Morgan has been doing some modeling for Ariel Skelley, a Richmond photographer, since she was about 8 weeks old. It’s been really good in that her early stages have been archived professionally and she’s made some money for her 529 plan, too. Now, at 2 1/2, she’s getting to be a real pro. She’s at the point where now, between shots, she asks to see her film. I wonder what Tyra would say about that.
This morning, she had a call time of 10am in Richmond. As we are getting ready to go, Craig is on his way out the door to work as well. And this conversation ensues —
Morgan: Where are you going, Daddy?
Craig: I’m going to work, sweetheart.
Morgan: Oh! To work, just like me.
Right, ’cause she’s been working hard for the money, 365. So, we hauled tail up 64, Pop-Pop riding shot-gun, Coever in the backseat and made it in decent time. Today’s shoot was all about toddlers getting into messes — painting the walls, painting eachother, putting on make-up, baking cookies, spilling milk. It was pretty much 6 hours of un-doing 2 1/2 years of careful childrearing. Morgan and the other little girl, Ruby, took to the tempera paint and the wall space with gusto, as if every molecule in their tiny bodies had been waiting for this moment since the burst forth from the womb.
Here’s the rub, though. We’ve been working on Morgan’s listening skills (or lack thereof) and remind her to “turn her ears on”. When prompted, she twists both of her ears and makes a little clicking sound indicating that all systems are a go. While the ears may be on, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are always in good working order. More often than not, we check to see the ears are on, give a test request and then are promptly shouting “Morgan! Morgan! MORGAN ELIZABETH!” to reign her back in. Today, of course, we turn the ears on and she is following directions from the photographer, production assistant, and videographer, no problem. What the deuce? I mean really, a 2 1/2 year old, with paint on her hands, asked — asked, I say, asked– to wait until the “go” sign before painting, and SHE DOES IT!! SHE WAITS. Not once, not twice, but EVERY SINGLE TIME. She’s following directions, no questions asked, no tantrums thrown, nothing but smiles. Seriously, she even laughed on cue and followed it up with, “Oh,Morgan is so funny!”.
I wish I could pat myself on that back for that, but I don’t want to break my arm just yet. I mean, she has a habit of being a public angel/private devil from time to time. She is as bright at the morning star and sharper than a tack. She’s also a toddler with mood swings as wide and arcing as the Battering Ram at Busch Gardens. So long as she’s not throwing her juice box at the wardrobe consultant or trying to have the production assistant only light her from her best side, I think we’re good.
That Morgan, she sure takes some great photos.