Big sister

On Saturday I took my girl, Murielle, out for some quality time. Our first stop was Starbucks, where we sat in the window enjoying our kid's-size (and temperature) hot chocolate, decaf latte, and warmed chocolate chip cookie. I thought that she was enjoying this alone time with mommy, but when she looked up at me and said, "Mom, this is my best day ever.", I was convinced, and my heart melted.

Throughout our little shopping trip, her little statements let me know that she really is growing up. She held out a cute pink baby outfit and said, "I want to buy this for MY baby when she comes." - I reminded her that I could very well be having a boy, but that didn't seem to change her opinion that, she is, in fact, going to have a sister. Either way, I think this baby will be "Murielle's baby" and she will grow up rapidly once he/she arrives in August. Murielle will be exactly (could be to the day) 5 years older than this baby.

I am so proud of her. I can't even express how much joy my children bring me. They bring frustration too, don't get me wrong, but the good always outweighs the bad. Time and time again, I realize that what I am right now (wife, mom, entrepreneur) is exactly what I'm meant to be in this moment. I am actively soaking up all these important moments that may be hard to remember in 25 or 50 years.

Maybe that's why I love photography so much. Because it's the one simple way you can look back on the past, in all it's beauty, and remember the good things. There will always be the present and the future, but alot of the past will be (and probably should be) forgotten. It's those precious moments that we choose to keep stored away in our memory - they actually play a small part in forming who we are and who we become.

So as I wait patiently for baby number 3 to mess up our lives in a good way, I'm determined to be present in the now, and love my kids while they are still...kids. ♥