This story starts back when Cindy-Lu first became mobile. She was probably around 8 months old and I decided to get her picture taken. Cindy-Lu, as it turns out, doesn’t so much enjoy having her picture taken. She prefers instead to bash her face in to the nearest hard object to ensure that she is scarred or bruised or bloody and therefore I will skip the picture taking. There was a two month period where I would say “Okay! Pictures tomorrow!” and Cindy-Lu would immediately crawl in to a wall or roll around in a patch of poison ivy. Once a week I would mention pictures and once a week the child would uglify herself.
I finally smartened up and did a surprise attack. We headed to the store just like any other day. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, knew what we were doing. We were just going out for a bit. No where special. Just out. And then BAM! The photographer was snapping pictures before Cindy-Lu realized what hit her. (Or rather, what didn’t hit her and mar her pretty little face.)
We’ve used sneak attacks since then when its been time for pictures. Only having to be sneaky is hard. And really, some days it just doesn’t seem worth the effort.
In fact, I realized this past November that it had been ONE FULL YEAR since I had my preshus babies photographed by someone other than me (read: someone with skillz). I immediately headed to oldnavy.com and ordered a white long sleeve t-shirt for Cindy-Lu and a white long sleeved polo shirt for Eeyore. They already had dark washed jeans and wouldn’t they be gorgeous together in their matching clothes? Yes, they would.
I received the clothes and then kept putting off actually going to the picture people and when I was finally ready I couldn’t find Cindy-Lu’s shirt ANYWHERE. I had never even taken Eeyore’s out of the package, in fact it is still in the package in his dresser drawer right this minute, and so I don’t know what could have happened to Cindy-Lu’s shirt.
No matter! I’ll just order them something different. I’ve now got new outfits for them to wear, but SHOES! Cindy-Lu needs new shoes to match her new outfit and y’all I just can’t find the shoes I want. I want a pair of black flats and a pair of brown flats and I can not find them. It is not for lack of trying, because when I say that I have been to every mother-humping shoe store in this city and the city next to us I AM SPEAKING THE TRUTH.
Just this afternoon I loaded Cindy-Lu and her cousin in to the van and headed to the mall. I put both babies in the double stroller, said a little prayer that they would behave and I walked in to every shoe store in that mall and I STILL did not find what I was looking for.
I’m giving up. Yes, I am. I know when to quit.
This does not, however, mean that I am giving up on pictures. I’ve just decided to have Cindy-Lu wear different outfits than the ones I had originally picked out. Tomorrow was the big day. I even told the kids. I PREPARED them. I made sure they knew how to smile and behave and LOOK CUTE when Mama says SMILE, DAMN IT!
And then Cindy-Lu kicked Eeyore in the face and now I’m thinking maybe we should wait a week? Skid marks on cheeks aren’t really all that fashionable right now.
L the D says:
Karly, I love reading your accounts of motherhood! I feel like you have a similar outlook as I do on children–yeah, they’re cute and sweet, but what about the other 23 hours of the day??
Although your kids are cute and sweet, if not a little violent on picture day
L the D’s last blog post..I Need a Stiff Drink.
March 10th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Jerseygirl89 says:
Ironflower is like that too. . .except when I’m not there at all. She got preschool pictures taken (I know, I know) and she was a star. She is even the only one smiling in the class picture. I’m telling you, make Cleatus take them next week and see how Cindy-Lu shines.
Jerseygirl89’s last blog post..Happy Birthday, Lovebug
March 10th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
MammaLoves says:
If she doesn’t have time to uglify herself she’ll take her brother down. I love it!!
And she definitely doesn’t need shoes for the picture. Those little kid toes are so darn cute.
MammaLoves’s last blog post..Dammit Eliot!
March 10th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Pascale Wowak says:
Girl, it’s not Cindy-Lu, it’s the PROCESS. You can’t stick in a small confined space and flash lights in their faces and expect them to be cool with that. I speak from experience as a professional natural light photographer who specializes in little ones - precisely the age range that HATES to have their photos taken. This is what I choose to do day in and day out (I know, call me crazy!) You need to find a natural light outdoor photographer who comes to your house or a special location outdoors that the kids love to getphotos that way. You will have a ten times better experience!!! Good luck!!!
Pascale
March 10th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Jolie says:
I am new to reading your site and you seriously make me laugh HARD! Great story to start the morning! I am also new to having 2, so it’s nice to see what I am up against- skid marks and all!
Jolie’s last blog post..Do we all agree???
