dear ryann

Dear Ryann,

So lately I've been dwelling on a lot of your habits that tend to drive me nuts.  You know, your inability to sleep in, your extreme picky eating, your tedency to freak out if our plans change from what I've previously told you, and your obsession with things being just so.  But here is the thing my dear.  You are your mother's daughter.

I think I can count the number of times I've truly slept in on one hand.  I was always the first one awake at sleepovers and slumber parties.  If I sleep until 7am it is a miracle.  I pretty much ate buttered noodles, chicken fingers and apples with peanut butter until I was in college (and even then I was super picky).  I'm obsessed with making plans and having schedules, and panic a bit if someone changes it up on me.  Just ask your dad about my rules about loading the dishwasher, that might explain your need for all of your important stuff being exactly how you like it.

We are so much alike it is scary.  I still see a lot of your Daddy in you, and a little of your Auntie Lorin (someone hold me), but I see a hell of a lot of me.  No wonder we often butt heads.  And I'm sure we will for as long as I'm alive.  Hopefully some of your Daddy's semi carefree personality will rub off a bit more, and you'll have a little more optimism in your life than I do.  But I know you will grow up to be a strong and driven girl, and an even stronger woman.  So I'll try and cut you some slack, and remember your needs and how you function, and do as much reading as I can on parenting a strong willed child.

Yesterday I set up my tripod so we could play the 'beep game' (set the timer and run in the shot), and with my camera on the tripod you got to be in charge a bit.  Holy cow did that make these shots of the two of us so much easier, and much much more fun.  You were on top of the world, getting to peek through the viewfinder, focusing, pushing the button and jumping in the picture.  And even though there wasn't too much you could change, I'd say you did a pretty good job of getting us in the middle of the picture.  You were the boss, and you were so dang happy :o).  So here is a bunch of the pictures, because I couldn't just pick a few.  You're really REALLY starting to understand this whole posing for the camera thing.

Girlfriend, I love you.  And all of your ridiculous habits.  AND all of your crazy faces.  I just wanted you to know.

Linking up with Emily and Embrace the Camera today!  If you're a mama and you've never 'embrace the camera', you should definitely hop over to Emily's blog and read more about it.  I'm so thankful we've done it.