15/52

Climbing! A new thing...

After an impromptu wander along a bush track, we played in a shady patch of grass around around an old munitions store. The island was a military vantage point during World War II, so there are quite a few relics from this time. We had a lovely morning. But I was lost when he asked about the interpretive sign which had a picture of soldiers mustered behind an artillery weapon.

And... it was only a matter of time before I caved on the one image rule. This talented lady sold me on the diptych concept, and well, I just couldn't choose one over the other. I like them as a series. To me, they are stronger together. I began this project wanting to be quite 'flow' about it. So I'm going with my gut on this. Instinct over rules, I say!

14/52

Post-swim, post-pelican-chasing, dreamy sea-gazing

 
We arrived home this morning after three days in the city for our monthly provisioning / appointment-ing / working-from-office / car servicing / playing with Nana / playground-ing, this time with a small friend. It is always lots of must-dos packed into the tightest possible timeframe, albeit cushioned with coffee from the real world. It exhausts us. And takes most of our weekend.

So after the big unpacking, this afternoon we headed to the beach. The only time I had my camera out all week. The weather is definitely cooling now, but the boys still swam. We had a particularly blissful afternoon. The sea was gentle and dreamy. A pelican waddled over to us, quite close. Ellery ran at it, exclaiming "pat, pat, cuddle, cuddle"! And we discovered a small shelter, made from driftwood and seagrass, the perfect beach cubby. 

The boy still grows in leaps and bounds. New: his first four molars (with a fever to boot), and now the canines. Counting to ten in French. Running. Like a gangly giraffe, but running. And singing! 

Joining in with Jodi.

You can see the whole series of portraits here.  

As soon as I find the time, I will post some out-takes. As much as I love that this project is helping me to capture a few better-than-my-usual shots each week, I am finding it increasingly difficult to choose just one, and leave behind other moments which tell an equally important story of this sweet boy's life!

13/52

First wander amongst the mangroves.

 
Another week where it was so very hard to choose an image. The curious gaze, the piercing eyes or the heart-melting smelling of a wildflower? (The curious gaze won the day.) This shot was taken on a day out to a part of our island home we don't often get to. A place where the tides are big, and there's plenty to explore at low tide.

I love that his understanding about the world is being shaped by where we live. His language is of mangroves and soldier crabs, sand dunes and pandanus, the sunset and the moonrise. He knows the night-time song of the curlews. What the gnarls of the banksia trunk feel like when he hugs it good morning. And he can smell a campfire at the drop of a bushman's hat.

Joining in with Jodi.

You can see the whole series of portraits here.

Happy Easter! We'll be having a quiet one, as K works and E and I recover from a fairly sleepless teething night. Made good with spelt sourdough buns with green ginger wine soaked fruit!

12/52

Little merman, eyes to the sea.

When weather permits, we mostly spend our afternoons at the beach. Lately he has become a little merman, unruffled by the sea, launching himself into its arms. He flings himself here and there in a game of giggles and bravery. So much seawater swallowed. He loves salt! It is high time for swimming lessons.

I loved this little mischief maker from last week.

Joining in with Jodi.

You can see the whole series of portraits here.

11/52

"Ellery do it!"

The only time I had the camera out this week, he raced right over to me and wanted to click the shutter button. We sat in front of the mirror and he clicked away. So this shot is technically his.

Joining in with Jodi.

You can see the whole series of portraits here. 

10/52

My kingdom for those curls.

"Sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory."

I've been looking back on baby photos and hearing this acknowledgement from the sage Doctor Seuss rebounding around my head.

As much as I try to be in the moment, and as much as I am in the moment, the moment passes. All too quickly. And its value accrues.

Is it ever really possible to know the true value of the present? 

I am evermore committed to memory-making. 
 
So many out-takes that are above being just out-takes this week from a lovely afternoon in the garden, playing in piles of freshly cut grass.

Joining in with Jodi.

You can view the whole series of portraits here.

9/52

Concentration. Sorting beans.

I had a few portraits to choose from this week. This one is super grainy but I just love those long lashes. I gave him some dried beans in a bowl, along with a cup and a scoop. It entertained him for a good 20 minutes - the longest he has ever sat still and engaged in an activity! I'd been wanting to give this to him for a while but was worried he'd just eat the beans. He did try to taste one towards the end!

The things I'm finding hardest with this portrait series are the lack of light in this house, my still unresolved lens issues, and trying to capture a toddler in perpetual motion. The conjunction of these things - oh, along with the weather limiting our time outside - is making it somewhat difficult to get anything in reasonable focus.

I am loving stumbling upon some great new (to me) blogs through this project. So many portraits from last week to love, but I really have a soft spot for this one of little Sage. 

Joining in with Jodi.

You can see the whole series of portraits here.