Our little guy is quickly approaching is 1/2 year mark. He has been showing the typical signs of being ready to take on some food of substance, ie. grabbing every utensil I try to steer towards my mouth, dipping his pudgy dimpled hands into food on my plate, etc.

So a few days ago we decided to give him his first dose of rice cereal. As a former art teacher, I have mixed up plenty of batches of paper mache paste: a little flour and water, and you’ve got sticky gooey glue. M’s rice cereal was the perfect consistency to serve as back up paste for any last-minute pinatas if needed. Sorry kid, this isn’t the best thing out there, but trust me . . . your taste buds will appreciate next week’s strained green beans all the more. It is all part of developing mature taste buds.

{Big sisters take turns helping M. with milky, pasty rice cereal by the spoonful.}

So I haven’t posted in over a week! Why, you may ask? I have been so busy with photo sessions {and life} that I haven’t had time to even share a photo or two with all of you. I am anxious to play “catch up” and have way too many photos that I would love to post. So please keep coming back, I promise there will be more.

Here are THREE dashing one-year-old little boys to make you smile- all new photos from the past few days. I love the “turning one” stage– eager to smile, clap, eat cake and grass (and enjoy them both equally). What a great age. Happy birthday boys!

{J.- dismantling his cake piece by piece . . . loving that green frosting between his toes too!}

{Candid capture of J: not sure who is the “good guy” in this situation, but I am going to have to rule in favor of the one with the innocent brown eyes.}

{Meet C: I just love that crinkly nose, huge grin and smiley eyes. What a handsome little guy with quite a year behind him and so much happiness for life. Happy birthday C!}

{I warned you about these boys being heartbreakers, right? So here is another C.- just turned one and is loving every minute of being outside on such a beautiful day. What could be more perfect than a smiley one-year old?}

I consider it one of the most important things I can ever do . . . capturing a glimpse of the soul, the human connection, love as we know it.

I am blessed to know a wonderful woman who is a mother to five children. Two of her sweet children were born with a severe form of dwarfism. Their tiny bodies do not grow by any measurable standard. They remain in an infant-like state, even though they are 2 and almost 6 years old. I was amazed to witness how mother and children communicate through touch as the children are not mobile and do not speak words. Older siblings have learned to help care for these little angels with such tenderness. I know these children have a great purpose on this earth, and I was blessed to be in the presence of two sweet angels.

A day before this shoot, I was reading another photographer’s blog. She started a non-profit organization of photographers around the country who offer free sessions & proofs for parents of preemies or severely ill children. I was so inspired, I immediately signed up to be in the list of “on-call photographers.” I feel that there truly is a reason why I photograph people-and each day I am reminded why.

{E. celebrating his second birthday. A smile to melt a thousand hearts!}

{Sweet M.- she basks in the light of her mother’s love.}

A sneak peak from yesterday’s session:
Capturing her adventurous spirit through the lens kept me quick on my feet and ready for anything. The session was in the backyard as well as in her room to add a little variety. For toddlers, I recommend giving them a little room to just run and play–that’s where the classic photos come. Here are a few of my favorites:

{she caught sight of mom and I watched her eyes light up!}

{I call this one “toe glasses.” She found the perfect place to store them while mom fixed her hair.}

{Carefree and in between outfits, an 18 month old doesn’t need encouragement to play in a puddle. This water was from the family dog’s tipped over water dish.}

{I love the warmth of a child’s room illuminated by a sunny window. It makes for a perfectly cozy photo.}

{Baby’s mom has the swaddling thing down. He makes for a cute little bundle!}

No other place he’d rather be . . .