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Change.

Ike.

I write this while sitting in the dark using the little battery life my laptop has left. I will post it once I can steal an internet connection from some lucky soul.

We are still without power and a return to normalcy seems just outside of arm's reach. Right now being without power is as bad as it is for us, so we are lucky. We are just 1 of almost 2 million, so we are not alone. Unlucky are those who lost everything. My parents live on the Texas coast, one block from the beach of Galveston Bay. Or should I say they 'lived' there. My dad decided to stay and weather the storm. Once it was all said and done, I would consider him to be of that later group; lucky to be alive, but in most other ways - unlucky.

He called at some point over the weekend after the storm had passed, although right now my days are running together so I'm not sure when the call came. During the course of that phone call the only thing I remember was him saying "it is gone, everything is gone". Ike rolled in and swallowed my parent's house and car and in that moment stole 47 years of a man's life. Yes houses and cars and their contents are replaceable, they are mere material belongings, but you can't help but think about everything you have and how you would feel if it were gone in an instant. Every photo, every gift, anything you have clung to for sentimental value...gone.

There are times in your life when you see something and it is forever burned into your mind. You look back at that image and see life as it was exactly in that moment. Most of the time those are good memories, or at least you hope those are the ones that get engraved, but every once in a while you see an image that changes you and no matter how you try you can't force it out of your brain. I will never be able to erase the snapshot my brain took when my dad walked into my house. Yes he is the same man, but he is changed. His eyes were blank and wearing nothing but shorts, a ragged t-shirt and work boots, he carried what was left of his belongings in a plastic grocery bag. His entire 47 years in a half filled, white, plastic Walgreens bag.

My mother lost just as much as my father but because she was at our house she was spared the torment of watching it all fade away. She is devastated that she will never again see a photo of her mother and the only things she has left of her are memories. I think the oddest moment for some would have been the look of absolute horror when she realized her iron skillet was gone; to most just a pot, but for my mom it was so much more. Yes it was a pot, but she used it to cook meals for her family when many times a meal was all we had to cling to.

