24/52
“A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2013.”
Jordan
I have no idea what she is doing or thinking in this photo. I am sure I just caught her in an in between moment. But I’d like to think she is silently concentrating on being present in the moment. Soaking up the warmth of the sun of the summer that has snuck up on us.
Talia
“here I am” a favorite game of the girls, in the little house, behind the curtain or under a sheet. They are fond of peek-a-boo. We play it in hebrew “efo Talia” (“where’s Talia”), and out she pops. Always with a giggle.
23/52
“A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2013.”
Talia
Jordan
I realized on friday that I hadn’t taken any new photos of the girls since last weekend! Bad mommy ; ) So these photos are courtesy of grandma Safta.
So many new words this week-they just keep shocking us with the things they are learning to say. Prpl (purple), Bew (blue), cow, kn (yes-in hebrew). I sit hear and try to think back over the last seven days but my mind goes blank. The last week blends into the weeks before, all the giggles and jumping and MOMMYMOMMYMOMMYMOMMYMOMMY is distinguishable from one week to the next. I think I’ll tape a paper to the wall with a pen close by and when ever there is a new word jot it down, I’ll let you know next week how that goes. Hope you had a good weekend, all about ours tomorrow.
Don’t forget to vote for for us on Top Baby Blogs! Thank You!
22/52
Jordan, new words: yeah woah (yellow), maykie (make up), favorite word: Wash (otherwise known as playing in the water)
*learning to ride a bike with my dad in a fancy dress after synagogue.
Talia, new words: ah ghe (again), up (used for up and down), favorite word: No (used for yes and no). Make things a bit confusing for us.
21/52
Talia
Jordan
Today Talia and Jordan are 591 days old. New words are coming faster than I can count. They are learning patience by having to wait for food, drink or just for their turn, they are learning that some things are non-negotiable, like a clean diaper or bed time. Brushing before bed is an activity to look forward to and the warm days are perfect for backyard splash parks, which so far, and hopefully never gets old. 
Happy Memorial Day everyone. While we are celebrating by spending time with our families and friends please remember the meaning of this holiday and give thanks to all the men and women who have and do serve to protect our country.
16/52
15/52
Jordan
Talia
It’s Friday! Yay! i love Friday’s because it means I get to spend the next two days doing only fun stuff with my family and friends! It’s suppose to be really beautiful here in Atlanta this weekend so I am hoping we get to have some friends over to enjoy our backyard and some yummy grilling. And I can assure you that lathered on everything we grill will be a layer of Sabra Hummus, our favorite kind. Yes, Talia and Jordan eat Humus, they love it, they devour it by the spoonful. I’m ok with it, it’s a great source of protein. And they are getting so good with their spoons and forks. They even dip their schnitzel (breaded and fried chicken) in the hummus, just like Abba! To let you in on a little secret, when I make the schnitzel I add a bunch of ground flax to the bread crumbs, offsets the whole friend aspect of the dish. And when I am feeling really health conscious I bake the breaded schnitzel instead, tastes just as good.
By the way, in yesterdays post Jordan was sitting on the blue chair, and Talia and performing in front of her.
Don’t for get to vote for us for Top Baby Blogs today! Thanks!
Have a great weekend.
13/52
Jordan
Talia
Getting bigger everyday. They have more words, some in English, some in Hebrew, which I usually don’t know are words until someone else tells me.
Talia trys new words more often than Jordan, but Jordan says her few words very clearly. It was the same story when they learn to walk. Talia took her steps first but Jordan practiced non stop until she had it down. Remember this video
I wish I was as talented a writer as one of my favorite blogging mamas Melissa. She writes about her love for her babies so clearly and honestly that her posts bring me to tears on a regular basis. Actually a lot of thisng bring tears to my eyes on a regular basis, Greys Anatomy, Seeing Facebook Friends welcome new babies into their worlds, finding out that Kassi, who I only know through Instagram photos, twin baby boy has CF and that there is no cure. I have always been a sentimental person who was very good at hiding it. But having kids puts that sentiment on your sleeve. I LOVE these two little people so much it hurts.
I want to give them the opportunity to see and do everything. I remember when I was little using my imagination to entertain me a lot, staring into the sky, searching through the blades of grass to see what was hiding in the dirt. I want to give my children opportunities like these to find something to discover. The other day we were outside playing, their water table was empty so they proceeded to pick up hand fulls of pine straw to fill it. Soon there was the tiniest little bug crawling around inside the table. They both watched it go this way and that and back again, making squeaky little noises when it disappeared under a piece of straw and again when it reappeared. Watching them enjoy that little bugs adventures brought tears to my eyes. And like I always do when ever they do just about anything I wrapped my arms around them and smother them with kisses.
My sweet little girls, you truly are the coolest people I’ve ever met.
12/52
Week twelve of 2013, where did the first quarter of the year go?
Jordan
Jordan is still as sweet as they come. I love when she lays down to rest with her stuffed animals after playing as hard as she can.
Talia
Talia only wants to do what Talia wants to do. Last weekend she slept until 8:30 snuggled in her abbas arms.
Happy Friday!
And Happy Birthday Sandra! I hope you have a wonderful weekend celebrating with your family.
11/52
I missed 10/52 last week because sometimes there isn’t enough time to do it all. And I am constantly trying to remind myself that that is ok.
This project isn’t about being perfect its about learning and experimenting with my creativity in the form of photos.
Talia
Jordan
I added some cute videos of the girls to Smiling Watermelons Facebook page.
9/52
This weeks pictures are a special for me. I got a new lens! It’s a 50mm fixed zoom lens. It’s the special lens that makes backgrounds blurry and subjects pop. I love it! The only trick to taking nice pictures is to focus on your main point then move the camera to capture the frame you want. Take a look at this professional photo by Elizabeth Messina, the focal point is along the bottom horizontal line and the mom and baby are both off set from center towards the right vertical line.
The focal point of a great photo is almost never directly in the middle of the photo. That’s on purpose. The eye is more interested in images where the most interesting point is father to one side or the top or bottom.
In this photo of Talia her face is the focal point, towards the top, not the center of the frame. I should have done a better job focusing her face rather than her shirt as well as placed her body along the vertical line to the left rather than in the center.
I cropped the above photo of Jordan to show what a better composition would have been, with her face at the intersection of the top and left third lines.
I’m no professional photographer but I am trying to get better with every click. Grab your camera this weekend an make a point not to center your subject, see what happens. I’d love to hear about it on Monday or share your captured treasures on instagram and tag me @smilingwatermelon so I can see too!
