a normal day

 

On October 18th, my daughter was born and I became the mother of three children. Hundreds of miles away, on the same day, another baby girl was born and another woman added the third child to her family. We were complete strangers at that time, but our love of photography and family brought us together. We started to have a conversation about motherhood with images, because we tell stories with our cameras. Since some tales are so similar, and some are not, we decided to collaborate and share a photo a week from a normal day as a mother to three.

“Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.”     – Mary Jean Irion

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it was bound to happen.  we made it through almost five months before it did.  jealousy is now upon us.   you have begun talking like a baby.  “pick me up mama”, “carry me like a baby”, “nurse me” are  phrases i hear all day long.  it doesn’t matter how often i hear them.   each time they pierce my heart.  i know that in time you will realize that having a younger sister to play with is so much greater than these current feelings of displacement.   in the meantime, i have learned to live with the back pain.  you are one heavy baby.

photo by Heather Robinson

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Here we are at the end of March. Record cold and wind like you wouldn’t believe. I’ve reached the end of my rope with this winter. Three kids and a dog trapped inside for months. I just don’t know how much longer we can take it. I’m longing for hikes and trails and the beach. I think she’s ready for it too. Spring, please, please, please come quick and come beautiful.

photo by Olivia Gatti of Click Click Love

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a normal day

 

On October 18th, my daughter was born and I became the mother of three children. Hundreds of miles away, on the same day, another baby girl was born and another woman added the third child to her family. We were complete strangers at that time, but our love of photography and family brought us together. We started to have a conversation about motherhood with images, because we tell stories with our cameras. Since some tales are so similar, and some are not, we decided to collaborate and share a photo a week from a normal day as a mother to three.

“Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.”     – Mary Jean Irion

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our family seems to be missing an easy button.  within days of daddy being accepted into grad school, we learned of you.  it has been quite the struggle to make time for it all.  during my pregnancy, i worried that your daddy would become so consumed with school and work that you two wouldn’t have time to bond.  these past five months have eased my mind immensely.  daddy may be tired all the time, but he is making it happen.  he is juggling school, work, and family life.  you two are crazy about each other.  he certainly is a super daddy.  

photo by Heather Robinson

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This is what it looks like when all three girls are talking to me at the same time. I know that the littlest isn’t saying any true words, but she won’t be left behind, and you better believe she is communicating as best she can. Needless to say, I can barely grasp any of it, but I hear it all.

photo by Olivia Gatti of Click Click Love

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a normal day

On October 18th, my daughter was born and I became the mother of three children. Hundreds of miles away, on the same day, another baby girl was born and another woman added the third child to her family. We were complete strangers at that time, but our love of photography and family brought us together. We started to have a conversation about motherhood with images, because we tell stories with our cameras. Since some tales are so similar, and some are not, we decided to collaborate and share a photo a week from a normal day as a mother to three.

“Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.”     – Mary Jean Irion

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mama is foolish.  sometimes i think that if i slowly darken the room, you will stop playing and get tired.   instead you just keep on going with a smile on your face.  when you finally let me know you are ready to take a nap, it is ten to twenty minutes of sleep and then you are ready to go again.  i get it.  you don’t want to miss a moment.  the world is a pretty awesome place after all.

photo by Heather Robinson

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The carseat kid. The pick-up line. The afternoon coffee (not pictured). Large, of course. March has this faint promise that we’ll be walking more and driving less, and you will be closer to me, and we will feel warmer and full of possibilities.

photo by Olivia Gatti of Click Click Love

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