I needed a win. I needed an unadulterated victory. And I got it.
BAM!
We’ve been talking about it for a while. We actually went to Atlanta shortly after I wrote that, but our booking got rained out. Stacey offered to vamp up a shoot, but I wasn’t willing to compromise.
Good call.
Two weekends ago we tossed the kids in the car and pelted down to Atlanta to meet Stacey in Grant Park.
The morning went a little bit like this: We fed two boys an early breakfast and then hosed them down. We decided everyone would go to the park dressed and ready, except for Alden. His clothes were rumple-able, so he would ride in his underpants. I’d carefully picked our clothes to be nice, but not formal. Complementary, but not matchy. Neutral, but not dull. Then as I stood at the door with Elliot on my hip, he pooped explosively and torched both my outfit and his. So you may notice that Alden and Damon look ready to go to brunch while Elliot and I look like we’re ready to hit the gym. Improvisation, it’s the central pillar of motherhood. I actually had to dig through our host’s daughter’s closet for a top for myself that didn’t clash horribly. And I faked a bra with a sport tank from the same closet. If you’re wondering why I didn’t have a backup outfit… I can only manage one layer of planning.
So my outfit is wonky. The heat and humidity committed atrocities on my hair not containable by simple ponytail holder. I love the photo. It’s perfect. I’m askew, imperfectly prepared, a little out of synch. All of that is absolutely true of me right now. I love that our photos capture that, but in a compassionate way.
The whole preview set is on Stacey’s blog.
jaysaint 
Posted by travellight on August 1, 2010 at 12:04 am
They’re gorgeous, and I’m glad the world gave you a break.
Posted by travellight on August 1, 2010 at 12:04 am
They’re gorgeous, and I’m glad the world gave you a break.
Posted by jaysaint on August 1, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Thank you!
Posted by lemon_says on August 1, 2010 at 1:36 am
Silly, you should have called! I live in Grant Park, and I have more clothes than I know what to do with, and nursing bras that haven’t been worn in two years and are too big. 🙂
But you know, I think you all look beautiful, and that there’s nothing wrong with these perfect photos.
Posted by lemon_says on August 1, 2010 at 1:36 am
Silly, you should have called! I live in Grant Park, and I have more clothes than I know what to do with, and nursing bras that haven’t been worn in two years and are too big. 🙂
But you know, I think you all look beautiful, and that there’s nothing wrong with these perfect photos.
Posted by jaysaint on August 1, 2010 at 5:16 pm
You know, I don’t think I knew you live in Grant Park. I lived there once. Such a great neighborhood.
It’s too bad. You have really cute clothes. Then again, we were doing such a fast whip-around visit that it would have been frustrating to not be able to visit with you.
Posted by heathrow on August 1, 2010 at 4:05 pm
You look lovely, silly lady. 🙂
Posted by heathrow on August 1, 2010 at 4:05 pm
You look lovely, silly lady. 🙂
Posted by jaysaint on August 1, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Thank you 🙂
Posted by jaysaint on August 1, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Thank you!
Posted by jaysaint on August 1, 2010 at 5:16 pm
You know, I don’t think I knew you live in Grant Park. I lived there once. Such a great neighborhood.
It’s too bad. You have really cute clothes. Then again, we were doing such a fast whip-around visit that it would have been frustrating to not be able to visit with you.
Posted by jaysaint on August 1, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Thank you 🙂
Posted by geobabe1 on August 1, 2010 at 6:14 pm
I saw these before, when Stacey L linked them on Facebook, but I had to look at them again, and you guys are still ridiculously gorgeous, all of you.
Posted by geobabe1 on August 1, 2010 at 6:14 pm
I saw these before, when Stacey L linked them on Facebook, but I had to look at them again, and you guys are still ridiculously gorgeous, all of you.
Posted by jaysaint on August 1, 2010 at 6:23 pm
Thank you. I will not deny the adorability of my brood, but Stacey Bode deserves an awful lot of credit.
Posted by jaysaint on August 1, 2010 at 6:23 pm
Thank you. I will not deny the adorability of my brood, but Stacey Bode deserves an awful lot of credit.
Posted by scout1222 on August 1, 2010 at 6:52 pm
What’s the flowering tree – is it dogwood? I really like the way those photos look.
Posted by scout1222 on August 1, 2010 at 6:52 pm
What’s the flowering tree – is it dogwood? I really like the way those photos look.
Posted by jaysaint on August 1, 2010 at 7:49 pm
Stacey is a real artist.
I wouldn’t be that embarrassed to admit I don’t know what those trees are if I didn’t have two in my front yard.
Posted by jaysaint on August 1, 2010 at 7:49 pm
Stacey is a real artist.
I wouldn’t be that embarrassed to admit I don’t know what those trees are if I didn’t have two in my front yard.
Posted by Anonymous on August 2, 2010 at 2:42 pm
So gorgeous! And hello, when did Alden become such a big grownup boy?
Jeannie
Posted by Anonymous on August 2, 2010 at 2:42 pm
So gorgeous! And hello, when did Alden become such a big grownup boy?
Jeannie