6 Months

I distinctly remember getting Em's 6-month pictures. I knew it would be the last of the $3.99 sitting fee and free 8x10 from JC Penny's, and that fact was totally devastating. So much so, in fact, that after driving half-way across Kansas City to the only mall that had a JC Penny's photo studio, I made Todd drive through the Chick-Fil-A and get a peppermint and chocolate milkshake to drown my sorrows. The reason why I was so sad was because I knew, from that point on, the free photos and cheap professional pictures were a thing of the past. Gone would be the days when Todd and I were merely bystanders in the photo-taking process. That also meant we would be responsible for PRINTING the pictures (which, sad to say, has not happened once).

Well, Em's first half year came and went with about as much fan-fair as Cooper's. I wanted to throw him a "half birthday party," complete with half a cake, but I was tired and frustrated with him, so he got no cake (a few weeks ago he decided sleep was for the birds, and let me tell you, this bird was not impressed or happy with the change!). I did, however, manage to find a good time (albeit, while still in my pajamas) when the lighting was good and Em was in a good enough mood to be content in staying in the house and playing with Lani. It was so sad to see the two of them playing back and forth with blocks and balls, each with at least one apendage stuck out of the metal security grating that is the South African version of screening. Coop seemed very happy to oblige me with great smiles and tons of giggles. Hope you enjoy the pictures almost as much as I enjoyed taking them!

Um... did you need something? Because you're seriously interrupting a major train of thought and a really good newspaper article.

And because I felt so terribly that Em was stuck inside for 20 minutes without being allowed out, we went for a 'picnic' while Cooper was napping and ate the highly prized graham crackers that a friend brought over and dropped off on her way to Swaziland with her church.