Great Scott!!

Oh Lantern Tree Blog, you have been neglected. So over the next few blog posts, we will be taking trips back through time! No need to find Michael J. and his Delorean, just keep checking this site to travel backwards through the past few months and catch up on all the LTP happenings. "Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." You can all collectively groan now as I reveal my Back to the Future dorkiness, it's okay.

And now, we start with a quick jump back to March! I had the privilege of capturing Avery, a brand-spanking-new 10 day-old (Cue the collective sigh!). She was accompanied by her mom, two older sisters, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Let me tell you, little Avery was born for the camera, because she not only lasted through her solo pictures, she rocked out shots with her whole entourage! If that doesn't convince you, check out her ability to accessorize--the girl's already got style! 

It's hard to believe that less than a year ago, I blogged about the miracle of my non-eater son, Trenton, finally beginning to eat two foods on a regular basis: Pudding and yogurt.  Yes, he only ate those two foods, and yes, we were jumping for joy about it!  He had truly never eaten food by mouth in his entire 4 1/2 years of life, so this was the first HUGE step on the long learning-to-eat-and-drink journey that Trenton had in front of him.  

No one could've expected that this journey would be coming to an end only a year later, but I am proud to declare that at the ripe old age of 5 1/2, Trenton is now eating nearly anything, and has even been drinking for the past 2 months!  It's absolutely remarkable to see how far he's come!  Jumping for joy isn't even close to describing how we feel about this--picture cartwheels and triple axels!  ;)  

Now picture a heavenly light shining down on the Feeding Friends Clinic, a wonderful place filled with angels performing feeding miracles every day.  :)  If you look back to last November's post, you'll see that I sang praises of the wonderful, amazing women who worked so hard with Trenton on developing the ability to eat.  Today's post is no different!  One therapist angel in particular, "Miss Colleen" (as Trenton knows and loves her), gets to claim all the credit for teaching Trenton to chew and to drink from a straw--two skills that are much more difficult to teach than I could've ever imagined.  There aren't enough words to begin describing how amazingly talented, patient, and loving she is with Trenton, and there aren't enough words to thank her for what she has done!  It's because of Colleen that Trenton sits in the cafeteria with his kindergarten classmates every day and unpacks his lunchbox.  It's because of Colleen that after 5 years, Matt and I can finally sit down and share a meal with our son.  She's changed our lives, and has given Trenton a gift that I will never take for granted.

Would you like to meet her?  And better yet, her family, too?!  Colleen's husband, Dave, and their children, Lilly and Henry are pretty amazing themselves!!  They are such a thoughtful, intelligent, creative, and fun family!  We had a great time at Coxhall Gardens in Carmel, and even had a special guest appearance by their dog, Lizzie!  Here are some shots from our evening.  Enjoy!

Feeding Issues and Freezing Weather

It's no secret that our 4 year-old has some pretty major feeding issues.  He literally lives on pudding, yogurt,  and children's formula.  We have made HUGE strides in this area, thanks to two amazing women and their (genius!!) group feeding therapy.  Know families of children with feeding issues?  Send them to www.feedingfriends.com.  They will only be disappointed that they didn't hear of Feeding Friends sooner!!   Don't know any children with feeding issues?  Just wait, you will!  It's everywhere.  But there's only one program like this for these kids. So spread the word!!!  :)

Okay, shameless, passionate, Feeding Friends plug over.  How does this relate?  Well, I had the privilege of taking photos for one of the (I'll say it again--genius!!) therapists not long ago.  She and her sisters brought their children to Potter's Bridge Park in Noblesville for the shoot, which sadly took place on a cold and windy day!  And let me tell you, these kids were troopers!  If you look closely, you might see some chattering teeth.  :)  We did manage to capture some great shots despite the freezing weather.  Check them out!!