Better Bluebonnets with Baby

S and I set out to Ennis last Saturday to try our hand at getting the elusive baby bluebonnet photo. As you will remember, when I set out to get these photos myself, it was not pretty. So, I wanted to try again, and Ennis has not only a Bluebonnet Festival, but their Convention and Visitor's Bureau also maps out the best possible locations for bluebonnet viewing in and around the area. We had the best luck on Sugar Ridge Road, if you happen to still plan to make a trip down there.

Much of the bluebonnet viewing is not accessible for photos with babies. They are farm fields that have been seeded with the wildflowers just for the spring. These fields, which in some locations went on for miles, were absolutely gorgeous to look at. Driving around just to see the wildflowers is well worth the short drive south. There are, of course, also locations that are accessible for taking photos in the flowers. We found one such place that seemed to be the best possible location. It was fabulous. We carted the boy out, set him up in the flowers and on the chair, and thought we were done. We changed him out of his Easter outfit and put him back in his seat for the ride home. Then we saw another amazing field, so we stopped and took some photos of him in his play outfit.

It was still difficult to entice a smile from the boy. I think the long ride, the unfamiliar surroundings, lots to look at, the sun, the flowers, etc made wanting to smile a difficult task. We were successful, nonetheless, in capturing a few cute ones. Dad goofed around and I took some first, then dad photographed and I jumped around and made a scene. Anything for a good photo. Ahem.

Apparently, they look good enough to eat.

I hope you enjoy the fruits of our labor in the flower patch as much as we are. I can't wait to see how he's changed by this time next year and what kinds of photos might be possible then.

See you soon.

Easter Egg Hunt

We were invited to the most amazing Easter Egg Hunt a few days ago. It is put on by a family friend, and wowza does she put on a party!

Apparently, her mother did egg hunts for her children when they were little, so when her children started having children, she started the tradition with her grandchildren. But then she decided to start inviting other kids to come. They outgrew her backyard last year, so this year she moved it to a beautiful park with a large pavilion that would allow the festivities to continue even if it rained.

It didn't rain this year - the weather was beautiful. For the event, this amazing lady put 1000 - one THOUSAND - eggs together and hid them in this field. We arrived just after the "hunt" since we knew LM wouldn't really hunt this year. But, just as we arrived, scads - well, about 50 - of children were in this field collecting eggs.

That's right - she puts together enough eggs - all with treats inside - for each child to collect 20 eggs! Isn't that amazing! And, on top of that, she had craft projects for them to do and snacks!

As always, LM was enamored with the "big kids". He will stare them down.

She even had snacks for the parents!

It was incredibly kind of her to include us in this event. I hope we get to attend next year, because LM will be out there in the action then! This year, he enjoyed the animal crackers and the fellowship, and of course, wearing an adorable spring ensemble. ;-)

We did get out to take a few more bluebonnet photos. I'll upload them soon. See you then.

Bluebonnet Fail

It's a rite of passage for the Texas parent to drag their child out into the bluebonnets dressed in a cute outfit and take their photo. Seriously, it seems everyone does this. So, of course, being a new parent, I was totally excited to take LM out to the bluebonnet field for some photos.

Well, perhaps I should clarify the excited part - lest you think I have become normal or something. This is what really happened. I was driving said boy to the bluebonnet field, thinking about taking the photos, and actually STARTED CRYING in the car over how excited I was that I had a little boy to photograph in the bluebonnets. Yeah. That's right. I'm still crazy.

One I caught with my camera phone with an award winning scowl.

So, S had to work this particular morning. I thought, "No problem, I'll take the boy out myself." I dressed him up in his Easter outfit - white polo, light blue argyle sweater vest, seersucker pants. On the way there, even though he had napped prior and wasn't due for another nap for an hour or so, Little Man fell asleep on the way to the bluebonnet field - about a twenty minute trip. When we arrived, I woke him up and set out to the field.

He was NOT INTERESTED at ALL in smiling for the camera. Or, really, even LOOKING in my general direction. Instead, he was interested in picking and EATING the grass, and lunging forward to hit his head on the ground, resulting in a grass stain on his forehead. Seriously. It was not pretty. I moved him from patch to patch. I sang. I danced. I made funny noises. I made funny faces. I changed cameras, locations and directions.

Nothing made an impact on the boy. At all. He couldn't have cared less about his Mama wanting a prized bluebonnet photo.

Once - ONCE - one time for a brief moment he smiled at me. And, I think I got one decent photo. Maybe two. That's it. We hope, if the weather and temperaments cooperate, to try one more time this weekend before the bluebonnets fade into the past for this spring. I'll share the fruits of our labor here if we get out to do it.

See you soon.

Swimming Lessons

I gave S a session of swimming lessons with LM for Christmas. They took their "Baby Bear-a-cuda" lessons in March. I took photos and video at two of the four sessions. Cousin Sophia also took the lessons with them. Ladies and Gentlemen, I took WAY too many photos. So, I thought the magic of Pummelvision might be the way to go on these as well...so here you are. Once again, the music is not so interesting and part of the package that you cannot change. So, turn your speakers down and just watch the images if it bothers you. Start your engines.

See you soon.

Dallas Blooms Flowers

I also took quite a few flower shots, of course, while we were at Dallas Blooms with the boy. Here are some of my favorites:

So there you have it. Lots of prettiness, for sure. See you soon.