My Kiddos

Grandma Kortman needed new photos for her house so I spent some time yesterday getting shots of the kids (in black and white) for her. I was pretty pleased with how they turned out.

I think every time a birthday is nearing we will just spend a day getting photos and I will never have to take them to a studio again....pretty easy on the pocketbook and on my stress level since I love taking pictures!

Josiah's photos were not easy to get because he's a pretty fussy baby. However, if you can catch the 10 minutes after he wakes up from a good nap you can see a few of the rare but beautiful jewels we call smiles! I happen to like this shot of him even though he isn't smiling.

Here's our boy:

Alia was also a bit difficult to get a good shot of. She began by hiding her face from the camera and then moved to hiding her whole self (note the photo on Flickr of her behind our oat roller). So, instead of trying to take pictures of her I just started to play "the camera is chasing you" and then it was fun. All along I was trying to see if I could get a few good shots. After a while she sort of forgot the camera since I had been having conversations with her and not actually trying to get her to smile and that's when I got this one...my favorite of the day!

Here's our girl:

I had so much fun taking pictures of my kids and learning what I needed to do to make them comfortable and open to the camera.

Please stop by FLickr to see more of the pictures we took yesterday!

Si Guy

Josiah is 3 months old (as of yesterday). He is a BIG GUY! He weighs almost 17 lbs and is 27" long. He is rapidly outgrowing his 6 month clothes and has begun sprouting both of his lower front teeth already!

This guy has been going full force ever since labor began! We joke that someday he will make his million playing linebacker for the NFL and after each game he will get on camera to say, "I thank God for my skill, I love you Mom!"

Alongside his "big dude" exterior we also have a sweetie...he is a smiler who is often grinning and has begun giggling too. His "happy spot" is mom's left shoulder!

His infant acid reflux seems to be bothering him less and less...thank you, Jesus!

Oh, and Kortman Family blogging changes are about to come your way, so stay tuned!

Grandma Edighoffer

Part of our family's journey now includes the death of our dear Grandma/Great Grandma. Vendla Jean Edighoffer went home to be with Jesus at 3:30 this morning.

She had been recently diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure and we were concerned that her lungs would fill with fluid before her heart would give way but God was merciful and quieted her heart first.

Grandma was still upset about not having enough energy to sew doll clothes for her great-granddaughters just hours before she passed away...that's our grandma...always giving to others.

We were thankful for the opportunity to go and be with her last evening although she was not happy about her lack of energy and inability to have a "good conversation". Nurses who took care of her the night before were stopping in to check on the "sweet old lady" who had endeared herself to them so unknowingly.

That's our Grandma....we will certainly miss her.