I'm so sorry, baby...

You might remember the post from a few years ago where I compared Stone to a shark on an eating frenzy. It was one of those shots that you take of your children and really should delete it from the electronic universe. It should be forgotten. For their sake and yours as a parent.

I, however, have something twisted in me. I keep these pictures and sometimes even blog about them. I shouldn't. I should do as my more responsible fellow mothers do and only blog about the awesome things.

But, you know me. So, here we go.

The other day, Chad was taking some pictures of me, Stone, and Cade in our cowboy boots. We got a few cute ones, even though I couldn't get both kids to do the same thing with their boots. One wanted to sit with them forward while the other one wanted to lay on his tummy. C'est la vie. Cade ended up crawling toward Daddy and Daddy kept the camera shooting (yay, Daddy!). We got a few really cute shots...and then this one:










What the...? Is THIS my child? The one I refer to in terms of cuteness to other people? Is this really the product of my genetics? Good gracious, it can't be. Look at that mouth? It really is...just...kind of wrong. It HAS to be the angle of the shot. Those teeth CAN NOT be that bad. I mean, they are kind of straight, but just not at all right.

I stare in morbid fascination and nod my head in this decision: it has to be Chad's genes. I'll take credit for all the cute pictures and we'll just chalk this one up to Dad.

Then, I'm packing for a trip and I find this in my sock drawer.




It's spectacular, isn't it? Truly horrific beyond words. This was my mouth in 1985. It was taken by the orthodontist who then tortured me for 6 years. It took 6 years to correct...well, all that.

Chad, babe, I'm sorry for so quickly throwing the blame onto your shoulders. I mean, yes, you are from Arkansas and therefore an easy target for teeth jokes, but it was wrong and I apologize.

Cade, baby, I'm sorry for forgetting my roots. The ones that were attached to these teeth. I'm sorry for the braces you are going to have to endure because of me. I'm sorry for staring at your picture with such macabre concentration and not seeing the true resemblance. The good news is that lots of money will go toward your smile if you truly do take after Mommy.

Here, just because he really is unbearably cute. I'll even let Daddy have the credit.