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      6 Stunning Photos You Would Never Guess Were…

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      Simple Tips For Editing Snow Photos On Your…

      December 13, 2018

      Photography

      I Wrote A Photography eBook And This Is…

      December 6, 2018

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      Creative Lighting Ideas To Help You Take Great…

      November 27, 2018

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      Learn How To Take And Edit Photos On…

      November 19, 2018

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    • Reviews

      The Answer To Last Minute Holiday Gifting For…

      December 19, 2018

      Reviews

      I Was Never A Barbie Girl Until Now

      October 1, 2018

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      Finally! Jeans For My Jean-Averse Kids!

      August 22, 2018

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      August 13, 2018

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lifestyle photography

Family Of 6 With Photos To Prove It! Newborn Session by Kelly White Photography
BabiesDallas/Ft. Worth

Family Of 6 With Photos To Prove It! Newborn Session by Kelly White Photography

by Jill January 27, 2017
written by Jill

When Wallace was 8 days old, Kelly White – the photographer who took my maternity/family photos back in the fall- came to our house for another session. When I got the photos back, I was a little confused. How could they be SO amazing when that day felt so chaotic?

Family photos by Kelly White Photography, North Dallas | BabyRabies.com

The kids weren’t that into it, Lowell especially had no desire to cooperate, I had hives all over my hands and stomach, Wallace wasn’t latching well yet, my boobs were on fire, and, well, we had an 8 day old.

Family photos by Kelly White Photography, North Dallas | BabyRabies.comFamily photos by Kelly White Photography, North Dallas | BabyRabies.com

And yet…

Family photos by Kelly White Photography, North Dallas | BabyRabies.com

She worked some kind of magic.

Family photos by Kelly White Photography, North Dallas | BabyRabies.comFamily photos by Kelly White Photography, North Dallas | BabyRabies.comFamily photos by Kelly White Photography, North Dallas | BabyRabies.com5A8A0863-2Family photos by Kelly White Photography, North Dallas | BabyRabies.comFamily photos by Kelly White Photography, North Dallas | BabyRabies.comFamily photos by Kelly White Photography, North Dallas | BabyRabies.comFamily photos by Kelly White Photography, North Dallas | BabyRabies.comFamily photos by Kelly White Photography, North Dallas | BabyRabies.com I don’t know how I’m going to narrow these down (and so many more that I love) to an acceptable gallery wall collection. I am itching to print, frame, and hang them all!

It was hard enough picking what to put on our New Year/birth announcement cards from Minted that just went out last week.

Minted birth announcement backer for holiday card | BabyRabies.comMinted.com new year card | BabyRabies.com As a bonus, I love that Kelly stuck around to capture Wallace’s first bath!

Family photos by Kelly White Photography, North Dallas | BabyRabies.comFamily photos by Kelly White Photography, North Dallas | BabyRabies.comFamily photos by Kelly White Photography, North Dallas | BabyRabies.comFamily photos by Kelly White Photography, North Dallas | BabyRabies.comIf an in-home session is something you can swing after you have a baby, I highly recommend it. Was it stress free? No, but it was about as low stress as a photo session could get at 8 days postpartum. As much as I love photographing my family, there’s no way I could have pulled this off on my own.

In the North Dallas area? Obviously, I think you should check out Kelly White Photography. She provided this photo session for us as a portfolio builder for her, and it was my choice to blog it and share her work with all of you.

January 27, 2017 0 comment
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The Last Week Of Summer
ParenthoodPhotographySchool Age Days

The Last Week Of Summer

by Jill August 15, 2016
written by Jill

She cried at bedtime 2 nights ago because I told her there were still 8 days left until school starts. “That’s going to take forever!” she sobbed.

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He cried at bedtime 2 nights ago because I told him there were only 8 days left until school starts. “What?! NO! Are you kidding me?! I don’t want to go back!” he shouted.

