Andy and I are in full "Weaver 2012 budget" mode right now in order to save for our new house. So I decided that I would save some money by attempting to take Charlie's 6 month pictures on my own instead of paying a professional. When Charlie was 5 days old, we paid someone to come to our house and she did an AMAZING job. So I decided to copy some of her tactics by recreating her set-up in front of our big sliding glass doors. I used my white comforter as a back-drop and threw it over a dining room chair and our end table. In order to get this heavy comforter to stay, I had to place an enormous phone book on top of it. Perfecto! Now all I needed was my little model. I stripped Charlie down to his diaper, sat him up, and began snapping away. One thing I should mention is that he sits up really well for the most part...but can fall overboard if he begins reaching for a toy or his tiny toes. Well sure enough, he started to topple and before I knew it he had dove into the comforter...which pulled the phone book off the end table...which knocked the picture frame over...and landed directly on his forehead. A goose egg the size of a walnut immediately formed as he turned red and began screaming. Although, I think I was probably screaming louder as I tried to call Andy from the bedroom to come help me. I'm glad Andy was there and somewhat calm because I was a mess. We sped to the emergency room as I bawled in the backseat with Charlie...partly because I was sure he had a brain bleed, and partly because I was afraid the hospital might call Child Protective Services on Charlie's irresponsible and careless mother. Two hours and many tears later (on my part) we left the hospital relieved to find out that there was no permanent damage...just a very bad bruise and broken blood vessel. Here is a picture of my brave boy at the hospital!

The worst part of it all, is that I put him through all of that...didn't get a great shot,,,AND ended up spending the $100 I could have spent on the professional photographer on the ER co-pay. Go figure! Here are a few decent ones I managed to snap before the head trauma.
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| Charles William- 6 months |
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| Finally getting some hair! |
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| Guess I need to work on the draping of my back-drop! |
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| The last photo I captured prior to the incident :( |