Just back from a wonderful, amazing, terrific, magnifique week in Paris, so apologies for not getting anything up on the blog last week.

I met up with the darling Ms J for a just-her photo shoot earlier in July, and she couldn’t have been cuter or more pleasant to work with. When she had her ice cream in hand, she was all giggles and goofiness, and I love the captures. These, again, are Jane Photo wardrobe, which I was thrilled to be able to loan to Ms J.

I simply couldn’t call it a day without a snap of Ms J’s little bro as he munched on his ice cream. He is just sooo adorable.

Our July fundraising drive is for the Cassidy’s Craft Campaign. Cassidy Briggs is a little 8-year-old Surrey girl who died in January of liver cancer. There weren’t enough craft materials at Children’s Hospital during her stays, so all on her own initiative, she started a charity drive to purchase supplies. Now that she’s gone, the charity is continuing, and all little sick kids will have this sweet gift from Cassidy. We are pleased to offer Cassidy’s Craft Campaign $1 for every comment received on this blog during the month of July, 2010. So come one, come all! Send your friends and family to this blog to leave a comment. It’s such a little thing, but it can make such a big difference. We are happy to send the hospital a cheque for up to $200 at the end of the month, depending on how many comments you leave.

Tell us about Ms J.  How old is she?

J is 5 old years.  Cannot believe time has passed so quickly!
 

Tell us about her little brother.  How do the two get along?

They are the best of friends most of the time but like any siblings, they have their moments.  I love that they are born close together (17 months apart) and will not remember life without one another. 
 

Are you stopping at two children, or are you continuing on?

I actually wrote a blog post entitled “Is 3 the new 2?”  To make a long story short, the jury is still out.  We also just got a black lab puppy which I think is my husband’s way of trying to distract me from having the should we/shouldn’t we convo.

Ms J is headed for school in the autumn.  Is she looking forward to it?  What do you think her favourite subject will be?  Will your heart break seeing her go off into this new, big-kid stage?

My heart is already breaking.  I was a mess at her preschool graduation.  So proud but also so blown away at how quickly she has grown up.  At first she didn’t want to go to the big kids school but since some of her friends from preschool are going, I think she will be fine.  If she is like her mother, PE will be her fave class.  She also seems to really love art!  Hopefully she takes after her father because I struggle to draw stick people. 

What is your favourite thing about having two children?  

Everything.  They are incredibly full on, so loving, adaptable and I feel like I am reliving my childhood through them at times.   They absolutely keep me on my toes, which I love.  I learn from them every day and cannot get enough of their kisses, cuddles, tickles and hugs!

What is the most frustrating thing for you?

In general, it is the workload and the overflowing plate and number of balls to juggle.  At times it feels like I am not doing anything well but I recognize this is a choice I make (to be busy and to say yes when I should sometimes say no).  Ultimately though, I have control over the decisions I make or the path I choose, even if the decision is to live life permanently OUT OF CONTROL.

You run your own business, Raspberry Kids.  How it is balancing the two sides of your life?  Any advice for other moms out there trying to walk that tightrope?

I don’t believe balance exists, at least not for me. Therefore, I am not in a position to give advice to other moms other than to say make sure you love what you do.  The long hours, commitments, responsibility are acceptable because I truly enjoy what I do.

Ms J’s favourite things in the whole world are:

I just gave J a call and asked her this very question and her response was:  ”Princesses and the Diamond Castle”.  On her behalf, I would also add the color pink. 

Ms J loves her:

J loves her dresses which I am sure you will find as no surprise considering how willingly she performed all the wardrobe changes on our photo shoot.

Bac

This little lovey is exactly (exactly) what is meant by the expression “the camera loves her.” She’s just so photogenic. Ms J was in the studio early in the spring for family photos, and it was a treat to follow up with a session just for her! I love the hazy, summery, vintage feel to these, and when I look at Ms J with the globe, I really do think she’s gazing into her future. Wonder where it will take her? Ms J is seen in Jane Photo wardrobe, and this is available for your little girls when you book a session with us!

