Voting

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

It's a Beautiful Morning...For Me.

I woke up at 7:15 this morning to a quiet stillness. In case you don't currently have a toddler and a 7 month old, let me accentuate the miraculousness of this feat. It's amazing and peaceful. I then heard a small voice. It was my sweet baby boy happily playing in his crib. After 12 hours of straight sleep, he was content and completely rested. Such a beautiful moment. Parker, who only knows running at full throttle, is still asleep at 9:00 a.m. I'm in Heaven. For now.

There is a place in West Virginia this morning where people are not waking to this kind of serenity. They are waking to a devastating horror that is long from over. I am speaking about families of loved ones who were killed or are currently missing from a coal mine explosion near Beckly, WV. My heart goes out to them. I cannot possibly imagine the sorrow they are facing. Though you may not know anyone involved, we all have known someone who has gone through some life-changing tragedy, so say a prayer for these people when you have a moment of quiet today. It's really the only way we can help.


I'll end on a brighter and longer note. Here's our family Easter picture.

You don't have to say it. I know my heels are stuck in the dirt. I know Graham is looking down. I know Parker is making a scrunched face. I don't care. This was as good as we could get on Sunday. Here's a bit of self-embarrassment. I'm all about "being yourself" and truth, so I've got to put one of my low moments as a mother on here since I put my highs. I know Easter is about Jesus raising from the dead and as a Christian it is one of the best days each year. However, in addition to going to church and celebrating my Savior's life, I wanted a family picture. Not too much to ask, right? Apparently so. Here's how picture taking went...with a few pictures to demonstrate.
1-Everyone ready and dressed early to take pictures before leaving for church.
2-I get out the tripod so that everyone can be in the picture. Going good so far.
3-I can't figure out the stupid tripod while David impatiently (in my opinion, not his) waits inside with the boys.
4-David is yelling instructions on how to raise the tripod while holding a screaming, tired baby  while I am about to intentionally break the tripod. Picture taking is starting to go downhill.
5-I finally get the camera set up on the tripod and ready to go. David and boys come outside.
6-I remind Parker that he has white pants on so he cannot frolic and play today. "No running and jumping" was a phrase used at least 50 times.
7-Self-timer is set and we all smile. Nope. I realized I looks bigger than David because of my heels and being on a hill and Parker's face is covered. Try again.
 8-Self-timer set. Flash. Nope. Parker is out of the frame.
 9- Self-timer set. Flash. Nope. Graham is screaming. I am starting to get really frustrated.
 10-15 more tries fail to make a nice picture and the first was the best we got.
 11-I decide that it's impossible to get a good family picture with everyone looking and smiling (yes, I really thought is could happen for those of you wondering if I'm delirious). I decide to just get one of daddy and boys and then me and the boys. On the way to the front porch, Parker forgets his white pant no running rule and slides in the grass as if trying to make it to home plate. Green streaks go from ankle to thigh. Yeah. I grit my teeth and decide to proceed.
12-Daddy and boys...check. Mom rules.
 13- David then tries to get one of the boys and I. It sounded like this."Parker, look at Daddy. Grammer, Grammer, Grammer. Parker take your hands out of your mouth. Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Hey! Hey! Hey! Look at Daddy." All of this yelling was in vain. In the middle of all the commotion, Graham throws up on himself. I was over it and decided to not fake anymore smiles. Here's this best shot. At least Graham was happier after the spewing. He seems pretty pleased with himself.
At this point, I handed both boys to daddy, started grumbling, and ran inside. I almost threw the camera. I had the worst attitude. I just wanted a flippin' picture. In the midst of my trying to calm myself and bring my expectations back down to reality, my husband decides to so kindly remind me of what day it was and what was really important. Bless his soul, he thought that his pep talk would help. Eye yi yi. After a few minutes, I finally realized how stupid I was being. After washing the boys' pants on the quick cycle and redressing them, we were off to church and I was feeling much better. The rest of the day, I was over pictures and decided to just smile and let whatever happened with my kiddos' faces and bodies to be an expression of their age, not their desire to please their momma. Parker forgave me and I made it up to Graham. 
These moments we have as mothers are to remind us that we are human and have soooo much more room to grow. This situation seems ridiculous to me now, but I was for real upset on Sunday morning. I am now much more mature...until the next holiday. Feel free to share any moments you've had recently that you now see as juvenile. It will make me feel better. :)

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

This made me laugh so hard! Thanks for keeping it real Steph. Its nice to know that we moms are not alone.

