16 Months Old

 

   

 

 

If some of the adults I've photographed posed half as well as Fiona...

 

   

 

 

How fast she has grown. Have a look back to see her four month photo.

She's very good about not touching what she shouldn't, in fact, she always gingerly steps around any light stands or gear, but no tree means no temptation. We're going to my parents' for Christmas so we'll enjoy their tree and set ours up again, next year.

 

   

 

 

I have no doubt my mom will recognize my favourite Christmas book, from when I was a kid, in Fiona's hands.

One Fast, Blurry, Incredible Year Later

 

  12 Months 1 by Jay Scott on 500px

This post went live to the minute exactly one incredible year after our dear Fiona was born. We are so grateful for her health, her vitality, her smile, her babbling, her affection and even for her consistent 12 hours or more of sleep each night. She has been very easy on us and we will do our best to remember that and continue to be patiently loving when she is having more trying times.

As many of you probably remember, we had a very wonderful discovery while Angie and I were dating. It was a photo of each of us on one of these tractors at relatively the same age, both wearing yellow pajamas. When my dad found another one of these tractors, long before Fiona was visible in our future, we cautiously discussed how cool it would be to duplicate that photo with her. Behold!

It wouldn't have been the same photo without the glaring on camera flash. Remembering the photos, we were both critical of our dads for taking them from too tall of a position. However, looking at them, they both were sitting and it actually was a pretty good angle. Ironically, we found it more difficult to make a photo that looked unflattering than we did to make the first and last photos in this post. And, for the record, Angie gets the credit for the middle shot. She definitely knows how to make our baby laugh, giggle and smile.

So, happy first birthday, my dear little Fiona! Thank you for bringing so much wonderful life into our lives and bringing us daily deep love and awe. Your deep belly laugh and toothy smile, with your wrinkly nose, cannot be matched.

 

  12 Months 2 by Jay Scott on 500px

Our Deck Guest

 

  Wolf Spider by Jay Scott on 500px

A good photo should evoke a reaction from people. I know that the reactions will certainly be mixed about the first one in this post.

As the title indicates, we have had a guest making good use of the structures on our deck to make its web. I wasn't sure how large the spider would get, starting from the tiny little thing that it was. But, I've intentionally left the web alone so it had the opportunity to grow. A few days ago I tried to rescue a few damselflies in distress but they were too wrapped up in webbing and died shortly after I freed them.

It took a few days for the spider to rebuild its web, especially as a new smaller spider of a different genus moved in and was competing for the web presence. Last night they had a small face-off just before I made this shot. With this heat and today's smokiness, I wonder how much longer this growing arachnid has, especially as it is getting too large for its usual hiding spots. I will keep watching and make a few more shots as it grows.

A huge credit goes to Angie and her boundless love and devotion as she helps me set up flashes, at 10:30 at night to make a picture of something she doesn't care to see much of. Credit goes further to her for making the two photos of myself and Fiona coming in the next post.

My apologies if you will be humming the Spiderman theme for the rest of the day…

Long Awaited Breakfast

Yesterday morning, while enjoying some coffee and sun on the deck, I heard a distressed buzzing beside us. It sounded like a fly caught in a spiderweb. It was a small wasp.

After days of rain, and little insect activity outside, I imagine the spiders were getting hungry. This catch will keep him fed for awhile.

Arachnid's Breakfast by Jay Scott