I loved getting to meet up with this sweet family of three! I met the Dean's back when they first found out about this little girl in their arms! They were just a few weeks pregnant, and I was so excited for them! I also had the privilege to take sweet Catherine Grace's newborn photos. I could not believe it when I realized it was time for her 1 year pictures! This family is so kind, and Catherine Grace was so happy! I cannot wait to continue to watch her grow! What a blessing!
I have had the privilege of taking pictures for this family for the last few years! I helped them announce the arrival of sweet Caroline, and have gotten to see those older girls grow up too! I was so excited to take some family photos as well as photos celebrating Caroline being a year old! These girls are SO sweet and always so well behaved! This family is just beautiful! I can't wait to take more for them in the future and continue watching these girls grow up!
This family is so precious! I got to take Connor's newborn pictures back in November, and was so excited to see how much he had grown during his 6 month pictures! He was SO happy! Those bright blue eyes were just beautiful! I cannot wait to see how big he will be at his 1 year pictures!
This time last year, I was quite pregnant. I was anxious. I was excited. I had no idea how my life was about to change, in both challenging ways and all the best ways. I had no idea that meeting the little life growing inside of me would change me in so many ways.
This week she has been with us for 11 months. I can't even wrap my mind around that. I have had the privilege of loving her and watching her grow for almost a full year. I have had lots of emotions as we approach her first birthday. I have been so excited as I have seen her grow and learn new things. I have been proud as I have seen her brave side come out or seen her listen to me when she hears "no no" :) I have also been so incredibly sad as I realize the days with her go so quickly. I have found myself rocking her a little longer in the evenings, really watching her play by herself more, and just been in awe of how good God is that He would allow me to be her mom.
Please believe that the days are hard so often. The days are long, they test my patience, they make me question if I am doing things "right". But, they are the best days. I truly believe that. Just the other day I was in Target (duh) and the cashier asked how old she was. I told her 10 months, and she said she had a 5 month old and could not wait for her to be able to sit up, crawl, talk more, etc. I remember having those thoughts at times, but in my measly 11 months of motherhood wisdom, I looked at her and told her to enjoy every second and not to wish the different stages away. That has probably been one of my biggest prayers throughout Evelyn's 11 months of life. I have prayed so often that I would stop and enjoy every phase and every milestone as it came. For the most part, I feel like God has answered that prayer.
I just enjoy the fact that I get to be her mama. Sure, I have wished away sleepless nights, and had moments where I have wanted her to reach certain milestones at a quicker pace. I (still) am wishing she was more patient when she eats and didn't act like each meal was her last when it is over. (Those of you who have had the privilege of eating in her presence know what I am talking about. :) ) I have not been perfect. But, all in all, I have truly tried to slow down and savor the days. I have cried ridiculous tears thinking about how she will be 12 before I know it. :) Even Brett told me that he saw a little girl eating lunch with her mom the other day and she was about 10, and all he could think was....."this is going to be Evie before I know it...."
I am overwhelmed with gratitude. The Lord has truly shown so much of His goodness in my life by giving me Evelyn. I am undeserving of such a gift. So as she is now 11 months.....I will savor this last month of her first year. I will try to stop and truly be grateful for all of the moments (fussy ones included....aka today) I will treasure snuggles. I will look forward to seeing her happy face each day. I will love on her! I will praise God for her life! I will praise God that she is healthy and growing. I will enjoy my baby girl, and pray for her life! Thank you God for my precious Evelyn!
I have been a mom for 300 days now. I have experienced so much in these 300 days. The other day, Brett and I were talking and he asked me, "So...in her almost 10 month of life...is it everything you thought it would be?" My response was that it was so much better and so much harder than I ever imagined it would be.
I remember sitting in church last mother's day feeling the kicks and pokes and rolls from my baby girl. I remember being so incredibly happy to finally be able to have those feelings after so much prayer. Now, a year later, I can tell you that being a mom is simply more than I could ever put into words.
