I lived

Since I began taking photography more seriously,

I've noticed I'm missing from most of the photographs that make up the story of our life.

When I develop pictures they are mostly of Corey and Bailey.

It's not that people don't offer to take the picture while I jump in to the shot.

It's that I'm that much of a control freak.

I am really working on it.

I've made it a goal to be more present in photographs.

I want my kids to have pictures of me long after I'm gone.

I want them to have proof that I was here and I was kinda fun.

So.....

When I took pictures of Sisty in the hospital I made it a point to capture myself in some of them.

I'm thankful I did.

That was a special day.

A day I will forever recall with fondness.

I will probably always shed a tear or two when I look at the pictures.

I sat here tonight going through them and I thought of something else.

I am grateful for a brother in law who strapped my camera around his neck and snapped away.

He did that when my niece was born too.

Some of my most loved pictures of myself are the ones where I am holding Rylie.

Just hours old.

And now Jude.

Just minutes old.

Let me share a few with you.

I will forever cherish the picture below.

My sister was contracting hard core.

She was ready to go.

The doctor had arrived.

And I was terrified.

That face I'm making is legit fear.

I was a wreck, and cried for most of it.

Okay ALL of it.

There I am!

Holding Baby Jude.

I feel really blessed to have been a part of it all.

And I feel really blessed to have visual proof that I was there.