Elmer was 2 years old yesterday. He's not a baby anymore, he's my little boy. I love all the new things he can do as he gets older, but part of me can't quite believe how much time has passed. I can't believe he's been here for two whole years.
Two year old Elmer is a mix of strong emotions and thoughts, all bursting to get out of a boy who can't quite express what he wants in words yet. Numerous times per day Elmer will point at something, or pull me by the hand and say "Deh! deh! deh! deh!" (his word for Yes), answering some question he has in his head that he wants me to ask him. Most of the time I have no idea what he wants. Food? Drink? Play outside? Fish car from underneath sofa?
Elmer is sensitive and thoughtful. If something falls over (or is hurled out of his hands), he says, "Poor Car!" or "Poor Apple!" or "Poor Truck!" with real empathy for the item in question. He will spend long periods of time carefully arranging cars in a neat row, or putting his toy cars in and out of his car transporter.
He is shy with people at first, but once he gets to know them Elmer will bring friends little presents, blow them kisses, give out coy little smiles. He has a fabulous sense of humour and finds the most random things hilarious. His laugh is a deep chuckle that is completely contagious, and his huge smile is toothy and beautiful.
Elmer loves wheels, fast cars, tractors, motorbikes, trains. He loves animals, and in particular cats (I'm not a cat person at all so no idea where that comes from), plants and trees, being outside, cuddles, dancing (the heavier the beat the better), being hurled onto the sofa repeatedly, staring into space and dreaming. He is fascinated by almost everything ("Oh, WOW") and I am completely in love with him.
Happy Birthday Elmer.
Two year old Elmer is a mix of strong emotions and thoughts, all bursting to get out of a boy who can't quite express what he wants in words yet. Numerous times per day Elmer will point at something, or pull me by the hand and say "Deh! deh! deh! deh!" (his word for Yes), answering some question he has in his head that he wants me to ask him. Most of the time I have no idea what he wants. Food? Drink? Play outside? Fish car from underneath sofa?
Elmer is sensitive and thoughtful. If something falls over (or is hurled out of his hands), he says, "Poor Car!" or "Poor Apple!" or "Poor Truck!" with real empathy for the item in question. He will spend long periods of time carefully arranging cars in a neat row, or putting his toy cars in and out of his car transporter.
He is shy with people at first, but once he gets to know them Elmer will bring friends little presents, blow them kisses, give out coy little smiles. He has a fabulous sense of humour and finds the most random things hilarious. His laugh is a deep chuckle that is completely contagious, and his huge smile is toothy and beautiful.
Elmer loves wheels, fast cars, tractors, motorbikes, trains. He loves animals, and in particular cats (I'm not a cat person at all so no idea where that comes from), plants and trees, being outside, cuddles, dancing (the heavier the beat the better), being hurled onto the sofa repeatedly, staring into space and dreaming. He is fascinated by almost everything ("Oh, WOW") and I am completely in love with him.
Happy Birthday Elmer.
Elmer the Two Year Old from Sinead Jenkins on Vimeo.
Ps - Thanks to Liana for some photographs here!
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Well, we're back. The journey from the UK to NZ wasn't half as bad as the epic snow-delayed journey we had from NZ to the UK. Once again, I only took three photographs the entire time. Looking after a toddler on a plane solo is pretty time consuming. I did resort to videoing Elmer and replaying it for him when my laptop battery ran out (yikes! No more Fireman Sam!), so these are the only shots I have from the plane trip.
Here he is in Kuala Lumpur airport watching TV whilst we wait for the laptop to charge (other entertainment came in the form of a massive sheet lightening storm outside). Elmer was very popular with the female Malaysian travellers, a few of whom got a photograph with him, celeb style.
We're both a bit jetlagged, but taking it easy. I have my first portrait shoot back in NZ tomorrow, but won't be full-on busy for another few weeks which feels like a blessing at the moment. I feel really inspired to get into some projects here - my garden, my veg garden, a few barn makeover bits and pieces.
