This picture was taken over Christmas break in Nebraska. Oh, the stories it tells. Ellie just has no time for posed pictures. Twirly skirts from her favorite aunt, yes. Smiling on demand? Uh-uh.
Usually Sam and Ellie are ying and yang. If one is sad, the other is especially happy. Sam isn’t above saying, “Mommy, why is Ellie crying so much? I’m TRYING to smile for your picture.” Catie has become more subtle in her six-year-old wisdom. She may no longer say those words, but if Sam and Ellie are throwing a fit, she smiles that much more enthusiastically. And she’s also old enough to realize this pictures show up other places.
Like on mommy’s blog with the title Awkward Family Photo. It pays to look nice when you can.
And then there’s Nate. Ah.
If anyone is considering “just one more” bonus child, Nate is the advertisement you need. He smiles and laughs 90% of his waking hours (mommy math…you may not trust it completely). AND, big news….he’s on a schedule! His one hang-up was crying in the middle of the night until Mommy and his milk supply came running. Never mind the other kids were all sleeping through the night at three months, Nate would cry and I would come.
Until we got smarter.
When we got home from Christmas break and Nate eating every three hours–even at night, M. and I knew it was time to get strict with our holly, jolly baby.
Nate cried after three hours, like he did EVERY night, M. went in there, put in his paci, and told him to go to sleep.
And he did!
M. went in there every hour on the hour when Nate cried. The good news is that I didn’t go in until 5:30 the next morning.
And now we’re down to one cry in the night and 6 AM for me.
And he’s napping in his crib (when we’re home) during the day. On a kinda-sorta schedule.
AND he smiles in family pictures!
Amazing.
