Be harsh, how else will I get better?

I think the backround is okay. Because its a toddler you expect toys and such. Its a nice shot. Kids can be tough to get a good expression without a face full of snot or chocolate.

I find dark eyes difficult also, but they are sharp and focus is spot on, and the catch light helps.
There seems to be a trend of over exposing baby portraits to a point of clipping, It may work for you.
The back ground is a little distracting, increasing exposure, reducing the contrast, and playing with Curves may help bring a little more detail in the eyes, make the back ground less prominent and soften the skin

facedodge wrote in post #15990489
I think the backround is okay. Because its a toddler you expect toys and such. Its a nice shot. Kids can be tough to get a good expression without a face full of snot or chocolate.

Thanks!

DamianOz wrote in post #15991399
I find dark eyes difficult also, but they are sharp and focus is spot on, and the catch light helps.
There seems to be a trend of over exposing baby portraits to a point of clipping, It may work for you.
The back ground is a little distracting, increasing exposure, reducing the contrast, and playing with Curves may help bring a little more detail in the eyes, make the back ground less prominent and soften the skin

Thank you for your tips. Can you elaborate a little on how I might do those things in Post? I have LR4 and CS6. I have only used LR thus far.

I did a quick edit in PS, to give an idea of the results I would aim for.
I would normally use LR4 with the raw file.
In Develop, adjust the "Basic" sliders, play with the exposure, contrast, Highlights, etc...
In the "Tone Curve" adjust slightly also.
You may not like my edit, just offering suggestions
Before

chubbyone wrote in post #15990134
Another edit form the same set.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/90717616@N08/8​918415840/
Close-Up by ShaneOhMac, on Flickr

After, many increase exposure even more

I do like the added detail to the eyes, but the highlights seem so blown out. If I would have exposed this better initially, can I attain eye detail without blown highlights?

If you're just looking to get some added detail in the eyes, you could just dodge the eyes a bit in PP. Tons of YouTube tutorials (some better than others) on this. I personally think the edited version is way over exposed and the highlights and detail in her shirt are lost. If you prefer the lower contrast in her face, I would at least mask her shirt to retain the detail in the whites.

I think the background is distracting, especially with the blue around her face. Without being there, it looks like a step or two to the left and you could have gotten rid of most of the distracting elements.

Try this: It's called the 5 step approach. After you take your initial shot, take a step (or two) left, right, and forward and take a shot from each one. Then take a shot from a higher POV and a lower one. It'll help you see different framing and composition.

As for your original shot, a lower vantage point, a few steps left or right to clean up the BG elements, a shallower DOF to throw he BG out of focus, and some fill flash (or reflector) to lighten grandma's face would have improved the shot tenfold. None of which would have required additional equipment or time.