A photo journal comprised of my thoughts on motherhood and other life happenings, as well as some of professional work as a photographer. Southern California is home.
A portrait of my family once a week, every week, in 2015
Willy: Spent the better part of the week in Virginia for work. It’s always hard having him away. He brought the boys back a pen with a flashlight on top so they’re okay with him leaving.
Hooper: Woke up in the middle of the night because he misplaced his bag of shells he collected from the beach. This kid is serious about having his stuff organized. He is currently napping with his two favorite books under his pillows (one about things that live in the ocean and one about insects), a construction hat, his flashlight pen, and – of course – his bag of shells.
Van: Accidentally cut Hooper’s finger with a pair of kid’s scissors. Has been obsessed with band-aids ever since and also holds his belly every time he gets hurt and says, “I don’t want the blood to come out”. There was quite a bit of blood. I think they were both a little traumatized.
Me: I’m stuck in the rut of having to get up in the middle of the night to pee. I get it, on the whole scale of life’s worries, so-the-f*-what. I’m not pregnant so getting out of bed in the middle of the night in exchange for nothing other than an empty bladder pisses me off. I can almost hear my mom now, “Get ready for menopause”…
Jimmie: Spent the week sleeping in bed with me while Willy was away. He always starts out sleeping in Willy’s spot but by day three, we pretty much share a pillow. He probably prefers having Willy away. Ha.
Weekly Resolutions: We skipped this week because Willy was gone. We drew from the jar, however, and were delighted to know that for the next seven days we will be exchanging 15 minute back rubs. My back could sure use it, it’s been more sore this past week than it has for a long time.
A family portrait, once a week, every week in 2015
Willy: Celebrated a birthday and asked for nothing other than a handwritten card. I wrote him a love letter, of sorts. He also got news that the company he works for is being bought by another company, so we’re trying to think positive and are hoping for the best turnout. Change is always hard.
Hooper: When asked what he dreams about, will always say “you”. Also, peeked under a public restroom stall to the woman next door. That was fun.
Van: Found a pair of my aviator glasses and has been sporting them everywhere, even at night, all week. He looks like he belongs alongside Eric Estrada of Chips. Oh shit, did I just age myself? He’s also had a hell of a time getting back on board with potty training since we’ve been away from home. He suddenly hates sitting on the toilet and has had a few accidents, which he still blames on the fact he “hates Christmas”, and so, we’re taking a potty training break.
Me: Coming off my trifling in Arizona high, where I always seem to score. I came home with some awesome new-to-me dresses, some pottery, and – as always – a few things for the boys. I really am trying to buy less these days, but it’s so hard when you find something you LOVE and it only costs 4 bucks.
Jimmie: Made it all the way through a trip to Arizona and back without coming home with the “least valuable player” award. Also peed on our dinner guests the other night, but a week wouldn’t be complete without some reminder that life is never all peaches n’ cream, and neither is Jimmie.
Weekly Resolutions: Being away from home so much as of late has made keeping up with our weekly resolutions hard. We managed to get through a week of “no soda” last week (which was harder for Willy than myself). We’ve also continued to make our bed; not everyday, but the room sure looks nicer on the days we make the effort.
A family portrait, once a week, every week in 2015
Willy: Mentioned googling “guys with long hair” and immediately regretted admitting so once I started poking fun. He’s in the process of growing his hair out and is clearly having a hard time with the awkward phases. He wears a lot of hats.
Van: Spent some time in the pool and referred to his fingers as becoming blueberries. I think the reference he was going for was raisins. Tried a pop tart for the first time and, of course, loved it; so-much-so that when he was done he begged for more, complaining that his “muscles aren’t big” (and therefore needs more). When we asked him to show us his muscles, he pointed both index fingers fiercely up to the sky. He’s got some mean index finger muscles. Also, threatened to flush me down the toilet because I wouldn’t give him candy. Check out that mean face in that third shot. Woah, settle down now, Van.
Hooper: Spends a lot of time on his hands and knees pretending to be a kitty. Has also been into digging for dinosaur bones. The first pic of him is reminiscent of his preschool photo, which I really ought to share here soon because, well, you’ll see…
Me: Felt like mom-of-the-year for handling both kiddos and Jimmie while away from home all week. Last time we joined Willy for one of his business trips, I swore we’d never do it again. I should never swear. Also, check out my hyper extended fingers, wowza.
Jimmie: Bit through two more leashes, bringing the total to somewhere in the ballpark of six. We finally bought him a chain leash. If you’re wondering if it took us six leashes to be bitten through before we opted for a metal one, it did. I’m a bit bummed we couldn’t get him into the Photo Booth. Maybe next time…
A family portrait, once a week, every week in 2015
Willy: Spent the better part of the week out in the desert, working.