Our July fundraising drive is for the Cassidy’s Craft Campaign. Cassidy Briggs is a little 8-year-old Surrey girl who died in January of liver cancer. There weren’t enough craft materials at Children’s Hospital during her stays, so all on her own initiative, she started a charity drive to purchase supplies. Now that she’s gone, the charity is continuing, and all little sick kids will have this sweet gift from Cassidy. We are pleased to offer Cassidy’s Craft Campaign $1 for every comment received on this blog during the month of July, 2010. So come one, come all! Send your friends and family to this blog to leave a comment. It’s such a little thing, but it can make such a big difference. We are happy to send the hospital a cheque for up to $200 at the end of the month, depending on how many comments you leave.

I am more than thrilled to introduce my brother-in-law, J, and his wife, R.  After patiently waiting quite a few years, they are having their first baby!  It couldn’t be better news.  My father-in-law insists they know the gender of the baby, but they actually don’t.  The rest of us have all had girls, every one as of mid-July grown fully up, so welcoming a little boy would send everyone over the moon.  And if it’s another girl, well then, we know how to handle those.  Plus, no question that photographically speaking girls are a ton of fun…

We started in the studio, then drove down to Spanish Banks to round things out.  These guys are soooooooo in love, it is just so sweet.  And R is glowing, I swear.  A lightbulb.

Please be generous and leave a comment on this post if you are reading this, because we are trying to help out Cassidy’s Craft Campaign this month. Cassidy Briggs is a little 8-year-old Surrey girl who died in January of liver cancer. There weren’t enough craft materials at Children’s Hospital during her stays, so all on her own initiative, she started a charity drive to purchase supplies. Now that she’s gone, the charity is continuing, and all little sick kids will have this sweet gift from Cassidy. We are pleased to offer Cassidy’s Craft Campaign $1 for every comment received on this blog during the month of July, 2010. So come one, come all! Send your friends and family to this blog to leave a comment. It’s such a little thing, but it can make such a big difference. We are happy to send the hospital a cheque for up to $200 at the end of the month, depending on how many comments you leave.

Here are some words of wisdom from the mom-to-be:

You and hubs have been trying to conceive for some time.  Was the pregnancy a big surprise?

Yes, we were completely surprised and feel so blessed by having this baby.

How has the pregnancy been going?

Really well. I have had such an easy time, no morning sickness. I was just tired in the first trimester and after that time have been feeling energetic.

Any words of advice for other first-time moms-to-be out there?

Enjoy this special time, people treat you differently & share their experiences with you. It is also a nice time to do some special things with your spouse like some weekend getaways.

What has been the best part about being pregnant?

Just knowing that there is a child growing within you and we can’t wait to meet this little person.

What has been the most challenging?

Picking names for our baby. We are still debating this issue.

What are you most looking forward to in being a mom?

Having my maternity leave to be with the baby, getting to know them, nurturing them with lots of love.

What is hubs most looking forward to in being a dad?

He is looking forward to doing things with them such as playing and teaching them to play all sports

Do you know if you are having a boy or girl?

Nope, it will be the big surprise

When are you due?

August 23rd

Do you have plans for your labour?

Staying at home as long as I can and keeping active

Any special cravings?

Not really, I like my ice cream fix but I don’t think that I can blame that on pregnancy.

Happy Canada Day! Hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend… (May the sun shine in this gloomy cold little part of the province. After June-uary we don’t need July-uary.)

Say hello to the lovely Ms H who hatched in June. That’s Ms H asking for a worm (!) in the nest photo in the post below this one. Such a smiley girl, despite that utterly adorable prune face in the last one above, and such a sweet mommy she has, too, and I know the big heart on this mom will help little Ms H fly towards her dreams! 

I am indebted for the princess and the pea idea to Kate Moss; I had been dreaming of this set for a few years, but Kate galvanized me into action. I am beyond thrilled to have assembled/built this adorable set (thanks, Joy, for the ladder construction!), and Ms H was the perfect first princess.

