The Elusive Smile

Perhaps every parent knows the angst that accompanies trying to catch your child's darling smile on camera (then again, I have seen so many smiling pictures of my nieces and nephews, it makes me wonder...) For many a week now, I have been pulling out all tactics trying to catch the perfect shot of Gracie's grin.  I just want one picture of her smiling that is taken at just the right moment and is not blurry...just one. Is that too much to ask? Apparently so.

Grace is professional at smiling, cooing and grinning...and then spying the camera and immediately stopping.

"Who Me?"

Yes, Gracie, you. 

Steve has come to call me "the paparazzi" because I am constantly pulling the camera out from behind my back, or holding it out to the side in the vain hope that I can outwit my 3-month old daughter. Alas, so far I have only gotten snatches that hint at the beauty of a genuine, one-dimpled, Grace smile. 

So, below are my feeble efforts...and soon, before her teeth come in, I WILL take and post that elusive perfect smile picture.

 

 

Of course, the greatest moments in life can never fully be captured in a picture. And surely no picture will ever be able to express the feeling Steve and I get when Grace looks right at us and smiles from her soul. There is no better medicine in the world.

The last 3 months in Pictures

July 1, 2009 was the 11 year anniversary of the day Steve and I first met. We decided to celebrate early (so we could go to Johnny's birthday ) and so on June 30th Steve and I celebrated with a 3-d viewing of the movie "UP" and some burgers and fries.  Here we are sporting our stylin' 3-d shades. As it turned out, I went into the early stages of labor after we got home that night--our last date B.C (before children).

 

40 weeks pregnant! (Little did I know I would start labor hours after this picture was taken)

Right on Time! July 2nd, 2009 at 9:04 am Grace Josephine Scoville made her debut. 

She was 8lbs and 20 inches long...and had a head of dark hair! Where did that come from?

 

 The happy, exhausted family

We had so many wonderful visitors at the hospital. Everyone was so excited about "Baby Grace"

                                                                

                     At first Grace was a "perfect baby"...all she did was sleep and sleep. Like all good things, it was under-appreciated at the time. In fact, it made her mom a bit stressed out because she wouldn't even wake up to eat!

                                                         Our Beautiful Dreamer

Then...our little sleeper morphed into a little crier and couldn't stay asleep for anything. But she remained as cute as ever and after 2 harrowing weeks at the Thorups while Steve finished Nursing School, Grace settled into her new life.

 

Nose kiss from Daddy

                                         Kylee with her newest niece

 

Great-Grandma...two "Jo"s 

(Grace's middle name is in honor of my Grandma, Gladys Josephine Wise)

"I made a wrong turn out of heaven"

Angie gave Grace this beautiful outfit and made the headband. I think she could be a little nymph with her spiky hair coming up in the back. It kind of reminds me of "A Midsummer Night's Dream". This was what she wore on her first appearance at church.

We LOVE the bjorn! Thank you Miriam and Dave!!

What a cutie...kind of like a little flapper, don't ya think?

Classic Grace--such a funny kid.

She has the sweetest smile---she is especially happy after she eats. Here Daddy made her smile so mommy could snap the picture. Usually whenever the camera comes out, the smile disappears...she is too interested in the camera to smile =)

This is at Nathan's Baptism. I love this dress our neighbor gave us.

And last of all--Here we are after Grace's Blessing. It was a beautiful day. I added a little drama to the Sacrament Meeting by having Grace in the wings up until the Bishop announced the blessing (just keeping the congregation on their toes!) Despite giving Steve a heart-attack, he recovered beautifully and offered an amazing blessing for our sweetheart.  By the end of the meeting, Grace was exhausted but we all had a nice picnic at Murray Park in her honor anyway. 

I have learned 3 valuable lessons from Grace's Blessing Day:

1) If you have gotten the baby to sleep, DO NOT try and remove her pacifier for the blessing!

2) Babies are blessed BEFORE the sacrament is passed, not after.

3) The meat tray takes longer to put together than one would think--it must be all done the night before--no excuses.

Thanks to everyone who has made these last 2.5 months wonderful for our new family. Apologies for the marathon opening blog. Hopefully we will be able to offer wittier, shorter snatches going forward.