In the last 300 days I have experienced.....what is the phrase everyone is saying...."all the feels" (I kind of really hate that term :) ) But, it is accurate. Only motherhood could have you feeling so incredibly excited to see all of the next stages your baby will go through, and in the next minute be crying because you are so sad they are getting bigger. :)
I have experienced every emotion. Motherhood throws so many curve balls at you. I was telling a friend that I feel like it is so much trial and error. I have found myself going from confident to second guessing each decision I make. I remember in my early months of motherhood worrying about her schedule, her sleep, nursing, and everything in between. I have certainly grown in my confidence in the last few months, but I have also seen new areas where I worry. I worry about everything from her falling and hitting her head to future friendships to her relationship with the Lord. Because.........all of those things are in my control right? haha. God is so sweet to consistently remind me that He is in control and that I do not have to worry.
"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?" (Luke 12:25)
This tiny little girl has changed my perspective in so many ways. I get to see her discover new things. I get to see her feel the wind on her face and get excited. I get to see her little mind learn and grow and finally grasp things I am teaching her. I have gotten to see her little body learn to roll over, crawl, and before too long she will walk and run! What an incredible privilege! I can't believe how much she has grown. I love getting to see the world through her little eyes.
It also has made me think so much about my own mom. She is the most incredible woman. On the long fussy days and the exhausting nights, I think....she did this four times...and I may do it four times as well, but currently the Lord is giving me grace for one. But my mom....I see the sacrifices she made. I see how hard it was on some days. But, I also see the great rewards that are to come. I know that I most likely have no idea the hard and good things that I will experience, but in these ten months I have gotten just a glimpse of how she felt. I think about how as moms we just press on each day, because truly......we do not get an off day. The days are so busy. Sometimes it is just hard to be a mama. But, gracious me...what a blessing. What an honor. My mom has already left such a legacy. Her life should be celebrated today and EVERY single day. She cooked, she cleaned, she drove us everywhere, she sacrificed, she helped with projects, she did it all. She was and is a Godly example for me, and continues to push me towards Christ as I walk through motherhood. I pray that I am half the mom that she was and is to my siblings and I.
So.....to my mom, thank you. You are a sweet example to me. You love the Lord with all your heart, and push me towards the Lord. You encourage, and you call me out. You are a helper to me and the most loving and sacrificial woman. Thank you for your years of doing it all. I love you so so much!
My sweet Evelyn, I am so grateful God gave you to me. I am so thankful that you made me a mama, and that I get to spend my days with you. You have made these last 300 days some of the sweetest and most challenging. God has used you to refine me. He has used you to show me just a small glimpse of His love for His children. I cherish every moment I get to rock you, feed you, play with you, hear you cry, kiss you, hug you, and watch you grow. I have cried so many tears as I think about how overwhelmed I am to get to parent you. I pray that I do it well. I pray that you always know you are so loved by me.
Happy Mother's Day to every Mama out there! To those who are waiting and longing to be a mama, I am saying a special prayer for you today, because I know that feeling all to well.
I have gone to church with the Smith family for a while now, so I was thrilled when Ashely asked me to take some family photos for them! Sweet Mason was so fun to chase around and talk to. He was so cooperative, and gave me some of the sweetest smiles! They are a beautiful family, so it wasn't too hard to make them look good!
Thank you Smith family for letting me take these photos for you guys! :)
This family was so sweet, and it was so nice to officially meet them! I loved taking some family photos for them and some to celebrate Miss Emma Jane turning one! She was such a doll, and gave me some of the sweetest smiles! Oh, and those blue eyes? Oh my! What an angel!
Aren't they a gorgeous family?
I met Candy in college, but I had not seen her in quite some time. I was so happy that she contacted me to take photos of her growing family! I had so much fun chasing her busy boys around! They are so precious! It was such a beautiful day for pictures! Candy, your family is so sweet! Thank you so much for letting me take y'all's photos!
You have seen their engagement pictures and her gorgeous bridals, and now I am happy to show you their wedding day. Ansley and Beau are so precious. The groups that they chose to stand beside them were the best. Every detail was so perfect, and it was quite a party through the night! This couple was perfectly celebrated! Ansley and Beau, I hope that your first couple of months of marriage has been wonderful!! Thank you for letting me be a small part of your day!
I have known sweet Laney for several years now. I had the privilege of watching she and Chris meet and fall in love. I taught with Laney the year that we both got married and we were actually married a week apart from one another. I have taken pictures of her sweet kiddos for a while, and it has been so fun to see their family grow. Aren't their babies so precious?
Andrews family, y'all are the best! Thank you for letting me take these photos for you!