Did I mention that I had a baby Downey Woodpecker fly inside the studio last week?  We’ve never had Downeys at our suet…instead, that’s gobbled up by squirrels (sigh), starlings (sigh…why don’t I love them more?), chickadees and sparrows, along with a dedicated squad of flickers we live and breathe to watch.  But just lately we have been attracting Downeys, and I opened the door last week and watched one woodpecker flutter to the rose-laden arbour, while a second dove in beside me.  I followed the urgent flaps up to my office where I found it in hiding behind my image files. I was able to pluck it out and carry it to freedom. Poor little boo…I didn’t even stop to grab a closeup of my rather unwilling model.

Our July fundraising drive is for the Cassidy’s Craft Campaign. Cassidy Briggs is a little 8-year-old Surrey girl who died in January of liver cancer. There weren’t enough craft materials at Children’s Hospital during her stays, so all on her own initiative, she started a charity drive to purchase supplies. Now that she’s gone, the charity is continuing, and all little sick kids will have this sweet gift from Cassidy. We are pleased to offer Cassidy’s Craft Campaign $1 for every comment received on this blog during the month of July, 2010. So come one, come all! Send your friends and family to this blog to leave a comment. It’s such a little thing, but it can make such a big difference. We are happy to send the hospital a cheque for up to $200 at the end of the month, depending on how many comments you leave. You must leave your email to leave a comment, but we don’t collect them and they don’t appear on the blog. You can subscribe to the blog, above, or send us an email to be placed on our seasonal newsletter list.

Here are some words from mom:

Ms H is your second child.  Tell us all about number one.

Ms V is a proud big sister at 3.5 years old. She’s such a bright light in our lives and a big part of the reason we took the leap into becoming a family of four.

Did you always know you wanted to have a second?

Definitely not! We’re still chuckling over how many times I said after my first labor, “never again!” As a couple, we felt life was so perfect with one child, eventhough we are both second children ourselves. But little Ms V is such a social and loving little girl that it soon became apparent that bringing a sibling into her life would bring us all a lot of joy. And secretly, I always wanted a big sister, so it was a way to live vicariously!

Any fun stories from when you found out you were pregnant?

Wow, its hard to recall that moment eventhough it wasn’t long ago! I recall coming back from our first ultrasound to tell Ms. V what the gender was because she wasn’t accepting the idea that it could be a little brother. There’s nothing like a 2.5 year old wiping her brow and stating, “I’m so relieved mommy. A sister. I always wanted one of those.”

How was the pregnancy?  How was labour?

I loved being pregnant the first time and had easy pregnancies, though the second time around was much more difficult… no more daydreaming about crib bedding and nursery wall colors. Instead you’re chasing an active toddler and trying not to vomit at the park or fall asleep during storytime. I was just so impatient to meet the new baby that I lost some of the appreciation for being pregnant. I did take advantage of the metabolism though and worried less about exercise, and indulged in much more chocolate.

Is little Ms H up partying all night, or are you guys getting some slee

Ms H knows how to party into the wee hours but gives us a few hours reprieve at a time. Sleep has been hard to come by but mostly due to our toddler, ironically. The big sister caught a nasty infection and a cold so the first few weeks included an all nighter at the hospital, 40 degree fevers, antibiotics, and a lot of wanting to sleep in mommy and daddy’s bed. At 5 weeks, we’re feeling like we’re getting much better rest now that we’re all healthy again.

How are things for hubs?  What is his favourite time with baby H?

Hubs is hanging in there. The second time he says he is feeling “older”. But again, he’s been a superstar dad with our eldest, being the one to take her to the hospital and stay up with her during the nights. He still finds the energy to get to work everyday and come home to cuddle Ms. H before running off to the park with Ms V. Being a dad seems more physical so his favorite time with baby H is bath time. He loves to fill up the tub and hang out with both girls. Ms V washes Ms H’s “monkey toes” while dad makes sure to get under the chin(s).

Is there a moment between hubs and babe that just makes you melt?

There is nothing better than catching him with his eyes closed and a tiny little baby bum leaned up on his chest, humming 80′s rock songs (Guns ‘n Roses “Patience” is my favorite) when he thinks I’m not listening.

Is there one between you and Ms H that makes you melt?

