Eat Your Heart Out Aunty Esther!

My (pathetic) attempt at trying to re-create those artistic modeling shots that, even if it doesn't entice you to buy the dress that you probably can't fit in, lets your eyes linger a little longer at the composition or perspective of the picture taken.

Will I try again? Probably not in a loooong shot (no pun intended) because I discovered (to no surprise) that cajoling children to pose, hold that pose, smile etc while angling the camera or adjusting the setting to capture that image I have in mind, is no easy feat. Even if the model is my own daughter! That, if anything, possibly made the session even more frustrating. Or maybe what I REALLY need is a dslr? Hah! Excuses!

Anyhow, enjoy Esther! For your info, the brown one is her favourite to wear and dance in (which explains why there are more shots of her in the brown frock). Thanks heaps! and *MUACKS* (from Janine)

Model: Janine
Clothes: From Aunty Esther's shop in the US!
Photographer: Me!

Little RED Dancing "Shoes"

I present to you:

Title: Little RED Dancing "Shoes"
Medium: LIPSTICK!!!!
Artist: Janine

My daughter, on top of discovering that her legs can be her canvas, has also realised the potential of the simple lipstick.

[Edit: Good friend Esther says the the lipstick marks look more like blood and, especially where it got smeared on the floor, makes for a rather gory picture. We joke and say I can use this picture in the future to scare off future would-be suitors who come a-knocking at the door. I can already hear myself "I am warning you...bring her back past the curfew hours and THIS is what's going to happen to YOU!!!!" while waving an enlarged version of the picture in their faces. Alternatively, I could use it to "encourage" the girl to be back by curfew hours "Come back after 7pm and THIS is what will happen to YOU!!!". Oh what fun. Parenting sure has its perks! *evil grin*]

I Am Very Proud Of You

My dear little princess,

You did something today that made me very proud of you. It may seem like a little thing or even nothing to people, but not to me.

Today (and for the last few days), because your Papa is over in Chiangmai, I (together with your Grandpa) brought you to school. I know you are not exactly very enthusiastic about school at the moment. And when I buckled you out of your car seat today, I noticed your down turned mouth and blood shot eyes.

I brought you in to your classroom, hung your bag on its hook, gave you a goodbye kiss and hug and proceeded to leave. You were VERY teary, but you didn't cry. You didn't burst into tears or kick up a racket. Instead, you clung on to your water bottle and barbie doll (instead of me), turned around and joined your classmates already seated on the floor.

In that spilt second I could see the pain of seperation in your eyes and I can only imagine the pain you must be feeling. To have to "step out into the world" and "endure" unfamiliar faces and processes, to be apart from the people you love and whom you draw your sense of securities from must indeed be extremely painful.

Instead of fussing about it and kicking up a racket, you grit your teeth and embraced that pain. Some people may say that you "surrendered" to the system. But I prefer to say that you, like some brave soldier, walked into your "battlefield" and took on your "Goliath". Although you were scared and unsure, you still went and sat with them anyway.

There will be many more events like this in your life, times where you will be thrown into situations you least expect or dislike, times where you and your ego will be placed in a vulnerable position, times where there may be no one familiar by your side to hold your hand and comfort you. But in those times, be my little soldier once more and bravely face your giants. For one thing, know that God who created you fearfully and wonderfully in my womb and who takes care of the flowers in the field and birds in the sky, will surely take care of you. And your papa and I, wherever we may be, will be standing tall and proud and truely blessed by the precious gift of you.

We love you.

Mommy