The young father holds his infant son’s tiny feet in his palms and wonders about the enormity of the task ahead of him. For now, it is enough to hold and protect his son and wife. 
Family
The Joy of Reading
As I was wrapping up a family photo session tonight, I decided to try a lighting technique I had read about online. I’m pretty happy with the result. 
Captured
My favorite shots are those I capture when they don’t know they’re being photographed. I caught this as I was setting up for the bridal party’s outdoor portrait during a recent wedding shoot. Pure joy! That’s what I see here.
My 1st time on the ice… Thank you, Daddy!
Today, my older son and I took my granddaughter (umm…his daughter) ice skating. It was heartwarming to watch him teach her; he was patient, encouraging, loving, and fun.
I believe that if more children could spend time with their fathers, our world would be a lot better place.
My younger son became a father two days ago, and I can’t wait to watch him teach and play with his daughter. I know that he too will be a patient, encouraging, loving and fun father.
2:28 PM: It’s slippery. It didn’t look slippery from behind the glass.
2:29 PM: Hi, I think I might like this…maybe…um, not so sure.
2:30 PM: This might be fun.
2:34 PM: This is awesome!
2:38 PM: I might be getting the hang of this.
2:54 PM: When my legs get tired, I can count on Daddy for fun!
3:22 PM: No need for the walker! I’ve got Daddy!
My favorite models
I haven’t posted shots of my favorite model recently; now her little sister joins her and I have two favorites.
For the first two, I was practicing off-camera flash.
Halloween Candy Overload
The leather couch reflected the light horribly, so I added a sheet as backdrop.
Day after Halloween…see the chocolate face?
Granddaughter #2
She’s starting to flirt with the camera.
Just for fun, the night-before-full-moon. Did you know it’s known as the Beaver Moon?
It will be a full moon tomorrow night.
“Hold Daddy’s hand.”
When you’re little and find yourself amidst a loud, alluring, and sometimes frightening world, it’s nice to have daddy’s hand to hold onto.
My son and granddaughter at the state fair
An Ordinary Day
Many bloggers focus their blogs, concentrating on photography, for example, or poetry, political commentary, educational issues, or dietary advice.
My blog is entitled Ramblings: Exploring the Ordinary. It is just that: a rambling assortment of photography, writing, explorations, musings. It is an eclectic mix of this and that, and it focuses on the ordinary aspects of life with an extraordinary event thrown in for spice.
What could be more ordinary, and EXTRAORDINARY, than children?
If you’ve followed this blog for even a few months, you know that I treasure my granddaughters, who are now 3 years old and 6 months old. One of the best things about retirement is that I have the wonderful opportunity to spend time with these two delightful little human beings.
Of course, I have been convinced that they are brilliant, precocious, and advanced far beyond other children (not to mention just flat out cute). It’s been 31 years since my sons were this age, and I haven’t hung around many children in the interim, so I really do not know what is typical for a 3 year old or a 6 month old.
Can you imagine my surprise (and a little dismay) when I read a handout from the pediatrician today about the normal development of a 6 month old baby?
According to the doctor’s literature, she’s right on track! She’s not leaping tall buildings or soaring above her fellow babies. But, you know what? That’s wonderful. She’s healthy, she’s happy, and she is developing just fine.
Today was the first day I caught her sweet little smile on camera. Previously, she’d laugh and giggle, and just when I’d put the camera to my face, she’d stop and so seriously study the absurd box I’d put between us.
Her older sister has always been my favorite model, but I believe that I now have two favorites.
Practicing with my favorite model
Grandmothers
I did not spend much time with her. I wish I had. I wanted to tell her about my granddaughters back in the states and ask about her life in China. She looks as if she is about my age, which means that she probably lived through the Cultural Revolution. I wanted to find out what she was doing when I was capturing fireflies in the Mason jar and sitting on the crank ice-cream maker … the burlap bag covering the cold…ever so cold ice…while we awaited the sweet most delicious treat in all the world…….. Did she have that? Was there a time when she sat with her grandfather in eager anticipation of that fabulous reward? In those few moments, we shared an unspoken joy…a love of our grandchildren. 
Baby Feet
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
Soon my infant granddaughter will be running on these feet!
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