archives: Photos
Lovely Weekend
On Sunday, I went to D.C. with Melanie and Sig to catch the tail end of the cherry blossoms. While we were there, Mel snapped this shot of me and Ruthie together. I love it because of the emotion I get when I look at it. She won't be little for very long, and I really like having adventures with her.
@ April 13, 2008 9:58 PM
It's a Long Road
So I'm slowly but surely working on training Ruu (or Roux, as my french-loving friend Emily likes to spell it) to actually take naps. It makes her a much happier baby overall, although it can sometimes take as much as 20 minutes for her to give in to sleep. I don't let her scream and wail the whole time, of course... I set a timer for five minutes so that I *make* myself give her the chance to settle down on her own. If she's not settled after five minutes, I go in, check her diaper, see if her swaddling has come undone, pat her, comfort her as needed, and start the process again.
@ April 24, 2008 7:36 AM
a few thoughts on Ruu
It's gotten to the point where I'm not sure what constitutes Ruth News anymore, since everything she does FASCINATES me. All I know for absolute certainty is this: I love my daughter, deeply and completely.
There's really nothing like this romance and intimacy. Like marriage, it's a unique bond formed by hormones, time, will, and emotions. There is so much touch, so many hours, and so much effort put into the relationship that I can't help myself: I'll jump in front of a train for her.
@ May 28, 2008 4:10 PM
The Ruth Report
It's been quite awhile since I've written about Ruth, so here I go!
@ July 10, 2008 9:19 PM
There and Back Again
Tomorrow, I start teaching photography at Park Camps. It's a day camp, and the session I teach will last for three weeks. While I'm teaching, I have to leave Ruth behind.
@ July 13, 2008 4:26 PM
Houston, we have standing
When she gets up in the morning, she can now peek over the edge of the playpen and make noise until we notice her. It's wicked cute.
@ August 15, 2008 7:59 AM
Let me have that camera
Now that Ruthie can move around, she's very interesting in grabbing my camera, whereas before she used to just ignore me and smile at it.
Isn't she adorably monstrous in this fisheye shot?
@ October 2, 2008 10:55 AM
The Long Walk, and Exile to the Living Room
Ruth is definitely walking now. Absolutely, undeniably walking. She doesn't always initiate it, but it's clear that she's got a new kind of balance.
Please forgive the scary facial expression at the beginning.
@ October 17, 2008 7:21 AM
Eleven Months Today
In the last month, I haven't been so great about updating the family and all about Ruth's progress. Let me just say that it has been astounding.
@ November 7, 2008 9:43 AM
bathtime fun
What's great about this photo is that it's the complete antithesis of Ruthie's attitude in the bath, coupled with a Rembrandt-like style of lighting.
We are oh so seriously clean.
@ November 9, 2008 4:33 PM
three photos of the cutie
Some of my favorite photos of Ruthie of late:
Loves sticks.
Eats with THREE spoons.
And she's the cutest baby ever.
@ November 10, 2008 10:42 AM
One Year Ago
Ruth turns one today.
A year ago, I became a first-time mom. A squealing little five pound bundle was handed to me, and I got lost in a whole new world.
Today, Ruth turns one. She's walking, jabbering, interacting, giggling--her own little miracle of a person.
Today I am lucky to be her mom. I am lucky to have her in my life. Who knows what other worlds-within-persons I may get to meet as time goes on.
The road ahead is hard but beautiful and full of love.
Ruth, happy birthday!
@ December 7, 2008 11:41 AM
The Party
Ruth was such a crazy girl at her party. Here are some photos to prove it.
She said hello to all her friends!
She had her first taste of sweets!
And her favorite present was a big rainbow silk scarf that we waved in her face.
@ December 24, 2008 7:38 PM
Ruth in a Snowstorm
So as much of the East Coast knows, we were hit by a snowstorm that made Marylanders cringe. It was blisteringly cold and still snowing in the morning, but I took Ruth out anyway so she could experience the weather. We lasted all of 10 minutes, but oh, they were 10 glorious minutes!
