Cooperation?!

Ok, so I'm over a month behind in taking the girls' first and second birthday pictures. Today, Samantha is 25 months old, and in a few days, Maggie will be 14 months old. *Sigh* Alas, this "active" bedrest has taken a toll on my body and emotions... and I'm really struggling with it... however, this past weekend, I told Brandon that there were no if's, and's, or but's... I was getting the girls pictures taken!

So, Sunday, after finally getting everyone dressed and ready, and explaining to Samantha that it would be absolutely wonderful if she would smile for the camera today (stubborn little girl stops smiling or gives a smirk when she sees anyone trying to take a pciture), she told me she would "practee" taking a picture.

The result:

"I practee smile, Mommy!"

Ok, so after this, I was hopeful that the pictures would turn out fabulous! This, was, for once, the first weekend that neither girl had a scratch on their face... so I wouldn't have to edit out the scratches...

SO I THOUGHT.

We're out the door, ready to get in the car... and Maggie just keeps on walking, right down the front brick steps... gets a rather large gash above her eye, and scratches down the side of her face. She cries for less than a minute, and then she's happy girl all over again... Mommy, on the other hand, is wondering if the pictures will be taken... cue in my hubby: "No if's, and's or but's!"

So, we load up the van, and I tell myself that photo editing software can pull out another miracle, or we'll just photograph the side of Maggie's face that isn't bright red. We head to the Japanese Gardens in town, and get ready for an adventure of picture taking. The Japanese Gardens are a really great place to visit... minus the umpteen stairs you have to climb to get to the beauty... and Samantha was really excited to visit somewhere new, and cooperated, for a single picture.

The single picture showing cooperation:

After this, she was climbing all over everything, and looking into the lights, saying they were "squirrely houses."

Ok, so, fine, I have one decent picture of my stubborn two year old... now it's time for Maggie. She'll smile, and cooperate, right? HA!

This is the small smile I was able to get from her... luckily it was on her "good", non-scratched side! Still a pretty good picture that I'm not embarrassed to share with family and friends.

Then the total uncooperation started...

Really, Mommy- MOOORE pictures? MORE smiles?

And then Miss Maggie... ok, I'm sitting like you said, but I refuse to smile... can we go now?

I did get one great picture, as we left. I asked Sam to hold Maggie's hand as we were leaving.

"Maggie, hold hand, Mommy says!"

Sweet Sisters...

"Sister Please Hold My Hand" - Author Unknown

Sister, please hold my hand

As we journey through this land

Together we stand, together we will fall

No matter what, God will keep us together

That will be the best of all

Sister, please hold my hand

Because without you I can't stand

For we were put on this earth for a reason

To go through every good and bad season

Sister, please hold my hand

As our strength, together, builds each other to become strong

So that our love for each other will last long

Ok, so not a total loss on picture taking... but let's just say, I can't imagine this next year with a two year old, and a three year old... and their LITTLE BROTHER!

Melissa