early.

I understand you were on bed rest for most of your pregnancy. Was it a huge challenge for you? What did you do to occupy your time?

I have to be truthful, bedrest was  not easy!  But when you keep the end goal in sight it is more manageable. I made sure I kept a regular schedule which helped keep some normalacy in my life. I read books/magazines,tried to learn some new hobbies and visited with friends. The internet was a lifesaver, particularily connecting with other women who were having similar experiences.
 
How does hubs feel about having a new little one at home? Is there one particular moment when you see the two of them together that just turns you into a puddle of love?

My husband is over the moon about having a little girl. I love seeing them together, especially when I see how gentle he is with her. The other night he was rocking her to sleep and they made such a beautiful scene.
 
Does Ms K sleep well for a little one?

She sleeps well during the day….unfortunately the nights are a bit rough but we are getting through it. She is definitely a night owl like her mom!

Have you noticed any changes in her yet?

She seems to change week by week, she is definitely more alert now and her personality is starting to show as well.

You brought in some very special wedding garments for us to lay the baby in; can you tell us about those?

We brought in my wedding lengha (skirt) and the sherwani (scarf) that my husband wore the day we got married. We thought that it would be wonderful to have a picture of our daughter in the clothing that we wore when we started our life together.

What are you most looking forward to over the next year of parenting?

I am looking forward to watching our daughter grow and go through all those “firsts”. It will be amazing to see her change and her personality develop as she grows during this year. Though I think it may be a bit bittersweet to see my little “peanut” grow up as well

Happy Canada Day! Hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend… (May the sun shine in this gloomy cold little part of the province. After June-uary we don’t need July-uary.)

Say hello to the lovely Ms H who hatched in June. That’s Ms H asking for a worm (!) in the nest photo in the post below this one. Such a smiley girl, despite that utterly adorable prune face in the last one above, and such a sweet mommy she has, too, and I know the big heart on this mom will help little Ms H fly towards her dreams! 

I am indebted for the princess and the pea idea to Kate Moss; I had been dreaming of this set for a few years, but Kate galvanized me into action. I am beyond thrilled to have assembled/built this adorable set (thanks, Joy, for the ladder construction!), and Ms H was the perfect first princess.

Did I mention that I had a baby Downey Woodpecker fly inside the studio last week?  We’ve never had Downeys at our suet…instead, that’s gobbled up by squirrels (sigh), starlings (sigh…why don’t I love them more?), chickadees and sparrows, along with a dedicated squad of flickers we live and breathe to watch.  But just lately we have been attracting Downeys, and I opened the door last week and watched one woodpecker flutter to the rose-laden arbour, while a second dove in beside me.  I followed the urgent flaps up to my office where I found it in hiding behind my image files. I was able to pluck it out and carry it to freedom. Poor little boo…I didn’t even stop to grab a closeup of my rather unwilling model.

Our July fundraising drive is for the Cassidy’s Craft Campaign. Cassidy Briggs is a little 8-year-old Surrey girl who died in January of liver cancer. There weren’t enough craft materials at Children’s Hospital during her stays, so all on her own initiative, she started a charity drive to purchase supplies. Now that she’s gone, the charity is continuing, and all little sick kids will have this sweet gift from Cassidy. We are pleased to offer Cassidy’s Craft Campaign $1 for every comment received on this blog during the month of July, 2010. So come one, come all! Send your friends and family to this blog to leave a comment. It’s such a little thing, but it can make such a big difference. We are happy to send the hospital a cheque for up to $200 at the end of the month, depending on how many comments you leave. You must leave your email to leave a comment, but we don’t collect them and they don’t appear on the blog. You can subscribe to the blog, above, or send us an email to be placed on our seasonal newsletter list.

Here are some words from mom:

Ms H is your second child.  Tell us all about number one.

Ms V is a proud big sister at 3.5 years old. She’s such a bright light in our lives and a big part of the reason we took the leap into becoming a family of four.

Did you always know you wanted to have a second?

Definitely not! We’re still chuckling over how many times I said after my first labor, “never again!” As a couple, we felt life was so perfect with one child, eventhough we are both second children ourselves. But little Ms V is such a social and loving little girl that it soon became apparent that bringing a sibling into her life would bring us all a lot of joy. And secretly, I always wanted a big sister, so it was a way to live vicariously!

