Embracing Winter

i love how my children teach me to embrace all things...

finding joy in making faces in the mirror...

exploring waterfalls in winter...

or finding a hill to explore that I may not have noticed

finding the coolness in an old jukebox

or simply adoring daddy time

chocolate brownie sundae for a post hiking treat...

and an outdoor swim on a 20 degree day

our mini-break to North Conway, NH... featuring winter hiking, outdoor swimming, lots of

Flatbread and Frontside Grind... and yummy brownie sundaes

Escaping Winter

The older two could not get enough of climbing this tree... which I think looks like a heart - perfect!

I grew up in the Northeast and have never lived in a place where a long snowy winter is not the norm. I love snow, excuses for hearty soups and hot cocoa, but usually sometime midwinter I start dreaming of beach days. I had intended to post this blog in December but I thought better of it, realizing it would be nice to post warm thoughts on a chilly day. So here you have it -- think spring... it's just around the corner (well, sort of)! And thanks, Susanna, for humoring me!

100 days (give or take a couple)

Korean families (I learned) celebrate a child's 100 days. We had this shoot well planned out for 100 days ... and then the snow fell. So, here is this beautiful baby at 101 days. I look forward to meeting her big brother and sister in a little while. I hear they are quite in love with their little sister and I can see why. She was such a little charmer! Wide awake and interactive. She fell asleep just as I was getting ready to leave (but still had my camera out). I love sleepy baby pics.

Camera Love

Going back for a second shoot is always so much fun. I was so thrilled to get to go back for a more formal shoot after a very sweet and intimate shoot about a month ago. This little one was giving the camera some serious love. Cute kids always make my job so easy (and fun) but she went above and beyond.

A few more

When I start editing a shoot, I pick a few favorites and put them up on my blog, but inevitably, I miss some that become favorites. As I finished up editing this shoot, I found a couple that I really love, especially the one on the swings. Part of the reason I love this shot so much is that it captures the Brit in Bel. It feels very Christopher Robin and I like that.

December

I love that in Boston we just tend to adapt to the cold and make the most of days that are not below zero? The first of December was a chilly but beautiful morning but the chilly weather was certainly not much of a hindrance for this shoot -- just an incentive for tea before and after.

What strikes me most about Dan and Hannah is their friendship with each other. I always notice this when I am around them. Their sweet boys definitely feed off of this and the result is a home filled with love and a lot of fun. I enjoyed listening to their songs, stories, and their play.

A New Beginning in a New Old Place

This Blogpost is worth reading the words as well as looking at the pictures. I asked Susanna to write the post because she is so gifted with words. (For more of her beautiful writing, she blogs at susanna-wishfulthinking.blogspot.com).

"The experts say you arenʼt supposed to make any major decisions for a year after experiencing traumatic loss. Well, I didnʼt listen. The year after my husband died was filled with ups and downs and some choices Iʼd prefer to forget... with one notable exception. I bought my dream house. And itʼs perfect. The past four months have been busy with extensive remodeling and we have a few more months to go before itʼs entirely livable. The house was built in 1925, and though perfect, needed a few upgrades in order to be efficient. When I lost Andy there was a profound rift in the place I had once invested so much love and so many dreams. Not only was there a rift, but, over time, there was a build up of displaced love. We were, all of us, created to invest in others. I had three beautiful children, but I understood, from day one, that they needed to grow up and leave home and be free of unhealthy anchors to a grieving mother. But, then, like a little miracle, I found my house and I reinvested. I know itʼs a house. I know it doesnʼt love me back, but itʼs a receptacle for all things me. I love this project. Itʼs a brand new beginning and yet, so many things about my house are culminations of dreams I had as a child. The old meets the new. Thereʼs even a secret passageway.

And, itʼs not only for me. My children need this too...a place to explore and make their own...a house in the city that now has a street named after their father. Itʼs only right. So, when my dear friend Janice came to visit, I asked her to take some photos (with her signature grace) of me and the kids at the new house. Just as I had hoped, she captured the excitement, discovery, and cohesiveness of our little family. And, at the center of it all is our beautiful house."

(Susanna Widman, susanna-wishfulthinking.blogspot.com)

an unsuspecting favorite place

(yes this is my 3rd post in as many hours, but i am trying to catch up after an amazing couple of days in FL -- pics to follow in a few days -- so bear with me!)

So I was actually thrilled when the suggestion was made that we do these family pictures at the Forest Hills Cemetary. It is truly one of the most beautiful places in Boston -- a real treasure. Not only are there really beautiful sculptures throughout, but the trees are amazing and it is just a really special, quiet place. I loved the dynamic of this family -- Joanne and the boys. The relationship between the oldest and the middle 'boys' was really tender and it was special to observe. Little guy was precious and just wanted to eat ginkgo leaves and there was just a sweet love between all of them.

a perfect sunday morning...