Hooper: Dismissed himself from the table when he saw asparagus on his plate and said he needed to take a dump. He managed to squeeze out the smallest little nug. Anything to not eat asparagus. Ultimately we bribed him with a marshmallow. He ate asparagus. He also fell in the toilet the other day. It was a funny scene to walk in on.
Van: Made an official announcement that he doesn’t like rocket ships because, according to him, there are frogs in them. I don’t know when he decided to turn against frogs. He also made his first poop in the potty. There have been misses since, but hey, it’s a start.
Me: Had one of the best days I’ve had in a long time as a mom; it was like the stars aligned. It was such a beautiful day, too, so I have lots of pictures to share. I also did a kids fashion shoot in conjunction with Sweet Threads that featured some adorable playsuits on some adorable little girls in an ice cream parlor. I really love walking outside my box every now and again.
Jimmie: Made out like a bandit this week; got to play with a neighborhood friend, went on a hike, and enjoyed a day at doggie daycare. He also bit through his leash while I had him tied to the front door so I could clean the car. This is at least the fourth leash we’ve had to throw away. Grrr.
Weekly resolutions: We didn’t draw from the jar this week. I knew Willy was going to be out of town and so many of the resolutions involve both of us taking part. Instead, I did a little of each one as I saw fit; I read to the boys more, I worked with Hooper on tracing his letters, I took Jimmie for a few walks, I cleaned the kitchen after dinner each night, and made some real headway in a book I’ve been reading. The bed is no longer made. That was so last week. Hoping we can get back on that train.
A family portrait, once a week, every week in 2015
Willy: The New Year always brings new work related and financial stresses, so he’s been sleeping a little less and on edge a little more. He’s also wearing Van’s beanie because apparently he cares what you think about his unkempt hair. He got a trim yesterday. I’ll put money on the fact he’s not man enough to grow it out and will end up shaving it again. Can you tell we’ve been there, done that?
Hooper: In true firstborn fashion, has been whispering sweet manipulative things into Van’s ear; like the other day when I heard him say, “Van, pee in your pants”, or yesterday when he whispered, “Go hit Mama”. He was “star of the week” at preschool this week; clearly not for aforementioned behavior. The “star” became quite the point of contention when I had to take it away because he kept hitting Van. He’s sleeping with that little star as I type this..
Van: In true second born fashion, will listen to just about anything Hooper says. And so, I got hit when Hooper told him to hit me. Luckily I intervened before he peed in his pants. He also discovered how to use the camera remote, as evidenced by the first photo. Also looks like he got in a fight with a cat, compliments of that firstborn I just wrote about.
Me: Worked a 17 hour long day in the hospital on Monday (too many nurses out with the flu) and got watery eyes when my confused elderly patient wanted me to call her mom to let her know she was safe. Made me think of my boys growing old one day and still needing me, far beyond the years they have me. Also made me grateful for my own mom.
Jimmie: Is within a 5 foot radius of me, always. Except for when the boys are getting ready for bed; he senses it coming and beats us up to their room, every time. He likes to curl into a ball on Van’s bed and hang out while we read books and get dressed.
Weekly resolutions: We made our bed everyday this week. Willy fell off the wagon a few times, but I was able to pick up the slack. I think I’m more dedicated to these weekly resolutions than he is. Also, I don’t think anyone benefited more than Jimmie to having our bed made each day. By mid-afternoon, you could find him curled at the top of a neatly made bed, sunk into the pillows. Being a dog, you know, ain’t a bad life.
A family portrait, once a week, every week in 2015
Willy: Is waiting on a pillow top mattress pad to arrive in the mail from Bed, Bath, & Beyond. When it comes to sleeping, he’s like the princess and the pea.
Hooper: Has been stoked about his recent trip to the dentist, where he acquired some random toy trinkets – a fancy ring that flashes different colors, a mini cell phone, a bouncy ball, to name a few – and has been toting them around in his little plastic dentist’s bag everywhere. He also fell off the sofa while horsing around and put a dent in the wall and a bump on his head.
Van: In true second-child fashion, is completely fearless. He’s been jumping off high surfaces as of late. Around the house, this has meant the sofa as well as the kitchen table. When we pick up Hooper from school, this means climbing up a hill and jumping off a wall that’s taller than he is. It makes my knees hurt watching his landings. He’s also been eyeing all of Hooper’s treasures from the dentist that, at one time, he had too because he too went to the dentist. Though that sneaky brother of his has a way of making his younger brother’s treasures become his own. When Hooper’s at preschool, you better believe Van rocks that fancy plastic ring on his finger.
Me: Somehow I escaped the stomach bug. Someone upstairs must have seen my report card from last year and opted to deal me better cards for the beginning of 2015. Feeling grateful to be healthy and, more-or-less, pain free.