Any fun stories from when you found out you were pregnant?

Wow, its hard to recall that moment eventhough it wasn’t long ago! I recall coming back from our first ultrasound to tell Ms. V what the gender was because she wasn’t accepting the idea that it could be a little brother. There’s nothing like a 2.5 year old wiping her brow and stating, “I’m so relieved mommy. A sister. I always wanted one of those.”

How was the pregnancy?  How was labour?

I loved being pregnant the first time and had easy pregnancies, though the second time around was much more difficult… no more daydreaming about crib bedding and nursery wall colors. Instead you’re chasing an active toddler and trying not to vomit at the park or fall asleep during storytime. I was just so impatient to meet the new baby that I lost some of the appreciation for being pregnant. I did take advantage of the metabolism though and worried less about exercise, and indulged in much more chocolate.

Is little Ms H up partying all night, or are you guys getting some slee

Ms H knows how to party into the wee hours but gives us a few hours reprieve at a time. Sleep has been hard to come by but mostly due to our toddler, ironically. The big sister caught a nasty infection and a cold so the first few weeks included an all nighter at the hospital, 40 degree fevers, antibiotics, and a lot of wanting to sleep in mommy and daddy’s bed. At 5 weeks, we’re feeling like we’re getting much better rest now that we’re all healthy again.

How are things for hubs?  What is his favourite time with baby H?

Hubs is hanging in there. The second time he says he is feeling “older”. But again, he’s been a superstar dad with our eldest, being the one to take her to the hospital and stay up with her during the nights. He still finds the energy to get to work everyday and come home to cuddle Ms. H before running off to the park with Ms V. Being a dad seems more physical so his favorite time with baby H is bath time. He loves to fill up the tub and hang out with both girls. Ms V washes Ms H’s “monkey toes” while dad makes sure to get under the chin(s).

Is there a moment between hubs and babe that just makes you melt?

There is nothing better than catching him with his eyes closed and a tiny little baby bum leaned up on his chest, humming 80′s rock songs (Guns ‘n Roses “Patience” is my favorite) when he thinks I’m not listening.

Is there one between you and Ms H that makes you melt?

Just the other night after a particularly harrowing evening of screaming and crying when I felt I was at my wit’s end, Ms H just went suddenly quiet and turned her head. Shee seemed to recognize me for the first time. She coo’d and smiled and became so still. It was such a powerful moment.

Is it true you are more relaxed with baby #2?  Tell us about the differences.

Wow, it is so true. The first time I tried to absorb all the advice and reading material I could get my hands on, but nothing can prepare you for the anxiety of first time motherhood and the identity crisis I struggled with- who am I now that I’m a mom? Now I know who I am and have so much confidence as a mom that when there is a night of crying, I know that it will soon be over in what feels like a blink of an eye. The first time, there was such an underlying fear that I would fail or be judged, or that the tough times wouldn’t get better. This time I’m trying to just enjoy the whole experience because I know how quickly Ms H will grow up.

How is the family in general adjusting to having two?

We’re really happy to have 3.5 years between our children. Our eldest struggled initially and told us, “She didn’t want to be a big sister and she wanted to be regular.” Recently she has changed her tune and is now very involved in the process of taking care of her baby sister. We’re adjusting to having a baby again… we tend to forget alot, like leaving the house without a diaper bag or leaving Ms H in the living room when we go to bed

What is the best thing about motherhood for you?

For me, the unconditional love of my children is my greatest joy. I feel a great deal of pride in being a mom now and feel its my most important role and achievement. It took me awhile to really let go and embrace that role but it’s been such a great lesson in self-discovery. I love being a kid all over again with my girls… jumping in puddles, reading fairytales, playing dress up and finding any opportunity to be silly. It keeps me young at heart!

What is the most challenging part of motherhood for you?

I am a pretty career oriented woman and consider myself to be quite ambitious. I am continually reinventing my career so that it balances with my family life. I always struggle with that supermom desire…wanting to do everything at 110% and its an ongoing challenge to let go of that notion and not feel like I’m letting someone down, or giving a part of myself up.

