This little guy came into the world three months ago and is a strong little man who smiled when I tickled his belly. What a pleaser!

I think he just discovered his toes!

See you guys in a few months!

Another JTPA baby turns one! Where did the time go, seriously?

Love that outfit!

Love these shots!

A child who doesn’t like cupcakes!? You don’t see that everyday

A quick bath to get all the crummies out.

Daddy wanted a shot with his guitars. He’s a musician, has a band and everything!

Happy Birthday, N. It’s been a pleasure!

This little girl is perhaps the happiest baby I’ve seen in a long time, because she smiled for one hour solid, I kid you not.

She woke up with the biggest smile, just happy to be awake. The best kind of happy, don’t you think? Just to wake up feeling sooooooo good.

That’s Milly, reading a Pooh book. And there’s A, just smilin’ away.

Mom made that! So cute, but not as cute as this smiling baby!

She rested a while…

And went right back to it.

A quick change of the cutest outfits a girl could ask for, and then, even bigger smiles! Believe it or not, she smiled right through her changing, which is not something that happens very often if you have any experience with babies.

Outside for a few. We were actually sitting by the sidewalk, if you can imagine it. The sun had suddenly shown up without warning. Which is always a nice surprise.

And one with grandma.

See you again in six months, baby girl!

So I was going through my inventory for a bit yesterday (because you never want to do more than a bit of inventory), and discovered my second Canon A-1. This is Canon’s first SLR camera This is the first film SLR that features electronic exposure compensation based on light meter input. I had bid on two on ebay a while ago – because I’m an idiot or just “kiasu” as my Singapore friends love to call it- and ended up with both.

The one I’m giving away, I’ve never used and comes with a 50mm f1.8 FD lens. This is a fully manual SLR. Tons of manuals online but I like this one.

So how about it? Sound good?

All you have to do is to:

1) follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jennifertai. Not on Twitter? Well go get one!

2) Tweet the following (without quotes): “@jennifertai is giving away a Canon A-1 Film SLR camera with a 50mm f1.8 FD lens. How very retro! http://bit.ly/8yrwte. RT if u pls!”

3) Join my List (if you haven’t already) by scrolling down this blog and looking at the left corner. You should see a “Sign up for our Email newsletter” button.

4) Leave a comment here to say you joined

5) Do some sort of “I want a retro film camera!” dance.

Deadline for entries will be 12pm Memorial Day Monday May 31 2010, which gives you a little over ten days to get your Tweet on! I will Randomize the week after and the lucky winner will be announced middle of June.

Now go Tweet up a storm and good luck!

Before I announce the winners for these lovely cozies from HolyMacro, some heartfelt gratitude.

Thank you for taking the time and effort to enter this contest.

Thank you for your patience in waiting for the results because I was away and took a while to get to this.

And last but definitely not least, THANK YOU FOR LIKING my Facebook Page, all 5,000+ of you. Without you, there would be no cause to celebrate!

Now the results! There were 85 entries all together. Congratulations to:

I will be emailing each of the winners personally as well to let you know. If you do not get an email from me, please send me one at jenn [at] jennifertai.net. I need your name, mailing address and phone number. The cozies will be sent within two weeks from today.

Thanks again and be sure to keep an eye out on my page from time to time for more aww-inspiring photos and stories, giveaways and promos!

UPDATE MAY 25 2010: A NEW SPONSOR HAS STEPPED UP! BIRTH & BEYOND has come in with a white $370 Moses Basket! Be sure to “like” their Facebook page!

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Do you know (or are) an expecting mom in the Seattle area or the Eastside? Would she like a newborn session plus other goodies from Petit Couture,  Angelolli and Birth & Beyond worth almost $1,000? Well then, come on and pay a visit to my Facebook page and enter the May/June 2010 Giveaway. Here’s the gist:

1) you will need to be a Facebook user

2) You will need to “like” the JTPA Page, Petit Coutur,  Angelolli and Birth and Beyond.

3) On JTPA’s wall, write a reason why you should win the contest, and get your friends to go there and comment on it.

Do note that YOU DON”T HAVE TO BE THE ONE WHO’S PREGNANT to enter. You can nominate a friend or family member living in Seattle or the Eastside (or will travel to Duvall WA for the session), who’s expecting.

4) Leave a comment here to say you entered and post the link of your entry (to the wall post on my page since if your personal account is permissioned to private, we can’t see it even if you link it).

4) Criteria for winning: The most compelling update will win, so work those words!

5) This contest will run from May 18 to June 18 2010. Winner will be announced 30 June 2010.

Thank you for all your support and good luck!

There’s nothing quite like meeting a brand new human being.

Seems a little crazy that we can MAKE an entire person, doesn’t it?

And the whole world seems to be at peace when you watch an infant sleep.

And how happy they can make two people.

And what wonderment they must be dreaming about to make that little smile.

Enjoy it, Susan and Mark!

Janya was the very first client I ever had. Without any reservations, she took me up on my offer to take pictures of her baby boy. In a way, you could say Janya started it all, that first step I took towards taking pictures of other people’s children professionally.

That was almost two years ago, the summer of 2008. It makes me want to cry a little how time has flown.

Today, as I pulled up Jan’s driveway, there she stood, in all her bumpy glory, seven months along with #2. Baby Boy G is almost three, attached at the hip to daddy Nate.

Today, photographing Jan, I was reminded of the fragility – and miracle – of life. That one can never be too grateful for the many good things that one has, or how close one can come to losing everything without warning. I am not a religious person. I used to be. But I still believe in belief. That determination, hard work and inner strength can bring about miracles.

Thanks for letting me photograph your journey the second time around, Jan and Nate. I can’t wait to meet him.

What if eating right nourishes not just your body but your spirit? This is what Deanna Minich specializes in, teaching us about how choosing the right foods can help us live healthier lives physically and spiritually.

I got to spend a morning with Deanna at the Pike Place Market taking pictures for her new book. Deanna, who has a PhD in nutrition, has written three books on food from her home in Port Orchard, Washington.

Deanna has a light in her eyes and such an easygoing smile that made taking pictures of her such a joy.

We were at Pike Place on the day the Flower Festival began. It was 8 in the morning and it was already starting to get busy.

My favorite shot of the whole session.

Thanks for driving all the way to Seattle for our session, Deanna! It was a pleasure.

Find Deanna on Facebook.

It is always amazing to me to do one of these multigenerational pictures: mom, grandma and great grandma with the kids. And what beautiful families the Schencke/Grants are.

Great Grandma Dorothy and Uncle John drove all the way from South Dakota. She turns 82 tomorrow. Grand-daughter Brianna tells me she’s been all over the world except only for Antartica. Impressed yet? I am.

The evening began with a little music. Grandpa Marty is a music man, and the grandkids had fun playing backup.

And then Great Grandma Dorothy hit the piano, showed the kids a few tunes.

And then it was cupcake time!

The whole family gathered around to ice the yummy chocolate cupcakes.

Children, old and young, could not resist sneaking a taste.

The reason for the cupcakes – it’s Dorothy’s birthday May 5th! Happy Birthday Great Grandma!

Next, storytime with Great Grandma Dorothy.

Playing “I Spy” with Grandma Sheila’s quilt.

Georgette the dog joined in the fun too.

And then Sheila and Marty sneaked out for a couple of pictures.

And then it was time for tea! I understand this is little M’s favorite pastime.

Such a proper lady!

Giving Grandma Sheila a big hug for organizing such a fun evening!

Four generations!