The 52 Project: A portrait of my children once a week + every week in 2014.
See the whole series here.
Lena: This isn’t the greatest photo (her face is in shadow), but it captured so much about her these days that I decided to include it anyway. These days she wants to climb on anything and everything, fearlessly hang on right side up or upside down, and then jump off or down if she possibly can. The photo also captures her crazy hair, which she no longer allows me to touch without a serious battle of the wills. And it captures her determination to dress herself, and to wear whatever she picked, even if I make a case that things should match. She goes through full wardrobe changes at least three times a day, emerging with all kinds of crazy combinations of clothes, with usually everything on backwards. How does she do that? Shouldn’t there be a 50/50 chance that it will go on the right way? But it’s so cute and innocent, and she’s so determined and comfortable, so… we let it lie.
Gil: I took this right as he spotted a stranger crossing the playground, and his face immediately changed from disinterest to curiosity and then a sweet, shy smile. He’s so personable these days, walking up to people in the airport and holding out a hand in greeting, sharing his toys with any diners near us in a restaurant, content to sit on anyone’s lap after church to see if they’ll feed him. (“Donuts only, please, and none of that fruit stuff. I know the diff.”) And his blond curls and blue eyes will pretty much get him whatever he wants, especially here in Italy. He charms the socks right off his mama most of the time, too, which is unfortunate because he happens to also be developing a strong will and a well-timed burst of tears whenever he doesn’t get what he wants. Amiable baby no more, folks; we have a determined toddler on our hands. Greeeeat…
And finally, random quotes from Lena:
“I did that when I was eight years old.” (She is three.)
“I am sad today because my sister went to fool [school] without me.” (She doesn’t have a sister.)
While staring down at the baby pool on the porch that I was dutifully filling up: “Why did you peel off my paper wrapping? Now I’m naaaaked.” (Took me a minute. She was quoting this.)
While I weigh vegetables and stick labels on them at the grocery store: “We guys want a sticker.”
Oh, Becca…you will never regret taking all the pictures, and writing those cute quotes down! Your kiddos are adorable! (remembering what those years were like…sometimes their cuteness is their saving grace!!)
Haha, seriously about the cuteness = saving grace, Alica! Sometimes that’s the only thing that keeps me smiling!
I’m sitting here chuckling at those quips of Lena’s. I wonder if she will follow in your footsteps and remember quotes from movies and books and weave them into the conversation. She’s starting already. The photos capture so much Life!
We really need to be better about recording her quips! She said the funniest thing the other day about “when I was 63,” but now neither Elliott nor I can remember it. (I asked him specifically for this post.) I’ll try to do better about recording them here, perhaps.
I am sitting here legitimately laughing out loud (at 11:30pm- I hope my Dad doesn’t think I’m nuts… :) ) at Lena’s quotes- what a funny girl :)