Kim Kalyn Photography » Personal

BC Children’s Hospital Fundraiser

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:37:50 +0000

What better way to spread the love this Valentine’s Day than by helping to raise money for this amazing cause! Here is what they have to say about it …

On February 11th, grab a friend or that special someone and join us for the First Annual ‘Spread the Love’ Valentine’s Day Party Fundraiser in support of the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.

WHEN: Saturday February 11th 730 p.m. to midnight
WHERE: Union Pacific Coffee Co., 537 Herald Street
PRICE: $30 per person (Appetizers & a GREAT night out included!)
HOSTED BY: Kim Thorsen & Jocelin Caldwell on behalf of
ROSS BAY PRESCHOOL

I was happy to donate a session for them to auction off and there are a TON of other incredible items to bid on. To name just a few … Seahawks tickets (lower bowl), Canucks tickets (club seats/centre ice), Lunch & Learn for 10 people from London Chef, Pandora Bracelet, Grohe Stainless Steel Pull Out Spray Kitchen Faucet, 4 Hour Fishing Charter – Ocean Rambler Fishing Adventures, 2 sets of Ballet tickets – McPherson Theatre, 2 night Dockside Green Vacation Rental, Ice Rental/Birthday Party – Puckmasters, Dog Grooming/Dog Daycare – Top Dog, Shampoo/Cut/Color – Shampoo Hair Bar (x2) and the list goes on!

To purchase tickets contact:
Kim Thorsen – 250-882-1865
Jocelin Caldwell – 250-885-8503
Ross Bay Preschool – rossbaypreschool@shaw.ca

ADDITIONAL INFO: There will be a cash bar onsite. Please note this is a private function and tickets will NOT be available at the door – advance sales ONLY. ALL proceeds from ticket sales and silent auction go to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. We look forward to spending a great evening with you!!

And what would a blog post be without a picture.

Here is a photo of our good friends Justin and Joanie and their sweet sweet babe Audrey.

10 Months

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:10:31 +0000

This picture was taken when Hayden had his first fever. It hovered around 104 degrees for a full day and night and I was so worried about my poor little muffin. On the afternoon of the next day it passed and slowly our little man once again became full of life, mischief and giggles. This made me think of how many parents deal with worry around their babe’s health on a daily basis with things so much more serious than this. It made me hug Hayden even tighter as we cuddled together on the couch all night that night. He was so uncomfortable he couldn’t sleep and wanted nothing but cuddles from his mama and I felt lucky to be able to give them to him. Sleepless nights are something I spent 8 months getting to know very well. I know that some parents would give anything to be able to hold their little ones, comfort them and promise them they will feel better soon. This little thought puts one sleepless night into very clear perspective.

Sorry to get all heavy there, being an analytical thinker is my nature. And practicing gratitude is something I take to heart. Since having Hayden I am extra aware of how miraculous, fragile and precious life truly is.

On a lighter note, our little Mr is pulling himself up now and getting into all sorts of trouble. Trying to get his sticky little hands on my Macbook and iPhone is one of his favourite pastimes. He has finally started doing something that resembles the closest thing to a crawl we have seen yet. I was convinced he was going to skip that and go straight to walking, but maybe he will be a little crawler yet. He has added some new words. He now says: cat, kitty (not very often anymore), dada (his favourite word), MAMA (his new word!) and he is starting to say Nana. Somedays he talks and talks and talks and others barely at all. I can’t believe how much he changes daily. I am in denial that he is almost one year old. Sigh, it really does go so fast.

Hayden you are my world. Mama loves you. xo

Hayden’s First Snow Day !

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:19:13 +0000

He wasn’t sure what to think of this white fluff falling from the sky. There were moments of sheer excitement and others of terror. But overall I think it was a hit.

Trying to grab the flakes

9 Months

admin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:01:48 +0000

I waited nine almost 10 months for you to arrive and now Hayden on Christmas Day you turned nine months. Holding you in my arms for your first Christmas is the best present I could ever wish for.