Do you have any advice for moms juggling more than one kiddo?  Or any other wisdom from the trenches of motherho

I really rely on my friends and family… mostly just to listen when I need to vent or share a milestone or cry irrationally in my glass of wine. It really gives me perspective and reminds me that its ok not to know all the answers.

Look who hatched!

Just one quick one for now of this little sweetie pie honeybunch.

I have (alas) fallen far behind again due to overwork and a new computer that is not working out, but here is my solemn promise to get better.

Remember this mama? She had her baby!

I was thrilled to spend the day with little Mr S making his first portraits. I will never forget his birthdate because my youngest daughter was born on the same day, and, like Mr S, had a little jaundice. I was super happy to see the sun peek out the morning after our session. After Meg was born, the first sun was only hitting out on the sidewalk, so I took a chair out and nursed her in the sunshine. Quite the conversations ensued, including one with a midwife whose mom had had 10 13-pound kids without c-sections, and Meg cleared her jaundice and didn’t have to go to the hospital after all. Which for me, having had a home birth, was a definite plus!

Anyhow, on to Mr S. What a sweetiepie honeybunch! I made portraits of his mommy pregnant, so it was doubly fun to make his first images. This little guy at six days old was soooo soothed by his daddy. I know he just wanted to stay up all day partying, but the problem was he’d been up all night partying and we wanted to conk him out. But he’s a light sleeper, a very light sleeper, and we had to content ourselves with a limited range. No belly shots for Mr S!

Our June fundraising drive is for the Children’s Wish Foundation. The Children’s Wish Foundation brings dreams to life for children with life-threatening illnesses. We are pleased to offer them $1 for every comment received on this blog during the month of June, 2010. So come one, come all! Help an ill child realize their dream. Send your friends and family to this blog to leave a comment. It’s such a little thing, but it can make such a big difference to an organization. We are happy to send them a cheque for up to $200 at the end of the month, depending on how many comments you leave, so please be generous and help them out. You must leave your email to leave a comment, but we don’t collect them and they don’t appear on the blog. You can subscribe to the blog, above, or send us an email to be placed on our (very) occasional newsletter list.

Some words from mommy:

Your little guy was a little over seven pounds and arrived May 20. Every mom is longing to know: how was the labour?

Just like everyone said would happen, there were definitely some twists I wasn’t expecting. For one, I had insane back pain which felt much worse than the contractions. Second, I had planned a home birth and labored at home for most of it but ended up transferring to the hospital near the end because when my water broke there was meconium in it and we wanted to be on the safe side. The car ride was atrocious but waiting to for the paperwork when we arrived was worse. Finally, when the little guy finally tried to make his debut, his hand was up by his face so he got really, really stuck and we had a very scary two minutes. Thankfully once born, he turned out to be in tip-top shape; what a little trooper. In the end, though the circumstances were different, I did have the natural, medication-free birth I hoped for and for that I am grateful. (But I’m not going to lie: it hurt. A lot.)

How soon did you get out of the hospital?

I gave birth at 2pm on the nose and we checked out a few hours later.

What was your favourite part about meeting Mr S?

Finally getting to see what he looked like (oh, the hair!) and marveling at the tiny little feet that only hours before had been kicking me from the inside. I could finally touch them and for me that was something that truly made me feel that connection between my belly-baby and the baby in front of my eyes.

You’ve been a mother a little while now…do you keep pinching yourself to say: I’m a mom! Is it all a little unreal?

Yes – in fact, I pause in front of the mirror at least once a day while I’m holding him and stare at him and myself, trying to wrap my head around it. At the same time, while my conscious brain may have some catching up to do, the rest of me feels like I’ve been doing this forever. It’s come so naturally.

Does Mr S let you get any sleep or is up all night partying?

It’s true what they say: the first week really is the hardest. Now that we’re in the second week and have both become better at breastfeeding, he’s started sleeping for a couple hours at a time and I’m able to get him to ‘the restaurant’ before he starts crying. It’s amazing how much better it’s become so quickly.

Your hubs, R, is a super crazy baby whisperer. Are you going to hire him out? I know a lot of moms would pay him big bucks.

I definitely would, if his legs could stand it. He does these crazy squat/lunges that knock S out every time. It’s pretty magical.

