Wordless Wednesday

Kolton - Cincinnati Newborn Photographer

I have been meaning to try "hanging" a baby... doesn't that sound horrible? Finally I had the confidence to try... there is just really only one trick to this.

Patience!

It took a long time for him to fall asleep. Then positioning him in the fabric, took a long time, every time I thought I had it... he woke up. But it was soooo worth it!



Of course we tried some more traditional shots as well!







I have another newborn this Thursday!

Photobooth - Cincinnati Event Photographer

After every wedding I find myself saying "This was the last one". And then I find myself shooting another one a year later or so. Weddings are not fun to me. They are beautiful but they are not fun to shoot. Too much stress, too much posing... just not my kind of cup of tea.

But I did discover something that makes shooting wedding A LOT of fun.

Photobooths!

The formula is simple:

backdrop, camera, lights, props, and lots of fun loving drunk people!

Here are a few from my very "last" wedding!

First Grade

Yesterday was Jake's first day of First Grade.

Pretty Big Deal!

We met his new teacher a few days ago and found out who is in his class AND signed him up for... more on that later! I am such a tease haha

Anyways today was the big day.

We got up earlier then we needed to, which is a good thing... I just was not prepared. Clothes were still wet in the dryer, we needed to find his backpack, I had no idea what his lunch number or his bus number was... our computer crashed again... it was just a strange morning. But we did make it out on time and even with a little bit of time to spare for pictures!


the tradional German sugar cone (Zuckertuete) filled with goodies for his first day of school!


my handsome boy with a goofy smile


right before he got on the bus, he got a little teary eyed. I asked him what's wrong and he said "Nothing! My eyes are just sweating!" haha


byeeeee have a fantastic day in first grade Jakey!

Worldless Wednesday

my little Indian warrior

Welcome to the World - Cincinnati Birth Photographer

Every birth I am ready for weeks in advance. I have my camera bag packed, and my phone is always by my side. I don't know what happened but this little girl caught me off guard.
I was in a restaurant without reception and didn't receive the first two text messages. Then I left the restaurant... luckily I didn't have anything to drink... and bang there was another message. Luckily my camera bag was in my car, a quick stop at the gas station for some new batteries and I was on my way to Christ Hospital in Cincinnati.

I was there all night, and got home when others were on their way to work but it was soooo worth it!



















Welcome to the World Tatum!
xxx

Sleep

Sleep has been a major topic for us the past 22 months. Because we don't get much of it.
Finn does not sleep. Well he does sleep, but it a battle.

He used to wake up 8-12 a night until he was about 14 months old!!! No, I am not kidding! Eight to Twelve times a night.

We would let him cry it out night after night. We bought every book there is on sleep with Newborns... we tried everything, nothing worked.

At about 14 months something clicked in him and he would go down to waking up 6 times a night, then 4 times a night and so on.

We actually had a 2 month period where I could put him to bed, he would fall asleep and wake up 11 hours later. BLISS. PURE HEAVEN.

BUT

then he figured out how to climb out of his crib. The first time he did it I seriously started to cry because I knew what that meant.... he won't stay in his bed again!

Soon, he wasn't just climbing out of his crib, he just jumped out of it. That was the official end of his crib.

We traded his crib in for a cool fire engine toddler bed, thinking that might keep him in it... nope.

We have removed all furniture and toys of his room and just placed a mattress on the floor and locked his room. He screamed for almost 2 hours and then the neighbors started knocking on our doors...

Then I would just lay down with him and usually he was out about an hour later... yes apparently I don't have anything better to do then wasting two hours of my day.

THEN... he started wanting me AND Scot to lay down with him. Which is usually just not possibly. One of us needs to work, watch Jake, etc... if we weren't both with him in bed he gets up a bazillion times... we need to pull him back to bed, tell him it is night night time, etc... this can go on for up to 2 hours.

Once in a awhile we drive him around. I usually can get him pretty easily out of the car, up the stairs and in OUR bed without waking him up. But seriously that is not the best solution either, gas prices are high, the pollution makes me cringe, we both have to be home because one has to stay with Jake...

Last night I came home after 10:30pm, Scot wasn't able yet to put him to bed, so I walked him around our room for an hour and a half...

He now "only" wakes up once a night and wants some milk... I try not to give in, but he also does his best not giving up. And soon everyone, including our neighbors are up.

This is an on going battle and we are loosing BIG TIME! I am out of ideas. Every nap, every night time is a struggle.

We have tried no naps, more naps, earlier bedtime, later bedtime...

So I need help!

If you have advice. Please tell me.
If you have a magic potion. Please send it to me.
If you have Prayers to offer. Please Pray.
If you don't pray. Please send us some good thoughts.
If you have nothing better to do from the hours of 8pm and 8am... Please come and hang out with Finn!

We saw Saturn!

We took Jakey on a special date last week to the Cincinnati Observatory. I knew he would love it and especially loves a little alone time with Mommy & Daddy. We dropped Finn off with a dear friend who is seriously a saint to take Finn that late at night.
We started the evening off with some goofy pictures.











The highlight of the evening was seeing Saturn through the telescope. Super Impressive! If you live in the area... heck! whereever you live go visit your local Observatory. It is a lot of fun and we learned tons of new things...

Know what happens when two planets collide? (this was Jake's Questions to the instructor)

Bump to Baby

I would love to see your Bump to Baby Pictures. No need to make a collage, just send me a picture of your pregnant belly and a picture of your newborn. I will put them together and feature them here on my blog. sonja.mcgill@yahoo.com

I go first!



Bump at about 34 weeks and Baby Finn only a few days old.

Lederhosen - Cincinnati Children Photographer

I love photographing these Kids!

Cousins - Cincinnati Childrens Photographer

A few weeks ago I took our boys and their children out for a mini sessions.

I had a specific scene in mind. Boys playing in a creek... rolled up jeans and no shirts.

Once we arrived at the location, Jake begged me to let him take his fishing pole... it is neon green. Being a photographer mom I told him no it won't look good in the pictures. Writing this now down makes me actually laugh about myself.
Anyways we hiked to the creek and guess what... the perfect (photogenic) fishing pole was laying there. Yup that is a good sign.

Mr. Avery - Cincinnati Newborn Photographer

I had the pleasure to take pictures of little Mr. Avery last week. What a cutie!
He started out being a little bit fussy but with Dad's help (yes Dad) we got him right to sleep and stay asleep.
Hope to see him again for his 3 months pictures.