She came around

Thanks to Simple As That for this! Such a handy resource.

http://www.simpleasthatblog.com/2012/05/travel-photo-checklist-free-download.html#

As we were preparing for our trip to NY, I remember charging up the camera and getting excited about capturing a slew of precious moments. The one I seemed most excited about was capturing the expressions of the grandparents meeting Spence for the first time. I'm big on  "firsts." 

Hindsight being what it is, I realize that every "first moment" introduction is not necessarily magical or precious. 

In fact, it has the potential for being a major let down for the adults and super awkward and intimidating for the child. But the build up is there, and of course, people can't wait to hold and hug. And who could blame them? I would be one of those people. 

I wanted to see the fireworks... the magical and intuitive sentiment that would pass between the generations. 

Our loved ones, of course, did not disappoint. They wore their love and devotion on their faces as the camera was clicking away. Our kids were a different story.

-At least one of them was.   

I have one that is quite independent. That is not to say that she is not affectionate, because she is.  But if she does not know you, and you are in her personal space, she will will let you know it. 

This is strange to me. I'm a extrovert / hugger. To be clear, disrespect is a non-negotiable family No-No, so we do insist upon a polite greeting at the very least. And Selah will give you that. But don't expect the fireworks. You have to earn those. She's definitely selective with her affection.   

 I can respect that. In fact, it reminded me that some of the sweetest things in life are patiently nurtured and gradual. They are NOT thrust upon us, forced and assumed. 

Love is patient and kind; it does not envy, or boast.
It is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way...

1 Cor. 13:3,4

Thankfully, I have a nurturing and patient Dad. He was born to be a Poppy. He knew that he had 
his work cut out for him, and made a commitment to chip away at her heart one corny joke at a time. So every day, he would ask her what she'd like for breakfast, and every day she would coolly reply, and ignore his tired old, "Oh, you'd like some Green Eggs and Ham?" joke. And as he walked past her, he'd twirl her little pony tail in his finger, making a new sound effect every time  he did it: motorcycles, ducks, cows, clown horns. He pulled out all the silly tricks, and she would not give him the satisfaction of giggling and playing along. She was testing him big time. It was bittersweet to watch because he kept at it, rejection after rejection.
But finally by day six, she allowed him to play superheros with her. Naturally, he was the bad guy. But he played and played and took all sorts of bad guy abuse,

and in that moment, they bonded.

And though it was a week late, we finally had some fireworks.

(Poppy's new shadow)