Biased { Issaquah TEEN Photographer }

{Brace yourselves…I’m feeling chatty this morning.}

First of all, it’s my birthday today.  That in and of itself is pretty spectacular.  I love birthdays.  And today, fingers crossed, I will be getting one of my favorite presents ever.  I’m thinking if you make it through this whole post there just might be a link at the bottom so you can see what I’m getting.  I’m patiently waiting as the link I want won’t be posted until 6….*here’s me twiddling my thumbs not so patiently waiting*.

Secondly, as some of you may remember, when it’s my birthday it is also my baby’s birthday….

Wasn’t he the softest, fuzziest-haired, cutest little guy ever?  And did you read the blog post title carefully this morning?  Ack.  How is it possible he is a teenager?  I’m must have been about 13 when he was born…I’m still 26, right?

And I thought teens were supposed to be surly….

Not him.  I am the luckiest mom around.

(Though I will admit that he enjoys torturing me…yesterday while we were out on our photo expedition there was snake sighting.  I don’t do reptiles.  Complete heebie jeebies.  He thinks that is pretty hysterical and kept shouting “snake” at random intervals, and then laughing his behind off as I jumped out of my skin.  Then he went home and researched exactly what kind of snake it was, since he swears it wasn’t a garter snake.  Sadly for you all, I won’t let him tell me what it was, I don’t want to know, so I can’t tell you, but you can ask him yourself.)

He’s such a trooper.  And I don’t just mean about tolerating me and my camera.  He has had a rough few weeks ending yesterday with a second trip to Children’s and that lovely wrist brace and he hasn’t complained once (I would have been a whiny mess).  You will recall we were there not too long ago, with happy results.  This time, fractured wrist, which had, very sadly, kept him from all the things he loves for the last 5 days.  No saxophone or piano or soccer or cross country.  Not to mention that he has begun his journey down the long orthodontic road and has therefore had loads of trouble eating….not ideal for someone who lives to eat.  It is one of his very favorite pastimes, which you can tell by the size of him.  12 was a big year for him…big as in he grew 5 inches this last year (let me just add that growing at the same rate as a newborn = not easy on your body).  We are all holding our breath to see what this year brings and as the cost of mens’ shoes is prohibitive for someone who wears them once and then grows out of them, I am considering not feeding him anymore.

Best grin around…and look at those feet, for Pete’s sake.

 

 

I wish all of you knew what a great kid he is and there aren’t enough words to really get my point across.  I do think that one of the most telling about him is his ability to charm all small boys (some little girls tend to be a little tentative at first because he is gigantic and kind of loud….but they warm up after a bit and then find it highly enjoyable to boss him around and make him do silly things).   He is so patient and such a good sport and it turns out he is a really good teacher.  (He has been teaching one of his little cousins to fish and my dad was impressed with how well he did, and that’s saying a lot coming from someone who taught for about a million years.)

 

He’s also smart, athletic, artistic, a fabulous reader, funny as all get it out (sometime ask him to do his Billy Blanks impression or Professor Lockheart…both absolutely kill me), he is pretty great with his sisters (which is not always an easy task) and he is his dad’s best excuse for acting like a teenage boy (skateboarding, snowboarding, kitesurfing all become way more acceptable hobbies for a 40something guy when you are doing them with your son).

 

Did I mention that he is more than slightly musically inclined?

Let me just tell you that on the way home from the hospital yesterday, I asked him if we could do his birthday photos…his response, “Later, I have to play the piano now.”  And I think he truly meant he HAD to play it NOW.  I think his soul might shrivel up a little every day he doesn’t get to make music.  The last 5 days were complete torture for him.  And can I tell you how difficult it is to find a “not-too-cheesy” pose with a saxophone.  He chose the photo above as one of his favorites….

this is one of mine….

The seriousness of it kills me.  He’s so grown up.  So a few little tears today because he is not my little, fuzzy baby anymore, but I couldn’t be prouder of the amazing man he is becoming (did I just use the word man to describe my baby?  eek.)

Happy birthday to my most fabulous son!

O, so it is only 5:45 now and I am getting antsy, so I’ll tell you a little about my impending birthday gift while I wait.  You will recall that I mentioned we were all set and scheduled for our own family photo session last weekend.  Well, I am anxiously awaiting my sneak peek over on Michelle’s blog.  First let me tell you how lucky I am to have her as a friend.  Not only  is she terrific enough to tolerate my kids when they are not showing their best and brightest selves (and I don’t mean just during photos, she puts up with them all the time) BUT she’s also the kind of person that when you call her to tell her you won’t be by to pick up her kid for soccer practice because you have a flat tire, she drives over, picking up the rest of the carpool on the way, and then lets you drive her fancy shiny-new car to practice too.  I was so excited that we could actually find a time in both of our schedules that worked for photos (even though she did sacrifice watching the end of the Husky game…which is a big deal for her and I truly appreciate it) and that the weather cooperated (we both sat at home later that night listening to it pouring, being super thankful that we hadn’t waited til Sunday).  And now I CAN’T WAIT to see the results!

HOORAY!  They are posted.  Now you must RUN over here to see them in all their glory!  They are so perfect and I can’t wait to plaster my house with them….everywhere, really big!!  Happy birthday to me!  (Now I have to quit slacking off and go cook my baby some birthday breakfast).

PS  Be sure to leave Michelle some comment love today so she knows how amazing she is!!