motherhood

Every once in a while you cross paths with one of those truly gentle and kind souls who is careful with her words and quick to encourage.  This was my fortune with Ms. C.  During her newborn session we chatted mom to mom about the stuff of life.  I was struck by Ms. C’s gentleness, kindness and firmness to go after the best for her kids even when it’s an unpopular decision.  Maybe her sons will have to be grown men before they are allowed to play certain video games that ‘everyone else’ is playing already, but they will know this decision was rooted in a deep desire to protect them from all that would harm them and rob them of the precious little time left in their childhood.

Baby J. was a surprise to her parents and evidence that unexpected routes our lives take often result in blessings we couldn’t imagine living without.   Baby J was a delight to photograph; she calmed quickly and she seemed to soak in her time in front of the lens.  

Why do I love these photographs—they are Motherhood!  This session was a very last minute thing so Ms. C didn’t realize she was going to be in the newborn pics.   When I encouraged her to be in them she wished she had done her hair and make up and her nails (don’t we all!).   My response was, ‘what you didn’t do your hair and make up—how in the world do you look so great then?!’

Ms. C had had her 4 year old’s pony tail holder around her wrist from hair that she had styled that morning before preschool.  The time she would have liked to have spent primping herself was spent helping her older boys off to school.  This is our life as mothers—-and yet not one stitch of make up, hair curling, or nail polish could make that look on Ms. C’s face any more genuinely joyful and radiant! The beauty of motherhood!

Baby J’s two big brothers play football and they adore their new little sister—Merry Christmas boys!