What My Eyes See and What Photos Don’t Show – Take 3

Photography is a big part of this blog, and of my life.

I don’t claim to be an expert, by any means, by I do what I can to show the world that life with two children with special needs – cerebral palsy and Down syndrome – is beautiful, special, and, yes, rather ordinary.

Back in March, inspired by Sarah Halstead, the Naptime Momtog, I posted my five favorite photos from the first quarter of the year, and filled in some details that may not have been readily apparent in the image alone. I followed up in June with my second quarter photos. Some of the images you’ve seen here before; others have only been posted on Violet Film; all represent a slice of our life here in Mayberry.

Snack Time is one of my favorites even though you can’t see Nathan’s face. The implication is that the dog may have eaten his shoe, but of course she didn’t. This scene plays out daily at our house (and probably most others with dogs and small children).

I Found Something in Sissy’s Room… Nathan was so proud of himself when he raced into Sissy’s room and found the jingle sticks. That boy is nothing if not musical.

(Not a) Shrinking Violet is one of my fave all-time photos of Sarah Kate. She’s reached the point now where she’s tired of my 365 project and resists having her photo taken (hence the fact that most of my recent photos of her are action shots). If I’d had this photo when it was time to enter the Most Beautiful Eyes contest, it would have been Sarah Kate in it, not Nathan. And the freckles…LOVE the freckles.

A New Day has already appeared in a post, but I’m putting it up here to point out a small thing you may have missed – Sarah Kate’s right hand. Although Sarah Kate has the spastic diplegia form of cerebral palsy, which means her legs are primarily affected, virtually all kids with it are affected to some extent in their arms, as well. The only time we see the effects in her upper boy are when she’s concentrating hard on doing something that requires gross motor skills – like running or catching. The brain has to divert its resources elsewhere, so the right hand and arm freeze in this position. Her right hand and arm look the same way in all of her running photos, as well.

The Fleet of wheeled vehicles is just a bunch of toys lined up, until you realize that Nathan lines them up this way each time: backed in to their spaces. Mr. Andi (an avid “backer”) taught him to do it this way once, and he’s continued doing it ever since.

Photos combined with words have the ability to capture the joy and fullness of a moment.

Have you been recording your family’s history? Tell me about it in the comments.