Ok...so yes, this is my theme song. I decided it myself. I'll admit it - I am a freak...when it comes to pictures that is. If you read my blog or you're my friend on facebook, then it is obvious to you that I LOVE pictures. But what you may not know is that I am a super freak about pictures.
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Here's a short little recap of today. So we have pictures for our Christmas cards scheduled for today at 5:00 p.m. I've been thinking about these pictures since last year at this time and I've been driving everyone crazy (especially my mother) about these pictures for two weeks. And still today could not completely visualize what I wanted these pictures to look like. I know my problem(s). I'm a variety girl - I love a little bit of everything and that's not always possible. And it doesn't help that I tend to be a perfectionist with a type A, high-strung, high-maintanence personality, with a little OCD thrown in (just kidding...actually, not really). These qualities are part of the reason why I succeed at most things that I attempt and why I go above and beyond, always pushing my limits and forcing myself to do better...but, these qualities also cause me a tremendous amount of stress and at times, make me a freak!
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Anyway - back to the Christmas card pictures. Last night I covered my dining room table in a humongous (is that a word?) pile of clothes...mine, Jeb's, the kids...trying to coordinate, pick out, decide. I had the cutest elf hats I wanted to take the kids pictures in, new expensive Matilda Jane wear that I wanted pictures in, new outfits of mine I wanted to wear, a red tutu and a Santa hat I wanted LilliAnn to wear - how was I ever going to decide? I wanted some pictures of the kids, some Christmas themed pictures, AND a traditional outdoor picture of the four of us! Yes, I wanted all of that. Is that too much to ask? I LOVE pictures!!! Then, as I was throwing all of it in my car to take to my parents' house where we were going to take the pictures, I thought to myself, "Kelli Ann - your children are 7 months and 2 1/2...how in the world are you going to make it through multiple wardrobe and accessory changes, outside and inside by the fireplace? This isn't going to be good. We'll be lucky is we can get one good shot!" Then I pushed that out of my mind and said to myself again, "It's going to be a great day - we'll get all of this done and the pictures will be amazing!"
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So, as soon as the kids woke up, we all took baths, washed our hair, fixed it perfectly (I even blow dried the kids hair), got dressed, and headed to Nana's to have her help with coordinating our outfits. When I got to my mom's at 10 a.m. (keep in mind pictures weren't until 5 p.m.) I unloaded my entire house practically - shoes, hair bows, headbands, hats, clothes, clothes, and more clothes and threw it all on my mother's couch. I was so overwhelmed. My mother didn't say a word, although I know she was thinking, "my gosh!" She helped me ALL DAY as I tried on different outfits, fretted, ranted & raved about "matching," "coordinating," "not matching too much," and even watched the kids while I went to Old Navy and Dillards to find Jeb the perfect shirt. I even went to Waldenbooks to get "The Night Before Christmas" with a big, pretty cover because I wanted the kids to be in pajamas by the fire and us reading that book for one of the pictures. I even bought two "Night Before Christmas" books because I coudn't decide which one I liked better. Mom called while I was out and said that she couldn't get Reid down for a nap, but we could drive him around and see if he would go to sleep. We decided against it since he would wake up right at picture time and he's a bear most of the time when he gets up from his naps! LilliAnn hadn't slept much either, but was in a pretty good mood as usual. When I got back to my mom's, the sun was shining, and I thought everything was going to be great. Well, God had other plans. It started sprinkling, turned really dark outside, and the wind started going crazy right as the photographer was pulling up. Ummmm...symbolism? Like when it rains in movies symbolizing rebirth or when it storms during turmoil. I think so...the way it was outside was just how my evening was heading. Ironic because my brother had a great day and put on his facebook status, "Don't judge a day by the weather." Mr. Reid - who had been an angel all day other than not wanting to take a nap - decided he DID NOT want to cooperate. He wouldn't put his clothes on, wouldn't let us fix the tie around his neck (ok Kelli Ann, who gets a tie for a 2 year-old to wear for pictures? He's not going to be still and let you put it on, it's not going to fit right, an if you do get it on it's not going to stay straight and look right. LESSON LEARNED!). Then LilliAnn started screaming, was extremely tired, and wanted to nurse and go to sleep. So we let her sleep for ten minutes then woke her up to start taking pictures. Nice nap, huh?
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Since outdoor pictures were now out of the question we decided to move all the furniture around in my mom's bedroom/lower den to have the window in the background. That didn't work out so we moved to the fireplace in her room. I didn't like that either. After setting up all the lighting in that room, we moved it all back to the living room to the original fireplace that I had in mind. With lots of toy shaking, jingle bell rocking, dinosaur getting, choo choo train seeing, and new toy helicopter promising, we finally got a few shots of the kids. Reid found some reindeer ears/antler things in Kass's room and he wanted to wear those instead of the elf hat that matched LilliAnn's...of course. LilliAnn was hungry and tired and wasn't having it either and Jeb was giving me those "I hate pictures. This is SOOOOO stupid!" looks. I was SOOOOO over it! And these pictures were not what I had in mind and our outfits/setting was just not doing it for me.
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Moral to this long story - I stress myself out about everything, especially pictures. I always have too many choices and bring too many changes of clothes and accessories. I have an AMAZING photographer, Courtney Morehead, who I know will make the pictures look precious... or precious considering my children's ages and the circumstances. She is so talented and does FABULOUS work. I have a FANTASTIC husband who is willing to do anything to make me happy. I have a TERRIFIC mother who understands me better than anyone and helps keep things running smoothly in the midst of all my craziness. I have two ADORABLE children who look cute, even when they're screaming and one of them is in a reindeer antler headband. And I have an AWESOME, ALMIGHTY God who loves me, my family, and ALL of our imperfections! So...as my friend Emily texted me tonight, "a good Christmas card would be the icing on the cake of your very blessed life." Christmas cards aren't everything, pictures aren't even that important, what's important is spending time with my children, relaxing more often, sharing God's word with them and teaching them to be more like him. And while "The Night Before Christmas" is a good book for the season, it's more important to read The Christmas Story to my children and teach them the true reason for the season. So thank you, God, for the greatest gift, your Son, Jesus Christ! I am so glad that I have accepted this gift...I have a very blessed life.
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And my Christmas card this year may be of two crying children. One in an elf hat...one in reindeer antlers...'tis the season!
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