Tuesday, January 5, 2010

In Which We Are Surprised!

Something pretty cool happened today.

We got an e-mail out of the blue from Kat Speyer, who is a fantastic photographer in Seattle. Apparently my sneaky sister, Mary, entered us into a Family Photo Giveaway without our knowledge . . . and we won! Check it out, see? (And check out Kat's pictures while you're over there-- she's amazing.) We'll get the chance to do a two-hour photo shoot with Kat and then we'll be able to pick out a ton of great prints, albums, canvasses, etc!

We are incredibly stoked about this opportunity. Other than the photos we took right before Jer left we have very few pictures of the three of us together; usually I'm the one behind the camera. Since I have no idea what I'm doing most of the pictures I have of Connor and Jer are blurry, marginally acceptable photos anyway. It'll be fantastic to have some really great ones.

While I'm sure that the grandparents will be thrilled about getting pictures of the grandbaby (and us too, I suppose) and I'm excited about some updated photos for the walls, that's not the main reason why I'm so happy about the shoot. I take so many pictures of Connor for the same reason I started this blog-- not only to keep people updated on how Connor is doing, but to provide Jer and me with a record of as many moments as we can capture out of his life.

While we do our best not to dwell on it and I don't blog about it often on here, the fact of the matter is that Connor is considered by the medical experts to have a severely life-limiting condition. He's already out-lived the original projections for his life expectancy three times, and so while we're taking their current projection (another one-and-a-half to eleven-and-a-half years) with a grain of salt we are well aware of the fact that it will be extremely unlikely that he will reach adulthood, let alone outlive us. Every moment that we can possibly capture of Connor's life, whether it be in words or on film, is extremely precious to us. I'd like to think that they'll be a comforting thing to look back on should that awful day come.

So while it came as a big surprise to us, we are absolutely thrilled to be able to have these pictures taken with the extremely talented Kat, who should be able to capture Connor's toddler attitude in all its glory. And though Connor is, in our minds, the total center of attention it'll be pretty nice to have some pictures of me and Jeremy that do not look (for good reason) like they have been taken from a camera held at arm's length and that have in the background an extremely messy living room. Also maybe she could make me a couple of dress sizes smaller. With bigger boobs. I've heard Photoshop can work wonders these days.

Right.

Um, anyway we may wait for a little while to take these unless we can find a pretty awesome indoor or sheltered place in the Seattle/Tacoma area to take pictures in (suggestions, anyone?) as Connor doesn't really need to be out in the rain, but I'll be sure to write all about our fun time once it happens!

I have to go shoe shopping. Photo shoots require an awesome pair of shoes.

~Jess

10 comments:

Mary Cyrus said...

Bahaha. I couldn't resist. One of my favorite photographers offering a free shoot to families in the Seattle area? Geeeee, who will I nominate? ;)

I can't wait to see the photos!

Kristin said...

Good job sister Mary!!

I hope Kat has some ideas of locations for your family so you won't have to wait forever to get the photos done! Congratulations!

Anonymous said...

Cool! 'Tis good to have loving family!

Have you been to Steilacoom? There used to be a little museum down there. I guess Gig Harbor is mostly an outdoor place.....your church?

Barbara

Julia O'C said...

Congratulations, Jess! And Mary - how awesome are you?!

I hope you'll share some of the pictures with your readers. I LOVED the last set of professional pictures you had taken. I'm sure these are going to be wonderful, too.

And yeah, you DEFINITELY need new shoes for a photo shoot!!!!

Niksmom said...

I can't think of a better family to have won. And how awesome is your sister for doing that? Your family must come from a long line of awesome. :-)

Sending prayers that the doctors are wrong, wrong, wrong. Of course,none of us ever knows how lng we'll get to ride the ride, right?

Julia said...

The doctors have been wrong about so many things about Connor in the past. He has defied their odds each and every time. Call it denial, or call it hope -- it amounts to the same thing. I hope all three of you live long, rich, happy lives together.

Happy shoe shopping!

Katy said...

I a big believer in the longshot. . .

That being said, I had no idea that Connor's life expectancy was so short. I've tried googling to find out Charlie's, but I've never been able to find a clear cut answer.

*Tasha* said...

I would say University of Washington for sure!! It's only 5 miles from Seattle Children's so it's not out of your way.

I swear, I'm not biased just because I go there. ;) It is truly GORGEOUS... especially Suzzallo Library. Links: (Ancient reading hall http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Suzzallo_Library_Graduate_Reading_Room.jpg

the staircase (it looks so small here but it's big) http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1272/1228116884_d68a7a31d4.jpg and http://staff.washington.edu/paymana/images/photos/uw/stairs-s.jpg)

The Drumheller Fountain is at UW, as is the Arboreteum. (Have you been there? I will DIE if you say no.) Ravenna Park and the Arboretum both have columns & benches to sit on. A lot of "woodsy" parks are located near bridges, etc, so they make prime spots for cool photography. Although those are outside.

Er... lemme think. Tacoma is pretty cool too, especially the glass museum. Free admission every 3rd Thurs of the month, as well as the first weekend of each month if you have a Bank of America account. Union Station in Tacoma is cool too-- it's this big railroad station and is free to go inside. All of Tacoma (theatre district) is basically REALLY antiquated and amazing. I could keep going but those are the first that came to mind.

Hope this helps! And I have to second Katy's comment. I had no idea about Connor... so it's fabulous you're making the best of whatever time you have. Life-threatening genetic conditions or not, not enough folks do that, period.

Kat Speyer said...

OMG, thanks for this post! I just had a chance to get back to your blog to check in and say hi. I'm so excited to meet you tomorrow! I'm going to email you riiiight now. :)

Kat Speyer said...

Tasha, thank you for the suggestions.

Also, I'm really excited to meet Connor. He's certainly fighter, and from what I heard on the phone, has lots of personality too.

 
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