We have a smiler

The stage where she screams and cries the minute a camera comes out just might be over. Can you hear me singing for joy?

I'm not taking credit for it because I'm sure it's an age thing, but I did figure out a way to get her to smile on cue - I tell her to make a silly face! It's actually just a way to work up to her smiling (because who can make a silly face without following it up with a smile??), but some of the silly shots are pretty cute too...

Her go-to silly face seems to be the puffy cheeks...

She then usually follows up with a this (which is still such a score when I capture it - in focus - on camera)...

I never get tired of seeing that smile. Now we just have to work on Lukie...

Shots from today

I am obsessed with my new lens. It's a Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX. Yes, I copied and pasted that.

If I was smart, I'd read how to actually use it. Like start with the manual even. But no, that's not my style. 

Although I like this lens so much, that I might actually read about it. And I might actually read the photography book that I asked Ryan to get me for Mother's Day last year. 

What I know about it is that it's a low-light lens. I barely need any light at all and it still performs beautifully. That's awesome when your primary goal is taking pics of your children, who don't necessarily want to stand in front of your storm door. 

These are just some shots I took today, trying to get used to it. I'm still pretty shaky on the focusing. I prefer the manual, but I can't seem to always be able to tell when it's in focus. I'm used to a video camera, which is apparently a lot easier.

Clara and Luke love their new Elmo almost as much as I love my new lens...

He gets lots of kisses...

And Clara rocked out to Elmo's beautiful music. Although her dancing seemed very serious this morning...

Lunch is no reason to put the camera down...

And Lukie's latest fat lip. This kid is always getting banged up...