Happiness is… | Queen Creek, AZ Photographer

Why do we (parents, mothers, etc.) try so hard to plan extravagant vacations, introduce and expose our children to activities, spend our money in the meantime?  Well, I am taking notes here… 1. go to the store and buy a swing (or make one). 2. put your child on the swing.  3. push your child for 10 minutes.   BUT, I have to be honest and say that swinging (or pushing) is on the bottom 5 of my “what I love to do as a parent” list.  Until I saw this.  Maybe I should reevaluate and give it another try.  Her dad was pushing her and she couldn’t be happier!

Eyes | Kirkland, WA Photographer

I am always looking in eyes, looking for the catchlights, looking for what the light tells me as well as the subject.  Her eyes are amazing, bright, clear, and blue.   Eyes tell you so much, not just about light but about the soul.  Isn’t the saying something like “Eyes are the window to the soul?”    

She’s EIGHT | Kirkland, WA Photographer

Kids are the true tale of time!  If you watch kids, you will learn that you are growing up (and older) too.  ; (  Sad news?  I will always feel young at heart and its hard to believe that time isn’t stopping.  I was with my daughter the other day, helping her shop for clothes.  I looked at myself in the mirror and realized that I am the mom.  I am the older one-I love to shop and I remember those school shopping sprees with my mom.  I remember what she looked like as she was presenting ideas and combinations to me.  She always seemed older-always my mom.  There was no possible room in my brain to believe that she once was in my young school age shoes-she was always mom to me.  That’s how my daughter will look at me…  I am always mom and OLD to her.

Her eighth birthday is a very special one.

A good dad | Queen Creek, AZ Photography

He loves his daddy, his daddy loves him.  There’s not much to come between them except for the motorcycle :) I was just happy to capture this moment full of realness.  (I looked at the original version and decided to convert it to black in white because it is timeless and tender.)  

ave

Missing Teeth | Bellevue, WA Photographer

I love when 6-9 year old (ish) kids smile-there is bound to be some missing teeth!  It is adorable (ok, not always but here it is!)  You can see that she is a little timid- but not for long.  Not only is she proud of those missing teeth, she is creatively wearing Mrs. Potato Head’s earrings. What happened to my imagination?  Just curious…

This sweet face | Kirkland, WA photographer

Maybe this puts a whole new light on the term “Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed”

Cuddles | Queen Creek, AZ Photographer

It is rare that this little boy sits still.  He has appeared several times in this place, mostly in the shape of weapons and activities!  : )  But when mommy wants to cuddle, he usually agrees. 

An advertisement | Queen Creek, AZ Photographer

I thought this was so funny…  The Dr. Pepper makes him so happy.  Well, and cookies too!  Isn’t it great-the things we “thought” we would never do as a parent but somehow becoming a parent changes all those rules.  Kids are happy, mama has some peace, all is well. 

My son | Kirkland, WA photographer

This little guy is always on the go!  While he is very capable of down time, her prefers to be playing, pretending and imagining.  Gone are the days that he was content on the family room floor.  I miss his chubby cheeks that were even bigger than his sister’s, I miss his feet doing circles as he concentrated, I miss rocking him in the middle of the night, I miss his middle of the night visits when he was scared, I miss those tiny flip flops, and the list goes on.  Now I enjoy playing trains, making his favorite dish-macaroni and cheese, making play date arrangements, seeing his sweet face as my daily alarm, watching him imagine a world and using the most incredible sound effects! When I get out the camera, he runs or walks backwards to avoid being “caught”.  He is goofy and I was proud of this capture!

He has always been a mellow guy, eager to give compliments and make one feel loved.  He didn’t walk until he was 18 months and I was never worried-I enjoyed having him close to me for longer than normal.  It is interesting that first-borns (my daughter) get to be the experiment child.  We learn and grow as parents with them, learn when to be worried and when to let go.  After child number one, we think a dropped pacifier will be just fine, a wet diaper for more than 20 seconds will be just fine, a dirty outfit will not put us on the CPS list, and that kids will develop and grow regardless of what we want or don’t want for them.  Our passions as parents are reflected in the way we raise our children. 

I love being a mother and I am very grateful for the experience-one of complete sacrifice on one hand and selfishness on the other.  Motherhood is a sacrifice as you give up your time to serve those in your care (constantly and continually) and selfishness because rearing children can be so rewarding and an emotional gift.  My children challenge me and I often lose patience.  I have to remind myself to stay calm, talk with kindness and show respect.  But through our daily challenges, we grow closer and we love deeper, sassiness and disrespect and all!  : )

My daughter | Kirkland, WA Photographer

My daughter is growing up so fast.  I miss those chubby cheeks that wow’d the doctors upon her arrival, I miss those tiny little chubby feet that never fit in any shoes, I miss that crazy mullet hair that only grew in the back but was nearly absent in the front, I miss those tiny little 6 month clothes that I could pick out without any consideration as to how she would feel, I miss folding those clothes, I miss wrapping her in a fluffy terry cloth towel after a bath, I miss seeing her stand up in crib when it was morning, I miss her first words that only I could understand and interpret, I miss watching daily as she grew and changed and learned…  the list goes on. 

Now, I get to enjoy the conversations about friends and school, the mommy/daughter dates that seem to be ever important, the nightly reading about Junie B. Jones and her shenanigans in school, shopping and appreciating her opinion, waiting in anticipation to see what kind of an outfit she put together for the day (she’s getting pretty darn good), playing games that bring on her giggles, utilizing her help to clean and cook whenever possible, watching the light bulb go on when she learns something new or completes something with pride, teaching her and learning from her (mostly learning), watching her swim and swim and swim and loving her swimming lessons… the list goes on. 

There is a guarantee-time doesn’t stop.  No matter the situation, time goes on.  Isn’t that strange? Not really, but sort of?  : )  Some days I want to freeze in time and those are the days that seem to go by the fastest and other days can’t seem to be over quick enough.  I can’t stop her from growing up-even to enjoy a perfect day for another hour.  She will continue to grow and learn and someday think that I’m not awesome (WHAT?) and then hopefully come back around to thinking I am awesome.  : )