:: wonder twins | washington dc children's photographer ::

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of working with the adorable R-D twins (with the most incredible matching blue eyes), Z + H, and their mom and dad. I couldn't have asked for anything more - playful, confident twins and parents who kept them entertained and engaged the ENTIRE session!  Thank you R + R for letting me photograph your beautiful family!


Here are a couple of previews with more to come:



Isn't he the sweetest?



Look at those incredible blue eyes!

:: summer has come and...gone?! | washington dc children's photographer ::

Sigh...it is almost August and Target and the like are peddling back-to-school wares again. We took the children to the beach house again this summer and invited some old and new friends to join us - the children had a blast and the adults enjoyed catching up with each other. Hopefully we'll make it out there again before school starts. Alright, enough reminiscing...back to proofing...146 down, 232 more to go!



:: EVOlution | washington dc children's photographer ::

More to come from BINKIES + NOSEPRINTS {PHOTOGRAPHY}...

:: new venture ::

After almost 10 months hiatus, I'm back! O just turned 4 and the twins are now 2. Time is flying by...even the change of seasons seem shortened somehow. Nevertheless, I am enjoying every moment (well, almost every moment!) spent with my children. It is such a joy to see them interact with each other and watch them develope into distinct individuals.

It has always been important to me to document these everyday moments with photographs. As I venture into the world of digital SLR photography, it has been fantastic to have three relatively cooperative subjects at my disposal.

As part of a greater scheme (more to come later), I have started my own photography business that aims to help families capture {everyday stories} for them to cherish and share with loved ones. Please feel free to browse my website and help spread the word!

http://www.binkiesandnoseprints.com/

:: ying + yang ::

After having boy/girl twins, I am a firm believer that boys and girls are BORN fundamentally different. C1 (boy) is impulsive and assertive, while C2 (girl) is thoughtful and laid back. Same womb, same parents, same home. Totally different realities. Not exactly a politically correct idea, but scientifically supported.

During our "date night", Architectdad indulged me with a trip to the book store. I searched the new non-fiction display and found "the Male Brain" by Louann Brizendine, MD. I also picked up her early book "the Female Brain."

I found the chapters about fetal and child brain development the most interesting. By week 8 of pregnancy, the differentiation between the girl brain vs. the boy brain begins. After birth, the maturation process of neural connections is affected greatly by chemical differentiation as well as nurture. For instance, a baby girl is more likely to make eye contact with her parents because she is better than picking up emotional cues in facial expressions and voices than her male counterpart. Her parents then reinforces this trait by making funny faces to make her smile or laugh. This nurturing further strengthens the neural connections responsible for emotional sensitivity and social adaptability.

Fascinating read...

:: spring forward ::

Spring is officially here! Here are some of my favorites for girls and boys:

GIRLS

1) Tocca Bambini dresses -- dresses from their spring/summer '09 collection are currently 70% off (!!!) on the Tocca website.

2) Saltwater Sandals -- leather sandals that are breezy and durable, with secure nickel buckles that keep the sandals on the feet.

3) Crewcuts (by J Crew) dresses and separates -- perfect for special occasions and everyday wear.

4) Hunter boots -- for April showers.

5) Urban Baby Bonnets -- for May flowers (and sun!).

BOYS

1) Wonderboy separates -- handsome button-through shirts and graphic tees.

2) Glug baby -- gorgeous tees for boys and girls

3) Saltwater Sandals -- there are also great styles for wee and big boys.

4) Old Navy madras/plaid shorts -- Love, love, love these inexpensive shorts to pair with Wonderboy or Glug!

5) Kik Kid hats -- for boys and girls; I have not found an American website that sells this brand...too bad Sons & Daughters NYC is no longer in business :-(

:: cheap foam ::

We've been using Kiehl's baby foaming wash exclusively for years. At $19.00 a pop, it is definitely a luxury. In an effort to stop the madness, we then tried the Method Squeaky Green gel wash. It is inexpensive and smells delicious, except it leaves a slippery residue that is hard to rinse off. Nevertheless, it is supposedly 99% natural and toxin-free, hypoallergenic and tear-free.

There is one product that is both a foaming wash and a bag of chips. It's Johnson's Head-to-Toe foaming wash. Yup, you read it right. For the same price as a Grande NO-FOAM soy latte, this product is all you need! It is a yummy, tear-free, foaming shampoo and body wash that is super easy to rinse off.

We are still using the Kiehl's baby lotion and rash cream. I still swear by those products. The baby lotion is great for dry skin and minor skin irritations. The rash cream not only protects the baby's bottom, but also helps heal the rash faster.