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Photo Crazy



Perhaps it is because I am a new mom (sort of). Perhaps it is because technology has made it so easy. Perhaps it is because I am trying to learn and practice a new hobby (yet again). Or (and I think we are getting to the real reason here) perhaps it is because I honestly believe that there is no cuter child out there than my beautiful son and I want to capture every expression, every moment, and yes, every stylish outfit I put on him, and show him off to the world. Any other mom feel the same way about their children? I'm going to venture a guess and just say yes.

But still, do I really need to take 25 pictures of Benjamin raking the leaves? I mean, how exciting is it really to do yard work?  But as I stood there watching him in his adorable sweater, focusing on his task at hand, I found myself thinking "Is there anything cuter than this?" So I dashed into the house for the camera and sprinted back outside (nearly falling out the door in my haste-I'm not joking) praying that he hadn't gotten bored of the mundane task of raking fallen leaves. (Just so you know, if he had I would have tried to just re-create the moment purely so I could take the picture.) Luckily, he was still raking when I (only slightly out of breath) got back to him, camera in hand.

I began snapping pictures, inwardly cursing because my camera takes a whole second to process between shots. I mean, a whole second! I took pictures from every angle possible...pictures of him (of course) but also the rake, the leaves, his shadow, and the dirt (okay, that was an accident). I tried to get him to smile at the camera, which consisted of me jumping up and down like a lunatic yelling "Benjamin! Ahh boo!  Look at Mommy! Ahh-Ahh-Boo! Over here, pumpkin! BENJAMIN, LOOK AT MOMMY!" So then he looks at me like I am a crazy person (which of course I am) and snap, snap, snap I take his picture. Not once did I actually get a smile. Even after all that effort.  I mean, what do I have to do? A song and dance routine? Hmm, that's an idea...

Which brings me to my next item on the list of "Things I said I'd never do when I had kids": act like a complete fool, at any time and any place, in front of anybody, to get my child to look at the camera and smile. We were at the Sequoia's last summer and I wanted to take a picture of Benjamin sitting on a rock with the beatiful scenery behind him. So Nathan set him down and I started calling to him to look at me so I could get the shot. I really wanted him to smile so I began my normal lunatic routine. It wasn't until after I got the picture and saw Nathan's embarassed expression that I realized I had an audience of about ten strangers watching my antics. As Nathan walked by me to start back down the trail, he muttered "You are completely ridiculous." My response? "What? I had to get him to smile! And it's a great picture!"

He's right. I am completely ridiculous. Oh well.












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