:)

Hi Everyone! Just checking in to say hello --- besides fighting ear infections :( we're all doing well - and staying warm! Think we're all feeling ready for winter to be done... and as Quinn asks..."when is this snow gonna be out of here?!?!"

So, Aunt Annie would be proud to hear this! :)
The other night I made a chicken roaster for dinner. Quinn was excited to get a leg...but soon the conversation took a different twist. He started asking where this chicken came from, and when realizing it was an animal...said "WE CAN'T EAT ANIMALS DAD!!!" "WAS IT ALIVE? HOW DID IT GET LIKE THIS? WHERE DID IT COME FROM?" aaggghhh --- so we tried to discuss it on a surface level...very surface I might add ---- and I even offered to just give him some meat not the leg. You could see the wheels turning - as he sat there staring at his plate, hand in his hair, head tipped to the side --- a vision of contemplation! I asked him if he was going to eat any, and if he was okay... he threw his arm down and said "I JUST CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT THIS!!!!" Not really sure what to do - other than let it be what it is...feel free to share personal experiences or tips if you have any!!!

Keira has been playing a little game with me that she finds quite funny... Here's our dialog...

"Mommy - I'm not your baby doll ANY...MORE!..........now cry! --- cry Mommy!" I begin to cry...and she comes over rubbing my head saying "It's okay honey, I'm your baby doll now...."

Little buggers!

Last thing I wanted to share is that I recently applied/joined a group called NILMDTS - it stands for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep ---- it's an organization that helps parents grieve the loss of a baby - particularly one that has been stillborn or passes shortly after delivery. There are Photographers who volunteer their services - go the hospital, and photograph the baby and their familes. I've been thinking on this for quite some time, questioning if I could really do it - and then feeling bad that me being afraid of the sadness it would make me feel - was outweighing what these poor families go through ---- so I've sat on it for a while...and recently it kind of feel in my lap - and I contacted the organization to apply. I've spoke on the phone with the area coordinator here - who said there is only about 5 photographers currently in the capital district, and b/c of this they can really only service Albany Med. - but do try to help the other hospitals here if there is not a need in Albany. I plan on "shadowing" on the next session - so I can see first hand if this can be something I can do, and give of myself. We'll see, but I really, really hope that I can --- and it warms my heart to think of being able to share my photography gift in a way that will help heal their hearts... I guess the today show did a piece on this last year... here's the link if you want to see it.
http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/events/article/11/

Hope you're all doing well - and we'll be intouch soon!
:) xxooo genine