Last weekend, my mother and I took Mazzy to the Central Park Zoo for the first time. On the way to the children's portion of the zoo (AKA where they keep the animals that won't bite your child's hand off), we passed a man playing the trombone under a tunnel. Mazzy stopped in her tracks, mesmerized. For ten minutes, she stood perfectly still as each note bounced off the cobblestone underpass; her expression changing from confusion to realization to total glee. It was a beautiful thing.
So what did I do? I spent every second of that ten minutes alternating from camera mode to video mode on my phone trying to capture the moment exactly. And when Mazzy had enough and went on her way, I MIGHT have chased her down and brought her back to the same spot to try and recreate the moment for a second attempt. I didn't succeed. There was no way to get the trombone player in the shot without missing Mazzy's expression.
Ditto for the moment when Mazzy waved back to the sea lion during his feeding. Pure uncapturable magic. (Unless you have a fish. Then it appears you can get that sea lion to do just about anything.)
All I have is the photo above. And while it does depict the wonder in Mazzy's eyes, I bet in ten years, I have no idea that she is listening to a trombone player. And the mutual sea lion wave? Gone forever.
As far as the petting zoo goes, would you believe I didn't take one picture of Mazzy with the animals? Or at least one good picture. There is video of Mazzy attempting to feed her sippy cup to a goat but my mom's hand got in the way. I think she was trying to protect Mazzy from goat germs, but she also effectively ruined a video caption contest opportunity. Thanks, Mom.
Because I had so many pictures of Mazzy at the zoo, but no pictures showing anything reminiscent of a zoo, I put together a comic strip called "Lil Maz: Zoo Detective".
It's important to note that Mazzy does not know any of the children with which she is interacting. Or from whom she is stealing. And yes, she actually pulled the pacifier out of that baby's mouth to loud and unfavorable results. Well, loud and unfavorable from his mother's perspective. I thought it was hilarious.
And took a picture of it, of course.
comiccon watch out – Mazzy is going to take over.
How are you SOOO funny?! OK, you + your kid = pure comic genius.
Oh I love that comic strip! Can you do one every week please? (Mazzy is gorgeous!)
About taking photos of the kids and what they’re doing, sometimes I’m so busy enjoying the moment, I forget to take a picture. But it’s always in my head. Well, at least til I turn 40 I’m guessing. That’s MY excuse anyway for missing out on some great shots.
Looks like she had a great time despite the lack of animal pictures.
You are hilarious! Mazzy needs her own show, or her own blog. Actually, she sort of has one. She’s a star and doesn’t even know it.
Yes. If the day job doesn’t pan out, I’ll send my comic strip to Marvel. I’m sure nobody’s clamoring to get a job over there!
If you are enjoying the moment, you are ahead of the game. I need to take a lesson.
She did have a blast. I think we are going back next week.
It’s like Truman in the The Truman Show! Except that ended very badly. Hmmm. Something to think about.
Perfect. I see a graphic novel in your future. I’d buy it.
Well that’s the beauty of blogging. Lots of evidence! Better than a scrap book in my opinion.
Yes! Mazzy needs her own blog…or maybe an occasional blog post written by her? Too funny!
Love the comic strip!
Loved the comic strip. My sister has a camera that takes a bazillion pictures a minute so she never misses a shot. I’m your newest follower and I’m excitex to see more cute pictures. If you like crafts visit my blog at http://www.morganandkari.com
Awesome! I’m going to have to learn how to do the comic strip trick. Well, and hopefully have some of your funny rub off on me.
I took my Maddy to the zoo too. What did I capture? A couple of pics of her eating a cupcake. Big Whoop!
Totally missed her Homecoming Queen wave to all the parents as she rode the car merry go round.
But she’s got a STUFFED animal right there. Who needs a zoo when you’ve got that?
If you are referring to the doll at the end of the comic strip— she stole that from another child. Or at least negotiated it’s change of hands. I can’t be sure.
