I met Marsha Misfud at a recent Camp Workshop Summer Supper here in Atlanta. I am so thankful that she reached out to me about pregnancy and newborn photos. I don’t think I would have made time in my crazy schedule for them otherwise. We took the pregnancy photos three days before my due date and the newborn photos one week after Max was born! I wish I would have had something like this done with our other two  before and after they were born. These are so dear to my heart now seeing them. Marsha captured those sweet details you don’t want to forget of your newborns first days.
Speaking of first days…

I have survived the first few weeks with three little ones! Hooray! Contrary to these lovely photos where I got my hair and makeup done (by Blue Bird Artistry!), I have lived in sweats with a topknot for the past few weeks, never really feeling rested, but  continuing to get up and move because I have three little people who need me. They need me to survive in a sense…. To feed them, keep them clean, steer them from danger, change diapers, ref fights, feed them again, cut their fingernails and hair, bathe them, give them endless amounts of hugs because they need those too, feed them again, read them stories, change more diapers, and rock them to sleep…and it goes on, and it makes the world go around.

Gabe is a pro at taking care of us. And I would trust him to raise my children wonderfully if something ever happened to me. However, when mama is around, my children crave my interaction with them  for their sense of stability and familiarity. They depend on me to make their little worlds feel comfortable and happy. Needless to say when I was sleeping and resting and taking care of the new baby, we had some cranky toddlers due to my absence in their daily schedules. Between my family and Gabe, there has always been someone here to help me adjust to life with three. There have been some hairy moments….like when they all decide to cry at the top of their lungs at the same time or when my toddlers decide 6 am is the new rise time…..but we made it through the toughest part with our head above water. I have to give so much credit to Gabe who continually pours himself out to his family without question. To be perfectly honest, despite the incoherent sentences  and borderline delirium at times, my heart is SO  full.

This is it. This is the trenches of the life I have freely chosen and desired. These three children are the reason I know what deep joy feels like. They are the motivation to reach a little higher, act with greater  awareness, and become the woman God had in mind when he created me…..because each moment they look to Gabe and I for their own survival and happiness, and they look to us to learn how to respond to the world around them. I hope that through the hard moments and sacrifices, we can win for them a life full of love and purpose.

I am so grateful for my family and friends who have stayed with us, made us meals, brought us diapers, and written cards. I am also so grateful for the community of friends through this little ole blog that has extended emails and messages of congrats and warm wishes on Max’s arrival. All of this combined has made me feel so overwhelmed with appreciation and humbled by the friendships and family that bless our life. So thank you!

*If you are here in Atlanta and are looking for a talented portrait photographer, you will have to check out Marsha’s work at The Savvy Studio! She was so wonderful to work with and she is so good at what she does!!

(Lace crochet dress can be found here // Mint Blouse – similar can be found here or here  + Mint bodystyler // Yellow dress – super old via Target // Max’s blanket (gift from Aunt Tricia!) here.