159 - Caption Contest

Newborns amaze me. If you're around me when I'm around a newborn, chances are I'll be doing the following three things:

1. Holding the baby (for hours, if you let me)
2. Staring at the child with my mouth half open, smiling, my eyes happily lit up
3. Saying something along the lines of, "I just can't believe it! He's such a real little person!"

I've done more than my fair share of babysitting in life (I started at age 10), yet I just don't think I'll ever get over the awe of a newborn. It really is incredible to me to witness those new little people. From their tiny little fingers and toes, to the first time you see them open their eyes, to the way they identify Mom so easily, to how they find a way communicate when they need something... it's simply breathtaking to watch the smallest people you know live their lives.

One thing I especially love are the variety of faces these little people can make. Jack made my day with some of his expressions, and I thought I'd share a few outtakes with you. (And tell me if you can't already imagine him as the "grumpy" old grampa everyone loves!)

However, I'm gonna shake things up a bit: YOU get to write the captions! Over the next week, leave your caption(s) for the photos in the comments section (at the end of this post), then I'll update this post with the ones I find most entertaining. I know, not the most amazing prize, but hey, nobody can argue about the cuteness of the subject. =)

UPDATE: The caption winners are listed below! 

"Did I look like I wanted to be woken up? No, I didn't."  (from Jacob)

"Mmm, let me give that one some thought..." (from Barb)

"Ommmm, Ommmm... I'm practicing yoga... Ommmm, Omm...zzz zzz zzz..." (from Jacob)

"How many times do I have to tell you? I'm a Michigan State fan, not a U of Michigan fan! Please don't insult me again!" (from... myself... because it's so true in this family!)

158 - Roscoe

Even though Jack is Kristin and Dave's first son.... he already has a big brother. Meet Roscoe:

While Roscoe wasn't around for too many of the photos, we did catch him a little at the beginning. He's a pretty darn protective big brother, after all, and had to make sure everything was okay with Jack. Cute family, huh?

157 - Love's Hands

Little Jack does a fantastic job of being just plain adorable all by himself. However, I think when you witness the total love and adoration that Kristin and Dave have for him, and the incredible tenderness with which they care for him, what you see crosses the line from adorable into absolutely precious. There's just nothing like being in the hands of Mom & Dad...

156 - Little Jack

Oooooh! I'm so excited to share these photos with you! 

I know I'm super behind on posting things -- I tried to take photos to Seattle with me to edit, and let's just say, I had some issues. So, no work got done in the month of August. However! I'm back now, and I'm so delighted (truly) to share these images of sweet baby Jack. 

Jack is the son (and firstborn) of my dear friend, Kristin. In her previous (maiden) life, Kristin was known as Ms. Cain and taught down the hall from me during our Teach For America years. She taught 3rd, I taught 2nd, and we shared many laughs, tears, frustrations, and joys during those first years of teaching. I'm not sure I would have survived without her! 

Needless to say, she and her husband, Dave, got married a couple years ago, and have now welcomed little Jack into the family. We'd talked about doing newborn photos in mid July, but Jack was pretty anxious to get started on life, and made his entrance about 3 weeks early. While we didn't get newborn newborn photos, he was still pretty tiny 3 weeks in (as you can see), and so adorable, incredible, and beyond wonderful. Am I gushing yet? =)

Kristin: I love you, I think! Thanks for letting me hang out with you and your boys. Congrats again, you two!

155 - The Secret Garden

Ok, our garden may not itself be a secret, but we do actually have a secret in our garden...

Yup, we inherited a grape vine. A very old, very established grape vine. And we had so many grapes this year, that even giving them away to friends and neighbors, there were still far more than we could eat. This is the first time in my life I've really had fresh, homegrown grapes on a consistent basis, and they definitely taste different -- more sweet and more sour all at once (but a sweet kind of sour). They're much smaller than the ones in the grocery store, but, um, also much better.

154 - Tomatoes Galore

Remember a long time ago, how I was telling you Josh and I have a garden in our teeny, tiny, Philly rowhouse backyard? Well. I figured it was time to give you the update. 

But I have a disclaimer: these photos are from before we left for Seattle. Meaning, in July. You still get to take a peak because, let's be honest, they look delicious, right?! Even if it is just the tomatoes, and they're not all totally ripe yet. Don't worry, there will be more -- photos, produce, and ripeness. In the meantime, just enjoy. =)

153 - Change & Giggles

Changes, changes, everywhere! It's a tough thing, change. But I'm trying out a new look here.

While I LOVE the design of my old blog template (the design at the top just made me happy looking at it), it wasn't one I was able to adjust to be wide enough for the photo width I'd like. So, I'm not crazy about any designs I've found yet... but I'm just going to be playing around with it and see if I can find something I like. 

In the meantime, I decided to keep us grounded with a little more of Miss Molly and her awesome parents, Megan & Justin. We can't have too much change going on all at once, and plus, this little girl and her smiles are sure to brighten your day. Can you hear the giggles yet? 

152 - Buddha Belly

When I first arrived at Megan & Justin's to take photos, Josiah was still down for his nap. We spent some time hanging around with Megan, Justin, and Molly... but pretty soon we decided we needed some Josiah action, too. 

Megan went and woke him up, and then a change of clothes was in order. I thought this sequence was particularly cute -- especially Josiah's buddha belly shot. Are you always this happy when you wake up? ;)

151 - Molly Grace

Little miss Molly Grace turned one just a few days ago, so I thought I'd better feature one of this wonderfully adorable little girl!

150 - I'm Back! Really! I am!

Wow... did I really just disappear for about a month and a half? Well, yes, yes I did!

I spent the month of August with my family in Seattle, and have been getting back into the swing of things in Philly over the last week. I have no excuses for being gone, other than that while my absence from here was unplanned, the time away itself was my "sabbatical" of sorts and a much, much needed time of rest. And yes, you'll be getting some Seattle photos, for sure. =)

I'm not even going to try backdating things anymore... I'm just going to post as I go and try to get back in the swing of things.


To start off, I've got a quick one of Megan, Justin, Josiah, and Molly!

This is actually one of my favorite shots of their family. Because Molly and Josiah are so close in age (about 6 months), and still both in the baby category, there's always a lot going on when. Megan and Justin do an incredible job of taking care of both of them and paying attention to both in a way I just don't think I could do! They balance and share the care of the Josiah and Molly perfectly, and I think this photo very much illustrates the crazy, wonderful, fun, fantastic love and joy they bring to their family each day.