I saw a shoot like this on Pinterest by Caroline Tran and was inspired to create something similar. Darren hovered over Hayden to intercept any lights going into the mouth

Overhauled !!

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 03:59:56 +0000

EVERY.SINGLE.IMAGE gone. Poof. Deleted from my website. Don’t worry, it was on purpose! Updating the images on my website was waaaaaay overdue. In fact, it had been on my ‘to-do’ list for honestly at least 10 months. So please check it out and let me know what you think. http://www.kimkalynphotography.com/

And because this entry wouldn’t be complete without a picture, here is one of Hayden’s first visit with Santa. Don’t let the serious face fool you, there were tears and plenty of them once he realized who was holding him.

8 Months

admin — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:47:29 +0000

Just a couple snaps from dinner time. “What is there something on my face ??”

Our Little Monkey

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:57:58 +0000

It was Hayden’s first Halloween today! He was a monkey and it was an appropriate costume for him. I think he loved the banana the best. I love all the ‘firsts’ we are getting to celebrate. Yesterday he learned how to clap and it is pretty much the cutest thing you have ever seen. My little monkey, mama loves you. xo

And here is our pumpkin. Well the good one at least. I picked out the template (thanks Jenny!), scraped the pumpkin guts out and roasted the seeds and Darren carved it. So obviously I did all the hard work.

A Questionable “To-Do” List

admin — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 04:38:46 +0000

My mom swears she was a farmer in a past life. I believe her. She LOVES compost, manure and the smell of a good barn. She is an amazing gardener and I’d like to think that her inner-farmer may be rubbing off on me. Now it may be because since becoming a mama I have been a little pressed for time, but if you happened to visit my home a few days ago around 8pm you would have found me in my veggie garden sporting Darren’s headlamp pruning my raspberry bushes. This was my first sign I have inherited some of my mom’s love for gardening. The second reason made me chuckle. As I peered down at my “to-do” list for October I have written “get manure.” Yep, it’s official, I am my mother’s daughter and proud of it.

Just how I share my mom’s passion for good dirt and a healthy compost I think Hayden may be following in his daddy’s footsteps with a love for drumming. His auntie Deb and uncle Mal bought him his first set of bongos and he is loving them! Now that he can sit up by himself I can prop him in front of them and he wails away and has a great time. Daddy is pretty impressed

Isn’t his little toque the cutest thing ?? I had to get a picture of him in it

7 Months

admin — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:44:31 +0000

I watched a documentary called the Business of Being Born last night. Wow. What an amazing film. As they describe it is a “provocative and entertaining exploration of the modern maternity care system.” Watching the film made me think A) how messed up and backwards the medicalization of the birth process has truly become and B) I want to have another baby NOW! Don’t tell Darren The effects of sleep deprivation are still running strong in our family and until that is a distant memory I don’t think baby number 2 will be coming along any time soon

Even though the film focuses on the United States health care system around birth, I found there were many parallels to what I believe many women go through here. I was so happy that I chose to use a midwife and doula for Hayden’s birth and I know I will go that route again when we decide to have another babe.

Speaking of our little man, guess who turns 7 months old today ?! Our little pumpkin

Awww guys, do you know it smells like poop here? And I swear it isn’t me!

Had to try one with the self-timer

Melt my heart.

Pumpkin patch outtake …. no babies were hurt in the making of this image.

Six Months

admin — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 21:13:29 +0000

I can’t believe that Hayden turns six months old today. I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday and can’t believe how much we have experienced in the past six months.

Although not everyday has been easy, nothing worthwhile in life ever is. It is amazing how his little smile, giggle or watching him learn something new can brighten my day beyond words and make all the hard days disappear.

Hayden mama loves you millions. You are getting to be such a big boy!

My Little Muffin

admin — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 05:04:19 +0000

Hayden turns 5 months in just a few days. Where does the time go ?? Blink. Poof. It’s gone!

Here are just a few fun snaps on our ‘new’ lawn. Yes we moved. The same weekend I had my first of two double header wedding weekends in one month. Good times

I am an editing fool these days and I will have lots more to share very soon.