Steven's been busy on the house, although progress has been slow due to winter weather. He's completed the mammoth job of sanding each and every wooden beam in the house, before the walls go up. The job at the moment is wrapping the outside in building paper, which will eventually be plastered. I am so desperate to move in, and think if I keep busy with everything else the time will fly. The good thing is, we have a plasterer doing the plastering for us, and a carpenter coming to do the floorboards, so very soon there will be TWO people working on the house at once!
I'm feeling pretty positive about the whole thing, so long may that last.
Oh and finally, I lost my mobile phone on the way to the UK (epic journey/sleep deprivation), and then I bought myself a fancy new phone and lost that (on a train), and now I've bought myself another phone and am heading into town to try and get my old phone number back. My landline is on the website though if you need me. Cheerio!
Here he is in Kuala Lumpur airport watching TV whilst we wait for the laptop to charge (other entertainment came in the form of a massive sheet lightening storm outside). Elmer was very popular with the female Malaysian travellers, a few of whom got a photograph with him, celeb style.
We're both a bit jetlagged, but taking it easy. I have my first portrait shoot back in NZ tomorrow, but won't be full-on busy for another few weeks which feels like a blessing at the moment. I feel really inspired to get into some projects here - my garden, my veg garden, a few barn makeover bits and pieces.
Steven's been busy on the house, although progress has been slow due to winter weather. He's completed the mammoth job of sanding each and every wooden beam in the house, before the walls go up. The job at the moment is wrapping the outside in building paper, which will eventually be plastered. I am so desperate to move in, and think if I keep busy with everything else the time will fly. The good thing is, we have a plasterer doing the plastering for us, and a carpenter coming to do the floorboards, so very soon there will be TWO people working on the house at once!
I'm feeling pretty positive about the whole thing, so long may that last.
Oh and finally, I lost my mobile phone on the way to the UK (epic journey/sleep deprivation), and then I bought myself a fancy new phone and lost that (on a train), and now I've bought myself another phone and am heading into town to try and get my old phone number back. My landline is on the website though if you need me. Cheerio!
Fiona Treacy:
Terrible cute. See how he went down a big hit with the ladies. No tears without Norman in Pontypandy!
Glad you made it back ok, can only imagine how difficult a trip like that solo would be. Hi to Steven
Fiona Treacy:
Ooops. Meant Terribly Cute!
(10.03.11 @ 11:02 AM)
Jasmine deGeest:
He's so cute!
(10.03.11 @ 07:59 PM)
Sinead Photo:
Thanks :) Fiona, I have a feeling you've been forced to watch multiple episodes of Fireman Sam too. Unless that's your kind of thing.....
(10.03.11 @ 10:28 PM)
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I photographed these guys before I left Dunedin - about three months ago now, and thought I should blog a few images before I head back into another wedding season next week.
Brothers Harry and Archie and two of the smiliest boys I've encountered. They are totally and utterly adorable.
I see that look quite a bit on dog's faces. He's loving it really.
Brothers Harry and Archie and two of the smiliest boys I've encountered. They are totally and utterly adorable.
I see that look quite a bit on dog's faces. He's loving it really.
Jasmine deGeest:
Such a cool wee album, gorgeous kids.
(09.20.11 @ 02:36 PM)
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We've been all over the place recently; Cornwall; London; Bristol; Worthing; Exeter. Packing, unpacking, getting Elmer to nap on trains, buses, his pushchair, strange houses... Going to the beach, the forest, the city, the park, the zoo.. Phew! One thing I've learnt over the last few weeks is to always have a toy car and a packet of chocolate buttons in my pocket. Those two things can solve most travel related crises.
It seems like the start of autumn in the UK now, so I feel the time is right to head back to NZ and spring (??!) We fly out in a week's time, so this is a week to accumulate lots of very light, small, interesting toddler plane activities....
It seems like the start of autumn in the UK now, so I feel the time is right to head back to NZ and spring (??!) We fly out in a week's time, so this is a week to accumulate lots of very light, small, interesting toddler plane activities....