Exploitation. Building memories. It’s a fine line.
I WANT AND NEED THAT CAMERA. Where does your sister live? I might let Mazzy loose in her house. You know, with her grabby little hands.
Maybe there should be a service where moms can go through surveillance camera tape to find their uncaptured magical moments. I bet there’s footage of your Homecoming Queen somewhere!
Love it! I had to share this link with my sister… she is quoted often as saying “If we don’t photograph it, it didn’t happen!” Her second most common quote is “Where’s the camera? WHERE’S THE CAMERA!!!”
P.S. if she likes the Central Park Zoo, she’ll LOVE the Bronx Zoo. Especially now that they caught that killer venomous snake 🙂
As long as you don’t try to drown her in the name of keeping her in, basically, a cage, I think you’re doing okay 😉
love the comic strip! she’s a dollface and I have a feeling you will always remember that photo and what she was mesmerized with
Love the comic strip! What a great way to show & tell a story. Wish I was Photoshop savvy like you and could design neato little comic strips!
Oooh, good point. Note to self: Make sure surroundings are visible in photos to help us out when we are geriatrics and can’t remember anymore.
Okay, seriously? That look on her face while listening to the trombone?
Magic.
As for me, I took a lot of pictures when my kids were babies/toddlers (I think it’s the law) but then, when the “digital age” took over, I stopped.
Don’t know why. Perhaps because that experience of dropping off a roll and waiting to see what I got was just so exciting and the digital camera didn’t give me that.
Or maybe I was just too tired.
I told myself my lack of photography was because I was “soaking up the moment” and didn’t need to be distracted. I would remember with my brain. And my words. And my heart.
Except I kind of don’t. Remember, I mean. The details are fuzzy even when the joy was big.
So good for you for taking the time to take pictures. Be in the moment, but record it, too.
Because even if you forget what made Mazzy smile like that?
Who cares. She’s perfection.
Corny as it sounds, I have given in to enjoying the moment and making the memories in my head moreso than on film. if you can capture that split second, go for it. But don’t miss the magic while you fumble for the film, trust me, after three kids I finally get it. Mazzy is beyond beautiful, and I bet you day together was too! Enjoy!
This is too cute! Love the comic strip, what a fun way to share a story! Great pictures, she is too adorable!
Baby wonder is an amazing thing. It reminds me why I wanted to be a mother.
who needs animal pictures.
they just shit everywhere.
and don’t even have the decency to go in a pull up or anything. just let the shat out. right on the ground.
Good one. You should go into the design business or something. Perhaps also the cute-kid-making business. (Ew. That sounded kind of dirty.) (LOOK. I CAN BE DIRTY. ALSO, LEWD.)
I am horrid at remembering to take photos. Plus, Adam fell out of a kayak when we were in FL and ruined our camera. So now I’m left to my phone camera. I mean, I could always buy a new camera, but come on. She’s only one kid. I feel it’s not wise to go to extremes.
I think you forgot the apostrophe in “Lil’.” All good Lil’s have an apostrophe. That and a piece of straw hanging from the corner of their mouth.
You’re a brilliant writer and now a cartoonist, too? No fair.
This is so cute! We went to Central Park Zoo two weeks ago and my daughter wouldn’t get anywhere near the petting zoo animals. She would much rather watch through the glass.
Too cute! The blogging must also help to preserve the memories, with or without the photographic evidence.
That comic strip is so funny and the photos so very random. I mean, the one with the ball? LOL. How did you manage to go to the zoo and not get any pictures of, well, you know… the zoo!?
And I do the same thing with pictures. I’m all, “Oh, I must capture this forever!” as if my child will never again experience the wonder and amazement of the world from her tiny person perspective. But each time it happens, it brings me that same sense of giddy joy.
And yeah, I’ve been known to try to re-create moments before. It never happens.
Love the top shot of her watching the trombone player. And, the comic strip is too cute.