The Queen's Rambles

Click through the picture for a complete set of adorable portraits.

Does everyone go through hell on portrait day or is that just my family? I knew we would have trouble because Erik has always had trouble at the portrait place and Elsa won’t smile for the camera. I didn’t realize the whole place would be INSANE with people. I usually go in the beginning of October, which makes me miss the holiday rush. I learned never to do that again!

I know I should be happy. We did get some really cute shots and if I didn’t already have something very specific in mind I would have been happy. Me and my danged mind.

Erik was wiggly and squirmy and kept grabbing his crotch (no, he didn’t need to go potty). He also kept trying to help us make Elsa smile, which was nice of him but didn’t really work b/c he needed to hold still.

Elsa. . . dear, sweet Elsa. She just is so befuddled by cameras. It was like pulling teeth to get a smile out of her. I ended up laying on the floor under the white backdrop, tickling her belly.

I’m really disappointed that we didn’t get any pictures of just her in her holiday dress. I am going to go back next week and do a shoot with just her. I’ll go on a school day so hopefully it isn’t so crazy. I want Santa hands reaching for her! I want ornaments! I was a crisp, white background! I’m a crazy momma! I should have what I want.

We ended up with an inexperienced photographer (she didn’t tell me I was standing in front of the flash so half the pictures didn’t take at all) who was insanely busy and didn’t want to bother pulling out all the props.

I also had a vision of Erik holding Elsa up by the hands while she was standing. We practiced at home but they both freaked out there and it didn’t work.

Deep breaths. . . deep breaths. . .

So how was your Halloween?

Ours was fine. I took my car to the shop Sunday evening so asked Mike to have Elsa in her costume by the time we got home. Poor man had her in the costume, but I’m a harsh taskmistress and he can never do anything right. The costume was on backwards. She was mad about the whole thing. I nursed her to calm her down, but it calmed her down a little too much. She fell asleep on my lap, so we both missed trick or treating.

Erik, the little turkey, decided he would be Indiana Jones after all. He wouldn’t even try on the Jedi costume I made for him.

In other news, Elsa is growing at an amazing rate. Last weekend she fit into her 12 month clothes perfectly. This weekend they are capris and belly shirts. She was in them literally less than two weeks. Anyone need some practically new baby girl clothes?

If she keeps up with her growth curve (the doc pointed out it isn’t a curve, it’s a vertical line), she’ll be wearing 5T by her first birthday. I don’t think that’s possible. Is it? I think my niece was wearing 3T at her first birthday and they seem to be on the same trajectory.

My mom says I should just wrap her in an old t-shirt and a towel until her growth evens out.

Speaking of my mom. . . it has been so great to have her here! I am going to be lost when she leaves. I’ve hardly done any laundry or cleaning since she’s been here and she’s painted Elsa’s room twice! The first time the paint totally sucked and looked terrible, so the second time we got cheap Home Depot paint and it looked a lot better. Wish I would have known that from the start and not bought the super high quality piece of shit Benjamin Moore paint.

If the room ever gets settled I’ll take pictures. We are owed about a million dollars in Amazon gift cards from our credit card so Mike says I have to order everything from them, but when we order the cards they only send one at a time instead of a bunch like we request so I am just waiting to order the crib skirt, sheet and curtains.