The Blaylock House : Suburban Chicago Newborn-Child-Family-Photographer

project 12 portraits - fill the frame

2014-05-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

With a pretty face like this around to photograph I made it easy on myself. I took this one literal and I "filled the frame "with my littles ones face. On a personal note... how is it possible this one just graduated from preschool?

Next up is my friend Collins MS | Child and Family Photographer | Amber Norris Photography . Please check out the rest of the circle to see what the rest of the ladies did with this theme.

project 12 portraits - editorial

2014-04-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

This is not editorial at all. Heck to be honest I am not really sure what editorial would mean for me if I could take the time to interpret it. I wanted to participate so I pulled out my camera yesterday and asked my little one to play along with me for just a few frames. So here is my baby girl at 5, in her way too big for her favorite shirt. I would love to do a better job styling sessions and maybe someday I will.

For now I am just grateful for what I captured here. Today I am grateful I have images to remember those sweet little blond streaks that frame her face, the ones that I have to pay crazy money to get in my own hair! Her messy piggies that I think are so stinking cute, but she just tolerates because she Hates (yes, with a capital H) brushing her hair and she thinks piggies are better than brushing. And her love of peace signs, rainbows and almost all things bling at this age.

Next up in the circle is the amazingly talented Krista Keller | Danville, CA Child, Family & Senior Photographer...love her!!!

girl interrupted

2014-03-26T16:12:00.002-05:00

She was watching her favorite show, Johnny Test and I wanted to check some settings on my camera. I asked her for one minute...she wasn't too happy with me. I love this pouty little face.

project 12 portraits - out of focus

2014-03-13T08:58:00.001-05:00

"The art of being happy lies in extracting happiness from common things." Henry Ward Beecher

In case you are new here this is the Project 12. We are a group of photographers from around the world who get together each month to challenge our creativity with a different project. This month our assignment was out of focus. I really wanted to get Leah outside for some pictures but she never wants to cooperate. One day after gymnastics I noticed her dancing in the office and I knew I had my chance. I only had to bribe her with two suckers.

Next up is the talented and sweet Laura Veno, Texas Children's Portrait and Event Photographer please be sure to follow through the circle.

project 12 portraits - soulful

2014-02-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

"She dances to the songs in her head, speaks with the rhythm of her heart, and loves from the depths of her soul." - Dean Jackson

This month's theme for our portrait project was soulful. While this image does not exactly scream soulful it does speak to me about Leah at this age and I will always cherish it. I asked Leah if I could take a few pictures of her she thought it would be fitting to take them of her in her leopard coat because she loves everything leopard. Leopards are so much a part of who she is at this age. So much of what she loves to wear has some sort of leopard design... from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. When I look back at this age I will always remember her love of snow leopards. I will also remember how this was the first year she really enjoyed playing in the snow. In years past, it would take at least 10 minutes to get all her gear on and she would be back in less than that asking for hot chocolate.

Next up is the talented Melissa Deakin | Buffalo, NY Family Photographer please be sure to follow through the circle.

project 12 portraits - reflection

2014-01-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

A new year a new post for our project 12 portraits blog circle. I am so grateful this group has decided to start up again and give this project another run through 2014.

I became an Aunt again this week to a perfect baby boy and I have been reflecting a lot lately about when our own babies were born and how much they have grown. I still cannot believe I have two "babies" of my own. I cannot believe Leah is our daughter. There is something really special in having a little girl in your life. I am truly lucky.

We have two new amazing photographers who have joined the group so be sure to go through the circle and say, "hi". I can't wait to see what everyone came up with for the theme this month. Next up is Jessica Holden | San Francisco Bay Area Photographer

2014-01-05T11:58:00.002-06:00

Just her and a few of her favorite things. Just waiting to go to Grannies for a visit.

2013-12-28T12:24:00.002-06:00

2013-11-05T12:39:00.004-06:00

I am grateful that my parents decided 25 years ago that they were strong enough to take in a child with special needs. A child who they were told may not survive even just a few months because among other things, he was born addicted drugs. Born into a world so broken that I cannot even begin to imagine it. A child who was not supposed to walk, talk or communicate in any way but who surprises us in so many ways on a daily basis. When he first came into my life he was so small his head fit into the palm of my hand. Thomas is 25 today and he towers over me. He continually amazes me with all the progress he has made and all the obstacles he has overcome. He is a light in my life and I am grateful for him.