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And this one can’t be more than 3 feet from me, and prefers to be actually stuck to me, at all times, especially while sleeping. I can’t remember the last time he slept in his room. “I just need to not be touched right now,” I huff to my husband about 50 times a day.IMG_2136

August 15, 2016 17 comments
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Just Another Thursday Afternoon
Home Decor & DIYLifestyleParenthoodPhotography

Just Another Thursday Afternoon

by Jill November 20, 2015
written by Jill

I think I have Impostor Syndrome, based on my discussions with Dr. Google who is the most trustworthy doctor of them all.

“Impostor syndrome can be defined as a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist even in face of information that indicates that the opposite is true. It is experienced internally as chronic self-doubt, and feelings of intellectual fraudulence.” – Dr. Google

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When people say things to me like, “You have it all together!” or mention anything about success, I just want to SHOW THEM. “Look! Look at how much I do not have together! Please! I don’t want to deceive you.”

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And this time of year is weird, especially, because we’ll be spending a lot of time decorating (and cleaning) and having loved ones over, and we’re sending out cards that make our family look damn near perfect when really I can’t go 30 minutes without screaming at one of my kids to get out of the mother effing refrigerator SO HELP ME YOU ARE NOT STARVING OMG.

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Every year, I consciously make a goal to do good things with this platform- things that bring people together and validate them. I am acutely aware that I am in a position where if I only post the stuff that I want people to marvel at, to aspire to, that I am part of the culture of unattainable perfection.

And so it is always- ALWAYS- on my mind… to be real. With you. With ME.

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Listen, there is nothing wrong with blogs and social media accounts that only show the stuff you wish you could do, or you might try to do, or look like, or cook. Whatever.

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I want to share things with you that make you want to do all those things! Except probably cook. Please move on to the next exit on the internet for recipes.

IMG_5710But here? Today? I just want to just share my normal Thursday afternoon with you. We have cleaner and more organized days and, yes, we have messier and more chaotic days. This day just falls in between.

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Not to make anyone feel bad or for anyone’s pity.  Just to put it out there. This is normal for us.

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There are movies, and haphazard snacks, messes, dishes, laundry, crying, and whining.

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We have a beautiful home that we’ve worked so hard for, and sometimes, a lot of the time, there is a pile of wet towels on my bathroom floor.

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And the playroom looks like this nearly constantly because nobody can see that room from downstairs so WHY TRY?

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It’s a really lovely home. We adore it. We are thankful for it. We hope nobody dies tripping on shoes at the bottom of the stairs.

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Perhaps it’s weird or trite that I feel like “doing good things” here and sharing pictures of our lived in home on a Thursday go hand-in-hand. This isn’t going to change the world, and the world really needs some changing right now.

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But I do hope you will remember that normal is grossly underrepresented in the media- online and off. And perhaps if I must be seen as having anything “together” it’s that I have not-having-things-together together? I mentioned in a convo today that I should aspire to be an Expert Non-Expert.

So if you see my house sparkling and my halls decked for the holidays, if you see the crafts I make and the pictures of happy children I take on my social accounts, please remember that my bathroom is in need of caution tape, and I consider this to be a clean shower door.

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November 20, 2015 7 comments
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Israel Trip, Part 2- An Afternoon With an Israeli Mother In Pictures
BloggingParenthoodPhotographyTravel

Israel Trip, Part 2- An Afternoon With an Israeli Mother In Pictures

by Jill September 24, 2015
written by Jill

When the Vibe Israel team asked me what I most wanted to do in Israel, I thought for a few hours, then I knew exactly what.

I wanted to meet a local mom, and I wanted to photograph a small part of a day in her regular life.

Okay, sure, Jerusalem would be cool, the Dead Sea would be rad. But when do I have the opportunity to connect with a mother a half a world away, and document her in a way that is so meaningful to me, and hopefully to her?

Read Part 1 here

The journalist in me wanted to report on how similar and different motherhood is between her and me. The photographer in me craved new spaces and fresh faces. The blogger in me wanted all of YOU to connect with this woman and family the way I was hoping I would (and did).