Just the other night after a particularly harrowing evening of screaming and crying when I felt I was at my wit’s end, Ms H just went suddenly quiet and turned her head. Shee seemed to recognize me for the first time. She coo’d and smiled and became so still. It was such a powerful moment.

Is it true you are more relaxed with baby #2?  Tell us about the differences.

Wow, it is so true. The first time I tried to absorb all the advice and reading material I could get my hands on, but nothing can prepare you for the anxiety of first time motherhood and the identity crisis I struggled with- who am I now that I’m a mom? Now I know who I am and have so much confidence as a mom that when there is a night of crying, I know that it will soon be over in what feels like a blink of an eye. The first time, there was such an underlying fear that I would fail or be judged, or that the tough times wouldn’t get better. This time I’m trying to just enjoy the whole experience because I know how quickly Ms H will grow up.

How is the family in general adjusting to having two?

We’re really happy to have 3.5 years between our children. Our eldest struggled initially and told us, “She didn’t want to be a big sister and she wanted to be regular.” Recently she has changed her tune and is now very involved in the process of taking care of her baby sister. We’re adjusting to having a baby again… we tend to forget alot, like leaving the house without a diaper bag or leaving Ms H in the living room when we go to bed

What is the best thing about motherhood for you?

For me, the unconditional love of my children is my greatest joy. I feel a great deal of pride in being a mom now and feel its my most important role and achievement. It took me awhile to really let go and embrace that role but it’s been such a great lesson in self-discovery. I love being a kid all over again with my girls… jumping in puddles, reading fairytales, playing dress up and finding any opportunity to be silly. It keeps me young at heart!

What is the most challenging part of motherhood for you?

I am a pretty career oriented woman and consider myself to be quite ambitious. I am continually reinventing my career so that it balances with my family life. I always struggle with that supermom desire…wanting to do everything at 110% and its an ongoing challenge to let go of that notion and not feel like I’m letting someone down, or giving a part of myself up.

Do you have any advice for moms juggling more than one kiddo?  Or any other wisdom from the trenches of motherho

I really rely on my friends and family… mostly just to listen when I need to vent or share a milestone or cry irrationally in my glass of wine. It really gives me perspective and reminds me that its ok not to know all the answers.

Look who hatched!

Just one quick one for now of this little sweetie pie honeybunch.

I have (alas) fallen far behind again due to overwork and a new computer that is not working out, but here is my solemn promise to get better.

Remember this mama? She had her baby!

I was thrilled to spend the day with little Mr S making his first portraits. I will never forget his birthdate because my youngest daughter was born on the same day, and, like Mr S, had a little jaundice. I was super happy to see the sun peek out the morning after our session. After Meg was born, the first sun was only hitting out on the sidewalk, so I took a chair out and nursed her in the sunshine. Quite the conversations ensued, including one with a midwife whose mom had had 10 13-pound kids without c-sections, and Meg cleared her jaundice and didn’t have to go to the hospital after all. Which for me, having had a home birth, was a definite plus!

Anyhow, on to Mr S. What a sweetiepie honeybunch! I made portraits of his mommy pregnant, so it was doubly fun to make his first images. This little guy at six days old was soooo soothed by his daddy. I know he just wanted to stay up all day partying, but the problem was he’d been up all night partying and we wanted to conk him out. But he’s a light sleeper, a very light sleeper, and we had to content ourselves with a limited range. No belly shots for Mr S!

Our June fundraising drive is for the Children’s Wish Foundation. The Children’s Wish Foundation brings dreams to life for children with life-threatening illnesses. We are pleased to offer them $1 for every comment received on this blog during the month of June, 2010. So come one, come all! Help an ill child realize their dream. Send your friends and family to this blog to leave a comment. It’s such a little thing, but it can make such a big difference to an organization. We are happy to send them a cheque for up to $200 at the end of the month, depending on how many comments you leave, so please be generous and help them out. You must leave your email to leave a comment, but we don’t collect them and they don’t appear on the blog. You can subscribe to the blog, above, or send us an email to be placed on our (very) occasional newsletter list.

Some words from mommy:

Your little guy was a little over seven pounds and arrived May 20. Every mom is longing to know: how was the labour?