Hayden

admin — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 21:05:59 +0000

My big boy is 12 weeks old today. I can’t believe how fast time is flying by. It amazing how much he changes and grows from week to week. He can now hold his head up and has rolled over a few times already. We are loving each and every one of his gummy smiles! And can’t wait to hear his first giggle. Sounds like it will be coming any day now

My Little Aviator

admin — Sun, 15 May 2011 21:45:20 +0000

This toque is almost too small for him, I can’t believe it. He is growing so fast. Here are some images of my favourite little aviator. I know they aren’t technically the best images, but I am learning that sometimes it just doesn’t matter as the people and the emotion captured is what truly does.

Springtime Tulips

admin — Sat, 14 May 2011 00:52:07 +0000

Nothing like some pretty tulips to brighten any room. I love these flowers.

Happy Mother’s Day

admin — Sun, 08 May 2011 05:40:21 +0000

This day is something I have looked forward to for a very long time. My first mother’s day.

I wanted to share some of my most favourite images in the whole wide world, taken by absolutely the best mom there is, mine. If I can be one ounce of the mother she is Hayden will be one lucky little man. I love you millions mom, xoxo.

It’s photos like these that remind me just how powerful a photograph truly is. I look at these images and I am immediately consumed by all the emotions from that exact moment and it’s amazing. I hope I never forget the incredible and overwhelming love I experienced on the beautiful day that I became a mother.

To all the mom’s out there, you make the world a better place. Happy mother’s day!

Hayden, mama loves you.

Hope you had a hoppy Easter !

admin — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 01:17:04 +0000

Hayden and his bunny buds had a hoppy first Easter and hope you did too!

These beautiful bunnies were gifts from his Nai Nai (Grandma in Chinese) Lorna and great grandma (or g-g-ma as we call her) to celebrate his birth in the year of the Rabbit. The yellow blanket Hayden is laying on was made for Darren and his brother Geoff by their great grandma Spears. So special to have that passed on to us. And how darn cute is the camera onesie that he is wearing ??! Thank you Emmy

I also have to say that this is Hayden’s first smile ever caught on camera. Pretty darn excited about that!

Magnolia

admin — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 18:27:17 +0000

Each year I patiently wait for it to bloom. Knowing that it’s beauty will always live up to my expectations.

Giving Thanks

admin — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 18:53:27 +0000

Darren and I have received so many beautiful gifts over the past few months. Here are snaps of just a few.

I seriously can’t wait till Hayden can fit these uber adorable Padriag wool slippers from Alicia and Skye! Just gorgeous. Thank you SO much!

Our friends Amy and Richard have two of the cutest little pups around. We stopped by to help them out with their pups the other day and they had the sweetest surprise waiting for us. Some cheerful yellow flowers and Darren’s favourite beer of all time, Phillip’s Chocolate Porter. There is a commercial out right now, for Trident I think, when the one friend suggests to the other that if he loves Trident so much why doesn’t he marry it ? That is seriously how much Darren loves this beer. He would marry it if he could.

Siobhan works at one of my favourite wedding venues in town, the Fireside Grill. I may be a bit biased as this is where Darren and I had our wedding reception, but I just LOVE it ! Siobhan heard of Hayden’s birth and sent us a beautiful bouquet to celebrate. Thanks Siobhan!

Baby Love

admin — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:32:33 +0000

Just a few snaps of my favourite little man.

Sweet Gifts

admin — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 17:53:55 +0000

Darren, Hayden and I have been so spoiled with so many lovely and thoughtful gifts during this special time in our lives. We are so incredibly grateful. He is going to be the best dressed baby on the block HANDS DOWN!

Our house smells divine with beautiful bouquets of flowers, which I absolutely love. I love flowers so much and having lots around reminds me that I should really buy them more often, just because.

Erica and her wonderful staff at Rook and Rose sent us such a unique bouquet of amazingly fragrant Hyacinths. So gorgeous!

Thank you so much! I can’t walk by them without taking a good deep breath.