Hello, Hello!

Welcome to 2011; Goodbye 2010! We hope everyone enjoyed their holiday season. We want to thank all of our supporters and followers for making this last year one of the most wonderful and memorable years that fickleZeal has had so far. We appreciate all the encouragement and assistance that you have given. We have a very bright outlook for 2011 and would love to continue to hear from you individually.

With that said, we’re excited to share that we are entering this New Year [2011] with a new

Blog + Website… as well as fresh branding that is more suitable for both Andre and I. We would love for you to regularly visit our new blog+site and let us know what you think, especially now that the comments work (whew). Feel free to CLICK ON OVER and check it out:D www.fickleZeal.com

But first, since we we not able to keep up with things on this blog we wanted to highlight some of the many special and exciting moments from 2010. This year has been an incredible year filled with so many exciting, heartfelt and emotional moments. We have been fortunate to photograph a variety of people and events that have been near and dear to our hearts. Below we have tried to quickly recap some of those moments, but it is not nearly enough to fully detail the entire year.

Again, thank you all for the amazing support. We hope this new year brings everyone more happiness, hope, appreciation of life and lots of remarkable memories that need to be captured for a lifetime!

Jenna + Andre
fickleZeal

We’ve had a very full life around here and the blog has suffered because of it, but as parents must do, we have to focus on prioritizing life’s to-do list”S”. This quick post is at the top of one of our to-do lists, simply because it’s Down Syndrome Awareness Month. This month we reflect on the amazing ways that that extra chromosome in our daughters make up has changed our lives for the best. Please feel free to post a comment sharing the beautiful ways that Down syndrome has changed or enhanced your life.

I hope you will enjoy this adorable short film that Andre created staring our daughter “Lana” and her friend “Matty”. Who could deny these cuties!?!

Andre and I spend a lot of time each year thinking up goals and, well… dreams. As you know we are passionate about photographing people with Down syndrome (DS). We see it our mission to capture unique and authentic beauty, and to bring awareness to our willing readers. In March, we held our first DS Portrait event, where we hosted a photoshoot for twelve beautiful people diagnosed with DS. It truly was a great success, and we had a wonderful turn-out.

Back to our goals… Just earlier this year, January, we wrote a long term goal for five years from now that said:

“Become the official photographers for a Down syndrome organization.”

Little did we know that the very first Down syndrome Portrait event would receive so much attention and inspiring feedback. The Down Syndrome Partnership of Tarrant County (DSPTC) contacted us the day after we released the video Andre created. Their representative asked us to consider being their OFFICIAL photographers for their organization!!! WHA-WHAT!!! We were a little overwhelmed by the timing. You know, the little things like Dez being only a few months old, Lana being potty trained, sleep deprivation, summer break with the kids, and planning my return to college. Needless-to-say, we had to weigh our priorities before saying, yes. But honestly, if you know us, you know we think we can do anything we put our minds to. Of course, we said, YES!!!

The first event that we would like to share is the DSPTC Teen Dance hosted at Kinderfrogs TCU…

sweet, fun moments were shared by all

Remember Joshua – on the top right


limbo time

We are thankful for all of you who participated in our DS Portrait event and for helping us to achieve one of our dreams. We look forward to watching you grow and live inspirational lives. We hope we have the opportunity to photograph you throughout the years. We’ll see you around!

Also, BIG THANKS to the DSPTC for inviting us to be a part of your wonderful organization. We are so thrilled to be able to provide our services for your wonderful cause. Humbled and grateful!

P.S. The Down Syndrome Partnership of Tarrant County (DSPTC) is a not-for-profit organization that supports people with Down syndrome, their families, and caregivers in achieving the universally desired goals of self-fulfillment, pride in one’s achievements, inclusion in the community and reaching one’s full potential, through social and educational activities. – Anyone in Fort Worth, HEB, Grapevine, Southlake, Arlington, Keller, Colleyville, Mansfield and throughout North Texas with an interest in Down syndrome is invited to join.

I’ve fallen behind on blogging, but I have SO much that we want to share! I’m doing my best to keep things updated around here, but just when I think I’m going to catch up something throws me off course again. I won’t get into the many things right now as I really want to post photos from our shoot with Max.

What a spunky lil’ guy. He had us on our toes throughout the shoot. LITERALLY! As his Mom looked on and laughed we ran from one spot to the next trying our best to keep up. Following Max was so much fun!

Meet Max

These lil’ cute shoes enabled him to keep us on our toes… or shall I say on-the-go


So great to photograph you Max!!! I hope to see you again soon!

