cherry blossoms

Mae has been a little resistant to having her photos taken recently. She's a total ham for my phone camera, but she pouts as soon as I pull out the DSLR. I think she senses my anxiety when I'm trying to get a "special occasion" photo.

When the cherry blossoms bloomed a few weeks ago, I took Mae to the park with the big camera. I led her underneath a beautiful cherry tree with flowers cascading to the ground all around us and took off my lens cap. Activate toddler defenses! She used every trick in the book: pouting, jelly legs, and running away while giggling (so cute, so frustrating.) I dug deep into my arsenal of bribes. (I'll give you a treat when we get home! We can go to the swings after we take photos!) But she didn't want pleading, stressed mom. She wanted silly, playtime mom.

We moved to another spot and talked about the flowers and the bees for a bit. Then we played one of her current favorite games, sure to induce a giggle fit.

Mae: Mom, sing a song.
Me (in a quiet, lullabye voice): Edelweiss, Edelweiss, every morning you greet me. Small and white ...
Mae: Sing it loud!!!
Me (full volume, off-key): CLEAN AND BRIGHT, YOU LOOK HAPPY TO MEEEEEET MEEEEEE!!!!!!!
*cue giggles*

Mae also struck up a conversation with a couple who was out for a walk. She told them that daddy was at home because he has an ouchy head. They told her that daddy was probably suffering from allergies. I told them that a more likely culprit was the wedding we attended the previous night.

We finished our park visit with a ride on the swings. Plus, I gave Mae a pink frosted fortune cookie I'd snagged from the wedding reception. I think she earned both for this photo shoot.