Picture This...

I promise that there are other aspects of my life worthy of writing about besides Hailey, but for right now, let me speak of attempting to photograph the very young.

Personally, I don't seem to have a problem taking pictures of her - thank God for digital cameras! I take about 30 pictures to get that one really excellent image. I keep all 30 - but only print the one or two good ones. Someday, when she is older, she'll be able to look through a scrapbook of really great pictures of herself. When she brings home her first serious boyfriend, we will be able to show him that slide show disk of literally hundreds more of the most embarassing photos ever captured on.....uh......well whatever digital images are captured on.

Back in the days of old, I used to get so disappointed when that eagerly anticipated roll of film was developed and all I got were grainy dark blobs (for $9 a roll). Now, pictures that are: out of focus - you can sharpen....too dark - lighten them up or just hit 'Delete' altogether. Even better...I can crop out the messy kitchen in her first bath photos.

We have taken her in to get her pictures taken professionally twice. Once at 1 month old to get some family portraits and just last week to get her first photo Christmas card (I have always wanted the iconic photo Christmas card ). The first photo session was wonderful - great photographer everything went well. Or... maybe since she was only a month we didn't expect much from her. This last time, we expected cover model material - o.k.... I expected cover model material....after all this is THE photocard!!!

Beautiful new red dress....check

Big Smile....check

Sitting up....not so much

She's only 3 months old, and while I didn't expect her to sit up on her own, she can sit up if you prop her up. Apparently, that is only at home on the couch. We propped her up at the studio and she arched her back and slid back down. They took a picture of her on her back looking at the ceiling - come on people...that would look silly on my Christmas card. I tried propping her up from behind the screen - she slid right out of my hands. It didn't help that the dress I bought for her (0-3 months) was way to big - even though she is on the high side of that size.

Us: Prop her up.... pull the wrinkles from her dress...smile at our accomplishment

Hailey: slide...re-wrinkle the dress...smile at her accomplishment

The photographer was ready to pack it in when hubby suggested draping a blanket over his arm so her could cradle her. BINGO! We got great smiles! Christmas was saved - at least the part of Christmas that you mail was saved.

For those of you who are getting Christmas card from me - if it looks like she is sitting in a chair, I suppose she is. My little christmas princess is sitting on the 'Throne of Daddy'