@ March 3, 2009 10:29 AM
It's Official: All Grown Up
It's official: my daughter is now officially All Grown Up. Over a week ago, she stopped nursing, cold turkey.
I breastfed her nearly exclusively for the first 6 months of her life, and never expected it all to last as long as 14 months. I'm not sure what I expected, honestly. My big plan was that if she could ask for it with words, we'd stop.
That never happened. Towards the end, she was nursing just once a day, in the mornings. And what people have told me is true: in spite of the headaches that came with it, I kind of miss it now.
She really is a totally different kid now!
@ March 4, 2009 9:53 AM
Piano Pals
Ruth and Julia like to play together. Ruth is just 5 months older than Julia, which makes the age difference about the same as me and my favorite cousin, Heidi (sorry, every other cousin I have). You can't beat two babies playing together, especially if it involves a piano.
Ruth in particular likes to rock out, which excites Julia.
They're a bunch of monkeys!
@ March 9, 2009 5:48 PM
Meet the Little One
We're calling him Tapeworm until we pick a name.
It's not the perfect profile, but it'll do, it'll do. We think he has a Mathewes nose for sure.
@ May 20, 2009 4:00 PM
May Photos: A Visit from the Lloyds
So I've finally posted a gallery of photos from May that were taken on the Lloyds' visit to our place on Memorial Day weekend--just a few vingettes of Ruthie being amazingly cute, and Liana being beautiful, and Nathan being playful.
@ June 15, 2009 6:00 AM
New Photos, New Reflections
This past weekend, I jumped a huge hurdle: my very last wedding photography gig of the summer, at 7 months pregnant.
I remember photographing weddings while pregnant with Ruth two years ago. My last wedding was when I was 8 months pregnant. This year, I intentionally gave myself more leeway, since I knew that photographing all summer would be a lot more brutal this time around, with the baby due in August.
@ July 8, 2009 10:00 AM
Nervous Anticipation
I leave for Baltimore today.
It's going to be strange, returning to the home-that-is-no-longer-my-home. I'm nervous, mostly about leaving my kids for so very long. I won't see Ruth until we meet in Austin, and Lucas will be away from me for large stretches of the days ahead. I know it's partly my control-freak tendencies, but also the part of me that wants to cling to something secure and familiar.
People do this all the time, I keep telling myself.
It's still strange to be caught between worlds. Hopping across the country as though the boundaries and miles didn't matter is simultaneously reassuring and disconcerting.
But before I embark on my journey, I wanted to share a few highlights. First, Stephen singing at St. George's in Norwood, MA, with a crowd of other seminarians. Ruth shared books with Lucia, a fellow toddler.
Secondly, an example of Ruth miming what mommy does with a phone and a baby.
And last, an unsuspecting victim.
@ October 9, 2009 2:18 AM
Growing Every Day
Lucas has a penchant for falling asleep by himself--something Ruth never really did well as a baby.
Ruth has the biggest smile when she's in a good mood and mommy is playing games with the camera.
@ November 17, 2009 6:00 AM
sketches of moments
One day Lucas fell asleep while playing.
He had been asleep for awhile, when I went to grab the camera. He promptly woke up after hearing the shutter release, obviously confused.
Then he realized it was me, and flashed me a smile.
He likes being online.
Ruthie likes to draw.
Steve gets to wear a "pretty dress" now (according to Ruthie).
@ March 14, 2010 8:36 PM
a narrative of Father's Day
A trip to Patapsco State Park's tire playground and then a dinner at the Olive Grove was how we celebrated Father's Day 2010!
Daddy turned a big stick into a little stick, and other folks put on "shows" in the miniature amphitheater.
Ruthie bossed Mamou around.
And Lucas finished off Papa's steak.
More photos from May and June, too!