Just like everyone said would happen, there were definitely some twists I wasn’t expecting. For one, I had insane back pain which felt much worse than the contractions. Second, I had planned a home birth and labored at home for most of it but ended up transferring to the hospital near the end because when my water broke there was meconium in it and we wanted to be on the safe side. The car ride was atrocious but waiting to for the paperwork when we arrived was worse. Finally, when the little guy finally tried to make his debut, his hand was up by his face so he got really, really stuck and we had a very scary two minutes. Thankfully once born, he turned out to be in tip-top shape; what a little trooper. In the end, though the circumstances were different, I did have the natural, medication-free birth I hoped for and for that I am grateful. (But I’m not going to lie: it hurt. A lot.)

How soon did you get out of the hospital?

I gave birth at 2pm on the nose and we checked out a few hours later.

What was your favourite part about meeting Mr S?

Finally getting to see what he looked like (oh, the hair!) and marveling at the tiny little feet that only hours before had been kicking me from the inside. I could finally touch them and for me that was something that truly made me feel that connection between my belly-baby and the baby in front of my eyes.

You’ve been a mother a little while now…do you keep pinching yourself to say: I’m a mom! Is it all a little unreal?

Yes – in fact, I pause in front of the mirror at least once a day while I’m holding him and stare at him and myself, trying to wrap my head around it. At the same time, while my conscious brain may have some catching up to do, the rest of me feels like I’ve been doing this forever. It’s come so naturally.

Does Mr S let you get any sleep or is up all night partying?

It’s true what they say: the first week really is the hardest. Now that we’re in the second week and have both become better at breastfeeding, he’s started sleeping for a couple hours at a time and I’m able to get him to ‘the restaurant’ before he starts crying. It’s amazing how much better it’s become so quickly.

Your hubs, R, is a super crazy baby whisperer. Are you going to hire him out? I know a lot of moms would pay him big bucks.

I definitely would, if his legs could stand it. He does these crazy squat/lunges that knock S out every time. It’s pretty magical.

What is the moment with Mr S that just melts you completely?

It would have to be a tie between the little snuffly kitten sounds he makes while nursing and how he smiles in his sleep. Oh ok fine, who are we kidding – everything he does melts me completely… even when he toots.

What is the time watching R with your son that melts you?

When he cradles S and sways with him, humming Elton John’s ‘Your Song’. When he gets to the line, “How wonderful life is now you’re in the world”, he sings it out loud and oh man, I dissolve into a puddle. I’m doing it now, just thinking about it.

Say hi to Ewa of Mamique Designs Ltd.. In photographer circles, she’s famous! We pretty well all gobble up her uber tasteful and lovely knitted prop designs for photographing newborns. We are lucky to have Ewa right here with us in Vancouver, though she sells wide and far to photographers…and really, don’t we deserve her to warm our hearts during yet another chilly Juneuary?

Just a side note: Usually our City Mom column runs on the first of the month, but we delayed it because Mamique Designs has been closed for vacation and didn’t reopen until today.

Our June fundraising drive is for the Children’s Wish Foundation. The Children’s Wish Foundation brings dreams to life for children with life-threatening illnesses. We are pleased to offer them $1 for every comment received on this blog during the month of June, 2010. So come one, come all! Help an ill child realize their dream. Send your friends and family to this blog to leave a comment. It’s such a little thing, but it can make such a big difference to an organization. We are happy to send them a cheque for up to $200 at the end of the month, depending on how many comments you leave, so please be generous and help them out. You must leave your email to leave a comment, but we don’t collect them and they don’t appear on the blog. You can subscribe to the blog, above, or send us an email to be placed on our (very) occasional newsletter list.

I understand Mamique Designs is celebrating an important anniversary!  Which one, and how does it feel?

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been 2 years already! I’m still a bit overwhelmed by the demand, though I couldn’t be more thrilled.

Tell us about how Mamique became an idea and then a company.

Like many things in life, it all just happened.  It may sound silly, but it really feels like Mamique found ME rather than the other way around.  I’ve been a knitter for over 25 years.  Over the years I was told many times I should sell the items I make, but I never considered it to be a viable business opportunity until I stumbled across the photography prop market.  The positive response from my fans only fueled my desire to create unique pieces and seek out hard to find yarns.  The business grew through incredible word of mouth.  My products were purchased by several BIG names in the newborn photography world and after a few short months it grew to the point where I was able to make it my full-time job.  Sometimes I wonder why I got my engineering degree, lol, but I love what I do and that’s the best thing in the world!

Did you have your little girls, or your company, first?  Tell us about the former.

My girls were first

It would have to be client feedback and seeing the stunning images many of my customers create. I really do have the most amazing fans and clients.  Very often their words of appreciation and thanks bring tears of joy to my eyes.  It may sound cliche, but I truly do it for them.  I will continue doing what I do for as long as people want me to.  I can always go back to engineering if the demand goes away

What is the most frustrating thing about running Mamique Designs?

The never ending amount of work and my inability to say no.  I wish it was just knitting, but like with any business, I spend half my time (if not more) on running the business.  I would have to say not having enough hours in the day is the most frustrating aspect of my business.

I know you are really popular with photographers (I use and love your goods in my newborn sessions), but do you also sell to moms?

Yes! Although most of them purchase the items for their upcoming photo sessions.  Typically when a parent contacts me and they tell me it is for their baby (and not specifically for a session), I will make the items slightly larger so that they can enjoy them for a bit longer

Are you solely online?  Any plans for retail?

I am solely online at this point.  I’ve had several retailers contact me about carrying my products, but at this point, I am a one woman show and I wouldn’t be able to add more to my already overflowing plate.  I am toying with the idea of expanding and possibly hiring some staff, but at this point, I’m not quite ready for it yet.

Are you always knitting?  

No.  In fact, I do a lot less knitting than I’d like.  Most of my time is spent on other business activities, like marketing, client relations, yarn sourcing, promotion, accounting, etc.  I hope to take some time this summer to optimize the way my time is spent so that I can devote more time to knitting, but more importantly, to my family! 

Do your kids sometimes resent all your knitting or are they pretty copacetic?

I don’t think they mind my knitting so much, rather the amount of time I spend on the computer.  Like I said, they LOVE their childcare provider and they get to see me lots during the day (bonus of working from home!), so they seem to deal with it quite well. 

Where do you see your company going in the future?

 A lot will depend whether I take the plunge and hire staff.  There are many opportunities that are there for the taking, but I wouldn’t want to try them without a good plan in place and coming up with that plan will take some time (something I have very little of at this point, lol)

Do you have any advice for other new business women?

Take time for yourself (btw, it is easier said than done).  Finding a good balance when you’re growing a business is very tough. Many entrepreneurs I’ve spoken with share the same feelings.  It is really easy to get burned out in the first couple of years. 

Value yourself.  One big mistake people new to a business (any business) make is undervaluing their worth.  They give away too much for too little and end up feeling taken advantage off.  I was lucky to have had mentors give me that advice very early on so that it wasn’t a problem for me, but I see many newcomers making that mistake and then disappearing after a few short months.

Remember your time away from your family is worth a lot.  You should charge a premium for it, rather than work for less than minimum wage

Offer your clients amazing customer service and they will do most of the marketing for you!  The best thing I ever did with regards to my business is treat my clients well.  Answer their questions promptly.  Show them that they’re valued.  In addition to having an outstanding product, you really need to give your clients the attention they deserve.  As long as you’re genuine in what you do, they will sing your praises to all of their friends.  

And most of all, don’t be afraid to make mistakes.  If your gut is telling you to go for it (whatever “it” may be) and it doesn’t work out like you expected, learn from it and try something new.  As long as you’re impassioned about what you do, you’ll find a way to make it work.

Here is an image of a little peanut I photographed wearing one of Ewa’s peanuts:

Say hi to the oh-so-adorable Ms E and her wonderful family. This little sweetie is the kid sister of my favourite baby evah. Big sister Ms S is the baby on my splash page with the funny expression that still makes me laugh out loud every time I see it. I love this family…so accomplished and bright and lovin’ to their little gals.  Our session was mostly to celebrate Ms E, at the same age as her sister was when we photographed her, but we managed to sneak in a few amazing family images too.

Our June fundraising drive is for the Children’s Wish Foundation. The Children’s Wish Foundation brings dreams to life for children with life-threatening illnesses. We are pleased to offer them $1 for every comment received on this blog during the month of June, 2010. So come one, come all! Help an ill child realize their dream. Send your friends and family to this blog to leave a comment. It’s such a little thing, but it can make such a big difference to an organization. We are happy to send them a cheque for up to $200 at the end of the month, depending on how many comments you leave, so please be generous and help them out. You must leave your email to leave a comment, but we don’t collect them and they don’t appear on the blog. You can subscribe to the blog, above, or send us an email to be placed on our (very) occasional newsletter list.

Some words from mom:

Your life has changed since I photographed little Ms S as a 7 month old.  She is the baby on my website splash page making the wonderful face, and now she has a little sister who is the same age as she was when we made those terrific images. How has it been?

S was the light of our lives from the minute she was born, so when we found out we were expecting another baby when she was only 9 months old, we were excited to experience that type of love and joy again, although we were obviously apprehensive about how we would manage it all.  With the two girls so close in age, its been a whirlwind of parenting for the past 2 years and I cant say I have loved every minute of it, but at the same time, I wouldn’t change a thing.

All mamas long to know:  how was labour?

Ahhh, labor.  I was completely traumatized after S’s delivery.  It was long, beyond painful, and a completely disappointing and frightening experience.  So when I found out I was pregnant with E, the labor loomed ahead and terrified me.  But I have to say, it was an amazing experience the second time round.  E came much faster and it was less painful, even though both labors were drug free.  I even managed to wash my hair and put on full makeup while laboring at home.  After seeing the pictures form my first birth, I wasn’t going to make that mistake again!

How did you find the transition to having two children?  What did it do to your busy-ness and sleep and noise levels?

The leap to 2 children was really awful, truth be told.  E did not sleep longer than 45 minutes in a row for the first 6 months, S hated her, both were in diapers, it really was a blur of feeling completely overwhelmed and unable to cope for the first 3 months.  Thankfully my mom helped a lot.  Eventually S grew to love E and we settled into a manageable routine, but when the girls have off days like one is sick or grumpy, it can be very hard to cope.

Was Ms S delighted to have Ms E appear on the scene or a little discombobulated?  How is she coping now?

S had a very difficult time adjusting to E.  S had been the center of our worlds for 18 months and could not understand why E had to stay and ruin her fun.  Somewhere around when E turned 5 months, S accepted her and that acceptance turned to love in the past month or so.  It helped when E started sitting and interacting with her I think.

What is the best thing about having two children?

The best thing about two is having another person to love and watch grow into her own unique person.  The relationship developing between them is pretty amazing to see as well.

The most challenging?

The worst part is feeling I cannot devote myself 100% to each child, that my attention is always divided.  They’re both at an age where they depend on me so much that its hard to juggle those needs and find a balance.

Your girls are very close in age; how do you find the split?

I’m hoping it pays off in a few years and that they will be the best of friends.

What is the one thing Ms S does these days that absolutely melts your heart?  Ms E?

Oh, my sweet S.  She is the most gentle, loving, funny amazing kid.  She makes me laugh till it hurts every day.  But the thing that melts my heart the most is when she wraps her little arms around me and say “I love you mummy so much” and gives me kisses.  What can be better than that?  E makes me laugh every time I look at her, her giant brown eyes, her little expressions.  I think my heart melts the most when she is snuggled against me nursing and her whole body is relaxed and so trusting.  It always makes me smile.

What is your favourite moments between the girls and their daddy?

My favorite moments with the girls and their dad is when they are roughhousing together.  I see them all in a pile on the floor, laughing, giggling, squealing, and it’s bliss.

Do you plan to have more kids?

We’ll see if I can talk their dad into it!

What are your hopes and dreams for your kiddos over the next few years?

