Friday, April 15, 2011

Retake?

School pictures came home the other day. I was digging in Masha’s backpack for her daily report and I spotted the package. There she was, so beautiful in her red plaid dress... the perfect preschooler photo.

I knew there would be a similar package in Kimani’s school bag. I tried not to get my hopes up. It takes a thousand shots of Kimani to get a good one... I slipped the thin grey 8 by 10 envelope out of her bag, cellophane side down... With a final wish, I flipped it over, and my heart crunched tight.

“Retake!” was my initial painful reaction. My gut hurt. Why couldn’t she look more... why couldn’t she look less... Why did I have to feel so damn disappointed? I wanted to send it back.

Masha and Kimani are opposites when it comes to the camera. Masha is a pretty girl and that prettiness elevates to lovely when frozen in a snapshot. Kimani is a beautiful child... dainty, fair, with plush rosy lips and ocean blue eyes. Her cheekbones are high and she has a perfect kitten nose. Her wispy hair frames her face with a golden softness.

And like so much about Kimani, her absolute beauty cannot be stilled and captured. But evidently her delightful laughter can be and I won’t be trading that in anytime soon.

kimani

11 comments:

The Sanchez Family said...

You see her personality SHINING through this photo and it is beautiful!!!! LOVE it!

Me said...

I think it's an awesome photo :) Captures her personality, in my opinion :)

Tara said...

I LOVE it!!! She is a doll! (Loved Masha's pic, too...very sweet.)

Jen said...

OMGosh! It is absolutely adorable! I love when my little 2yo with Ds poses uncoventionally and captures her little personality. I would not get them retaken; she's a doll, just my opinion!

Roo's Mom said...

I think it's adorable! You can totally see her spirit shining through.

Melissa said...

I love her grin and her laughter! But I also understand about wanting her picture to be more...to be less...

Unknown said...

SMILING from ear to ear!! I love it! and I think I can hear her laughing and it is GREAT!! smiles

Mary Elise Dedicke (aka "Mel") said...

too precious!

Anna said...

Such a beautiful picture. I love it. Especially the more part!!!!!

Sandie Flannery said...

Absolutely adorable, dynamic, her 'essence' in captured forever! Love it!

Jennifer @ JenniferDukesLee.com said...

A portrait of pure joy here.

And your words... Your honesty strikes at the heart of this mother. I have what you call "heart-crunching" moments, and when I do, I waffle between disappointment ... and then guilt for *feeling* the disappointment. If that makes sense ...

Thank you for ... being you.

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