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Motherhood
I never imagined having such overwhelming love for someone I had just met.
The way I felt in our room all alone that night, watching her sleep, wondering how she could really be mine.
How her first smile lit up the universe. How my heart broke when she cried.
Holding her hand as she learned to walk, watching her grow, wanting to stop time, just a little.
Her pride in each achievement, her sharing them with me.
How every day is brighter simply because she is in it.
She says, “Mummy, I love you,” and they are the most wonderful words in the world.
My greatest joy.
I hope you have a beautiful Mother’s Day with yours.
Mel & Sophia xx
{Image shot at JinkyArt workshop, Canberra 2012}
Also posted in Babies, Events
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On the pier
I met the loveliest family last weekend! Those of you who follow me on Facebook might remember that I donated a photo shoot to the Pink Lady Art Exhibition Auction last year. My mother is a breast cancer survivor and it’s a cause very close to my heart. The Exhibition successfully raised $50,000 by 2012, it’s fifth anniversary, and this family was the winner of my shoot. I couldn’t wait to finally meet them, and we were fortunate to have a bright sunny day in the middle of autumn. We met at the pier in St Kilda, and these are some of my favourites from our morning together.
Thank you so much Tracy, Cameron, Morgan, Fraser and Mackenzie, and I hope you love your photos as much as I do.
M x
and I hope you have the most beautiful Mother’s Day xo
Also posted in Children
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Richelle & Jarrod
This shoot had everything – laughter, tears, fun, tenderness, serious and silly! And I felt so privileged to be a part of it.
Richelle and Jarrod may be my most determined clients. Travelling across the state for their session, Jarrod sporting a cast on his arm broken just days earlier, nothing was going to stand in their way. I could tell immediately that the connection between this beautiful mother and her son was something very special. I hope I have captured that in these shots.
Thank you so much Richelle and Jarrod for a beautiful afternoon, it was such a pleasure to take these photos and I hope you love them!
I smiled all the way home. M x
Also posted in Children
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Sophia and me
I very rarely share photos of myself here. But I’ve received so many lovely compliments on this one from friends who have seen it, that I thought it worth sharing with you all. It had been such a long time since I’d had a good photo taken of my daughter and I, that I was determined to have one while we were away on our holiday. One beautiful evening in Koh Samui, I carefully set up my camera for my husband, and everything came together wonderfully, including a very cooperative three year old! I’m so thrilled with this shot, and it makes my heart happy to have it. I don’t want to look back on all our family photos to find I’m missing from them – and it’s so easily done when I’m always the one behind the camera. I’m going to make much more of an effort to do this in future.
So here we are, my Sophia and me.
M x
Also posted in Children, Travel
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The last day of 2
Tomorrow you turn 3. You have been excited about your birthday for weeks, and today was no exception. We went shopping and you told everyone we met that it’s your birthday. You’re having the pink party you have dreamed of, with a ‘Mimi’ cake (I love that you call Dora ‘Mimi’) and lots of friends who love you. I can’t wait to watch you open presents, hear everyone sing Happy Birthday to you, with a big Hip Hip Hooray at the end! This last year of 2 has shown me why I wanted to be a mother, and there were so many moments to love.
You learned to count, making it up at the start, saying 4, 6, 11, 14, 16. Goodness knows why you chose those numbers. Then you made it from 1 to 10 and beyond, and I couldn’t have been more proud if you had flown to the moon.
Your endless chatter every day never ceases to impress and surprise me. We have lovely conversations over chai and gingerbread at our favourite cafe. Whenever we pass it, you ask for “coffee man” and I can’t help but give in.
Ballet class is your favourite thing and I’m sure not a day has passed that you haven’t put on your shoes and danced for me, or Daddy, or Nanna. You have an amazing sense of rhythm and love classical music.
I hear you sing along to the radio when we’re driving and it makes my heart happy!
You started preschool, and you run to me with arms out every time I pick you up. You bring home the most adorable artworks and we hang them on the stairs so everyone can see. You are so purposeful and planned in how you do things.
You are super friendly and often adopt other families at the playground, joining in their games as if you always belonged. You charm everyone with your big eyes and sunny smiles!
