Confession: I’ve been a bad portrait mom. As much as I try to keep up with everything, between work and home and family, one of the casualties of this busy life has been the ritual of sit-down, formal portaits of my children. Fortunately, I’m blessed with some serious photographic talent in my family, so we have actually shot random portraits, but until recently, I haven’t followed through with printing/framing/hanging very well. This makes my mother-in-law crazy, but she still loves me. {wink}
Why does the above confession matter? The holidays are fast approaching, and I decided that for Christmas this year I would like to create small photo books for each of my three kiddos chronicling the first year of their lives (because I’ve also been a bad scrapbook mom). I started sifting through digital files and quickly pulled together sweet little books for my younger two, then realized I didn’t have much on file of my darling first-born. How does this happen? Well, the short answer is: the digital camera we had when she was little is so archaic the files had to be specially converted, and somehow over the years, we’ve lost a lot of images. (Back to that printing problem I’ve already explained.) Boo.
This morning Grammie came to the rescue! She dropped by with an external drive filled with portrait sessions of my babies, sessions I had completely forgotten. One of those sessions included this image of my sweet little one in her original version of our Jessa blessing dress. Phew!
So this whole episode got me to thinking: do you have similar experiences? Do you find that some things you’d like to do fall by the wayside in the crush of busy-ness and responsibility that is the life of a mother or grandmother today? I’d love to know what those things are…and that I’m not alone in not having *everything* as together as I’d like.
Just for fun: all those who join in conversation in the comments section of this post before 10 p.m. (Mountain Time) Wednesday, September 15th will be entered in a random drawing for a $25 gift certificate to One Small Child. One entry per person, but feel free to converse away!
I totally know what you mean! By the time I get around to think of printing a portrait, my little guy has grown so much it’s time to take another. It’s a terrible cycle. 🙂 Here’s an example of another thing- right after he was born I kept all of his hospital things and bought a shadow box to put them in. He turns 2 next week and I just finally decided to assemble it all together. *laughing* It’s only been sitting there, ready to go for 2 years!
Ahhh, Sara, I can’t tell you how many ‘quick projects’ like your shadow box that have been laying around my house for years! 🙂
I know exactly what you mean. I am a photographer and I take so many pictures of my daughter, but when it comes to printing them and giving them to the grandparents I am a slacker! Same goes for scrapbooking. I just have DVD’s and DVD’s of images of my daughter, but have yet to make one scrapbook for her. Hopefully she will forgive me
I love that I’m not the only one who loves to take photos that go nowhere. She will forgive you. And ask you to show her those DVDs often, I’m sure!
Ok, now you got me thinking. One of the MANY confessions I have is…..I still haven’t preserved my daughter’s blessing dress. It is hanging in my closet, and the keepsake box is under my bed! I think about doing if often, but also want to get pictures. {wink!} Ok, I will now get it done now that I confessed!
{Hey, speaking of pictures! We need to schedule your next family shoot ;o)}
Oooh, good one Kayla!
Yes I know, I am wayy far behind and I only have 1 child. That is when Shutterfly comes to the rescue! I used to go on fantastic scrapbook retreats but the lady closed her doors, I seriously cried when she went out of biz. Love your site!! Can’t wait till I get prego with Number 2 (God willing), I’ll get to shop for an new christening outfit on your site! Yeah!!!!
Your daughter is beautiful and the photograph is so special. I also have been so bad about scrapbooking. I was so good for like 6 months, then time gets away from you. I may also try ordering the books for my 2 little ones for this upcoming Christmas holiday. What a fabulous idea!! Thanks for sharing it.
Would love to enter to win the giveaway!!