March 11th, 2008 at 5:48 am
sam says:
Bwahahahaha! I can’t help but laugh. Cindy-Lu KILLS me! So funny!
sam’s last blog post..From Behind the Facade
March 11th, 2008 at 7:42 am
kelli in the mirror says:
Oh, I love Cindy-Lu.
Shoes frustrate me. My kids are always barefoot in pictures. Either the feet don’t show, or the toes are cute. It’s all good.
March 11th, 2008 at 7:47 am
Ana says:
hello! well u may be wondering who the hell am I..
Im what you’d call a creepy lurker of ur blog haha I just love it so much…
theres this store where they sell 5 dollar shoes, I mean I know it is hard to believe but I had actually bought a buch of them and they’re cool…they also sell shoes for kids, they have an online store so maybe there you could find flats for ur beautiful and I mean BEAUUUUTIFUL baby:)
greets from NY
http://5shoewarehouse.com/.
pd: I’m sorry for my bad english, u know its a third languaje for me ;P
March 11th, 2008 at 9:53 am
nan says:
Oh, bare feet are way cuter in photos! You could still take the pictures with bruises and all, y’know, so that you can remember them the way they really were!
Oh, wait. Forget I said that.
nan’s last blog post..cookies and forgiveness
March 11th, 2008 at 11:50 am
janet says:
i also love barefoot photos. they’re so NATURAL that way!
and that cindy-lu — she knows how to get ya!
janet’s last blog post..Not ME, but still MINE
March 11th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Cheney says:
Just found your site and I wanted to drop a line to say hi!
I read a few of your posts and they all cracked me up and made my bad morning much better. I also have a two year old girl - thankfully she likes to pose for the camera - but these kids all have their quirks, don’t they?
Cheney’s last blog post..Shirt Sty?
March 11th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Karly says:
MammaLoves, She’s vicious.
Usually I agree about the cute toes, but the outfits I picked NEED shoes. Besides…they are shoes. Why would I pass up a chance to shop for them?
March 11th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Karly says:
Jolie, Glad I could make ya laugh. You just wait…one day we’ll all be laughing at you when your two are kicking the crap out of each other.
March 11th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Karly says:
Cheney, Thanks for stopping by. Yes, kids are definitely quirky. You just wait til your two year old hits three. Its all downhill from there. The terrible twos are nothing compared to the threes!
March 11th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Leslie says:
I love that Cindy-Lu. That girl knows her own mind. Pictures, Schmictures! Ha!
Is it bad to admit that it makes me feel better to know my kid isn’t the only one walking around with a visible injury right now?
Leslie’s last blog post..Never Underestimate The Power Of Knocking On Wood
March 11th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
candygirlflies says:
Sweetie–
It’s AAAAALLLLLL about the barefoot look right now. All those little piggies!! The grandmas will LOVE. IT.
Trust me.
Everyone loves bare-foot, yes indeed, they do.
Screw the shoes.
xo CGF
candygirlflies’s last blog post..Today…
March 11th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Vicky says:
My 9 month old Davey is the same as Cindy-Lu. He manages to mangle his face every time I even think about pictures. First baby acne, now baby bruises.
Vicky’s last blog post..Cool mom or plain bad mom?
March 11th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Karly says:
Vicky, I had forgotten about the baby acne. Ugh. And what about lots of icky cradle cap creeping down their head? Babies just don’t like pictures!
March 11th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Jill (CDJ) says:
The Boy’s pre-school has picture day every spring and last year, two days before picture day, he ran head first into a door jamb. I like to say it adds character to the picture and he’s pretty much had some kind of bump, bruise or scratch on his face since then, so I have totally given up waiting until he’s presentable. Not gonna happen…
Jill (CDJ)’s last blog post..We interrupt this blogcast…
March 13th, 2008 at 11:21 am
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May 13th, 2008 at 2:15 am
Laurie Furber says:
Hilarious! Reminds me of the time my son hit his head on the coffee table and required eight stitches two days before school pictures. Six years old and he looked like he was in a bar fight.
Seems all moms have a story like that. Glad I’m not alone.
Laurie Furber’s last blog post..Help! My Toys Ate My Family Room
June 27th, 2008 at 8:20 am
chicago wedding photographer says:
Absolutely a great site! Funny story…sometimes the best pictures are the ones that are not so set up. It’s great to get a nice pose but “real” photography has more impact some times.
Thanks,
Rob
chicago wedding photographer’s last blog post..Presenting - Jillian & Christian!
August 7th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
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October 26th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Alex says:
Trurt in your God.God bless to you.
Alexs last blog post..Bankofthewest
January 19th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
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Last says:
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March 12th, 2009 at 12:41 am