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Friday, February 27, 2009

Candid Camera

It's always a challenge for me to keep M entertained and happy. Last week, I made him edible play dough, which occupied him for about 10 minutes, and then it was onto singing and dancing. Once I am either hoarse or have left M blue with laughter after seeing my spastic imitation of Elaine's moves/seizures ala Seinfeld, we move onto our other favorite activity: taking pictures. (Yep, Mama is just imitating someone else-that's not really how I dance. )

Since M was a baby, we've had photo sessions together. It's a way for me to practice taking pictures and for M to get more comfortable in front of the camera (so he won't find the glaring lights of the paparazzi so jarring later on in life.)

Truthfully, though, I'm hoping M will share my husband's and my love of photography. While I'm not a great photographer, I am lucky to have a somewhat willing subject to practice on. One of my favorite sites to get ideas for photo projects is Photojojo. It's my source for tips, inspirations, and ideas on what to do with the photos I've amassed. One particular tip that I love is to glue photos into an old Scrabble frame. What could be better than combining my two most favorite hobbies in life?!

Right now, I'm working on compiling photos of M's facial expressions. My goal is to build a book of M's different moods to teach him about feelings, such as: baby sad, baby grumpy, and our favorites, baby pissed off and baby happy:

Baby Pissed Off

Baby Happy

Check out Photojojo for cool photography tips, gadgets, and fun DIY photo projects like the one I'm doing. The site also has a link to projects that your kids can do with a simple camera, one of my recent, favorite discoveries. The writing is super fun and, even though the ideas are for kids, the tips are great for adults too. I'm even doing them!!

-Thuy

Did you figure out the identity of the bloggers from Wenda's postcard yesterday?

Top row, left to right:
Joan of All Trades
Kidz, A Connection for Inspiration
Barbaloot Suit

Bottom row, left to right:
A Duck In Her Pond
A Thorn Among Roses
Cutie Booty Cakes
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61 comments:

Quiskaeya said...

Awwwwwww and he is just too adorable! Thanks for sharing that site. My 7 years old will LOVE that because he got a camera for christmas.

Unknown said...

that is very cute!

Kathy B! said...

What a clever idea! And it doesn't hurt that you've got some pretty gosh darn cute little models!

Beth said...

Adorable! Thanks for the photojojo suggestion. I just signed up for their newsletter.

Ellia C. Naturals said...

Little M is absolutely ADORABLE! Great idea for pics and great resource site...my five y.o. will love trying to recreate some of the projects on his new camera!!

Melissa said...

Those are absolutely ADORABLE!!!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Anonymous said...

i love collections of expressions!!! the "happy baby" photo is heart melting!!!!!!

Unknown said...

Love those shots!! You should enter those into my Friday Give Me Your Best Shot linky! They're great! :)

Judah said...

he is too cute!!! my kids are my subjects alot too

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

He is adorable - talk about photogenic!

MsTypo said...

What a neat idea! :) I must agree that "happy baby" has a lovely smile. :)

Heather said...

What a cutie pie! Will definitely check out the photo site!

Mary@Holy Mackerel said...

Thanks for the photo site! I'll have to check it out.

Cutie patootie, by the way.

Just SO said...

Gosh what pisses baby off? That book is a great idea!

Danyele Easterhaus said...

ok, so i would make the edible play dough, but then, i would eat it. the kids would be sad bc i ate it and then, well, it would just be nap time for the crying!

and can i just say, i was so delighted that miss wenda visited me...honored, i must say! i made the post card!!! wooo hoooo!

tiburon said...

Could that kid BE any cuter?!?!

Seriously. Makes my kids look like trolls.

Oh and I am going to be in your area in June. For a big bike ride. Huge.

We should get together :)

tiarastantrums said...

I like Happy face - and Thanks for the new photo website!

Kristina P. said...

He is seriously one of the cutest kids I have ever seen!!

peewee said...

WOW...I hope you teach M that "mommy pissed off" is a MUCH scarier picture! And also take a pic of him sleeping entitled "mommy happy" :) You know, just a few tips for your non-photo blogger!

jennykate77 said...

OMGosh...he's too cute for words!

Great pics!

Tulip Row said...

Wow you baby POed is pretty mellow! Lucky you. And the Happy one is just adorable. I like to take pictures too and I just got a new camera that I think might take a year to understand even though it is a point and shoot! Hahah

Ronnica said...

Yes, definitely prepare him for the paparazzi!

Nana said...

That book will be cute for hime to look at. He is a cutie pie.

Counselormama said...

I loved those pics!

Mrsbear said...

He's so adorable and I loved the Scrabble board idea, very original.

Grand Pooba said...