2013-11-04T09:28:00.000-06:00

I am grateful for how incredibly close my little ones are to one another. I am reminded of their bond time and time again when I hear their laughter down their hall, when I see them going off to play together, even when they are fighting. Some people warn me to hold on to it as long as it lasts because one day their bond will fade. For now, for this time I am grateful.

Leah wanted to draw me a picture of her and Jordan together when she was 5 and he was 6 so that I would always remember what they look like when they were this age.

2013-11-01T12:05:00.000-05:00

I have to admit it, October was a rough month. There were many days that I found myself wondering whether or not " the grass is greener". Wondering if I should go back to a 9 - 5 job. Sometimes the day to day life of being home with little ones, trying to be a good mother and hopefully a good wife can be difficult. Sometimes it is too easy for me to forget why I am home with my little ones and I let the time just slip away. All the while forgetting how lucky I am to spend this time with my family. Yes I deal with all the messes, all the runny noses and all the bickering but I also have the joy of hearing all the laughter and getting all the best hugs too. I am one lucky woman.

project portraits - through the doorway

2013-10-16T22:31:00.002-05:00

It is time for our monthly project inspired by Chris Orwig's book, People Pictures, 30 exercises For Creating Authentic Photographs. This month's theme through the doorway.

We joke in my house when we are having parties that my sliding glass doors are too clean. The middle two images were taken with the sliding glass door closed. Proof that maybe I should stop cleaning them. Now I know why so many people have smacked straight into that door.

Please please sure to chcek out the rest of the work of the work of the adies the circle. Next up is the talented Laura Veno, Dallas/ Fort Worth Portrait & Event Photographer

project portraits - faceless

2013-09-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

This is literally the perfect portrait of Leah right now. This girl LOVES to swing. LOVES it! And she loves to swing high, she says she likes it so much because she feels like she can touch the clouds. She has literally taken over the swing in the front yard and gets so mad when anyone else wants a turn. Fair warning people, if any adult comes within a 5 foot radius of her and a swing she will ask for a push...consider yourself warned.

For the longest time I had her convinced that I did not know how to push a swing. Little did she know I was just lazy and didn't like to do it. I know what your thinking, bad Mommy right? I wanted to sit outside and watch my kids play, drink my coffee or whatever my drink of choice was at the time, read the paper and feel the wind blow through my hair. Thing is, I will color kid body outlines with chalk, play hop scotch, throw a baseball or push toy cars all over the drive-way all day long. Pushing swings is just not my thing. Unfortunately one day I made the mistake of giving her a really great push and she is on to me now, darn it! No more sitting around and being Mrs Lazybones when she wants a push. Luckily for me though, she is finally getting the hang of how to swing by herself so I might be off the hook once again sometime soon...fingers crossed.

We have about 30 minutes in between drop offs for school so we have made it our daily morning routine to take a trip to park and swing for 15 - 20 minutes before we head over to her preschool. It is so much more fun than sitting in the parking lot and sitting and waiting until they let us in the building.

Please check out the rest of the ladies in the circle starting with Jessica Holden |San Francisco Bay Area Photographer...she is amazing!!

a girl and her guitar

2013-09-17T21:33:00.001-05:00

"Most people die with their music still locked up inside them." Benjamin Disraeli

Strumming her six-string in the yard. She thinks if she plays it in the yard the birds and the squirrels will come and play in our yard because they will want to hear her beautiful songs.

I have been MIA lately because my muses are on strike and whenever they see the camera they run and hide. I have to get sneaky with my pics these days. I have to resort to an undercover mission around here just to get a picture or two.

Either that or sometimes bribes work and she will give me a me a few frames like this...

because she is trying to save up for a Lamby doll to cuddle at night...she thinks she has enough for her already but I had to break it to her gently that she has a way to go. She does have a birthday coming up though so she may just get one on her big day...shhh, don't tell. 9 more days and she will be 5! What??? Someone please tell me how did that happen?

me & mine | august

2013-08-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

I love that Leah tells me I have beautiful blue eyes just like her... just all old and wrinkly!! Ha! The girl cracks me up. I can remember sitting on my mom's lap on her thirtieth birthday and waiting for the wrinkles and asking her when they were going to come. I literally thought that day she was going to get wrinkles. I thought thirty was so stinkin' old. My kids think I am ancient now.

