Henry's 3 Year Photos

Since I had Saturday off of work and our schedule for the next few weeks is packed to the max, I took advantage of the free time and took Henry's 3 year photos. Having an ice-cream theme for his birthday this year has turned out to be SO MUCH FUN! Don't you agree?

(If you live in my area and are interested in having photos done, contact me through my website: www.oveycreations.com - Pleasant Hill, Troy, and Dayton, Ohio Lifestyle and Child Photographer)

Stranger Compliments

I got one of the best compliments from a stranger yesterday.
Henry, Jeremy and I went to the drag-strip last night - something I haven't done since Henry was in my belly and something Henry hasn't ever experienced at all. It was KilKare's 'Night of Fire' so essentially - they had some big stuff that blew big flames and that scared the crap out of both myself and Henry.
We arrived around 6:30 and watched car after car go down the track. Around 8 Henry got bored, which is understandable. It was hot, it was humid, and sitting in wooden bleachers with no protection and nothing else to do but watch cars for 1.5 hours is bound to get boring for a 2 year old. So, we decided to walk around and see what else we could see.
Jeremy has friends (old teachers) who had brought a funny-car to this event, so we knew that there were people out there that we knew. We walked up and down the grounds and out of the corner of my eye I saw a guy smiling and waving at us. I definitely didn't recognize him so I nudged Jeremy and said 'hey, do you know that guy?'
The answer was two-fold: "Not really, but I know who he is. He's the only teacher I didn't have in my program at Sinclair.'
So, we walked over to talk to the guy that I had never met and Jeremy just sort of knew and he immediately put all his attention on me: "I just had to stop you and tell you how much I love your pictures, you have to be the best photographer I've ever seen."
My heart stopped.
Wait? What? How many photographers has this guy even seen? And how? Where is he even seeing my pictures?
Of course I thanked him and we laughed about how much it helps that I have the BEST subject in the entire world. Then he went on to talk to Jeremy about cars and work and how the program at Sinclair was changing and evolving...and I just stood there, kinda stunned and kind of in awe.
It was the last place in the world that I would ever expect to receive such a compliment.
I definitely don't consider myself the 'best' at anything photography related but to hear someone, a complete stranger to me, compliment something I am so passionate about and working so hard to grow, well...that was priceless.
And while I refuse to let it go to my head, I really needed to hear that other people see me, and that they know what I'm doing and that they appreciate and admire my work. It's what keeps me pushing so hard to make this dream reality.
If you're working towards a dream - keep at it. It may seem like no one else in the world notices how hard you are trying but they do. It just may take running into a complete stranger in order to realize the impression you've made.

Daddy's Shop

7 Months

1 Year and 1 Month

2 years and 11 Months

Wednesdays with Grandpa

Do you know what day it is?
Every Wednesday I get a phone call around 11 a.m. and the man on the other line, my father-in-law, always says the same thing:
"Can I talk to Henry?"
Gee...thanks. I know, I know: the kid trumps all. I should just get used to it.
I promptly put Henry on the phone and the conversation continues:
"Henry, do you know what day it is?!"
Every Wednesday.
In case you haven't figured it out, I'll let Henry tell you exactly what day it is.

Grandpa is always elated to here those two little words and it never fails to hear him say:

"Henry, you just made my day!"

Welcome to my crazy family: where "Hump Day" may just be the two most special words shared between a boy and his grandpa.

Happy Wednesday!

A Day in My Life [June]

Gardening, strawberry picking, and spending a lot of time playing both in and outdoors. This has been our life for June - and I'll just let the photos speak for themselves.

Now go check out Sara's post.

Henry's 3rd Birthday Theme

I racked my brain for two long months to decide what 'theme' we were going to have for Henry's birthday this year. I asked him over and over again what he would like to have and he just kept telling me 'No party! CHOCOLATE CAKE MOMMY!' Okay, okay...to my dismay, I will be trading out the delicious butter pecan cake I've made the last two years for a chocolate one. Anything to please my boy!
Still, the fact that he really isn't into anything new and obviously doesn't care what we have did not make my decision easier. I honestly thought of just bright colors and the number 3, no big deal, no big theme, no hassle. Just a good old plain birthday party with friends and family...and chocolate cake. But this honestly made me sad. I LOVE planning his birthday every year, it's one of my absolute favorite things to do.
So I thought and thought and brainstormed and asked Henry over and over and over again if he would like 'this' party or 'that' party (and he always told me no) until finally I said 'Henry, do you want to have an ice-cream party this year with lots and lots of ice-cream and goodies to put on top?' and to my absolute pleasure and surprise, the kid got excited about it and said yes.
I had my theme and so I started brain-storming, browsing Pinterest, and coming up with fun ideas. I won't give all of those away yet - I'd rather photograph all the fun at his party next month, but I did finish (I think it's finished, tell me it's finished so I'll stop playing with it...) his invitation!

I think it turned out pretty cool. And because I like to be all nostalgic, here are the invitations I made from the first two years:

Henry's Planes, Trains & Automobile's 2nd birthday.

Henry's Puppy 1st birthday.

Outgrown

I need a new camera.
Okay. So maybe I don't need it. But I really, really want it.
The camera that I'm currently using is six years old. It's worn and beat up and it has served me such great purpose over these last six years. I love my camera and I may never, ever get rid of it. It is my first DSLR, my baby. I have learned and grown and been through so much with it that it's worth way more to me sentimentally than what it will ever be worth monetarily - which isn't much at this point.
But I have outgrown it. Truly - I have.
I'm having a really hard time explaining this to my husband. Although he's willing to start setting money aside for this investment, he also doesn't 'get' why a new camera will help me create better photos. He doesn't understand ISO or shutter speed or megapixels or the fact that a camera can only take so many 'clicks' before it begins to wear out.
I get that.
It's hard sometimes however to see someone go out and buy a new DSLR like it's a drop in the bucket while I have to wait and wait and wait. Although waiting will allow me more appreciation and more excitement when the time finally comes, it's still hard.
Anyway - here's a few photos captured with my beloved camera lately. Photos that I love. Photos that I can create even with a camera that is 'old and outdated'. Although I am waiting, I am still so extremely blessed.

Storytelling

Storytelling: one of my absolute favorite things and something I hope to specialize in photography wise in the future. The essence of childhood captured through a series of photos: priceless.