I just want to be there to see every moment, watch how they grow and change.  My dreams for them are that they are happy, that they feel loved and secure and confident, that their childhood is something they look back on with relish and joy. I know how short this will all seem one day, so I want to savor every second with my delicious girls.

Ahhh, you know that feeling when kids just reach in a string that rope of lights around your heart? This little gal did that without even trying. When she turned those soulful eyes my way, large and limpid and velvet brown, oooh, my heart just shivered.

Our June fundraising drive is for the Children’s Wish Foundation. The Children’s Wish Foundation brings dreams to life for children with life-threatening illnesses. We are pleased to offer them $1 for every comment received on this blog during the month of June, 2010, up to a maximum of $200. So come one, come all! Help an ill child realize their dream. Please ask your friends and family to visit the blog and help by leaving a comment on this blog post, or on any other. We do require your email to leave a comment, but they aren’t posted or saved.

Here are some words from mom:

Your adorable little gal, Ms A, is 13 months old now and scooting around pretty darned well.  It’s a different ball game, isn’t it, at this age than during the first year?  Are you amazed at the intense changes?
She never ceases to amaze me– everyday is an insight to this sweet little beings’s personality.  Keeping up with her increasing mobility and curiosity everday is a little more work, but really a true pleasure. I feel very privelaged to be her mother.

You’re pregnant!  When is the new little one due?

July 24th–can’t wait to meet her!
I just adore that you had a photo session now before the new baby arrives because it commemorates this special, unique time with your firstborn.  (I so wish I had done the same thing.  I missed my bond with my first gal after her sister came.  It wasn’t gone, of course, but it was harder to spot because I was pulled in so many directions.  I know she would have cherished photos of just us.) What is your favourite thing about being a mom?

The limitless capacity of love I have for this child- seeing her smile is honestly as my husband puts it, like someone is turning on a thousand lights in my heart. Just being with her, watching her grow, nurturing her-I just love all of it (even the odd tantrum!) And one of my greatest pleasures was, believe it or not, breastfeeding! It was such a lovely connection and special bonding moment- i just enjoyed every minute.

I know it’s a year and a bit ago, but how was your labour?  What are you anticipating for the next labour (soon now!)?
It is called labour for a reason!! But what you have to remind yourself is that is only for a day, and to trust your body. Our bodies are amazing and they were made for this. I honestly am not thinking of the next labour, just the wonderful gift at the end! During the process I will just have to take it one contraction at a time.

What is the one thing Ms A does that simply melts your heart?
Its so hard to limit it to one thing, but she absolutely melts my heart when I see her sleeping–there is nothing more innocent or beautiful.

How about your hubby’s heart?
When she rests her head on his chest in a snuggle

What moment between Ms A and your hubs just does you in when you watch them?

When they are goofing around and Ms A just breaks out in the biggest, heartiest fits of giggles

What is your biggest hope for the relationship between the new baby and Ms A?

Love, love, love.

What are your hopes for Ms A’s future?

Life with meaning and happiness; the intelligence, fortitude and optism to handle life’s many challenges; success in her endeavours; to be a thoughtful citizen of the world; and to never lose her ability to dream

Favourite song: Itsy bitsy spider
Favourite food: Cucumbers and yogurt
Favourite TV show: She doesn’t really watch TV, but seems pretty fascinated with commercials for some reason.
Favourite animals: Puppies and birds
What does Ms A dislike most of all: Bananas, believe it or not!!

I was able to photograph the princesses from my recent studio post (scroll down, and you can read mom’s fabulous interview) last Friday evening. And I swear I have new favourite photos! Does this happen to all photographers? The last images I make are always my absolute faves.

The Jane Photo May charity drive is Parent Support BC. This is a great and longterm local organization where parents can turn for help in managing raising kids. How you can help them: Send your friends and family to this blog to leave a comment, and each comment during May will earn Parent Support BC $1. It’s such a little thing, but it can make such a big difference to a small organization. We are happy to send them a cheque for up to $200 at the end of the month, depending on how many comments you leave, so please be generous and help them out. You must leave your email to leave a comment, but we don’t collect them and they don’t appear on the blog. You can subscribe to the blog, above, or send us an email to be placed on our occasional newsletter list.