Leah is sure she is going to be a rock star some day and she wants me to go on tour with her. I asked her if I could be one of her back up dancers and she said no because I was going to be too old and old people fall and get hurt a lot and she doesn't want me to get hurt. On the upside she said I could get her juice boxes and water if I wanted that job though. Sounds like a pretty easy job if you ask me so I will take it if she ever makes it as a rock star. Let's just hope she keeps it together better than Miley....yikes!!

Here is me and my baby girl, my first smile wrinkles (I have always wanted these by the way), sunspots and wild hair for the whole world to see (or at least the five people who read this blog). Message of the day...get in pictures with your loved ones people! They think you are beautiful no matter what and just want to have something to remember you by and don't just take em' get em' off your phones, digital cards, computers, clouds or where ever you store your pics these days and print em' too!!

This is a group project so please be sure to check out the rest of the ladies images by following the links. Next up is one of my favorite Mommas, Gail Pomare | Photographer Extraordinaire

project portraits - bokeh

2013-08-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

bokeh: a Japanese term for the subjective aesthetic quality of out of focus areas of a photographic image.

I used my Lensbaby Sweet 35 because I am almost guaranteed to get unique and dreamy bokeh with that lens.

Please check out the rest of the ladies in the circle starting with my talented friend Melissa Deakin | Buffalo, NY Newborn & Family Photographer

in grannie's yard

2013-08-12T20:31:00.001-05:00

and no post would be complete without a picture of one of my babies...

the zoo

2013-07-30T18:57:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite places to visit in the Chicago area with the kids is the Brookfield Zoo. I love living so close to the zoo because our trips are usually spur of the moment and they are always fun. We almost always follow the same route and see the same animals. First we make a beeline to see the snow leopard (Leah's favorite animal), then we scoot on over to see the crocodiles (Jordan's favorite animal is a gharial). If we are lucky and feeling adventurous we catch a few animals and stop for a few zoo chats here and there. Today the kids indulged me and we headed on in to see one of my favorites, the gorillas. They even let me take pictures of them in those silly "face" boards where they look like animals. Love it...

project portraits - creative location

2013-07-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

It is time for our monthly project inspired by Chris Orwig's book, People Pictures, 30 exercises For Creating Authentic Photographs. This month's theme is creative location and pullback.

As photographers we are always looking for places to shoot, places that inspire us and are unique. For me, I interpreted this theme as an exercise in getting creative with a location that I would otherwise pass by and dismiss as too boring and bland.

I initially shot in this location with my 50 mm but I was disappointed in the results. I was not getting enough in the frame or the look I was hoping to achieve then I remembered my lovely Lensbaby. I wasted my time switching up lenses so I lost the attention of my little lady quickly but I got a few keepers from this little dirt patch in the corner of our yard. I included a pullback for you to see exactly where I was shooting.

Please be sure to check out the rest of the circle, next up is my talented friend Allison Jacobs, Orange County Photographer.

deep sea diver

2013-07-06T06:55:00.001-05:00

the next day

2013-07-04T12:17:00.002-05:00

blue eyes...in black and white

2013-06-30T19:42:00.003-05:00

summer reading

2013-06-28T10:42:00.000-05:00

We have really embraced the summer reading programs at our local libraries and we have been read SO much this summer. The kids have been having a blast participating in the programs, the other day after spending a lazy, rainy afternoon at the library, when we were leaving the library both kids told me I was the best mom ever for taking them to the library. What? Really? Who knew it could be that easy.

We all know it but I think reading builds a strong foundation for learning and I really encourage it and try to make it fun.

I let them pick out 5 books each, any books they want...sometimes I try and sway them towards certain books by showing them books I think they would like but I don't tell them no when they make their picks. I know if they get to choose they are more likely to read them. I usually pick a few classic kid books too and they always love my choices.

We read often. We read together and we read alone it really has been keeping us busy.

me & mine | june

2013-06-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

Wouldn't you know it this month came up on me in a hurry once again and this is the only image I had with me in it with one of my littles. Jordan took it one day when I let him play with the underwater camera.

This is a group project so please be sure to check out the rest of the ladies images by following the links. Next up is the talented mama, Jayme Franklin | San Francisco Bay Area Lifestyle Photographer.

summer...

2013-06-22T10:01:00.005-05:00