I bought a photography package on Living Social a few months ago, thinking,  oh perfect – I can get a new family photo and some pictures for  S’ dohl and Christmas cards.  I had – not super high, but medium high hopes going into this, even though it was a discounted internet deal.  It wasn’t that I was blown away by this photographer.  But the last family photo shoot we had was for S’ newborn pictures.  I think she was like 1.5 months old.  And I was still bloated and fat.  And I don’t know why I didn’t put on more makeup.  I do NOT like how I look in those pictures AT ALL.  So really, anything would have been an upgrade.  Ok, I know it shouldn’t be all about me but I just wanted a picture I could put on the mantle and look at without cringing and thinking, why did think it was ok to eat ice cream everyday for 3 months while I was pregnant!

Despite my anticipation, the photo session did not go well.  It was, in fact, a big fail.  From the minute she laid eyes on the photographer, S decided that she was the most frightening sight she’d ever seen.  She refused to look at her and would start screaming every time the photographer came near! Kinda hard to take pictures of someone when they won’t look at you.  I think we probably got a bunch of shots of the back of her head though.  In the few instances when she would turn around, she had the scowl and/or tears on her face .  She did not like the photographer and we all knew it.  The poor photographer even asked, S, why don’t you like me?

What does one do when one’s child makes it so painfully obvious that they do not like someone?  Well, if you are me, you chuckle awkwardly and apologize repeatedly.  Well, I guess the photographer felt bad also because she offered to give us a short mini session just to get some pictures of S by herself.  We immediately, gratefully accepted, thinking, ok, next week we’ll make sure she gets a good nap in, eats, and will be in a great mood.  Nope.  The mini session was yesterday and it was just as bad, if not worse.  Double FAIL.

At least the husband had a good backup plan.  We allowed the scary photographer to leave without getting any solo shots of S because it was just not gonna happen.  We hung out for a bit so she could get better acclimated and then we went all amateur style and busted out our own camera and tried to take some photos.  Yes, as you can see I was very determined to get these photos.  We even did a wardrobe change.  She wasn’t in the best mood, but at least some turned out ok.  Oh yea, we also coaxed her with snacks.

So any tips?  On how to some good photos when there’s a cranky baby involved?

So, I have not updated this blog in a while.  My bad.  (do people still say this?) It all started going down hill on Halloween, when I came home to find S with a 102 fever.  This was her first time being sick, so we were definitely panicked and nervous.  She’s all fine now, so no worries and her sickness was nothing serious.  But her recovery was slow and for about a week and a half, my poor baby wasn’t eating or sleeping well.  Which meant that I wasn’t  eating or sleeping well.  Well, I take that back, I was still eating well.  Night wakings seemed   easier to handle when I didn’t have to go to work the next morning and try to pretend like I know what I’m talking about.  S has pretty much been sleeping through the night since I went back to work, so being deprived of a full night’s sleep, night after night, was very painful.  VERY PAINFUL. VERY PAINFUL!

I actually have sat down at this very computer about 5 times in the past week or so, trying to think of a clever, insightful way to describe this experience of our first child’s first illness.  After about 5 failed attempts, either due to tiredness or distraction, I gave up.  So let me put it simply – for me, it pretty much went like this – anxiety, fear, panic, panic, panic, insecurity, uncertainty and eventually, relief.  Honestly, I really did not know what I was supposed to do in this situation – whether that fever was dangerously high (it wasn’t), whether she was old enough for medication (she is), or if I needed to rush her to the emergency room (no need).  I guess I should have given it more thought or tried to prepare for it somehow.  We didn’t even have a rectal thermometer (the most accurate), since the husband would not let me buy one because he “doesn’t think we should do that” to S and so, I found myself doubting her temperature readin, unsure on whether she was really getting better.  Well, lesson learned.  At least next time, I will be prepared.  I will have to secretly buy a rectal thermometer and hide it from my husband.

So anyways, I’ve been rambling and this is turning into a really long explanation on why I have been a lazy bum and not updated this blog.  I will now give the people what they want, which are picture updates, not the incessant rambling excuses of a sleep deprived mother.

Since S has been in recovery, we’ve been trying to lay low and not do too much to ensure she doesn’t get sick again.  Here are some pics of a couple things we did – right before she got sick and a little after she got better.

Pumpkin Carving

PIcking fruit from our backyard