Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

Went to the Blog Awards Prize Presentation at Supperclub today.

Managed to snap heaps of photos.

Quite a big crowd.

And the results : Best Photography Blog was won by … someone else *smile*

[Click HERE to see the list of winner, and other Blog Awards’ stuff]

But hey, we didn’t go home empty-handed as we got ourselves some goodie bags, AND I won a door prize. Heh.

A bright yellow laptop case!

Will write and share more photos soon.

…

PS: Kids stayed at home with my parents who happen to be in Singapore this week! So, yup … it was a 4-hour date for me and hubby too *smile* A bonus!

It’s been more than a month since I started shooting for other families and their kids. I shoot mostly on Saturday mornings and at Singapore Botanic Gardens.

And, it’s been wonderful!

Being in the outdoors. Capturing moments for other families. Finding tricks and ways to get the kids to laugh naturally, or at times, to get EVERYONE to look at the camera.

Those who’ve tried taking photos of little ones themselves would know what I mean when I say, it’s not an easy feat.

But hey, it’s been fun!

I know of many who are into shooting still objects like buildings, flower petals, boats by the lake, etc. But somehow, it just doesn’t quite interest me (well, unless there are people in the same frame *smile*)

I like to see expressions and emotions. I like to capture moments, especially those of kids because I know, being a mommy myself, kids grow SO fast.

Or perhaps I should say, TOO fast.

A toothless baby today may have a set of four teeth in less than two months. A child who’s only as high as your thigh will grow tall in no time.

And for me to have been entrusted by families to capture their precious family moments?

The honour is mine.

Mother & Baby Indonesia magazine is celebrating their THIRD Anniversary this September! *Congrats to the whole team for their works*

Lots of Birthday Specials in this month’s issue. And hey, they’re doing a feature on us moms who’ve contributed our photo works to the magazine too. Aww, how thoughtful of them *smile*

[Click HERE to read the page in a larger format]

PS: I have quite a few more posts on Mother & Baby Indonesia that I have YET to share. Hope I get around to writing about it sometime soon (before it gets ‘too outdated’)

And I try to enjoy his many cuddles, silly moves, sweet kiddy voice, and even his cranky moments.

While I still can.

[Photography by Wilson, the hubby and daddy]

I’ve always loved it when my kids come and show me something that they totally create or do all by themselves.

Like how the other day Anya asked for a piece paper, was all quiet in a room (while I chitchatted with a friend in another), and came to show me this.

And I was like, HEY … it’s her very own Tom and Jerry story! (This btw, is her second ‘english essay’! Hehe. Click HERE to read her first.)

[And my guess is that she was inspired by Tom and Jerry’s ‘meet and greet’ session we saw on our way back from the Explorer Kid earlier this week]

Frankly, when I first read it, I had a little trouble understanding the story (because a word or two were missing, there were no punctuation marks and she wrote some of the words according to how they ‘sound’, which I still think is a nice effort!)

Anyway, now that I know what it’s about, here’s how her story goes:

Tom and Jerri story

One day Tom was sleeping so Jerri tiptoe so Jerri didt wake up
So Tom want to eat Jerri
waen Tom was tiptoeig
Jerri wake up
So Tom cannot cath him
Than Jerri ran and Tom was thayrd
So he walk
D END

…

I don’t know what she’ll become when she grows up.

I don’t know if writing will turn out to be her passion.

But I know I’ll always treasure such little things she creates all on her own, however simple and imperfect.

And I hope and pray that she continues to pursue what she’s truly passionate about, and explore whatever potentials God has given to her.

.

A little insight … into the life of a Mom of a 5.5-year-old girl who recently is fascinated with doing all sorts of hairdos herself.

Received this tee recently.

I thought it’s cute (and Vai will wear it out and about), but errr … I can’t help but somewhat ‘disagree’ with what it says on it though.

Because I believe children are ‘born into’ our family.

They’re blessings from above.

They’re GIVEN to us. And are NOT MADE by us parents.

If we were to be given one or two, or more, children in our family, it’s totally not because of our own ‘greatness’ or ‘works’.

Because we could never have one … unless it’s given.

So if I were to print such tees, I’d probably say something like, ‘God gave my parents cute kids!’ hehe.

…

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17

Anya and Vai so far had their share of being on the set and in front of the camera for magazine shoots (eg. Anya had her first shoot when she’s a year old, and Vai had his first shoot when he was six months old, both for the ‘Motherhood’ magazine)

Now last Saturday, it was slightly different.

Because this time round, the kids and I got in front of the camera, a video camera, TOGETHER for our first time.

And as anyone would’ve guessed, things can go rather unpredictable when kids are on the set!

[We were making a short video clip for an I’m a Mom advertising campaign and online contest that’s to be launched at the end of the month. When I can actually spill the beans later, I’ll share more of it ya *smile*]

Here’s what happened behind the scenes … pictorially (all were shot by Wilson)

I was the last one to be shot that day, out of the five blogger moms.

And as Anya watched Jess the make-up artist worked on my face and hair, she quietly asked, “Mommy, … errr can I have something on my face as well?’ hehe.

I thought kids are fine without any make-up, but when the make-up artist asked Anya to sit on the ‘high stool’ (just so that she could tidy up her hair and make her cheeks a little ‘rosier’), Anya looked at me and gave her little shy-yet-happy face. I guess she felt like a grown-up for a while there, hehe.

It was close to 2 hours when it’s (finally) our turn for the shoot.

We sat with the green screen at the background (for the editing people to superimpose images and graphics on it later) and the crew arranged the seats, the video camera, the lighting, the sounds, and everything else for another fifteen minutes or so.

[As recommended by the crews, I went WITHOUT my glasses! Good thing the crew placed a bright blue ‘cookie monster’ hand puppet near the camera, so at least I knew WHERE to look! Haha.]

Anyway, the kids were all happy and giggly in those first few minutes (when the crews were still preparing the set), BUT when it’s finally time for us to start the shoot, Vai wanted … to be with Daddy instead!

He made little noises, slouched, extended his arms towards Daddy. All sorts of things.

He just wanted to get down.

Unexpectedly, Anya was quite alright with the shoot! (and I thought she’d be the one who’d feel more uncomfortable in front of the camera and crews)

And boy … the crews, Wilson and I did ALL sorts of things to get Vai to cooperate.

His little toy cars. Chocolates. McDonald’s after the shoot. You name it.

But nothing worked.

In the end, we did the shoot anyway.

AND, I totally am curious about how the final edited video clip would look like. Haha.

Stay tuned for more …