Diego's First Official Portrait!

Today I am a super proud Mom sharing this wonderful portrait of Diego with you!

This is the first photo ever where Diego is sitting, smiling and looking at the camera, all at the same time. This portrait was taken at school by a professional photographer. When the teacher gave the photo to me I just couldn't believe it, I wanted to cry. One of the hardest things about children with Autism is to sit still, to look directly at your eye (or at the camera lens) and to smile just for a photo. This portrait says sooo much about Diego's progress!. "A picture is worth a thousand words" and this picture captures Diego's personality so well! He is a funny, extremely curious and sweet as candy :)

I adore this little man sooo much!!!!!!! His smile is a gift to each member of our family and I wanted to share that gift with you today :)

Have a wonderful day my friend! And tonight we are joining our neighbors in what it could be a great celebration, let's see what happens!!!!

Elsita :)

Comments

[Margaret Oomen]

He is the most handsome boy I have seen in a long time. That smile warms my heart this morning. I think he is thanking his totally amazing family for helping him "walk on solid air" with reference to bill's blog post today. Congratulations elsita and bill he has come such a long way because of you two.

[Nicki]

Aww *I* nearly cried when I read that post!

What a handsome little man, enjoy your "proud mummy moment", they are so special :o)

[suzy]

What a handsome young man, what a wonderful portrait to remember him at this age! xo, suzy

[Ana]

Querida Elsa: Como me incorporé hace poco tiempo a ese precioso universo de tu blog, acabo de enterarme de que tu hombrecito es autista. Desde mi casa de Valencia, y volando por encima del océano, quiero enviarte mi cariño y toda mi fuerza para seguir con la tarea más bonita del mundo: la de ser mamá. Y mucho más de un ser tan especial como Diego. Al leerte me he acordado inmediatamente de una cita que leí una vez (creo que es de Leonard Cohen) que dice: "No hay cura para el amor, pero el amor es la cura para todos los males". Besos desde España.
Ana

[liz]

look at that gorgeous boy!
i can fee the pride in your writing - diego has so much to be proud of too!

great shirt, by the way :)

[Donna]

Diego's passion and personality really come out in the picture - how wonderful! You and Bill deserve to be so proud of him - and your whole family gets millions of credit for the support and understanding you continue to give to Diego! What a wonderful gift!

I hope we are all celebrating tonight!

[Lucia]

Esos ojitos...como brillan con amor. Tu bebito es lindo!
Lucia in San Francisco

[Colleen MacDonald]

He is simply beautiful, and looks so much like YOU! We had picture day yesterday, too, with less success than that. BUT maybe next year!

[Patricia]

Such a deep, sweet soul shining through those gorgeous eyes!

[Karen Mowrey]

Yay! This is an amazing portrait for school! We got our back yesterday too...not nearly as gorgeous as this landmark shot of yours. Congratulations, his progress shows!

[mystele]

oh, elsita, so awesome!!! huge smile on my face now. he is adorable, and i can see his dad in his face! rejoicing with you over all of his progress.

[Mari]

Oh, you brought a tear to my eye! What a beautiful little guy!

[estelluxx]

boy he sure does look like you both! he is a real mix of the two of you! he is so cute! a better school picture than any i ever had! ;)

[andrea gutierrez]

so very precious, i am so very happy for you!

[Heather]

what a lovely photo of a beautiful little boy!!

[NADIA]

magnifique diego ! nous (j'ai montré ta photo à toute ma famille) si émus par ton sourire et de tout coeur à la joie de tes parents!

[Lelah]

What an precious photo! He looks so handsome. :) Congratulations to Diego and your family on his wonderful progress!

[suesue]

what a wonderful photo! congrats to diego!!

[bluemountainsmary]

Elsa - my heart is full for your family - such a small thing I suppose but so huge for all of you...beautiful boy

[jill]

what a sweety, and I love his Beatles T shirt!

[Suzanne]

Beautiful boy and beautiful smile ~ just like his Momma. You have done a nice job Elsa. Hugs to all of you,

Suzanne

[jessamyn harris]

he looks so happy... it makes me smile! :)

[Evelyn]

Such a hansome little man. I never realized how much he looks like his momma. Many continued blessings to you and your family.

