A few weeks ago, Rachel wanted to know if the Red Bats could take some holiday photos of her daughter, Sadie. (We photographed Rachel’s family a few months ago and posted about it here.) The theme for the holiday portrait session: Christmas at the beach, overwhelming-cuteness-style.

Rachel prepared thoroughly for this shoot. She bought the right outfit, she checked with her photographers to make sure the quick turnaround time was possible, she even planned around Sadie’s naptime to ensure the best possible mood. However, all the planning in the world can’t guarantee a smile from a baby at the right time. We got a few grins out of Sadie, but it was hard work. She was simply too mesmerized by the cameras to show us her biggest, goofiest smile. Fortunately, she smiled just enough to yield at least thirty adorable smiling shots, which was more than enough for Rachel’s top-secret purposes.

Here’s a little movie that tells the story of that shoot (click the photo to play it). As you’ll see, Sadie is ridiculously cute no matter what expression she has on her face.

UPDATE: There’s a new Sadie movie, for December 2009! Click here to see the post.

Last week I attended a powerful and very crowded reading by Wally Lamb at Bookshop Santa Cruz. Wally Lamb publisher folks, please know that the kind staff at Bookshop asked me to stop taking photos right after I got this one. They truly wanted to comply with your no-photos-before-book-signing-time rule.

After the reading, my friend Peter and I wandered down the street looking into festively decorated shop windows and walls and rooftops.

Like this bicycle store window, I want to wish everyone a very Merry this & that. And have a Happy the other while you’re at it.