My youngest daughter, Danika, turned 18-months the other day.  I can hardly believe my baby is that old!

At our house, all birthdays and important half birthdays (6 months, 18 months) require a photo shoot!    It was late afternoon on a beautiful summer day so I packed up Danika, some assorted props, and her big sister, Desiree and headed out to scout out the perfect location.

I already had an idea in mind:  wheat fields!  There are some absolutely lovely ones around here, but I knew I had to work fast because it’s harvest time (and I somehow completely missed out on the wheat for Danika’s 6 month pics).

Luckily, we quickly found THE perfect location.  A beautiful, easily-accessible wheat field bathed in glorious, late afternoon, summer light.    Heaven!!!  (And, just in the nick of time…they were harvesting the field directly across from our little spot).

My idealism went unrewarded however, when my usually-cooperative toddler absolutely refused to pose, or even stand up,  in front of said idyllic backdrop .  My dreams of golden haloes of light around my pixie-like daughter weren’t to be.  Thankfully my photographic assistant (aka Desiree) was a willing model so I got a few of the shots I was hoping for after all.