[La Donna]

His smile, your words, it is a beautiful day!
Hugs,
La Donna

[EmmyLizzy]

What a wonderful photo! I, myself am a preschool photographer out here in Detroit, Mi, and I photograph a lot of early autistic programs. While they are definitely some of my more challenging centers, they are also some of my most rewarding. I know that these parents don't really have the luxury of taking their children to traditional portrait studios, so I work as hard as i can with the teachers and the students themselves to stick to their routine and keep things as low-key (and fun!) as possible. These autistic centers are tied to some of my best memories as a photographer, and last week when one of the classes came up to me with a giant card filled with all of their handprints I almost cried!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmylizzy/2948496154/

[nancy]

i just discovered your site and am now learning about Diego. His warm, dear and beautiful charactor are beaming off the screen. You have all my prays and support to raise him in a world that is open and loving but full of hurdles.
nancy

[KK]

GO, Diego, GO! Awesome. What a handsome young man! Just found your blog on Paper Cutting via Angry Chicken. What a surprise to stumble upon another ASD Mommy in the process! BTW, do you have any online shop for your work?

[Kimberley]

Dear Elsita: What warmth and soul in his big bright eyes. He has a beautiful and loveable expression on his face. I know the feeling of the magnetic and irrepressible love for a child that is deeply cherished. This is a wonderful blissful moment and milestone for you and your family to celebrate. The picture shows a joyful little boy who is blossoming. His personality really does comes through. This is the reward for your nurturing love and devotion.

[Alison]

Yay Diego! You look so handsome! (I must also say you have very good taste in music!)

I feel so happy for you guys.

[nanouke]

What a beautiful picture!!! I understand why you're so proud!
Thank you for sharing it with us :)

[Carol]

I love this picture of your son, you are right, he does look happy and his eyes show much inquisitive-ness! May his progress in school increase by manifolds this coming year.

[Maria HLobo]

Oh, Elsa, how cute he is!!!!!!!!!!!! lots of love from Rio, Maria

[Mia Zucca]

I love this photo! He's got on a Beatles T-shirt and all I can think of is the song "Beautiful Boy" that John Lennon wrote. So great!
(It's not the best recording but I found it on YouTube)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5HyePwfIXQ&feature=related

[mayaluna]

thank you for sharing your sweet boy and this milestone! He is so beautiful and you can really SEE him and all that you describe in those gorgeous eyes. You and your family have made so many incredible choices that have led to him taking this lovely portrait. I'm so happy for all of you:)

[Marina]

Congratulations on a lovely portrait (and what a beautiful head of hair!)

[célia jordão alves]

You have a beautifull son. And it couln't be other way because of the BEAUTIFULL mother he has, inside and outside. All the best to your familly.

[IVÁN Y ZHENIA]

Querida hermana ver esta foto hoy ha sido un regalo inmenso despues de tanta tristeza, Diego es un niño increíble del cual también estamos orgullosos, no te podemos describir lo que sentimos al verle tan grande y expresivo. Ten por seguro que recibirá mucho amor cuando lo veamos de nuevo. Con cariño
Iván y Zhenia

[Nani]

Hola Elsita:

He estado muy al tanto de los progresos de tu pequeño, porque mi hermana Zhenia se encarga de informarme. Creo que con esa foto, y muchas otras que he visto de tu familia, uno entiende de dónde sale esa magia creadora que vemos en tus obras. No se puede escapar a tanta dulzura y una vez que se acumula tú la viertes en tus piezas de papel, tus dibujos y, debo decirlo, mis favoritas niñas flores. Espero que nos sigas dando todos los días un poquito de esa fe que te hace percatarte de los instantes, de los detalles que hacen de este mundo un lugar maravilloso. Suerte y perseverancia para el largo camino en el cual acompañas a tu pequeño duende. saludos desde Camagüey.
Nani

[miss shortcake]

what a lovely gift, and a lovely smile!

[lauren]

how handsome & what a smile! I can't believe how much older he looks than when I first started reading your blog...amazing.
:)

[jackie]

Querida Elsa, sou sua fã numero 1 aqui no Brasil!!!
Parabéns pelo filho lindo. Que Deus ilumine seus dias. Com muito amor(de mãe pra mãe),
jackie.

[Bek]

Yay! Congrats Diego and congrats Mama!
What a wonderful milestone!
And handsome and wearing a Beatles shirt!
(my little guy loves them, but they make him wear a uniform, not that he ever gets his school picture- we prep him for the event and then he winds up sick with an ear infection every year!)
Giant hugs!