I have known the Papanicolaous almost as long as I have lived in New England and they are dear people to me. We spent a perfect Sunday morning after church at Appleton Farms. Family pictures is a tradition for them and I was completely amazed at how easy they made my job. They literally fell into formation for the couple of posed shots that we did. That said, they were most at ease climbing trees, jumping from haybale to haybale or just strolling and chatting... and that is part of why they are so great! thanks guys for a really fun session.

Catching up

I am a little bit behind, so may post several blog posts tonight... this being the first since it is the oldest. Because their grandparents were visiting and because we wanted to get a few more shots of the baby, I got to back and photograph this wonderful family that I had photographed just a few weeks before. I had so much fun and really enjoyed hanging out with the girls for a little while and capturing a lot of day to day and ended up getting a few groups shots at the end as well. I love working with kids in comfortable surroundings and love some of the shots captured. Here are a few!

a rose among...

I think that it works out well that this little one has 3 older brothers who will watch out for her. What a beauty... and sweet too. It was so precious to watch this little one adore her momma... and likewise. She spent the entire time either eating, snuggling or contentedly playing with her feet. What a life :)

...and they keep getting bigger

this sweet little boy was such a first peanut when I first met him (when he was born!) and he just keeps growing and changing. One thing that remains the same is his enormous and adorable brown eyes. What a sweet and precious little person! Oh, and the little sweater that he was wearing was his dad's when he was a baby. What a great grandmother to save it and pass it down!

sisters

I am one of four girls, so this shoot with 3 sisters was very special to me. I was reminded during so many moments of the sweet bond that sisters share. The day was fall perfection, the location was exquisite, and we just had a lot of FUN. Hopefully you will enjoy these as much as I enjoyed capturing these special moments.

Cute kids + Cute Clothes + Ecofriendly + Fun = HATCHED

As promised a few months ago, here are the Hatched products IN ACTION... and these kiddos were, in fact, nonstop action. It was great! They were so into exploring the very cool magical land of Franklin Park that they forgot that I was taking pictures and got lost in their land of dragons and other magical things!

There are many types of cute clothes that work well for pictures... but what I love about Hatched is that their clothes work well for PLAY and are really cute too (oh and will last long enough to be handed down - alot). Their clothes, shoes and toys are really adorable, well made, and are easy on the environment.

Enjoy the pics! And thanks Liz and gang for such a fun morning!

i love fall

After a long summer, our family finally escaped to new hampshire. We had planned on a summer vacation, but this worked out so much better. We had beautiful weather, mostly cool and crisp, and just enjoyed many types of adventures -- a little rock scrambling, hiking, trains, good good food, and canoeing and kayaking. Oh -- and a bit of relaxing too -- it was just good for the soul! Here are a few highlights.

An apple a day...

I love Jamaica Plain. I love that there is so much green space to explore (especially with the downtown as close as it is). I also really love learning things about Jamaica Plain and it is always fun hanging with Katie and her gals in part because I always learn something new about my home. Yesterday, I learned that the zoo has not always been where it is now and that the cool structures in Franklin Park were former bear cages. Who knew?

Yesterday was a perfect September day. Still warm and sunny but perfect for exploring the outdoors. I loved the way in which these two explored in such different ways. I also loved watching them 'wrestle' with each other. Ah - sisters.

5.13s

This little guy is already the coolest kid on the block -- not only was he born at home but he has amazing parents (who are totally in love with him) and will, no doubt, be playing guitar, riding motorcycles and rock climbing by the time he is 5. Most of these pictures were taken when this little person was just 36 hours old! He was so alert and completely enthralled with everything happening around him - he did not want to miss one minute!

While Micah's Away

It has been a fun couple of weeks of 'wrapping up summer'. Ample beachtime with grandparents, then Micah heading off to Nana camp meant Mommy-Simeon time. Fun, relaxing and soooo summer.

Dog Days of Summer

The past week has been a scorcher of a week. We have played at the beach some which has been great, but I have also found myself not that eager to get outside for a few days. Instead I have found myself 'playing with pictures'. I love living in a place with distinct seasons, and though I have long fought seasonality at different times, I find myself enjoying the pace of different months and seasons now. I look forward to fall, but am embracing even the days that are too warm to spend much time outside. It means more time to take care of the inside things. It means a quiet pace for a few days. I like that.

A Walk in the Woods

BC (before children), we loved to backpack. Many of our vacations were spent either backpacking or rockclimbing. We now live a very different life as city dwellers (and as parents), though we have retained a love for the outdoors and a desire to share this with our children. This weekend with tackled our first overnight adventure as a family of four. Sure, there was no peakbagging going on, but it was incredible watching our almost 4 year old hike through mud and creeks and over roots for 2 miles without complaining (though I readily admit to incentivizing with M&Ms). I love this phase of life - and love the way that children change our perspective on things. Never has filtering water been such an adventure or the tent been so incredible exciting. I have always enjoyed the peace and quiet of the backwoods and always slept peacefully next to a creek or waterfall, but each piece of the trip was so very much more enjoyable.

