Thursday, April 9, 2009

because ...

last night ... i let my girly-girls take over. i followed their lead.

cora wanted to play in the sink. and proceeded to make a watery mess on the floor. her shirt and pants were soaking wet. socks too. i watched with love in my eyes. (and then helped her clean up the floor and the stool and the cupboard ...)

stella asked me (again) to play on the computer. the american girl website. i complied, willingly. happy to witness her ability to navigate the computer and try new things.

after dinner, they wanted to play outside. until bathtime. they begged for 10 more minutes? outside. please, mama? i finally dragged them in ... 10 minutes after we would have normally begun bath. chilled from the evening air and plunked them into a warm bathtub. (and yes ... that is cora in the swing!)

i cuddled them for every single minute that we had last night.

i kissed them upon their foreheads. even after they were asleep. not worrying if it would wake them.

i glanced into their rooms, watching them sleep ... gazing at their chests rising and falling ... steadily.

i put myself to bed ... with tears in my eyes for a mama that can't do the same. i cannot get this family out of my head ...

and i cannot believe how amazing of a community this is ... that i am proud to be a part of. maddie's story has restored my faith in people. so thank you all for showing me how compassionate and caring the world really is.


and on a sidenote ... i have a friend with a brand new baby that has asked me to take her children's pictures tomorrow. not a photographer thing ... but just a friend thing ... she said that she has always loved the pictures that i get of her kids. eek! how fun does that sound? and how silly does my makeshift backdrop look up there? i need the honest truth, please! it's obviously not perfect ... (it's a sheet hanging from my entertainment center in my living room ... with no lighting) ... just my picture window. but ... will it do? any suggestions on how to make it better?

12 comments:

Casey said...

I think the back drop and the kid in the picture are both perfect! I love the swinging shot too, you've got talent!

Sprite's Keeper said...

The backdrop is fine! It's the subject everyone will be staring at!

amanda said...

i couldn't agree more friend. tonight we lingered. stretching the day longer. stealing extra snuggles....

Shangrila said...

The backdrop looks fabulous-I honest-to-God thought that it was taken in a studio until you said differently! Lovely.

When Winter was six, the mother of one of her little girlfriends died suddenly. It was shocking and heartbreaking-they had just attended Winter's birthday party 2 weeks before and the mom and I had joked about how often we had our girl's pictures taken. I have never forgotten that family, and how I held and spoiled my daughter in the days after her death.

CC said...

Giving them hugs and love.

little.birdy said...

The backdrop looks fine! Just mind your lighting while you take the pics...Stella's bottom half is more lit than her top half. But that is really nit-picking. Your beautiful girlies always make me smile, no matter how the pictures are lit. :)

Pamela said...

I think the backdrop is fine. You might want to move the subject forward to take advantage of the great light that is on S's knees.

anymommy said...

Me too. I'm a terrible photographer, so I'm not sure my opinion means anything, but I think the picture is gorgeous!

Keely said...

I love the natural lighting. Very summery! She IS more lit on the bottom than on the top but that's what makes it obvious that it's natural light.

I played with Xander with extra attention yesterday and today, too.

amanda said...

me again...you are so right, it just doesn't feel like enough. so helpless. so broken.

but i love your purple tulip idea...

Anonymous said...

I love the caption on your top photo... "because we still can." So true for every moment - they're only little for so long, and only loaned. This week has been such a harsh reminder of that.

Lesha said...

You said that beautifully. I have been extra mindful of loving and snuggling and just being with G every moment I can.