I can't begin to imagine how they feel and I really don't know where to steer them from here. Life will go on and most of this will become a far off distant memory, I'm just not sure when that time will come and how it will get here. I am so thankful for my friends that have fed us for the last 5 days and offered us a washing machine and a hot shower. They have literally given my dad the clothes of of their backs. They are incredible and it helps me understand just how truly lucky we are.

~~~

On a lighter note, oh to be two and unable to comprehend the magnitude of the life surrounding you. Here are a few photos from Oliver 'weathering the storm' with his chocolate chip muffins and sloppy joe picnic.

My baby.

It happened. I tried to stop it. I thought if I didn’t bring it up the universe would somehow stand still, I was wrong. June 21^st came and went, he is another year older. It doesn’t seem like it has been two entire years. I don’t know where the time went and I certainly can’t find that tiny six pound baby I gave birth to. He has disappeared and I have only a few, very blurry, sleep deprived memories of that baby.

Most days I can look at him and I don’t remember life prior to June 20, 2006. He seems this little being that has always been there, yes now he is literally got his head stuck up my ass, but in some way he has always been a part of us. When they gave him to me, no he didn’t look like me and I argued that I wasn’t sure he was mine, but I knew, I think you always just know. What I didn’t know, what no one told me was that it would be so fleeting. Yes I hated the baby days, the screaming, the pooping, and oh lord the puking. It was horrible, but it didn’t last long.

Oh his second birthday he is a big boy, he is an independent boy, he questions everything and EVERYTHING must be on his terms. Some days I think if I hear “What’s that?” one more time I will poke my eye balls out, but I know that in exactly one year from now I will be sitting in this same place wondering where that inquisitive little boy went and trying to grasp at any solid memory of this kid in this moment.

When I was a child regardless of my age my mother would always say “but you will always be my baby” and I thought she was pretty much off of her rocker and maybe she is, but I understand that statement now. It won’t matter how big he gets, how ornery he is, or the mistakes he will make, he will always and forever be my first born, my ‘baby’.

Oliver & his idol, Baleigh, my sister's first born, her baby.

WS Photo on baby cooking vacation.

Well I have decided to take a photography break this year. My uterus has a new resident and it seems they enjoy making me sick. So because I doubt there are many people that would enjoy a photo session with me and my puke bucket, I have decided to stop for now. Between a 2 year old, a full time job and my body’s newest leech, I am pretty exhausted.

I have big plans for the website when I return though! New pricing, new package structuring and a whole new look; it will be FIERCE!

Baby Version 2.0 is expected to arrive on or around Halloween, so please stop back by between not and then to enjoy this monstrosity they call pregnancy with me!

A few old friends.

I took a couple photos for some old friends. They are adorable even though they don't know it. LOL

Mommy-colored glasses.

When you look at your own child you see this perfect little being. Yes he is crabby and throws fits at the slightest little disruption, but he looks absolutely perfect. Mommy-colored glasses block out all imperfection and oddity, you see your child in a way other people don't. And then it happens, you see a video or take a photo and you ask yourself, "Who is THAT kid?". Only to realize that is your kid and that is how other people see them. It is a shocking revelation.

This photo was that moment for me. Don't get me wrong he is still the cutest thing on the planet, but never had I realized he is a CHUNK!!! I give him a bath daily yet he never seems quite so hefty.

He is an odd kid and yes he wears underwear over his pull-up. I can not explain why he has the need to do this.

Please forgive the horrible lighting and the fuzziness.

Great, now I am a dude!!

My child has given me a complex. If you don’t watch Scooby Doo please google the show characters before you read this so that I don’t have to further explain this embarrassment.

While at my sister’s house in Denver, Oliver was playing with my 3 year old niece Avarie. She was showing him her Scooby action figures, which we all know are very exciting! So Oliver is thrilled with his knowledge of these wonderful new toys.

Later that day I was giving him a bath, he insisted on bringing a bucket of toys into the bathtub. So while he is in the bathtub he is telling me in his own language all about the toys he has brought.

With much enthusiasm he introduces me to his new friends:

He shows me Scooby….Cooby!

He shows me a horse….Horsy!

He shows me Shaggy….Saggie!

And then he did it…

He showed me Freddie….MOMMY!

NOOOOOO!!!!! For a woman with short hair this is the same thing as your child looking at you and telling you that you are fluffy. I am devastated. I will grow my hair now.

Here a pig, there a pig.

I went to the rodeo to meet with my favorite pig lovin peeps this weekend. We took some fun photos. I don't recommend the rodeo when you aren't feeling well though. Pigs just plain stink!! LOL

These kids are awesome, they will do almost any random thing I ask them to do. LOL Click to view this picture in a larger size; it helps.


The real reason they were there...the pigs. You have to admit he is a little cute.



"Did the doctor make my new nose look natural?"

Got a pony for sale?

This face stays hidden. It only comes out for extremely exciting events. In the life of Oliver excitement worthy of this face is few and far between. I guess we need to buy a pony now, so that his life will be filled with these smiles and gleeful screeching.

What are little boys made of?

Snips, Snail, puppy dog tails and the occasional pedicure.

Thoughts of a 20 month old.

I swear this is what he must be thinking as we go about our daily routine. The exhaustion of a having a newborn is nothing in comparison to trying to keep up with a curious toddler.

Mom: Oliver, you can only take 2 cars.
Oliver: Okay, I will put one in my mouth and it doesn’t count.

Mom: Oliver, leave the puppy on the chair.
Oliver: Okay, but he has been there for 5 seconds; now he can get up right?

Mom: Oliver, don’t drink the bath water.
Oliver: Okay, I will just pour it over my head with my mouth open. That isn’t drinking, it is catching.

Mom: Oliver, it is time for bed.
Oliver: Clean up, Clean up. If I put the cars back in the bucket one at a time that will buy me another 20 minutes.

Mom: Oliver put your shoes on.
Oliver: But I would rather wear them on my hands.

Mom: Oliver, stop throwing the ball.
Oliver: Okay, I will bounce the ball towards the wall.

Mom: Oliver it is time to go, we are running late.
Oliver: Okay, but I need to pet Chester, put up my cars, get the dog from the chair and I almost forgot to scream for my milk and a gingerbread cookie.

He is exhausting, he pushes my buttons, he gets into everything, but I wouldn't trade him for the world. He is absolutely perfect in every way.

Yes we can.

I rarely, if ever discuss politics. I think people form assumptions based on your political stance and I don't agree with that. Now having said that I will share this video. Not because of the policital position, but because I think it is an absolutely amazing message.

Beautiful.

Night & Day.

On the left - Ewan - quiet, laid-back, observant...the angel.
On the right - Oliver - intense, obsessive, argumentative...the instigator.

The differences between them are night and day, yet they seem to make it work.


When they profess their love for one another I don't think anyone will be shocked. :)

The silent treatment.

E: I don't want to talk to you.
O: I don't want to talk to you either.
E: Fine then.
O: Whatever.

A few of my favorite things.

I have had a couple people ask me what my house looks like. They act like I am strange when I explain that everything is black and white. I mean literally everything.

Here are a couple pictures of my dining room walls. These are some of my favorite things. The photographs were the first I took. They made up my portfolio for my first photography class.

(I won't show you the entire room until we get our new dining table. HEHE)

These are the shoes Oliver wore to his baptism.

I bought these blocks before Oliver was born and decided I needed them more than he did. HAHA

The perfect baby shoes.

I think everyone that has a baby should buy a pair of these slippers. I happen to think they are the cutest pair of shoes ever made. I like them so much that I think I will take a pair to my next newborn photo session.


Check out more designs by Pretty Little.

A small makeover.

Thanks to my fantabulous friend Stefanie Burt, my little website got a little makeover. Please stop by and check out my new digs!

wendischoffstall[photography]

Wedding feet.

Funny thing about feet...I actually hate them. I will lose my mind if a pair of bare feet get close enough to actually touch me. But I love to photograph feet. Here are some wedding feet...yes one set is actually mine. Gotta love that nifty little remote shutter!

Somewhere between a baby and a boy.

When did this happen? The last time I looked he was a baby. It didn't last long enough. I'm not ready for big boy things. Can't I stop time and make him stay forever in this place...somewhere between a baby and a boy??

The first.

Baleigh...my sister's first daughter, my parent's first grandchild, my first niece, the first child to steal a small piece of my heart. She loves all things most little girls hate...bugs, dirt, superhero capes and ninja turtles. She has an almost hilarious distaste for dresses. This photo was taken when she was 3 and it is still my favorite. It is Baleigh in a nutshell.


She is 7 now, in her terms I'm sure it is 7 and one month. She has grown so quickly, and is at that annoying and way too awkward stage. She likes things 'big kids' like now; but if you look closely every once in a while you can still see the remnants of the same girl holding that lizard. My sister recently relocated to Denver, Colorado and I think harder than my sister moving, has been Baleigh moving.

Oliverpalooza!!!

It has been quite sometime since I have taken photos of Oliver. So this weekend I followed him around with the camera. The older he gets the more comments I get that he looks like me...but I still don't see it. He looks like his daddy's mini-me in my eyes. I do agree that he is the cutest thing on the planet though. HAHAHAHA

Dinner with the king...

Looks a little like this: