Smile!


Do you know how many tries it took to capture even that crazy-looking picture of a smile? Many. It took many tries. I had to kiss him and make coochy-woochy noises, then quickly get out of the way, put the camera in front of his face, and hope the picture wouldn’t be all blurry from not using the flash. Repeat and repeat and repeat, until the poor baby wouldn’t smile anymore.

The little ingrate smiled first at Paul. Hey, no, don’t take into consideration whose nipples were all cracked but nursed you anyway, taking a layer of enamel off her teeth from clenching so hard with each painful latch-on. Don’t take into consideration who gets up with you at 3:30 in the morning when you want a little snack or a little company. No, no, I wouldn’t want to influence you by reminding you who it was who gave up her body as a vessel for nine months, barfing and barfing in what had better turn out to be a genetic advantage. Heavens no! Neither will I present Exhibit A: stretch marks, or Exhibit B: saggy tum flap, or Exhibit C: hormones you could sharpen a knife on. No! Go ahead and smile first at the other one, that’s fine with me.

25 thoughts on “Smile!

  1. Devan

    awwww, it’s so hard to get those smiles on camera. You did a great job. So far, both kids have smiled at me first, so I guess I’ve been lucky. D is better with them when they get older, I get the baby stuff.

    Reply
  2. Laura

    So adorable — I can’t believe he’s smiling already! Both my girls smiled first at my husband, too — I think my jaw hit the floor in shock. I was so sure all those hours put in breastfeeding would count for something — what about all that bonding?

    Reply
  3. jen

    cute! I can’t believe he’s been around long enough to smile already..

    is it bad that the first time my son smiled for me, I was yelling “NO!” at my daughter and he just thought that was the funniest thing? I’d look at him and say ‘no no NO!’ and it guaranteed a smile.

    Reply
  4. Emblita

    Beautiful smile! And now he’s learned to smile at you and not only at his dad!
    I got the first smile too… but I suppose that was easy since his dad was in Kosovo

    Reply
  5. Erica

    Ungrateful bastard kids, I tell ya!

    Good thing he’s so adorable or you’d have to put him out on the side of the road on trash day, huh?

    Reply
  6. Sam

    Oh, the smile! He’s making me think of Mr. Magoo, but in the best way possible. In case Mr. Magoo is offensive, I have no idea.

    Reply

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