Where's Naniel?

Now that Emma is a month old, we decided it was time to get some family pictures. This is something we do every year around the same time, it's just the first time there has been 4 of us! We enlisted our good friend and amazing photographer, Carrie Fay. These are pictures that we want to pass out to our friends and family for Christmas. Little did we know - the session would be a nightmere!

Of course Emma just sat there, not much she can do other than be held, so she was an angel. However, her sister had other plans. You would think that as much as we have a camera in her face that she would be used to it. We even practiced saying "cheese" with a big smile on the way to the park and she was doing great. She knows Carrie Fay well, and loves her. I guess it's just different when it's someone else behind the lens. Because - once the camera was on and the settings were ready to go it was like a switch flipped! The terrible 23 month old syndrome (if there is such a thing - I'm convinced now that there is) came out!

I think we heard the question, "where's Naniel" about a million times. Daniel (Naniel) is Carrie Fay's son and Ava's best friend. She just couldn't seem to understand why Carrie was there and Naniel wasn't. We tried everything...bribing her to look for Daniel, candy, funny hats, singing the "happy song"...you name it we tried it. She was so focused on why Daniel wasn't there that she refused to sit down with us, refused to smile and basically refused anything we asked!

The session was filled with frustration - and laughter - of Michael and me just wanting to get a few good shots of our new family. However, somehow, someway, Carrie managed to be a miracle worker and pull off some great pictures. Ava may not be smiling from ear to ear, however she is at least in the pictures and they look great!

We're just praying that our picture experience isn't a sign of the terrible two's that are yet to come! If it is - the prayer for patience will need to rise to a whole nother level!

By the way - this picture is of Ava asking the emfamous question, "Where's Naniel?" Enjoy!