Esin lives in Tel Aviv, in a small apartment, with her husband and 2 young children- a boy named Yuval, and a girl named Bar. They are currently building their dream home, which Esin is itching to move into for many reasons- one being that she’s an interior designer, and really looking forward to putting personal touches on her own space.

Though her current (adorable) apartment is certainly not lacking…
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We began our afternoon together with some divine Israeli takeout- the really yummy, healthy kind, I’m told. Hummus, falafel, dried fruit and nuts, and some cookies that Esin made out of probably 20 lbs of butter. The unhealthy part of the meal, but I wasn’t complaining.

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Or, a friend of Esin’s and straight up hilarious person, joined us, too. Her family lives too far from the city for me to meet her children that day, but I’m really happy she at least got to hang out with us and chime in.

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I did get to meet Or’s girlfriend for a short time who was pregnant and just had her baby yesterday! (Congrats Or and Ellie!)

We talked for over an hour, comparing cultures and questioning each other like we had just met at summer camp and wondered what the other’s town was like. We came to the conclusion that we are really quite similar in so many ways, from work-life balance struggles to how we are combining the internet, motherhood, and what we love to make a living.

Or does marketing for baby brands and products, and she blogs for a large Israeli parenting site. As for Esin? Here’s a little more about what she does, in her own words:

I am an interior designer, working from home. Mostly I design spaces and apartments and houses for families with kids, while paying attention to functionality and design. On my blog, I write about styling and about the process and the choices that I take with the family. It’s important for me that through my writing my followers will get to know me and my style. 

I could write about these women and our conversations all day, but I guess I should get to the pictures. There are a lot of them. Get your scrolling finger ready!

After our lunch wrapped up, it was time for Esin and I to head out and pick up her children from school.

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I laughed because Esin lamented that they must pass by this snack shop every day on their way from Yuval’s school, and every. day. he begs for a treat. I KNOW YOUR STRUGGLE, ESIN.

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Between pickups and the apartment, there were a few carseat battles and Esin apologized more than once for her “messy” car. It was like I was home with my people.

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The children were delighted to arrive back. I think this could have been because there was a plate of buttery cookies on the coffee table. Not sure.

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Universally, toddlers just want to get naked.IMG_4374IMG_4366

While Yuval and Or took up a lively game of ping pong..

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I poked around and took more pictures. I was quite nosey, and in love with Esin’s decorating.

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You can not escape minions.

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She had strict instructions from me to not clean. I wanted to capture real life. Isn’t real life the most beautiful?

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I asked Esin to answer a few questions about motherhood for me.

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Do you think it’s easy or hard to be a parent in Israel? Why?

For me, its easy to be a parent in Israel!! First, we live in a warm country, our winter is short so we have a little bit rain and then a long summer with a lot of outdoor fun days with the kids. Tel Aviv is the biggest city in Israel, but compared to big cities around the globe, its very small, so everything is close and safe (more quality time with my kids), for example, my parents live 5 minutes walk from us, my husband’s work is 15 minutes drive from our home, and the beach is 5 minutes drive (my kids are crazy about the beach and the sand). 

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What’s your biggest fear as a mother? 

 My biggest fear as a mother is that my children won’t feel safe to tell me everything (good or bad). I would like to know all about my children and what they are going through so I can help them when they feel needed and be happy for them when they are happy.

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What are you most proud of as a mother? 

Mmmmm… nice question!  I think that I’m most proud of the values that I’m giving them. I would like my children to be caring and polite. 

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What was my takeaway from this? As cliche as it sounds, we have so much in common. The differences were there, of course, but through all the cultural barriers and the horrific and hilarious Google translations for words that were lost, we were mothers in a fast-paced world. We have technology at our finger tips, but we struggle to find the time to balance everything. We want the best for our kids, and we wonder sometimes what that is. We wrestle toddlers into car seats, and we have sippy cups on our floor boards.

We are driven by love… and a healthy dose of humor.

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I hope you all loved getting to know Esin, her family, and Or today! Tomorrow, part 3 of my Israel posts will be about overcoming the fear I had before I went- on more levels than just the “OMG, a 13 hour flight?!” fear. Hint: postpartum anxiety lost this battle.

