A Great Day
June 4th, 2009Found this one in a series that I took back in late February while Leta and I went for a beach walk on our vacation. Our first day there we all went down to the beach and Leta refused to walk on the beach. We all took turns carrying her and I figured we’d be looking at a Florida scenario where the last possible time on the beach would be where she’d finally get adventurous and then be upset that we had to leave the beach.
After a few days, she had a case of cabin fever and we started to take walks. Every day on our walks I’d ask her if she wanted to go to the beach. Finally, the two of us made it down to the beach. I don’t know if she was afraid of the ocean, the noise and scope, the texture of the sand or just the new experience. She was particularly adventurous on this day, climbing on rocks, playing in the sand (albeit tentatively) and asking me to take her picture. The obvious pride that she felt in overcoming her fears and dislikes about the beach were obvious in these shots. Sure, she kept her shoes on, but look at that face!
Parenting is exhausting most days, but when you see your kid have a breakthrough moment or a series of breakthrough moments, it can be breathtaking. o
Click to see nerdy information about this photo
I LOVE that feeling…that feeling of THEIR self confidence…
I feel that every single day as I watch my one year old experience the world. And I have to ask, when did I lose that sense of wonder?
Leta looks lovely.
She looks so proud! What a wonderful place for exploring.
I love the epic feel to this shot – it’s as though Leta’s found a new world.
wonderfully put and a gorgeous picture!
How did I miss that you got a Mark II? I’m still waiting for mine. It’s at the store. I have to get my husband to buy it for me.
I _love_ finding “lost” pictures like that. Pride makes such a difference, doesn’t it?
I agree, this is a fabulous picture… she is so proud. I would also like to commend you guys on your patience in letting her really achieve these things on her own. I know from experience that the desire to (scream, blaspheme, fling said child into oncoming traffic) force the situation can be overwhelming.
Good work.
XO
B.
Goodness, how gorgeous is that girl? What a lovely, lovely photo.
This is a gorgeous picture of your girl coming into her own. She’ll have this expression, I’m sure, at many future stages in her life.
P.S. There’s no mistaking the Armstrong resemblance.
Btw, have you guys ever watched The Deadliest Catch? I wonder what Leta would think. She’d either be enthralled or horrified by the Bering Sea.
I meant to tell you guys about a story I read of parents who have a child that doesn’t like sand. It’s sensory–one thing to try: buy bags of rice and dump in a bin. Let Leta play with it…feet and hands. Something about it seems to help with the sand issue. Just a thought…and of course, I’m sure the rice would be pretty tasty after running 5 yr old feet through it.
Yeah, we’ve tried that. It’s just something she’s getting over:
http://www.dooce.com/archives/daily/11_10_2004.html