What is the moment with Mr S that just melts you completely?

It would have to be a tie between the little snuffly kitten sounds he makes while nursing and how he smiles in his sleep. Oh ok fine, who are we kidding – everything he does melts me completely… even when he toots.

What is the time watching R with your son that melts you?

When he cradles S and sways with him, humming Elton John’s ‘Your Song’. When he gets to the line, “How wonderful life is now you’re in the world”, he sings it out loud and oh man, I dissolve into a puddle. I’m doing it now, just thinking about it.

This little cutie came to Jane Photo at six days old…and what a lovely little guy he is! He wasn’t wild about having bare skin–okay, he really loathed it, and couldn’t sleep through it, and ordinary soft didn’t please him all that much, either–but he loved to sink down into something truly luxurious. My Tibetan lambswool is like crack for babies (thanks, Lisa R…it’s soooo true). Didn’t hurt that his mommy and daddy are wildly good looking, either…

We are raising money this month to send a little girl to Rock Camp. So if you have a soft spot for budding musicians, leave a comment below (or on any post) and it’ll earn Girls’ Rock Camp $1, up to a monthly total of $200. We don’t collect your email or anything…we just want to know if you love the images, and so do the parents!

Here are some words from his loving mommy:

Mr C is your second baby. How did the pregnancy go?

This pregnancy was better than my first. I felt good, not too many cravings. I wanted more healthy food as I felt good after eating it. I suffered if I ate poorly.

Was he early/late/right on time?

He was a day late.

How old is big sis? Did she understand there was a baby coming, do you think?

Yes, N talked about baby every day after we found out what gender he was and named him. She would kiss my stomach every day. She tells people that baby is from my stomach and that she use to hear his heart beat when he was in my tummy.

How is she adapting?

She is adapting well. She helps us so much with him and loves him so much. I have been amazed at how well she has done.

What is your favourite thing about being a mom to two kids?

My favorite thing about being a mom already is seeing the difference between my daughter and son and loving them both for who they are. I know I have so much enjoyment for the future watching these kids grow and building memories with them.

What is the best moment between your son and your hubby? The ones that just melt your heart?

The quiet moments where he is lying on my husband’s chest sleeping are the best.

When does your husband have to go back to work? How will that be for you?

My husband went back to work when baby was 6 days old. The first day he was gone was hard as I was unable to rest during his time home due to visitors. Now I am into the swing of things and everything is good.

When do you feel closest to Mr C?

When I am feeding him.

Do you have any advice for moms contemplating an expansion of their family?

It is so much work and financially scary but it is so worth it when you see your children sharing time together.

What is your hope for your kids over the next year or so?

My hope for my kids is to spend quality time with them building memories and laughing. I want to see the world through their eyes, and embrace everything and laugh while doing it. I look forward to joy in our little family!

I have always loved Easter…the colours, the bunnies, the eggs, the hunts.  It is a weekend that makes me ever so happy, and ordinarily, I would be out puttering in the garden, tending my tiny little Shirley poppies which have only just sprouted and need thinning.  And I’d weed the beds, mow the grass, edge the beds, and admire the sturdy little bells of the early clematis while the flickers call from the lamp post.   But instead, Vancouver is in the grip of weather most foul, so the weekend is all for catching up.  With friends for lunch, and family for brunch, and undone editing jobs in the office.  Say hello to a one-image post for little Mr J, whose images I hope to have up next weekend or so. But in the meantime, his grampa got sick unexpectedly over in Europe, and I offer up to him his new little grandson, a get-well card from Canada.

Our charity drive this month is for Girls’ Rock Camp in Vancouver, a nifty little organization that sponsors a rock ‘n roll camp for girls.  Please have your friends and family members drop by to leave a comment here on the blog (Facebook comments don’t count), since each comment is worth $1 to the cause, up to a monthly total of $200.  Let’s help a little girl go to music camp this summer!

