One, Three, and Five...Finally

After a stressful morning at the photography shop, I decided to take matters into my own hands.

So I took a white sheet outside and had my own little impromptu photo session.

And the kids cooperated much better.

In fact, even Benjamin laughed at my silly antics.

Some of us made silly faces.

And I feel like I was actually able to capture their personalities.

Much more so than the earlier photographer.

I think it helps when kids are in a familiar environment.

Although Faith and Grace are both so eager to please.

Benjamin.  Not so much.

Between the professional photos and the snapshots I took today, I think I certainly accomplished the documentation of my kids at the ages of one, three, and five.  Finally.

Professional Pictures Take 2

After Benjamin took his nap we returned to the photography shop.

But Benjamin was in no better frame of mind.

He decided that he did not like the photographer or having his picture made.

No matter how we posed the children he simply would not cooperate.

I finally convinced the photographer to just take the picture.   I don't care if he's smiling.

We took a quick break and got a couple of shots with just Grace and Faith.

They are best friends, you know.

Then I dumped Benjamin back into the photo.

And he tried to run away.

He was quite petrified of that photographer I think.

Grace smiled beautifully.

And showed her sweet spirit.

As did Faith.

And then we got to see more of their personalities.

After the photographer convinced me to hide under a sheet and hold Benjamin under the guise of photoshopping me out.  This was her idea of getting Benjamin to smile.  She assured me she would make me disappear.  Faith thought it was quite hilarious.

And Benjamin did finally smile.

But this was the best the photographer could do to make me disappear...  

After 20 minutes of saying "no" to $999 and $599 portrait packages I left with just one pose of all three children to hang on our wall.  And I must admit that I sincerely love it.  It shows each of my children's personalities exactly as they are.  Grace is such a sweet little girl who wants to make everyone happy.  Faith finds joy in the most mundane things and is able to light up the room with her laugh.  And Benjamin is already so strong willed and determined.  He doesn't care a bit what anyone thinks.  And while today was extremely stressful I am so thankful to finally have this photograph of my children and their personalities while they are at the ages of one, three, and five.

Professional Pictures Take 1

Right now my kids are ages 1, 3, and 5.  But it's only a matter of days before Grace turns 6 so I wanted to commemorate this time with professional pictures.  I was fully prepared or so I thought.  It was my idea to bribe my children with cupcakes thinking that they would be on a sugar high and super happy and smiley for their pictures.  Fortunately for me the gourmet cupcake shop is next door to the photography shop.  

We arrived promptly for our appointment but still had to wait almost 15 minutes.  In spite of my better judgement we began with individual portraits of each of the kids.  With a blue background that I don't particularly care for.  I had requested a solid white background so I could hang the pictures on my wall...but the photographer insisted on starting with the blue...

Grace and Faith were great and smiled beautifully for their photos.

Benjamin did as well.  But that didn't last for long.

By the time the photographer was ready to do a group shot our opportunity had passed.

Benjamin was crashing from his sugar high and wanted a nap.

So he screamed and and screamed and threw such a tantrum that the photographer suggested we let him take a nap and we try again in two hours.  

With one final shot of Grace and Faith we left so Benjamin could take a nap and hopefully wake up in a better mood.  I still want a picture of all three of my kids.  

First lesson learned:  As much as I like some of the pictures of Grace and Faith, I simply am not going to spend a small fortune for pictures that I will not hang on my walls thanks to the wrong color of the background.  I want our family pictures to maintain a cohesive look by having a plain white background so if I choose to group pictures together there is no visual clutter.  Next time I will insist on beginning with the picture and background that I am most likely to purchase regardless of "the professionals" opinion.

Lesson #2:  Mommas know their children and their temperaments best.  Young photographers would do well to listen to what the customer wants and take photos in the order requested.   They are not likely to upsale me a bunch of individual portraits if they can't get the one pose I most wanted.   

Hippo Hooray! Faith is 3 today.

It's so hard to believe that Faith is three years old now.

It seems like each day she's a little more like a big girl instead of my baby.

Her favorite color is "pur-hull" (purple).

She loves all things tiny and looks forward to tickle time with her Daddy each evening.

Faith loves to cuddle, color, listen to stories, and watch "tee-bee" (tv). 

We let our girls watch a little Disney Junior right before bedtime each night.

And all she wanted for her birthday was a "pur-hull hipp-ah-mus tay-kkkk" (purple hippopotamus cake).  That's it. She asked for a purple hippopotamus cake for her birthday every day without fail for the last 10 weeks.  

For some reason Faith is slightly obsessed with hippopotamuses.  She even sings a little song about wanting a purple hippopotamus for her birthday...It goes to the tune of wanting a hippopotamus for Christmas song...

Before long it was time to bow out candles which Faith successfully accomplished on her first puff thanks to the help of her big sister, Grace.

Then she opened her presents.  Along with a butterfly necklace and Princess Candyland

Faith finally got her very own Baby Be Blessed dolly.

Who was promptly named "Lee-Lee" (Lily).  

Then we ate cake.  Although Faith only ate the "mahsh-ma-woah" (marshmallow) eyeballs and a bit of the icing.  She's never been one that really likes sweets.  She's more of a red meat and potatoes kind of girl.  She's the only kid that I know who will go to Chickfila and eat 1-2 nuggets and say she's full.  Then she'll trade in her toy for an ice cream cone (only because Grace wants a cone and Faith wants to be just like Grace) and then take 2 licks and say she's done.  So funny.

All in all, I think it was a pretty great birthday for my 3 year old.  

Happy Birthday Faith!   You are such a special little girl with a joyful and happy spirit.  Your smile alone lights up the room and everyone in it.  Even when you were a tiny little baby, strangers would walk up to you and start conversations just because they saw and couldn't resist your smile.  You are so full of laughter and you bring such happiness and sunshine to everyone around.   I have enjoyed every little moment with you over the past three years and I look forward to each and every day with you.  I love you more than my heart can hold and I am so grateful to be your Momma.  

We're having a...

BOY!!!!  

And he's due to arrive May 25.

And since we love balloons we decided to have a little family photoshoot.

We used our tripod and remote and snapped pictures away.

Both Faith and Grace had a blast playing with the balloons.

Then they wanted to play in the box, of course.

They took turns popping in and out of our box yelling, "Surprise!"

The best family pictures are the ones that are fun to make.