Archive for the ‘Personal’ Category

It’s nearly impossible for me to hold back my tears, as it is for her. We both know that it’s just what has to happen, but that doesn’t make it any easier. As I walk away, pushing the stroller with one hand, holding my bags with the other, I make a point to wave until I can no longer see them. I know she will do the same. I enter the line of waiting travelers, and try to hold it together. Soon the flurry and stress of getting myself through security distracts me for a bit. Doing that alone used to be hard enough; with a stroller and bags, not to mention another pair of shoes to take off and on, makes it a tad bit more difficult. I see another mom who has two, how does she do it?

We settle in at our gate, open my Macbook, and she will be entertained by Woody and Buzz Lightyear, yet again, until boarding time. These few minutes of in between time allows the tears to creep back into my eyes. I can feel them stinging and welling. I text her that we got through the mayhem without a glitch, and I think I forgot Kung Fu Panda. And that I miss her already. She replies asking me why did I have to grow up? This just puts it over the edge. Not only because I feel the same way, that I’m sad to leave her and where I grew up, but also that one day I will be in her shoes. I already get emotional thinking about how Evelyn is not a baby anymore. She is still my baby, but not a baby.

Every time I go home, I dread it for the reason that I know I’ll shortly have to say good bye again. But, while I’m there, I make a point to soak in every moment. We spend a lot of time taking walks, and playing out back, in my mom’s garden. My mom is constantly re-inventing her space so that every time I go back, there are new details to capture. It’s a place where Evelyn can actually run around without me worrying, where my mom and I can sit in the early morning and drink our coffee, where I create memories of Evelyn through the many pictures taken back there, where we eat crabs, visit with friends, and just be with one another.

As I’m in the airport, feeling sad, or sitting here, missing her again, these are the memories I think about…

Classic Ev.

Absolutely love this photo. I feel like everything about it, the light, the colors, the softness, the simplicity, is exactly how I’d define my style.

My “little” brother Taylor. When did he grow up?

Off centered. A little different. That is how this company likes to describe, and market, itself. And, it’s worked. What started as a 12 gallon per batch brewery has grown to 3000 gallon per batches. One man’s vision and passion has grown into probably much more than he had ever planned on, or imagined.

As part of our beach week experience, we took a little field trip to the Dogfish Head Brewary in Milton, DE. It was a rainy, overcast day, and perfect for such an outing. I wasn’t exactly prepared to be inspired, but I was. Even though I really didn’t hear much after the initial introduction (Evelyn wasn’t amused), those first few minutes were all I needed to hear. It just gave me a boost, a little slice of encouragement, to have the idea reinforced that much can come from little given the vision, hard work, and maybe even a little luck, all come together.

These are my “off centered” shots, which I absolutely love, especially as B&W.

I told her she wasn’t allowed to smile…

And soon after got this. This trick always works!

Poor Gwen. And, yes, that is my daughter’s hand…

As we were just about to leave, I spotted this old red truck that I immediately wanted to shoot. I wanted a full framed shot of the entire truck, but given my tight lens and the road, I couldn’t trust Evelyn not to run out in the street without being an arms length away. I have my mommy hat on first

Before yet another ice cream run to Town (I have, for sure, eaten more ice cream this week than in the past six months combined), I took the two little Paul Frank models aside and snapped away. Then, all 5 of the cousins appeared, 3 were already in the bed of the truck playing (we had no idea this would be so much fun, we’ve had a blocked in play pen right in front of us all this time), and I had to seize the opportunity. In between Evelyn pulling on Isabelle’s hood, much to her horror and Evelyn’s delight, and trying to coax Jethro to the end of the truck to sit down, it took some serious manpower to get the shot. A quick progression of events can be seen below

Not sure why Evelyn looks angry, maybe because we interrupted her play time…