Jimmie: Took a big ol’ fat dump in the house the other day, just when we swore he was getting more manageable. Then yesterday he dumped again in the house just after we had taken him out, ate Hooper’s lunch off the table when Hooper wasn’t looking, ran out the front door and in front of a car going by, and snuck into the neighbor’s house (they always leave their door open) and excitedly peed on their floor. He’s a handful.
A family portrait, once a week, every week in 2015 (fingers crossed)
Willy: Got teary eyed watching that Apple commercial where the granddaughter remakes a Christmas song for her grandma. You can watch it here and report back to me as to whether you got tears in your eyes too. Ha.
Hooper: So sincerely thanked Willy for taking care of him yesterday when he wasn’t feeling well. That kid has a heart of gold. He’s also the third one to barf. There’s only me left. Dun dun dun.
Van: Continues to blame the potty accidents he does have on the fact he “doesn’t like Christmas”. Yesterday he added, “because I don’t like jingle bells” to the list of excuses. It makes no sense.
Me: Fretting about having to spend the weekend doing stupid stuff like cleaning up a ridiculously messy house and doing loads of laundry. But what else is new? I bet I could say this for every week throughout the year. I’ll just copy and paste this exact statement from week to week. Grrrrr.
Each year, I contemplate what I’m going to do or if I’m going to do another 52 week series. The first year I participated, I dedicated the series to Willy and posted a picture each week of him. Then, this past year, I started out by trying to capture single portraits of each of us. That only lasted a few weeks before it dwindled down to simply portraits of the boys, which was easy since they tend to be my subjects more times than not anyway. Well, this time around, I’m back to trying to capture each of us; only this time, all in the same frame. It’s my goal to snap a pic, once a week, of all of us – on the same bed – throughout the year. I’m going to do my best to concentrate less on composition, lighting, etc and instead turn my focus to simply capturing us, all of us, in one shot.
I ran my idea by Willy first, to be sure he was up for it. I always try my best to protect my photography passion by preventing it from any potential stress. But, he said he was on board with no hesitation. So I was a bit shocked when, the other day, he huffed and puffed when I suggested we all gather onto the bed to snap a few pics. He mentioned earlier that his stomach was hurting, but I shrugged it off. He sat for a few pics, left in a hurry, threw up, and came back for a few more. He clearly has an ominous expression in that first shot, wouldn’t you say?
And so, that’s the story behind this first, of what I hope will be 52, family portraits. Are you doing a portrait series this year? If so, share your links in the comments below!
A portrait of my boys, once a week, every week in 2014
Van: Loved handing out Christmas presents.
Hooper: Stoked on his new “race car”.
And just like that, another portrait series is in the book. I have an idea for the coming year, but we’ll see how it goes — I never want this space to be stress-creating, so it’s to be determined. Are you doing any sort of portrait series for 2015?
A portrait of my boys, once a week, every week in 2014
Van: And just like that, the stutter is gone. Kids change too fast.
Hooper: Has been eating so well — Must be growing.
Jimmie: In true houdini fashion has found a way out of his metal crate. We came home to an entryway full of shit and a loose dog. Grrr. Two steps forward, two steps back.
A portrait of my boys, once a week, every week in 2014
Van: His mind is moving faster than his mouth and he’s developed the most awesome stutter. I remember this phase distinctly with Hooper and it’s been quite entertaining the second time around.
Hooper: Appears as if he’s grown overnight; longer limbs, less baby fat (not that he ever had a lot) — a real boy.
Jimmie: Spent a few hours in his crate while we went out to dinner. No one called the cops, no call from our neighbor, and no poo or pee when we got home. A huge step in battling his separation anxiety.
A portrait of my boys, once a week, every week in 2014
Van: Spent Wednesday night, with me, in the ER. He was having trouble breathing and was diagnosed with croup. We’re all exhausted.
Hooper: Is getting stoked for his upcoming birthday. I can’t believe he’s going to be four (says every parent of a four year old).
Click here to check out the series, in its entirety.
A portrait of my boys, once a week, every week in 2014
Van: Has been swinging his little baseball bat with a lot more umph. Watch out little league.
Hooper: Has a whole new concept of what it means to be a “helper” and has been enjoying referring to himself as such, even when he’s not really “helping” ::wink wink::
Jimmie: Is now sleeping in his crate overnight and it’s a huge step for us in helping him with his separation anxiety. (Thank you all for your tips, I’m hoping to see the light at the end of the tunnel soon)
Click here to check out the series, in its entirety.
A portrait of my boys, once a week, every week in 2014
Van: Has been puttin’ the terrible in the terrible twos.
Hooper: Had his first two days of preschool this week and is all kinds of growing-up-way-too-fast.
Jimmie: Our newest addition, as those of you who follow me on Instagram already know. He deserves his own post, which he will get just as soon as I can. But, he’s lovely. Having another boxer weighs heavy on my heart in the best and the worst kind of way. It’s hard to explain.
Click here to check out the series, in its entirety.
A portrait of my family once a week, every week, in 2015