Jessica

The Ness Story said...

So funny and i can so picture you doing this. I love how you gave us the play by play. I happen to love picture attempt #9 bc Parker's face is priceless, I think he thought it was all pretty funny. And I am proud of David- what we put these guys through... Oh and your hair looks so good in the "real" one, very modelish.

Anonymous said...

This is so funny, I can't tell you how many times we have tried to do this same thing. I can't imagine trying to do this with 2 little ones. I have a 2 year old that will be 3 in May and we are lucky to get a great picture of her in a beautiful dress.....with a finger in her nose, mouth, ear...any open hole..lol. Great blog you have inspired me, I think I just may start blogging. :)

Kayla Camps

DavidandSteff said...

Jessica,
You are definitely not alone!

Em,
When I looked back at the pictures, I couldn't figure out why I wasn't ok with any of them. The crazy shots are so much funnier than the proper smiling ones. Oh, and thanks...I'm definitely a model. All 5'4ness of me. My hair is in denial, but thanks anyway! By the way, I randomly think of that picture of Ellie with the backwards bonnet and laugh out loud. It's one of the funniest things I've ever seen and I have a feeling you are going to have more of those moments with Ellie and Eric.

Kayla,
Your little girl is adorable...cute dress or not.

Anonymous said...

LOL Why do we ever think we can get that perfect picture on Holidays? I do this also! Actually, I realized it early on this Easter.
we didn't even try any with Ben or I in it! We knew it would be a waste of time and our time could be better spent getting the nursery ready for the load of children we expected for the service. Many kudos to you and Dave for trying and for not breaking the tripod or camera!! Your pictures are all beautiful anyway. And the perfect pictures are always the ones that are not planned, for me at least. And the funny family photos that are captured will be great memory of what life was really like with infants and toddlers later in life!
Love you!
Ashley Fisher

DavidandSteff said...

Thanks Ashley! I've always been a sucker for punishment so I guess I try the impossible-lol.

Anonymous said...

I didn't even remember to try to take a picture of all of us on Sunday morning. Bill took a pic of the older three with their Easter baskets, and one of me and Lydia, but beyond that, we got some couch pics of the kids with either Lydia or Isaac crying. Isaac finally quit crying for one shot while holding his guitar and sitting a couple feet away from his sisters. I guess I was just happy to have us all dressed and at church less than 15 minutes late. Oh, and I had (no joke) 5 wardrobe changes for myself trying to wear something springy and yet thinning. Ended up wearing a simple black dress.
Michelle

DavidandSteff said...

Hysterical Michelle! I'm having a hard time with taking pics of 4 of us...there's no way I'll try when there's 6. No Way!

Lauren said...

Stephanie, this post was real in every sense of the word. It shows the good with the bad and how the lessons and good that come out of things outweigh all the frustrations!!!!

Anonymous said...

I understand your frustrations Steff. I would love to cature every moment of the kiddos just for the fact I know I will never get that moment back. My aim was to try to get a picture too. Just one, of something. Our morning was crazy as you know with three girls to get ready. Well needless to say I never even got to break the camera out. I was so upset that day for not getting it done, especially with it being Mikaylas first easter. I have learned to realize that I have to not stress so much sometimes or it will be the death of me .lol Our morning began very intense and on a grumpy note too, but sometimes I need to just let it go and try again next time... And even though things didnt go as planned I am now just thankful we were able to get up and get dressed and make it to church at all. And I am with ya Michelle on the above comment of just trying to find something to fit this post baby body. I think that was a whole othe stress of its own.lol