Squeezing Smiles

We are halfway through the week... we are halfway through this deployment (only a little more than 2.5 months to go)... and I'm feeling like half of me is still standing. Trying to put up a good fight these days, but it's TOUGH. I asked Charlotte if she would take pictures the other day, and she immediately said, "No..." (never in a mean tone, always in this sweet little voice)... and these days, I have to pick which battles I fight, because there are TOO many. So, I was going to drop it, and move along with my day. I thought to myself, "Well fine... you spent 3.5 years without having your picture taken... go ahead and continue with this streak... at least you'll save yourself the embarrassment of having those pictures taken out when you bring your first boyfriend home." ... I started taking pictures of other things around the house, when all of a sudden the little voice spoke up, "Mama take picture... with guitar... oh, and booo (blue) chair." I immediately picked up my camera and the blue chair, handed the "Early Learner" guitar over to Charlotte, and dashed out the door... I didn't even check to see if her glasses were smudged, or if her outfit was adjusted well... I didn't want her to back out of her offer to take pictures for me. We made it up the hill... and she "performed" for me while I took her pictures. It ended up becoming one of my favorite shoots of her TO DATE.

Do you see those sweet little leg warmers? They were created by my dear friend Haley, the owner of the etsy shop, Treasured { Handmade }... and she creates the most beautiful things. They are SUPER soft, and the perfect way to introduce this slightly warmer weather, and say goodbye to her boots. **Haley is moving back to the US, and will reopen her shop soon, but for now, you should DEFINITELY bookmark it... it's a great one.

Friends, if your little ones aren't in the mood to take photos, let them add something to the photos that is SO them, to "excite" them about being photographed... it's WAY easier to work an object into your photo, rather than try and squeeze a smile out of your little one. Let them include their little Lego Men, or Barbies... at least they're not running away from the camera.