Oh we are JUST getting started!

Its been just over one week since we met with the agent and now the work begins. Since that day, I have been dressing G up like a doll and taking a lot of pictures to put her sheet together. So lets see.... 7 days * 50 shots per day. That makes over 350 pictures I have taken in order to find the right one.

It so difficult to catch that perfect smile. Its hit or miss. I was an amateur photographer in high school...learning on an old manual Nikon. So I can get some good shots with the perfect lighting. But now, I have a point and shoot HD Cannon camera. I like the natural light in our house, but it makes it super hard to catch the perfect shot since the shutter speed is automatic. So now, I am looking into buying a nice camera. If it will save me $200 each session, I think it is a sound investment. (yeah, just like that Disney sewing machine collecting dust in my office)

Every night I have been sifting through each of the shots. Cropping, rotating and trying to put together the perfect collection of 3 photos that will show her personality. I think I spent maybe 2 hours a day doing this. (now do you see where all the work comes in for the parent???) I'll probably have to do this every 2 months as babies change so often. After sending 2 batches if pics to the agent, I think we finally have the perfect set of pictures.

But it doesn't end there. I now have to send the original e-files to her, make 15 color copies of the sheet and then send her work permit over! A lot of work, huh? say goodbye to my awesome Lifetime afternoons on the couch. I think I just signed up for a full time job.

I have some time to relax, though. Little G is shy of 6 months and there isn't a lot of work for 5 mos or younger as they usually book newborn stuff. in 2 weeks, she'll be six months old and we'll see just how chaotic life will be. I am excited for her. I want to see how she'll do. I am excited for us, because we get to do something together. But overall, I just love this little girl to pieces.

Its 9pm. She's asleep. I just want to wake her up and spoil her with kisses. Goodnight.

She Has an Agent! Let the Blogging Begin!

So my little G got an agent last week! Woo Hoo! I know, she is just getting started and has no work, but I am super proud of my baby Girl. Now we have A LOT of work ahead of us in order to get her started. I did some reading and learned that the success of a child in Hollywood largely depends on the effort the parent makes.

Being that I am a SAHM for now and I live within 15 minutes of every agent/studio in LA, I think we might do well. Oh, BTW, did I mention I get compulsive, too? In the word of Dave Mathews...I eat too much, I love too much, I want too much.

Here's how it started. In December, I mailed away 2 photos of baby G to one of the top agents for young children. I figure if the best agent says NO, then the dream ends. I can go on thinking of other things to do, like what preschool to get her into.
(I know, she's only 5 months, but its crazy here in Los Angeles)

So I sent the pics out and in January, we got a phone call back asking if we would stop by so they can meet Little G. Her appointment was at 9 am. Great! I jumped at the opportunity.

My dilemma? Uh, since we returned from Florida, she has been waking up 3 times during the night. I think she started teething and she also has been pooping every 2 hours. CRAP!!!!! WHAT AM I GOING TO DO???? WHAT IF SHE CRAPS ON THEM???? WHAT IF SHE GETS CRANKY AND CRIES?????

So for the entire week I had to resolve each of these issues to make sure that 7 days from now at 9:10 a.m., Little G would be the Perfect Angel from December.

Issue #1: The pooping every 2 hours. My bad. I started her on oatmeal and if she's anything like me at all, she will poop after eating it. I spoke to my mom and she was like "Duh, oatmeal makes you sh*t" So I brought her back to rice 2x a day and that solved that was the end of the that. Thank Goodness!

Issue #2: Waking up 2-3 times at night. OK, I confess. My DH is the one that solved this problem. We had been BLESSED with a perfect sleeper. Since she was 7 weeks old, she had been sleeping 7 hours a night. That 7 had turned into 11 hours by December. Never had a problem with going to bed.

Come 2010. A nightmare...she was waking every 2-3 hours at night. This was so getting old and I realized what most parent had been going through at night. Sucks. And I want it to stop NOW. I was getting so cranky and bitchy to my husband.
Baby G was still being swaddled at night. And it worked like a charm...until now.
So to put an end to my night time walks to her room, I watched her nap. And I learned how she soothes herself...with her hands. She does this Lady GaGa thing to her eyes. Its quite funny.

So at my Hubby's insistence, I unswaddled her. 10 hours later, I was one happy Momma!

Issue #3: How will she be at her best behavior at 9:10 am???? I know she is great in the ams, but specifically, how can I ensure she will be on good behavior at that time? She wakes at 7 am and if she is up til 910 am, it wont be a good thing.

So all week, I experimented with giving her a quick feed and putting her back to sleep vs. trying to keep her up for a few minutes, then put her back to sleep. And it turns out with trial and error that letting her feed and get back to bed was the best solution.

issue #4: Teething. So would I be a bad mommy if I gave her Tylenol just so she wont be cranky? Ha. You thought. I ended up dabbing her gums with Orajel.


The result????? In their words...."Yes, she is sooo ADORABLE" They took her to the back office for 5 minutes where she met with the other agents. I could hear everything. And I specifically her her NOT cry! She was actually smiling at everyone, from what she told me.

Yay for Baby G!