Sawyer, joins the clan.

On Easter Monday 2 years ago I was welcoming my own little marvel into the world, and I thought it only suitable to share a bit of newborn photo sweetness with you this Easter Monday. I love this family. You might recall this sweet growing family from their big debut on the ever popular On to Baby a while ago. Two days before the post went live, they lovingly welcomed Sawyer Keith to the world. It was love at first sight for all and hard not to fall in love with Sawyers sweet newborn face. We had decided on a newborn photo session in their home as opposed to studio to mirror our in home maternity session. I love the intimate love that oozes from Tiffany, Braden and big brother Hudson as they check out the newest addition to their family. Love newborn photos, love creating newborn photos and getting to snuggle these beautiful creations. New babies are precious, perfect additions to the world. I'm so honored to be a part of their story. I give you, Sawyer Keith surrounded by love. (want to see more from this family??? CLICK HERE FOR MORE.)

Heart Melting Sweetness

There really are no words for a session like this. Baby Madden turned on the charm... big time. Welcome to the world little friend. May all of your days bring this kind of sweetness. ox (remember their fabulous maternity session?)

Thoughts on sleepless nights

precious faceOne thing became crystal clear to me today in regards to the newborn/infant stages of our little girls life.

This will all be a beautiful memory one day. Just as my pregnancy is now. Just as the delivery is now. Just as her first week is now. Just as her first month is now. Life moves on, with or without you. You don't stay in a moment. Good or bad. You move along. Looking back along the way, over your shoulder... watching your life as you choose to remember it. If you are able to hold onto that thought in any moment... it becomes sweeter. More poignant. More precious. Everything is more precious when you realize how impermanent it really is.

I jokingly wrote to a seasoned momma Crystal "I'm hoping this newborn-no sleep thing doesn't last forever, and that the crazy tiredness will eventually be a memory!?!!! (if it is not so, please lie to me and tell me a full nights sleep is somewhere in my future!!!!!)"

She wrote something that touched me so sweetly, she said "Don't sweat it, it will come, and then you too, will have the precious memories of the sun rising while your sweet bundle finally crashes, hands relaxed, breathing even and bottom lip moving rhythmically while she still nurses in her dreams. The times when you forget how tired or frustrated you are and revel in the magic. Enjoy, Erin, and remember you aren't necessarily missing out by not having that perfect sleeper of a baby."

It got me. In 2 months, a year, ten years... I will remember this time in our lives, as Crystal does and miss it. Likely miss it more than I know how to control. When Maisie starts to walk, when she is dressing herself, or when she no longer wants to cuddle with me. I'll remember when I used to rock her to sleep in the middle of the night with her swaddled up tightly in my arms, kissing her perfect little face over and over. We've all heard it a million times, especially with kids. "It goes so fast". I know this. I am all "live in the moment" but, I wasn't really. I mean, I was living in 'moments'... mainly good ones, but not all of them. Today I tried to consciously live in all of them.

I'm grateful that I've had this awakening now... and not regretfully in five years, wondering where all the time has all gone. I'll likely have moments, hours, days, where I forget... but hopefully I'll be able to soak it all along the way (and thankfully I'll have a little help from countless photographs as well).

Here are two of my favorites of our little girl over the past few weeks. baby facesweeeeetness

One of those days...

It happens.  Bad days, bad months, bad years... Hopefully they pass, usually they do. And how good life can be, how clear, how beautiful after a few bad days. It may take a while, but its worth pulling through. My beautiful, wise and cherished friend Momma Mady used to always say to me, "pull up your boots girl, the tea is on". May today be a better day. A good day. (this image below was taken about a minute after the one above, if only, it were always that easy!)