 

I'm half a world away from my family, my home, my routine. This trip was a HUGE leap for me. I couldn't have dreamed of doing this even a year ago. My anxiety wouldn't have let me. But today? I am here. And I looked down as I waded through one of the 7 wonders of the world at the two bracelets I absentmindedly slipped on my wrist this morning to discover this. Fly, Warrior. Indeed. (Fly bracelet from @averyandaustin and Warrior bracelet from the #warriormomcon by @mantraband) #warriormom @postpartumprogress #vibeisrael #vibemommies

A photo posted by Jill Krause (@babyrabies) on Sep 5, 2015 at 6:46am PDT

September 24, 2015 2 comments
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BabiesPhotographyThe Story

There Is Magic In 5 Months Old

by Jill January 9, 2014
written by Jill

I’ve seen him roll over both ways a couple times, so I know he’s capable of it. He doesn’t do it often, though.

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I think this would have caused me great anxiety as a first-time mom. I encouraged my first baby to track brightly colored objects until he shifted his weight enough to land from back to belly and back to back.

I toted him to actual baby-gym classes three times a week. THREE TIMES! A WEEK! WHO HAS THAT KIND OF TIME?

I guess the same mom who had time to bathe her baby every other night. Lowell is my dirtiest (and happiest) baby of the three.

IMG_9771His first bath in a week…ish.

But I’m 100% okay if this kid just sits and smiles at me for a few more months to come, always in the same spot I last plopped him.

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To me, there is magic in this age. This stage. This time when the babies are mostly happy, over the gas, sleeping in relatively predictable patterns, smiling, laughing, AND NOT GOING ANYWHERE WITHOUT YOUR HELP.

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Freeze, please.

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January 9, 2014 19 comments
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BabiesPhotographySchool Age DaysThe Story

Pictures of Our Week 2

by Jill September 16, 2013
written by Jill

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First, let’s lead with THAT up there.

My cousin sent Lowell this freaking ADORABLE outfit over the weekend. It morphed him into the old man from Up.

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It is from this Etsy shop.

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It was the cherry on top of this past week, which actually turned out to be not so bad, despite Scott being out of town for the first time since I became responsible for keeping 3 kids alive.

That’s largely thanks to this girl.

IMG_5588My sister.

Bless her heart for coming up from Austin to play supplemental parent with me. SO MUCH ENVIRONMENTAL BIRTH CONTROL FOR HER. I think she drove back to Austin and immediately had her ovaries removed.

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This guy turned 6 weeks old, the age at which it seems my children all morph from snuggly newborns into beastly infants (with giant, real smiles).

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That meant a 6 week postpartum checkup for me, where he got this adorable (snug) shirt from the midwife who delivered him, Jeanean Carter at Adriatica Womens Health in McKinney, TX. (Highly recommend!)

This next nugget of news does not have a picture to go with it (you’re welcome), but I’m happy to report the “cystical” is completely gone. It disappeared all on it’s own, making it one of the most effed up pregnancy side effects ever.

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Lowell is fascinated by anything that hangs above him. Kendall is fascinated by Lowell.

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White bed linens are one of the best things I’ve invested in. They look amazing in pictures, and have been surprisingly easy to keep clean. Lowell spends a lot of time on our bed. It’s the safest place to keep him up and away from his wild siblings that are chasing each other around the house at any given moment.

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Scott realized his dream of seeing his son in a Cardinals baseball uniform, intentionally signing him up for the Cardinals little league fall team. He promises he’ll sign him up for the Rangers again in the spring.

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Baseball isn’t just for brothers around here, either. Scott, continuing to prove what a sucker he is for his little girl, bought Leyna a “cat cat” bat (to match her Hello Kitty Crocs that she insists on wearing with everything). I must admit I was the sucker when it came to the tiny workout clothes (from the little girls section!) at Target.

Is there anything cuter than tiny gym shorts on a toddler? Okay, maybe the bowtie and cardigan on Lowell, but just by a smidge.