That is such a good idea! I want to get more into photography but I need a good camera first! Then I think, what if I'm not good at it, then it'll be a waste of money to buy a nice camera and not be able to use it right!

What's your favorite camera?

The Blonde Duck said...

I'm so dumb. I was on the postcard, looked at it, and never figured it out. Can we say DUHHHHHHH?

Deb said...

Thanks for sharing those tips!

I don't dance like that either, it's just for the kids...

Lisa@saltandlightstudio said...

That Happy face is sooooo adorable!

Definitely Paparazzi material!

BlogBaby

Eve said...

Those are so CUTE! Even his 'baby pissed-off' photo looks pretty happy to me!

I love photojojo... it's a very handy place for a project idea.

Lucia said...

And what a handsome subject he is, with his cute little cap!!

hey, Wenda visited me too!

Enjoy the start to the weekend

Amy said...

That is such a neat idea to do the different faces to show emotions. I am so going to do this. I have to get my camera and let it go. Thanks for stopping by and wishing my little one nice thoughts. Have a great day.

Shawna Del Real said...

Hey, Check out our free St. Patty's day giveaway when you get a chance.

Anonymous said...

I just wanna pinch those cheeks!

debi9kids said...

LOL! Ok, am I an idiot or what? I had no idea I was supposed to still be looking for Wenda! hahaha
(maybe spending too much time with 2 two year olds will do that to ya???)

ps We love making edible playdough and thanks for now putting the image of Elaine in my head. LOL

Ryan Ashley Scott said...

Those are some cutie pie cheeks he's got there! I do love a good "baby pissed off" photo. They often turn out to be the best ones. :)

Francesca: there are no background checks. I'm not slutty, but I'm not so funny either - still got in, though. Ha! I suppose one of those requirements is enough.

(Thuy could get in just after having admitted to doing the "Elaine." - which reminds me of my H.S. reunion...)

Anonymous said...

My question is wouldn't edible PD make him think ALL PD is edible? That would be BAD ;-0.
I understand pissed babies & respect their space. ~Mary

Angelwingsbaby said...

I decided to stop by and see how all of you were doing.I will be following you guys this time as I couldn't remember how to find you without going through all my old comments.lol -Megan (hi francesca)

Debbie said...

He is so cute - with any expression!

Crazee Juls said...

A-DOORRR-A-BLE!!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for all the great info!! Great pictures, what a cutie! you guys are awesome! Have a great weekend!

Megan said...

I forgot to come back yesterday, but I knew the bottom three. yay me! lol

So cute! lol

Anonymous said...

Kids are so cute in pictures.

Not so cute in real life.

....

awkward.

Tricia said...

You had me at edible playdough, lol!

Sarah said...

ADORABLE photos of an adorable boy!

Kristen said...

Such a cutie! And now I am hooked on Photojojo. Thanks for the link :) Enjoy your weekend!

AndreaLeigh said...

he is gorgeous! love those dimples!

Jen said...

You definitely have a cute subject!! So cute!! Thanks for the sweet words on my blog!! I have really enjoyed the Where's Wenda contest! I can't wait to see how the winner is!!!

Nana said...

This is in response to Francesca,

Papa does not paint. He does however, chase me around naked with his magic wand. I personally have only seen it do one trick.

Anyway I usually let him catch me. I think that is one answer to a long happy marriage.

Loves and Kisses,
Nana

forever folding laundry said...

Thuy, he is just the cutest!

Vodka Mom said...

He is DAMN cute!!!

And, did I miss the photo shoot???

Alexis AKA MOM said...

Isn't it funny how they can go from so cute to a face that just makes you still want to smile even though there look so mad at you!

You are such a busy lady I don't know how you do it all and keep visiting blogs You're amazing!

Thanks for stopping by again :).

Becca said...

Great photos! You definetly captured the emotions going on there!

Julie said...

Cute pictures. Thanks for the tip about photojojo. It is very cool.

Anonymous said...

He's such a cutie and what a great idea! I've been to Photojojofor my Project 365 but have never really looked around, so I'll be sure to take a better look.
That edible play dough looks good, too.

Stacy Uncorked said...

What a CUTIE! And what a GREAT idea compiling his facial expression pictures - perfect way to teach him about feelings! :)

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

I love PhotoJojo too! They have some great ideas all the time to keep me inspired. Love the facial expressions!

Anonymous said...

Francesca, I am so up for it. I left you a story on my new post.

Gibby said...

I love those pics, so cute! I can't wait to check out that site. I have so many photos just...sitting. In my computer, no less. Thanks for the link!

Donnetta said...

You are SO smart to prep him for the paparazzi!!!

He's a DOLL baby!

Holly said...

*That's* a photo of a pissed-off baby? He looks cute even when he's mad! Good thing he's still a willing subject.