Written yesterday: It's Little Man's birthday, and we're outside. I give in to the lure of good lighting, and in spite of the fact that he has a cold and is wearing a rather worn T-rex pajama shirt, I decide to take some photos of him in honor of the fact that he's now four years old.
Me: [Little Man], will you come lie on your stomach in the grass so that I can take pictures of you?
Little Man: No. I don't want to.
Me: Okay. That's fine. [Brother], will you lie on your stomach in the grass for me?
Brother: Yep!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwGOUSsofzOnuRLC6Fjq5LVjs15bpOWJjV98dikVg88e_f2SXTEAkpmodkLzakcr4wpr9s-VjPxqAkfKgTJ2V17-RR6P_KRg7lQDIFkqiEN-dHGpT8pWzs3xRGR3ZFb-djd3B_rHaKaIT/s400/IMG_1041.JPG)
Little Man: Yes! Yes, I will do it!
Me: Good!
(He lies down on the grass, looking unimpressed.)
Little Man: But it's tickling me.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCArKRWp1iLOuFlcIvaM_QaaPU7gTlVTvqImGgKFyxRJbeA_f_iJTcMJo_pTePIte2CSPABd34z8TSzbe8Mp36Hm6gkjS_aa3Xcnnyyr5TbuYrVO9zU7r2xfXUmDZ8Q-Q6SgY9N6Ybl5s/s400/IMG_1046.JPG)
Me: Will you lie down over here with the shed behind you?
Little Man: No. It's too tickley.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXDP_mim5wtmYw9o2GEGMyDPNtCwgdbt3u4KpC1QYoAHr8oPq9doSEy4TeympS3RZXQru4oA7cCKCprAcxlJu0J99DKHqSAJ2NHqwJ9Xd8JzOjZENqVpQ6eVmQu9hK4oiv4G4qFPH3Vaa/s400/IMG_1054.JPG)
(He sits up.)
Me: Okay. Can I take a picture of you sitting up like that then?
Little Man: Yes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrkKN4UkYuYE0TZKTtZDg2gGLL0AxLl2ctF-a8j1mGwr1qCQJW1E-UorYPsfewtDXZzDnp9a7zpQrhb2D2hIgcewir_I9iC7BAyznm-C_RQu-yCeW_9quJildVqJjcUa3ukwKInf02v0y/s400/IMG_1059.JPG)
Little Man: Look! This is me turning like an owl! Can I see a picture of me turned like an owl?
Me: Sure.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpl1BRYLHTY7YfA6gSGOdX9zsBo0NDNxYYmL4oVGe8IGW-4lMdoNFRXfHrDywm6RSFHSwIo8c6g4wlYXVW-8fxmpismUX-6ZR1OpjWJV1YBuxgrapRMAVibWPSp80_xdiKirlkqoh1XnB/s400/IMG_1062.JPG)
Me: Now will you lean on the shed like this for me?
(I demonstrate how I'd like for him to pose.)
Little Man: No. I don't want to.
Me: Okay.
Little Man: Will you swing me five big swings?
Me: I'll swing you after you stand by the shed for me. Will you please go lean against the shed?
Little Man: Okay!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7Ewj8asttOkZLQLZtQLUNjjViI5_mP7zgaK8pptF3aORYUHQ_YYmkhJtbE4jbkXsesU5HfUeh0GYavOlhOf72GTdPgi6YYMzYpypxlDFRO5aaJ0fRJBt0TsGNpCULLsnzOFdrY2IprYG/s400/IMG_1069.JPG)
Me: [Little Man], you need to turn around. Can you please look at your brother?
(That's better.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy4hmskqBzDpRCm20asC-Xwi9fxwl9uF4WUBRtotoprItaC3rmWrVNAMK0dx5jinKs0Bk6yJV8f-xHkm34FLQutlnfhTzqj2auvix2fN5HPYM5TLzH-beljuK9jSc92HmpgnPnmh3UQhp/s400/IMG_1086.JPG)
(Poor kid can't breathe through his nose and looks horribly uncomfortable. I've got to think of something to distract him.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2DLaTclVSrRhOviyx7JkUq21yC_RhVCyBGw2g80qb-QmrGaX4Ya20Ex4VLceDqyVpbu2_XCqSv1m-3jmdlIa1mraZM7PtbFsRaXlcWkgox5rpOE6zu77Qqk6_eIztumfCH-Ypklooljv/s400/IMG_1084.JPG)
Me: Can you tell me about Thomas the Train?
Little Man (smiling at last): Thomas the Train.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuRnWWLkHFaMZj8qF3-eCEsZIaqmTNp6zjvzsYOXWBPNaWKxFamYVJX2AjAjJQQ_fN2ykxr6spVxdS5sIiuntg5IURpuIighhhTcVaj5IEP0lmDlvdbreB2Nw5kP9oahSECCPv5EyFGF9/s400/IMG_1097.JPG)
Little Man: Percy the Train.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2ZPZ1UEPjFBnNOFdjKgBKBkGrzhmcKMQ2oeZ3LywzgU07JOfNzWDHHq04gBCEQ29fYTavmjCCh_n2Q_r0-jXxMvGK5LZ5SWefxI4dj0Ch4XMovXVuJUVNFI8j1j18_uTB0QRdfgejue5/s400/IMG_1098.JPG)
Little Man: Harvey the Train.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtsg2vPi3t0bltKoqkyJY5EoZWgw27QpmWX68H7mM_DCBvHRK43zLoH2eXDH-lwQIKcgbhxiTIyyFdSI8EmtM7Nst4ivcEQEkuJ4RQg4D1NLdNUhJFP5_qrBDOOgjXsx5siTQuWlgXif9/s400/IMG_1099.JPG)
Little Man: Will you push me on the swing now?
Little Man: Five big swings?
Me. Five big swings.