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The Rock N Play is my new favorite baby item. It doesn’t replace the bouncy seat set inside the cosleeper for long sleeps, but it’s a swell place to plop the baby when I have to pee, and he sure does like napping in it. Sometimes. When he’s not making me hold him.

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Final product shout out for the Aden & Anais Dream Blanket. Dreamy like whoa.

Those are some of our pics from the 2nd week of September.

September 16, 2013 21 comments
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BabiesPhotographySchool Age DaysThe StoryToddlers

Pictures Of Our Week

by Jill September 7, 2013
written by Jill

Another week has passed, and a million things I’ve wanted to tell you all about (okay, at least 27 on my to-write list) sit in my head, unblogged.  But what I’m lacking in words these days, I’m making up for in pictures. I’m pretty prolific on Instagram lately. I blame easy access to an iPhone while snuggling, rocking, feeding a baby. And boredom. I mean, there is only so much I can stare lovingly at my kid’s head. Even HE is starting to get creeped out by it.

So I take pictures of his head sometimes. And then play around with them in Snapseed.

a953b1ee0d2a11e3bf5922000a1f8cdc_7And then use apps like Snoopify and Cat Effects for more entertainment. Because I have a problem.

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One for the baby books!

Good thing I don’t make baby books.

I’ve also tried to make an effort to get more pictures with my “fancy” Canon 6D. I remember I tried to do a Photo 365 blog after Leyna was born. That was destined to be a failure, and proved to be so. This time, no pressure. No daily, weekly or monthly quotas. Just pictures when I can manage it.

I do well with no pressure.

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First, let’s just get this out of the way- THAT. SMIRK.

We are so fortunate that Scott can work from home often. Mainly, he’s able to help out more because he doesn’t have to commute to work. So he can do things like pack lunches before his work day starts, and take the kids to the park as soon as his day is over.

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But every now and then, I’m able to hand Lowell to him for a few minutes while I get dressed or make us both lunch. These were moments caught at the end of a workday this week.

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How lucky our kids are to grow up with a father who is so very present in their lives.

Sometimes, though, we are not very present. On purpose. Sometimes we are having grown up conversation about pressing matters like new kitchen counters and just what the hell the neighbor is doing in his garage all day with his shirt off.

Sometimes we ignore our children. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

It forces them to, like, entertain themselves. Trust, they will ask us if they can use one of the 50 pieces of technology in this house to entertain them over and over and over again. We just keep ignoring them.

And then this happens.

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Kendall finds 2 blankets and some clothes pins. He pins one on the back of Leyna and ties another around him. They are suddenly super heroes.

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Super heroes that work double duty as dry mops. We’ve just unlocked level 151 of Parenthood with this achievement, I’m sure.

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Sometimes the price you pay for ignoring your kids and getting them to leave you alone is a toddler covered in markers and stickers.

And a super hero cape. It’s worth it.

To finish off the week, I spent  no less than 30 minutes taking pictures of my 5.5 week old’s belly button today.

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Because IT’S A SWIRL. Like a little cinnamon roll in the middle of his belly. A perfect spiral.

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I’m obsessed with the whole package, but had to stop everything I was doing today (which was nothing) to document and preserve that sweet little detail.

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And while I was at it, I photographed every other detail, too.

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So that’s some of the pictures of our week.

Maybe I’ll do this again next week. Maybe I won’t. No pressure.

 

September 7, 2013 16 comments
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PhotographyThe Story

In Their Natural Habitat

by Jill February 18, 2012
written by Jill

Watch as the young male builds shelter to protect him from wild dogs, crazy cats and unleashed little sisters…

Now observe the tiny female as she steadies herself on her feet and explores her surroundings by shoving every bright piece of plastic into her mouth. She then scatters her stockpile of toys to take daily inventory, pretending not to hear the calls of the older male sibling baiting her to his shelter, where he would likely trap her and leave her for the dogs…

My house, my kids, National Geographic style.

Kendall is 3 years 9 months and Leyna is nearly 14 months old

February 18, 2012 7 comments
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