One wonderfully overcast morning, I took Jax out on the farm to shoot some "real" portraits. I love all the candids I take of him on a regular basis, but I wanted to take advantage of the location to do something a bit more professional.
It was SO HARD to choose from the many photos I took. Every slight change in his expression, I recognize, and love. To delete any with the slightest variation was incredibly difficult. This is one great reason to hire a professional photographer. He or she doesn't have that same attachment to your kid, and will do a better job selecting JUST the VERY best photos on your behalf.
The last photo is a bit of photoshop magic. My friend Kristin was crouching behind the tractor. In a few photos, she held onto Jax's hand, in a few, his foot, and I shot some photos with Jax not even on the tractor. Between those, I was able to edit away her hand hanging onto him, keeping him safe. Also, the black and white cow is the "meat cow" breed they raise on the farm, and was originally in a different photo of the tractor, not this one. I stuck her in here next to the brown and white cow, who is a "milk cow" breed. Kristin could tell you the breed names, but I couldn't retain that info.
This tractor belonged to Daniel's dad, who started the farm many years ago. I took photos of Kristin's son here too, and will get to posting those as well.
I love how these images capture Jax right now. Pudgy rolls, milky skin, infatuated with sucking on sticks and leaves. Smiling, smiling, smiling. Drooling.
If you would have told me before I had a baby, that I would swoon over how adorable it was to see dirt between my son's toes, I might have rolled my eyes. But the first day I saw him sitting in the grass, ripping clumps of it up in his fists, curling his little white toes in the rich dirt, I could hardly contain myself.
On the farm, it became clear how much of an attraction Jax has to all
things earthy and outdoors. I found him in the living room one day,
having rolled around the room, licking clods of dirt off the tires of
Zeke's tricycle. Two other days, I found him licking the soles of
shoes. He loved to chew on Zeke's wooden train tracks and blocks, and
Melissa's bamboo cooking spoons. He will suck on some plastics, but he
really prefers wood or actual dirt. He also likes metal, such as keys
(he has his own set at home), hot wheels cars, and measuring spoons.
If he was ever fussy and I couldn't seem to make him happy, I would stick him in the baby carrier on my back and take a walk. He was so content outside. We would look at the animals for what seemed like ages, or just enjoy the cooler weather together.
Boys were made for dirt. For adventure. So grateful this boy showed up in my life.