We gave you a scooter as an early birthday present, and in just days you went from beginner to racer, going as fast as I can run after you! Like a skater you throw your leg out behind you and glide along, so graceful and balanced.
You always hold my hand when we walk, and I love feeling you bouncing along beside me.
I say guess what. You say love you. I say I love you lots and lots. You say no Mum, just one. One love.
You tell me Mummy, I’m so happy. And that’s all I could ever want for you.
So goodnight my darling, and when you wake, you’ll be 3. And I’ll love you more than yesterday. And even more the day after that.
My bestest girl in the whole world. M x
Also posted in At home, Children, Events
9 Comments
6 months later
I photographed Willow & Bailey 6 months ago, and it was a delight to see them again – especially Willow, who is growing into such a gorgeous little girl! Bailey is almost 3 years old now. I love spending time with this beautiful family, and I hope you enjoy these photos from our morning together. M x
Also posted in Children
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Somewhere near
Yesterday counted 4 years since the last time I spoke to my Dad. I find myself caught in between disbelief and a broken heart. Having the chance to say goodbye is no real comfort. How can any words say what should be said? How do you put together 30 years of daughter and Dad into just a minute or two of time? Sometimes I have to move my mind away before it hurts too much. So I’ll just leave this – and wish it be true. And wish he was here. M x
Death is nothing at all. It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.
Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.
Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner.
All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again! ~ Henry Scott Holland
The spirit
Growing up, Christmas was my favourite time of the year. Decorations everywhere, carols playing, holidays, summer, swimming, presents, and time with family and friends. There was magic in the air and the hope of wishes granted. Christmas day was spent just Dad, Mum and I. Our little family of 3. And I loved it. Roast chicken for lunch, and plum pudding dessert. Talking and laughing. Happiness. And the years went by. And then Dad passed away and Christmas died. The season became an empty display of muted colours, songs without melody and sad memories. And until this year, I wasn’t sure I would ever feel again the way I used to feel in December. Until, that is, Sophia discovered Christmas. Completely enchanted, she remarks at every star and banner and decoration we see. Her face lit up when she came downstairs one morning to see the tree standing there, a surprise for her, and she called to me so excitedly to come look. We paid a visit to Santa and she beamed the biggest smile. My little Christmas fairy, sharing her joy, her wonder, and love. And for the first time since Dad was with us, I feel the spirit of the season again. And it’s wonderful. I hope I can give Sophia the beautiful memories of Christmas that I have. And I wish Dad was here. M x
Also posted in At home
2 Comments
Lights at sunrise
Last month I put a photo shoot up for auction to support a wonderful cause, Lights for Harrison (you can read more about it here). Jane was the happy winning bidder, and I met her beautiful family at the beach for their portraits, on a perfect morning just after sunrise. I am reminded why I adore photography after shoots like this, when it feels more like spending time with friends than working. It was a pleasure to meet you Jane, Nick, Thomas & Charlotte, and I hope you enjoy the photos! M x
Also posted in Children
6 Comments
Milestones
This post is all about numbers.
6. The number of months today since I started my blog. I have loved every single second of those 6 months, sharing my little moments, pretty pictures, friends, my home, my life. It has been an amazing journey, and I hope, just the start of something much more.
90. The number of blog posts I have shared with you all. Your support of each and every one of these 90 posts has been so flattering, so humbling, and so wonderful. I am very blessed and I thank you. Each comment brings me joy, that you have taken something from what you have read or seen, or have been touched in some small way.
30. The number of months old my daughter turned this week when I took these photos. Can it be true? 30 months since I thought of myself first, slept in past 8am, or left home without packing at least a box of snacks in my bag. But 30 months of love beyond anything I could ever have imagined before, daily wonder at how fast time passes, constant inspiration, a hundred tears and a thousand hugs, being called Mummy and having my heart run around outside of me. My baby is now a girl, with her own hopes and dreams, loves, talents, and full of happy that is so contagious. I’m in awe that I created something as beautiful as she.
My pieces of dreaming, my Sophia. M x
Also posted in Children, General
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