I wish you love

Passport Outtakes

When Henry was a wee little lad, we set about gathering all the necessary documents to register him as an American (Yes, because I am an American citizen, he is automatically an American.  However, if he doesn’t live in America for x amount of years after he’s 12, his children will not have the right to be citizens).  There were many documents that needed to be gathered for such a wee lad, all of which were delivered to the US Embassy in plenty of time for him to receive his passport for our trip Stateside last spring.

However.

The embassy was in the middle of an insane renovation.

The entire foreign service was changing the way it processed foreign birth registrations.

Henry’s name was too long for their new system and everything went pear shaped.

So, although we submitted our paperwork to the Embassy three months before traveling, we were issued only an emergency passport the day before we were due to travel.  And THAT was only good for a year.

Yipee!  I get to do this all over again! thought I, as I received the news.

Well, it’s already one year on, and thus time for his second round of passport applications.

I was going to suck it up and take him to get his passport photo taken at the shop where they would have ROBBED ME BLIND (19 euros they would have charged!  Insanity!), but then a blizzard hit.  And the blizzard made me think twice about bundling up and heading out when not extremely necessary.

Besides which, am I a photographer or am I a photographer?  If I can’t take my kid’s own passport photo, then I’m not worth much.

The trouble being that Olli wasn’t home and we didn’t have his booster seat to lock him into place.  This meant that Henry was going to need to SIT STILL on his own long enough for me to get his photo taken.

And, I’m sure you know, they’re rather particular about the photos.

The person must face forward, for one.

Face forward with both ears showing.

Hands need to be down.

I said hands need to be down.

No smiling.  Or evil grins for that matter.

Yes, Henry.  Just like this.

For the next five years, his beautiful passport photo will remind me of one of the coldest, snowiest days of the year.  I’ll remember a white sheet thrown over the back of the couch, and an impossibly adorable little boy making my heart melt.

And I saved 19 euros.

Mr. Independent

I know that different children have different personalities.  I know that a lot of that is genetic.  But I also am convinced that birth order has something to do with it.

People who are the oldest children in the family tend to be quieter, more cautious, more reserved, more responsible.  I’m not saying EVERY eldest child is like this, but that is the trend.

The youngest is usually louder, more demanding, and more independent.

And this is because they MUST be.  If they want to be heard, they’ve got to scream.  If they want something, they’ve got to take it before it’s gone.  And since Mom is too stinkin’ busy taking care of everyone else, well they’ve just got to entertain themselves.

Henry is all of these things.  Loud, demanding, and independent.

Oh, so independent.

He will sit quietly and play all by himself long enough for me to vacuum the whole house, clean the bathroom, and get lunch ready.

And I feel TERRIBLE about it.  Of course I want him to be independent.  I want him to be able to think for himself.  I want him to have his own imagination and own ideas.  But I feel HORRIBLE that he’s so independent at such a young age, because I’m too busy/bored/whatever to play with him.

I think it’s safe to say I’ve not much improved with my Happiness Project when it comes to playing with my kids…  February might be the month to tackle that.

Day 2 with Flash

Day 2, Photographer’s Log:

Tried the flash out on Henry.  Got some interesting results.

Without flash:  One sad little boy, looking quite pathetic.  Overall atmosphere quiet post-nap tears.  Sweet.  Sad and sweet.  But somehow calm.

With flash:  One sad little boy, perhaps sadder due to flash?  Overall atmosphere bright, loud, energetic.  Still sweet.  But loud and sweet.

Of course the expressions are different in each.  But I also think the light really changes the feeling of the picture.  I like them both.  It’s just different.  This flash thing is going to take some getting used to.

More practice coming tomorrow…

Ps. Tears caused by the desperate need to poop.  It’s tough to be a 16 month old.

Pps.  16 months TODAY!  Also, Henry’s name day!  Happy Name Day, Henry!