Month #9

It was a bit of a rough month for Genevieve with a scratched eye, a cold, two ear infections, and cutting her first tooth, but she's a trooper and is feeling much better. These days she is spending most of her time exploring the house with push toys, finding any and all pieces of food that her brothers drop on the floor, obsessing over going down the stairs, pointing her chubby little finger at anything and everything, swinging, and trying to crawl into the dishwasher. She enjoys being outside and playing in the snow....well, as much "playing" as one can do in a baby straightjacket (a.k.a. snowsuit).

She is saying "da-da-da" and what often sounds like "mom" and I like to believe she really means to refer to her doting parents, and (although it usually isn't) sometimes it even seems to be in the appropriate context. Love you too baby girl!
Gretchen

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Take a New Perspective

Busy as life is and as accessible as cameras are, it can be easy to get lazy. It is easy to see something great, take a photo, and move on thinking "I got it." But.... did you really get it? Did you capture the feeling, the emotion, and the spirit of the subject? Or did you just take a picture?

One thing you learn quickly as a photographer is that the most obvious photograph is not always the best photograph. I urge everyone who is looking to take more interesting, emotional, and thought-provoking photographs to get up and MOVE - move up, move down, and move around your subject. Play and experiment to find the best perspective. Yes, it takes more energy, but it is so rewarding.

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The Willson Girls are 3!

I have been so fortunate to watch these little ladies grow and change over the past couple of years, and completely honored to be asked to photograph them. I just adore them. It will be a sad day for my family when they pack up and move to Omaha this summer (although I'm sure their Grandma and Grandpa can't wait!). Happy birthday girls!

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Month #8

Our babe is 8 months old!

These days she responds equally to "Genevieve", "GV", "Vivi", "Baby", "Bubs" (derived from the original nickname: chubba bubba), and "Baby Genevieve June Pruett", as Arthur likes to call her...apparently "Genevieve"just isn't long enough. She is officially able to walk with push toys and is using her voice a lot more to babble, "sing", and protest when her toys are taken away. She is mastering her fine motor skills by constantly picking up tiny pieces of carpet and putting them in her mouth (awesome.) and I am getting pretty good at the finger sweep method of removing said carpet pieces.

I just LOVE babies this age.... and not just because they usually have such squeezable cheeks and thighs, or because they are sturdy enough that you don't have to worry so much about breaking them. I love them for their intense desire for discovery and their all-consuming excitement. They find joy in all the "right" things....things that the rest of us take for granted too early and too often. Like how she just can't smile big enough when she wakes up in the morning and sees all her favorite people. Like how she squeals with delight when the cat runs through the room. Like how she belly laughs at a game of peek-a-boo.

This kind of joy is contagious and I am so grateful to be constantly reminded of the really important things in life. To an 8 month old, the "simple pleasures" are not so much "simple" as they are "pleasures". We should all be so lucky to be able to take that perspective...

Enjoy today.
Gretchen

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Family Vacation

I'm not a huge fan of winter. Don't get me wrong, I love that I live in an area that has four distinct seasons and I appreciate each of them, but winter can get long...especially cooped up in the house with three kids. All I want to do is get them outside.

Fortunately for my sanity, we were able to go to Florida for a couple weeks this January. We rented a house in the Tampa area. We hung out, took day trips, played in the sand, and spent as much time as possible in the pool. Although it is true that you can never take a break from the job of "parent", it was a relief and a joy to be away from the other demands of being home and spend some much-needed, fun time with my family. Sometimes I feel like I don't even look at them during the day, even though I'm with them constantly. Vacation gives us a chance to step back, re-examine, and enjoy what we have.

I wish everyone a little "time out" to find some focus whenever possible.

Keep warm!
Gretchen

 

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Month #7

Another month and another calendar year has passed. Genevieve is now 7 months old and learning as fast as ever. She is using anything and everything to stand up on, eating finger foods, babbling away, and I'm convinced she is trying to wave "hello". She continues to be an incredibly smiley baby... whenever she's not contained by her carseat that is. ;)

Our family is currently enjoying a vacation in Tampa and thinking of everyone back in Minnesota during this cold snap. I hope you are staying warm!

Gretchen

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Golden Hills Sessions

I am working on creating a new wall display for Amma Parenting Center. For this project, I wanted  to create some new images and was looking for some babies to photograph. I wanted to diversify the display and my personal portfolio and, hopefully, provide some images to families who would appreciate them.

Whenever I'm looking for new models, I can always count on my mom to make suggestions. This time she hit the jackpot of babies - Golden Hills school in Rochester. They have a nursery full of adorable babies/toddlers and were gracious enough to welcome me in. There, I was able to photograph a number of little cutie pies and provide some very busy new mommies with portraits of their little ones. Thanks to everyone who participated and helped make this possible!

Gretchen

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