I’ll announce the winner of a mini day in a life session with me in one week (Feb 28th)!
{click on each image to enlarge}

2012:

Watching clients grow over the years is, by far, my favorite part of the business of photography!  It really does make you realize how fast these moments pass us by.  After capturing this sweet boy over the years I had forgotten what he looked like as a newborn.  Therefore, I dug out this first image in my archives.   Yes, just as I remembered - as adorably cute as he is today!  And there is something about his expression above that pulls me in.  Maybe it’s because it’s an expression new to me from this little man… growing up… and still captivating me.

We gave him his first balloon on his first Valentine’s day. 

He was completely fascinated…

it stayed with him most of the day.

Until it popped at our Valentine’s picnic. 

Those are the sad pictures.  So for now, I choose to share these.

I love this holiday!  Above right is what the kids gave to their friends and teachers.  Addi put together her valentines completely on her own (including cutting paper, hole-punch, names etc, and I only helped tie some of the bracelets).  They both had a blast at their parties and (as I remember so well as a kid) enjoyed going through the cards several times over.

already buddies

already restling

already telling secrets

already breaking hearts (okay, maybe just mine for now… hopefully “just mine” for a very very long time because the thought alone breaks my heart) 

Is it the impatient excitement approaching “Daddy time”?

Or maybe a blood sugar thing?

Or they sense the energy of me being ready to wave the red flag and hand the kids over to Dad?

Or maybe it’s an attention thing, given that us moms are either in the kitchen preparing dinner or picking up after mini tornadoes that ran through the house…

I don’t know what causes it, but I do know that an afternoon walk outside can cure it!

But if I didn’t bring with the blanket for Addi I would have been photographing tears.  Yea, you’d never know it was a bit chilly given Westin with his shirt off.

we’ll take pictures instead

10 months and these two no longer see their crib before lunch is served

To enter, send a photo to heather@heatherwalkerphotos.com that you took of your child doing something that you want to remember from their childhood.  This doesn’t have to be specific.  It can be as simple as an expression or more specifically the way your child ate noodles from a straw.  It’s your life, show it as so.  Don’t miss an opportunity of capturing your child’s life because you are frustrated with the images your camera produces or you don’t feel your camera is fancy enough.  Who cares.  Your children don’t; especially years from now as they find this image that has helped them remember their beautiful childhood.  Use your phone’s camera!  I do, almost every day.  Because it’s readily available, easy, and good enough to capture most of life’s spontaneous moments.  Again, this is not about technically correct photos, but lovely memories. 

I will share all the images here to be voted on. 

Then, you tell your friends to come take a look at all the inspiration from all you fabulous mommies (and daddies) and then they too will start taking more pictures of their children’s lives. 

Why? Because we (us and our children) want to remember childhood.  AND, I’m extremely passionate about encouraging others to take pictures of their little lovelies!

The catch?  The person with the most votes wins a “don’t forget a thing” lifestyle session with me!!!  I can’t wait to meet your story!

When? I’ll give you two weeks to send one image to me.  I’d like to encourage you to take at least one photo every day and then submit your favorite after the two weeks!  Fun – right!?

The image above I took yesterday of Westin just for this post. It definitely defines Westin’s childhood of being defiant because jumping on the couch is something we’d prefer our kids didn’t do but yesterday I had to choose my battles. So why not document it!