"No, you can not take my picture!!"

Let me start by saying that getting an almost 1 year old's picture taken is a complete nightmare. Yesterday I had an appointment to get Kade's 1 year old pictures taken at 12:00. I had decided to try a different place in the mall that my cousin Angie had gone to and they did a great job taking pictures of her little girl Julia. Kade usually naps around 12:30 or 1:00; so I decided to get him to take a nap at around 10 so he could get some rest before the picture. He woke up on his own at 11, had lunch, got him dressed, and then we headed to the mall. My brother met us there. My plan was to do two different outfits; one in a nice shirt/shorts and the other in his monkey swimsuit with beach balls and his monkey.

We set him down and he immediately threw himself back and started rolling around the floor screaming. I gave him his pacifier for comfort and the photographer lady started talking to him and trying to get him to laugh. He took out his pacifier, threw it at the lady, and started screaming again. We tried everything cheerios, throwing the ball, funny noises; nothing worked. The photographer at one point, talking to my brother said, "Dad try to tickle him." My brother quickly said, "I am not the dad, just the uncle!" After about 20 minutes, the lady said we could try to give him a nap and come back at 5:00.

So we went home and both took a nap. My brother said he was not going back with us and I can't say I blamed him. After nap Kade had a snack and I was trying to be as silly and happy as I could to get him in a good mood. We drove back to the mall and as soon as we sat him down the same show started over again with kicking, rolling, and screaming. So we made an appointment to go back today at 4:00 to make sure he got a normal nap and his routine was not interfered with.

I was a little embarrassed to be going back a 3rd time, but really wanted to get his 1 year pictures done. I was just praying that today would be different. In the waiting room he was in a great mood smiling at everyone who worked there, he even sat down and tried to color in their play area. I was so excited thinking maybe yesterday was just a bad day. Well we walked back to the studio part and the same scene from yesterday started over again!! They finally got him to get up and play a little. We actually got some cute shots out of all 3 times put together. He was definitely showing his personality.

I have a feeling that the toddler years are going to be very interesting!! I told Tim yesterday after we got home that I wanted to go back to work. But then Kade came up and kissed me and I said never mind!! He is definitely worth all the chaos and I wouldn't have it any other way.