we had the *best* weekend celebrating Audrey’s birthday (more to come on that in a few weeks) and when I saw this image of her and Jason, I thought of this post I absolutely adore titled 100 Ways to be Kind to your Child.  Here’s a little snippet:

Tell them:

1. I love you.
2. love you no matter what.
3. I love you even when you are angry at me.
4. I love you even when I am upset.
5. I love you when you are far way.  My love for you can reach you wherever you are.
6. If I could pick any 4 year old (5 year old, 6 year old…) in the whole wide world, I’d pick you.
7. I love you to the moon and then around the stars and back again.
8. Thank you.
9. I enjoyed playing with you today.
10. My favorite part of the day was when I was with you and we were _______.

11. The story of their birth or adoption.
12. About how you cuddled them when they were a baby.
13. The story of how you chose their name.
14. A story about yourself when you were their age.
15. A story about how their grandparents met.
16. What your favorite color is.
17. That sometimes you struggle too.
18. That when you’re holding hands and you give three squeezes, it’s a secret code that means, “I love you”.
19. What the plan is.
20. What you’re doing right now.

see the whole list right here!

A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker

I love staying in, playing with Pierce, editing the most adorable images in the whole wide world, reading on my couch and baking in my kitchen.  This book hits on ALL my favorites (making breakfast, having tea, a nice fire, two lumps of sugar, and enjoying great company):

It takes place in a sweet little cottage with a sign on the front door that reads “NO Visitors Allowed”.  The homeowner is going about his morning routine of making breakfast when he is constantly interrupted by a little grey mouse who would like to share some tea.  The mouse is not only “small and gray and bright-eyed”, but also persistent.  I know your children will adore trying to find the little mouse on each page and the images are beautiful and elegantly drawn.  I love the use of words and phrases such as “lovely”, “the business of making his breakfast”, “a spot of tea”, and “Toodle-oo”. I also enjoy the lesson that time spent alone and spent in good company are both wonderful things (a huge thank-you to my two bright-eyed mice, Becca and Katie, for keeping me from becoming too much like Bear!)

roadtrips to the beach
pancakes for dinner
parenthood

i’m glad i do it all with you.  happy anniversary on the first day of spring!

one of the biggest joys of my life is seeing families grow – on a wedding day, i photograph their love and relationship with each other and the people surrounding them that adore them.  and with a maternity & newborn session, it’s the physical manifestation of their love for each other.  people say love gets richer and deeper as time passes and i’m glad i have a front row seat.

i know a little of what they have ahead of them…and while i know it isn’t all roses (thank you to the one very accomplished friend who said “Melanie, motherhood is the most challenging thing I’ve ever done”), *every day* has been better than the last.  hold onto your hearts, emily & bobby – incredible things are in store.  thank you for the deep privilege of sharing this afternoon with you!

a tiny peek at some of the amazing things coming down the road from bella bliss :)  and did you know they just added a jewelry line?  so excited!  love spending my days at incredible weddings and with sweet as pie kiddos!