to my little girl...

My Little Miss,

As we sit here in the light of the Christmas tree together in the stillness of the fading afternoon, my heart is totally overflowing...as I gaze down on your peaceful little face I can't help but feel such overwhelming gratefulness that your daddy and I have been entrusted with your life.  You have no idea how much we love you, how you melt my heart each and every day with that bright smile in your eyes and your toothless little grin that is so incredibly contagious.  Just a short time ago we held you for the first time, and today my arms ache to hold you if they've been empty for more than just a few hours...

At this point in your journey you have no issues with sleeping when we put you in your bed at night, but you aren't so interested in staying asleep during the day when try to put you down. You will however stay sound asleep if you are being held.  I determined early on that I was going to treasure every moment I could with you, that I wouldn't wish away today for the days when you were older and could do this or that, but to seize every moment I could, and today is another reminder to do just that.  Yes, there is laundry to be done, carpets to be vacuumed and other housework that could be done, but those things will always be there...you won't always lay in my arms this way, I know there will come a time when you will be quite content to do this sleep thing on your own...and so for today I choose to forget everything else that could be done.  I choose to sit here in the stillness and hold you close...I choose to kiss your chubby cheeks and stroke your little fingers while trying to memorize every detail of your beautiful face.

I know time goes by way too fast and someday, much sooner than I will want, you won't be quite this little, and so for today this our moment is just you and me...

The Hook Family Smiles...

I love getting Andrea's call in the fall asking if I will take their family photos!  I've had the privilege of capturing their smiles and their boys' personalities for four years now and I think I have more fun with them each and every year :)  I took a peek back through some of our shots from past years and had to smile at how their boys have grown into quite the young men...and Brent and Andrea just keep looking better and better!  Here's a peek into our photos from this year...