Every year I enter a few pictures into the Georgia National Fair Photography contest, The last two years I have entered I have always placed. This year is a little different. This year I am no longer allowed to enter as a “beginner” because I am now considered a “Professional Photographer” do whaaat?! How exciting yet scary at the same time! So now I really have to step up my game, because each year I either place 2nd or 3rd, and this year I want to place 1st Who knew I was competitive? I sure didn’t! So I have made my selections, but the one I am most proud of is the one above. By far this is my absolute favorite picture I have taken this year. I also did know know this until today but www.photofriday.com had selected this photo as a “noteworthy” selection for their theme “Summer Time” a few weeks ago. To me, this is a BIG DEAL! Very exciting.

The other selections I have made are below. The 1st two will be entered into the creative category. The 3rd of my wonderful nephew Danny entered into the “action” category. Bottom left will be “Black and White”. The WTC picture will be for the “photo journalism” category. The last one of Jennifer will be entered into the “Beautiful Sister” category (she told me to say that).

Desmond got a jump start on the easter egg hunting this year and did not need any coaching. He knew exactly what he needed to do.

The idea of growing old has been on my mind a lot lately. It might have something to do with the 1st chapter of the new book I am reading “Water for Elephants” which starts out with the thought of old age, and how when you are in your twenty’s, you know exactly how old you are. You tell people “I am 23″ without skipping a beat, or “I am 27″ with no pause. However when you reach your thirty’s you have to pause for a split second, I am……I am…..32, I am 32 right?….yup 32 it is. It is so true! Is that a sign of the beginning of  the end?

So here I am. I am 32. I do not feel 32, age is just a number right? I know I have plenty of years a head of me, or at least I hope I do. I just can’t shake the idea that life is flying by faster then I want it to.

Look at that boy in the above picture, it is unbelievable that this is the same small baby boy from two years ago. Yes it has been two years. He talks, and wants and asks for things. He tells me I am funny, and wants to play, and show me things, and tell me about all sorts of things he sees each day. He can tell me who is who of Star Wars action figures, he likes to fly like Superman around the house, no really I am serious, he likes to fly arms out and wooosh around the house and jump as Superman would jump.

Each night before we go to bed he wants me to sing the “cockles and muscles” song. If you are Irish you will know what I am talking about right off, the song is actually called “Molly Malone” and its one of those songs that if you live or have been to a pub in Ireland for any amount of time you will hear it. It is actually been adopted as the national song. I sing this song to him every night now. I also have found that if he is very upset this song will instantly calm him. The last few times I have held Desmond in my arms and he is crying uncontrollably, I will start singing this song, and his entire body will instantly relax, and my heart and soul find peace with the entire world. There is no greater feeling in the world then calming your child with the sound of your own voice. I have found myself at times not wanting to lay him down in his bed, and want to just stand there forever and sing and hold him, because of all my short comings or failures or faults as a person, this is the one thing no one can ever take away from me, ever. This is what keeps me going, this is what will keep me young inside forever.

He really is my lucky charm. Love you buddy.

Desmond likes to jump! and boy can that boy jump!  Check out his awesomeness jumping for the camera last night. Ohh and guess what, this is post #501. Pretty crazy.

One of my favorites. Plus iheartfaces website is doing a contest for kisses, for Valentines Day. I like this one a lot. I thought I would give it an entry.