This is little Mr A, who actually wasn’t so little after all, weighing in at over 9 pounds at birth, every one of those pounds wide awake and attentive! He was two weeks late, which in my experience always makes a more alert baby, and because of the holidays (he was born Dec 22 and his folks wanted to relax and enjoy him without distractions) and the cold I caught, he was already three weeks when I met him. But what an adorable little guy, and totally ready to rock out. Didn’t get too many sleepy, zonked out pix , but ah, who cares? He had wonderful eye contact, and I swear you could see this little old soul peeking out. Very much his own person.

This month, we are donating money for Battered Women’s Support Services. Please help by leaving a comment on this blog post, or any other; it’s worth $1 to BWSS. At the end of the month, we’ll add them up and send them off a cheque.

Here are some words from A’s mommy:

What did you do when you first knew you were expecting?

We celebrated and then J (Dad) flipped a coin to see if we were going to have a boy or girl. The coin said boy!

How was your pregnancy? Any problems?

Pregnancy was incredible- I loved being pregnant. I miss being pregnant! A was breech for a while and I became obsessed with getting him to flip so was doing acupuncture, the Webster technique, swimming and inversions every day. Something worked and he flipped head down.

Baby A made his grand entrance just a couple days before Christmas. You were two weeks overdue; was it hard to wait?

It was difficult waiting for labour to begin. Again, I became obsessed with natural ways to induce labour- I tried everything under the sun but nothing worked! I stopped answering phone calls and emails from people asking if the baby had arrived.

What is your favourite thing, so far, about being a mom?

Being able to spend so much time with him each day and noticing those subtle changes that take place over the course of the week. I also find breastfeeding very fulfilling.

What are you most looking forward to over the next year or so?
Watching him interact and learn about the world around him.

What are your hopes for Mr A as he grows?
That he is truly happy and follows his

We photographers just disappear from our blogs in the fall…getting worse and worse about getting sessions up. Not because we’re not busy, but because, well, we can’t keep up. So with apologies to everyone, here is the gorgeous Ms T.

Welcome to the world, little Ms T. Here, finally, for everyone who followed her mama’s three (3!) mat sessions with Jane Photo, is the little lovely who joined our world a few days before Hallowe’en. We did our shoot when she was just five days old. Perfect timing! She still loved to curl up, and Mom’s milk had come in. By the way, Ms T was born at home in a water birth in the still of the night. Both my kids were born at home, too, so I am always pleased to hear about wonderful home births!

As always, please do leave us a comment below if you’re here having a peek. Each comment below gives the Vancouver Food Bank a donation of $1 during all of 2009…a donation of up to $2400 for the year…but only if you participate!

Here are some words of wisdom from tiny Ms T’s lovin’ mama:

You are the proud mama to Ms T.  She also has the wonderful middle name of “Star.”  Are you exhausted?

I didn’t sleep the first week because it was so hard not to stare at her all the time.  She’s so cute!  But she’s pretty good in the night and I can get a few hours of sleep in between nursing.

Tell us about your pregnancy.

I had a great pregnancy with no sickness.  I wasn’t working much so I feel lucky I had alot of time to relax and enjoy being pregnant. 

How was your labour?  Did you know you were going to have a girl?

I delivered her in a water birth at home which was the birth that I imagined.  Keeping the sex of the baby a surprise helped at the end of the labor and knowing we were about to find out if the baby was a girl or boy. 

What was the first thing that surprised you about being a mom?

I feel so comfortable as a mom as if I’ve done this all before.  And the love you feel as you look into your baby’s eyes is magical.

When did you realize you were head over heels in love with Ms T?

Immediately!

What is the best thing about being a mom?

I love taking care of her and nursing her.  She’s just so sweet. 

What is the worst thing about being a mom?

No complaints yet.

What are your hopes and dreams for Ms T as she grows?

I hope that she discovers for herself what her hopes and dreams are and what makes her happy.  

What is one time during your day when you’re with Ms T and your heart just melts? 

Sleeping next to her is amazing.  Some of her sounds and facial expressions are adorable.  Oh and the smiles that are just starting are so incredible!

Why were custom photographs important to you?

To capture her on her 5th day of life is so special.  She’s now over one month old and has already changed so much. 

How was your experience with Jane Photo?

The photo session was so great since Jane and my husband had Tessa in the photo studio and I got to sleep on the couch in the other room. It was the best rest I’d had in a while!  Jane was also great with the baby. And I love the photos.