I’m determined to have a photo book for each year of my girls’ lives for them to look back on when they’re grown. My mom did that for me and my brothers, and there were times in my life that pouring over those books, full of memories, gave me great comfort. I love pictures of people that tell stories, and, to me, there are no other photos more important than family photos.
I’ve had a chunk of time to work on Audrey’s first year photo book (Hello, she’s almost TWO….as you can see, I don’t often get a chance to work on them….but I will NOT give up!) and I came across our very fist family picture of FOUR!! At the time, I wasn’t feeling like having my picture taken, but now I practically settle into a puddle of tears looking at it.
It isn’t a super artistically beautiful image, but to me, the one who gets to have it in the storybook of my life, this picture tells a story. Parts to the story include:
1. I’d just had Audrey a few hours before and was SO glad to get to finallly hold her in my ARMS. The end of my pregnancy was scary and semi-compliacated, so to have it be over was a great blessing. I was an itchy mess, but you’d never, ever know that looking at my face.
2. Maggie, sweet, sweet, Maggie. We had a Big Sister dress for her to wear, which she did, to meet Audrey. It’s long since been peeled off and she was in her undies and a sticker from the nurse. But she was SO happy. We have a video of it, but the first time she held Audrey was something you can’t make up, put in a bottle or sell. She held onto her sister and sang gently to her….the best gift we’ve ever given our childern is the gift of sisterhood.
3. Barry. Look at him. Just look. We’re private about our marriage. But you know what? We’ve loved each other since we were 21 and it just keeps changing and evolving. With that cute little smile of his, I love the image even more. I know he was worried about me towards the end of my pregnancy, so I know that he felt great relief to finally be on the other side of it all.
This was before we knew Audrey was going to be a Danger Cat or that life could, in fact, get better.