Christmas Portraits

I finally got around to uploading the girls' Christmas portraits to the blog and putting them in frames around the house.  Ever since Lucy's first Christmas portraits, I have been longing for the day that I could have multiple children together in one picture at the portrait studio.  As with a lot of dreams though, the reality is much different.  Don't get me wrong, I am overwhelmed by gratitude seeing two of my children together in an 'official' photo.  But, I now understand that it is a lot harder to capture a good picture with the addition of another child.  Not to mention that we arrived at the portrait studio and realized that we had forgotten the amethyst broach that we pin on Lucy in remembrance of Luke for the Christmas pictures.  

While Will was frantically rushing home to get the above mentioned broach, the young man at the front desk was trying his hardest to find my name in the appointments for the day.  I showed him my slip of paper with the confirmation date and time on it and pointed out that we had booked the first appointment of the day on purpose, to avoid the long waits and big crowds that seem to accumulate as the day wears on.  Sweat started breaking out on my forehead while I waited for him to find our name in his computer.  Finally, as I was smoothing down Lucy's hair and swaying Emma on my hip while juggling our huge diaper bag of accessories and baby equipment the guy behind the desk pointed out that the day was correct - Tuesday - but that the date was actually for Thursday.  In an incredulous voice I asked what that meant.  He replied that whoever gave us the confirmation date and time made a mistake and we weren't scheduled until Thursday.  I gave him a speechless, wide-mouthed stare for long enough that he started nervously clicking on the computer.  Finally, I turned to Lucy who had been asking for the last several minutes over and over again, "Is it our turn yet, mama?  Is it our turn now?"  

I don't remember what I said or did at that point, but maybe a minute later the young man called me from the couch I was sitting on while waiting for Will to get back with the broach and take us home.  "Mrs. Timmerman, let me see what we can do."  Several minutes after that we were in front of a backdrop, getting our pictures taken.  Maybe my silent death stare and the dripping perspiration was an indicator of just how difficult it had been to get two girls under the age of three bathed, dressed and ten minutes early to this appointment.  Either way, my relief had to have been evident and this was definitely not a part of my dream of capturing my two babies on earth in a Christmas portrait.

 

What, I shouldn't have paid for the above one?  Would you believe it was in the top five of the best ones?  Yup, we didn't have much to work with, but I suppose this is what I get for $10/portrait.

Individually, they had some nice shots though.  Look at Emma sitting like such a big girl!

And finally, here is the photo of my children on earth, together for the first time in a professional picture.  At least one is smiling.  Too bad Emma's face looks so puzzled and Luke's amethyst is hidden by her head.  If you look really closely, you will see that Emma has also lost her shoes at this point.

Although it is less than perfect, my heart swells with love and pride when I look at this picture.  This photo shoot has helped me realize something.  Dreams get us through the tough times by providing hope.  The reality however is usually far more stressful - and funnier - and memorable than a dream could ever predict.