Miss Marley has been a distant Hawaiian friend of ours for over four years. I met Marley’s Mom, Katrina, on the wonderful worldwide web in a not so faraway place called Downsyn.com. It’s an online community of parents and families with children who have Down syndrome. Becoming a part of downsyn.com was filled with so many blessings, including but not limited to: friendships, knowledge, resources, understanding, compassion, gratitude, and sooo much more:-)

As they say, “It takes a whole Village to raise a child.” In some ways, downsyn.com was that community of valuable resources and priceless experienced wisdom. It was where many of us discovered that we were not alone and that our emotional roller coaster(s) were a normal process in understanding our new life with a child that has special needs. It’s where we found out that it was okay to have those indescribable emotions that take over you without a moments notice. It’s where we laughed and cried with sharing milestones and challenges. We found out that we were not alone, and we had a place to speak with people that TRULY GOT IT. The evolution of our new life’s purpose blossomed. We learned from each other and developed together. It helped me to realize that, “I am the Lucky One.” (insert you tube video link).

I’m so thankful to have been chosen to be Lana’s mom and to have been given the opportunity to experience this wonderful life with so many beautiful people. Marley and her family are only a few of those beautiful people that I have had the pleasure of meeting and befriending.

Marley has the coolest (level-headed) demeanor of a child, her age, that I have ever seen. She will quietly observe then find that beauty within…well…everything. At times, it seems like nothing is strange to her. She is extremely giving and gracious. She is sweet, kind and an undeniable friend to all. She is Marley!

When she arrived we were so excited to see her and her growing family. It seemed more like a play-date with good friends than work. Yes, we love our job!!! Marley gave us some unique and fun photos.

Marley and family, Thank you for being a part our day! It was wonderful seeing and catching up with you all.

Now for a flashback from the past… A group of us from downsyn.com were able to meet up in Texas for a Get Together in 2007. I dug up the video that I had put together back then to share our time together. Warning, it’s almost twenty minutes long and the photos are prior-to me becoming a photographer. LOL!

We’ve been told that it takes special people to care for and Love a child with special needs.  As parents to the child, we love our children because they are a product of us…but to a brother or sister, it’s a different sort of love and respect.  They don’t always understand why people make such a fuss or what makes their brother/sister special…they simply see the person.  Families that are blessed with such a gift become an inspiration just by loving and providing. We had the pleasure of meeting such a special family last weekend. 
 
The Garbe’s started the morning off in the good ole Texas HUMID heat.  Even though it became extremely hot it didn’t stop us from having a fun-filled-family on-the-go photoshoot.  It didn’t take long for us to relate to the Garbe’s and photograph that “togetherness” that they share.  Each person has their own unique role in the family making a fully functioning team.  
 
Sheridan and Brooke are adorable sisters with their own separate agendas.  They kept us on our toes throughout the shoot and provided us an ample amount of photographic opportunities.  When I settled for a bit, I had the pleasure of sharing cuddle-time with Brooke as she sat in my lap while I continued to photograph her sister, Sheridan.  All I could think was, “future photographer” as she oohed and ahhed at the preview of each shot taken;-)  And when Sheridan held my hand as we walked to the next spot, I knew her heart.  It was the same sweetness that our son shares with others.  A special bond ties these girls together and will enrich their lives together through the years to come.  Here are a few photographs of this beautiful dynamic family.

such a sweet moment. I love Andre’s angle on the left and mine on the right.

Nate helped me with the selects of these images. On the image below he said “Oh Mom, you have to use this one. I love how her eyes are in focus.” I just had to share my proud Mom-photographer moment with my little man. Not to mention how gorgeous Sheridan looks.

This past Saturday the Garbe’s braved the dreadfully humid Texas heat for their lifestyle family photoshoot. Here’s a little peek from our active time together.

What a personality!

Emme was not feeling well due to a severe allergy attack and took some time to warm up to us. While her mother tried to keep her distance, Emme made sure that she did not roam too far away from her site. Once she got the feel for our time together, she started to let loose. The strong wind blew across her face and the sun shone so bright that she had to close her eyes while breathing in deep. A smile lifted her lips and she began to dance and run in-between the parked trains. Witnessing her love for her mother and her carefree spirit, warmed our hearts and put smiles on our faces. She is a priceless LIFE treasure.

Is it just me, or do Emme’s eyes take your breath away? I adore her beautiful brushfield spots! A unique characteristic of 35-78% of children with Down syndrome.