Hatched

This is a first for me - but this will be sort of a store review as well as pictures of some amazing products. Hatched is a wonderful little boutique just down the street from me in Jamaica Plain. They specialize in ecofriendly baby clothes and toys. Not only does the owner, Liz, carry an amazing array of adorable clothes and really amazing timeless toys that you can feel good about your children playing with, but she has an excellent understanding of the whys as well. My favorite thing in our home (pictured) is the kid's kitchen with which my little people play for hours on end. Here is just a sampling of some of the wonderful things that Hatched carries -- stay tuned for some shots of their great clothes 'in action'.

And check out hatchedboston.com

i heart boston

I love living in Boston. (11 months out of the year at least). One of my favorite things about this area is that on any given weekend, there are so many mini vacations to take. This weekend was a perfect example. On Saturday, we hiked to the top of a mountain and ate wild blueberries. They were amazing - a perfect summer treat! Afterwards, dinner and chocolate treats for the little hikers in Cambridge. Sundays are wonderful family days that usually include church, Crane Beach and some wonderful treat from Russell Orchards (this week - cider donuts and fresh black raspberries - mmm). On our way home, there was a game at Fenway, so we decided to just stop and walk around and let the kids feel the excitement of Fenway. All in all, a great weekend and all in our own backyard. I love this place!

Fun Friends

This past week was spent with dear friends from the south - they got a break from summer heat, and we had a week of playdates (and mom dates). It was such a treat! It was also a fun excuse to take pictures. So here are a few from their Boston adventure. We miss you guys already!

Tom and Jess

A weekend with all 3 of my sisters is such a rarity and a treasure, but this past weekend we were together - just the 4 of us - well, and my future brother-in-law. That is great though, because he is so wonderful! We are all so excited to welcome Tom into the family.

In the Will of God...

Such a beautiful name for a sweet little girl. (The Amharic is even more beautiful, but I would not do it justice even in spelling, so I will not try). I caught these sweet moments on a visit to our dear Tagu, who has taken care of and loved my children since they were tiny. These little girls are so blessed to have such amazing, loving parents--and we are so blessed to have their family in our lives.

Father's Day Weekend

We had such a wonderful weekend together - celebrating Jeremy and the wonderful father that he is.  We spent the weekend doing some of our favorite things - eating and spending time in beautiful places.  We stayed very busy, sabotaged naps entirely but got to enjoy some old favorites and found some new ones!  Among the old favorites were Walden followed by Cambridge for Burdicks Chocolate.  On Father's Day for lunch, what could be better than Flatbreads (otherworldly 'pizza').  Our new was Plum Island - I look forward to going again when the weather is warmer, but the mist and drizzle made for an absolutely beautiful place for exploration.

Tully Lake

This is a little late, but I wanted to just write a tiny bit about the highlight of my summer thusfar--camping at Tully Lake. I could not stop thinking 'it doesn't get any better than this'. The campground is pristine and quiet, the lake calm for kids to splash, and so very many little coves to explore in a canoe or kayak. We saw painted turtles and a huge snapper (in our campsite), heard owls and bullfrogs and were greeted in the evening with a full moon. We really needed the escape - even if it was just a mini escape. I am thinking a full week next year (as long as we can order up perfect weather again).

fun at jamaica pond

I had such a fun time with Maya and Cherisse this morning. Maya is such an explorer and has a lot to say about life. She definitely has her mom's awesome fashion sense and I love her pigtails and dimples!

Wonderment

There is not much sweeter than the wrinkles and fuzz of a newborn. At just 5 days, Eli was so so sleepy most of the time. So sweet and calm. But in his awake moments, he has the most inquisitive, deep eyes ever.

Fresh from God

Yesterday, Aaron and Susan gave me a wonderful gift--they allowed me to witness the birth of their firstborn, Eli. I am not really sure what was the most amazing part - supermom Susan pushing for over 3 hours and never once complaining, or quiet, understated Aaron saying more with his non-verbal expressions of love for his new little guy than I have ever actually heard him speak out loud, or how incredibly adorable Eli was from the first second! But, I am sure of this - I was so blessed to be able to be a part of such an incredible moment.

New Beginnings

Today is a big day in our home...for the first time in almost 4 years, we do not have a child in a crib! (though we have the sleeplessness that accompanies a child with newfound freedom--but I digress!)

It is also the beginning of my life as a blogger, and the beginning of my website (achildsnature.com because I know you were wondering)! So, though I am a little tired from little guy, I am very excited to be able to share what I have been up to.

This spring has been filled with lots of exploring and enjoying the beauty of Boston...and fun with photography. A couple of days ago, I had the privilege of spending the morning in the North End, drinking great coffee (thanks Paul) and hanging out with this beautiful baby and her mom and dad - here are just a few pics from our time at the waterfront