Aunty Liana:
I'm not sure what is cuter...Elmer looking at the fish or the wee elephant on his bum!! I hope he managed a good handful of that cake ;)
(09.19.11 @ 12:50 AM)
Steven the Husband:
I like the one in the dark reptile house. He looks like a gunslinger ready to draw. Otherwise ALL are cute. No bias
(09.19.11 @ 12:30 PM)
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This is somewhat of a new thing for me. I'm becoming more and more attracted to raw, documentary style images, although I still love shooting beautiful, natural portraits too. When Aidan and Katie (my brother and sister in law) contacted me to suggest doing this Trash the Dress shoot on our holiday in Cornwall this year, I was intruiged, but also wondering if it was really 'me'. However, we had so much fun! I felt like we were directing a magazine photoshoot - the kind where you don't need to worry about clothes, or tidiness, or convention. Also, I tried to combine what Aidan told me he was after - lots of hollywood (my word not his) style drama - with a more natural, easy going portrait session. I really enjoyed it.
We haven't had the best UK summer (AGAIN), and the night we chose for the shoot was quite cold. So when Aidan and Katie got in the sea, it was actually comparatively warm. I know, because to get the shots I was also in the sea, with my dress tucked into my knickers like a 5 year old at the beach. There was only a whole pub full of people watching us so that's okay.
We started off just down the road from where we were staying, at a designated area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, underneath a huge viaduct:
And then for a bit of fun in the atlantic...
(contain yourselves ladies ;)
Oh, and this was Aidan's idea. He's a bit odd:
We haven't had the best UK summer (AGAIN), and the night we chose for the shoot was quite cold. So when Aidan and Katie got in the sea, it was actually comparatively warm. I know, because to get the shots I was also in the sea, with my dress tucked into my knickers like a 5 year old at the beach. There was only a whole pub full of people watching us so that's okay.
We started off just down the road from where we were staying, at a designated area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, underneath a huge viaduct:
And then for a bit of fun in the atlantic...
(contain yourselves ladies ;)
Oh, and this was Aidan's idea. He's a bit odd:
Hilarious!!!
Anyway, it was nice to do a wedding photoshoot where there were no time constraints. Well, if you don't count the fact that my whole family was back at the holiday cottage waiting for us to buy fish and chips on the way home. Speaking of which, I'm off to eat something! I should be blogging a few images of Elmer on holiday this week too...
Anyway, it was nice to do a wedding photoshoot where there were no time constraints. Well, if you don't count the fact that my whole family was back at the holiday cottage waiting for us to buy fish and chips on the way home. Speaking of which, I'm off to eat something! I should be blogging a few images of Elmer on holiday this week too...
Jasmine deGeest:
Well done Sinead, these look so goooood! I love the compostions and colours.
(09.16.11 @ 12:04 PM)
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"He loves animals, and in particular cats (I'm not a cat person at all so no idea where that comes from)"
(10.03.11 @ 09:24 PM)Ahem.... that would probably be me, his father, the one who has always loved cats (don't tell the dogs).
This is gorgeous!! And the video just completes it
(10.03.11 @ 09:28 PM)Happy birthday elmer! : )
(10.03.11 @ 09:50 PM)Hard to believe he is actually 2!! We all really loved coming and having a party with him!! and taking a doggy bag home bahahahaha...but seriously his 3 cousies had a ball at Elmer's house!! ooh and he has the empathy and organization thing just like Bradley was when little!! and Aunty Liana really enjoyed the cuddles at the end. Thanks so much for letting us invade you! oh and a message for Steven: Matthew said that the dirt was his work and the concrete mixer was his work too and the house..well seems that is Matthew's also. He even had the manly work voice going when he told me..I'm sure he grunted too. Good job by the way you are a very clever man
(10.03.11 @ 11:27 PM)Beautiful pics and beautiful words Sinead. Sniff, sniff. Love to you all and a big hug to the birthday boy xxx
(10.04.11 @ 09:44 AM)Gorgeous wee Elmer, happy birthday!!
Time flies huh?
And that cake looks awesome!!
(10.17.11 @ 08:35 PM)Beautiful post! And I'm so pleased Leo was born on Elmer's birthday... :)
(10.21.11 @ 01:27 AM)