Thank you for the help and hints, Dina. I really appreciate it. :) I scanned the photo and used destaurate in Photoshop. Also, I don't think my scanner is the best as well. :/
I think your ideas on composition are good but you might try facing hte child towards the light (indirect light) so the light can reflect in their eyes. This way, the eyes won't appear so gray.... How are you converting your color photos into black & white?