Lia is the free spirited child in this family. Her little personality has been there since the moment she decided she was going to be born on her own time. I feel like a cliche when I write this, but she really does add a dimension of crazy life-loving energy to our family that wasn’t there before we had her. I mean, don’t get me wrong, we weren’t all walking around depressed about life. But the way she gets excited about things and is happy (most of the time) is contagious.

But not this morning. This morning she is in a grumbly grumpy nasty little heap on the floor under the kitchen table. We all have those days, right? I may or may not have had one yesterday. At some point.

In my own attempt to try to ignore the tantrum forming on my kitchen floor I decided to glance at some happy smiley baby pictures of her, you know, to remind myself that she really is an adorably cute sassy sweet little girl. And I came across this photo.

She was about 9 months old here, almost 10. And it was the first time she said mama. I remember this afternoon. It was going along a lot like this morning has been — tantrums, tiredness, defiance, grumpiness. But in a moment of, I don’t know, probably distraction, she said mama. She had been saying dada for a while. Her and her daddy had an amazingly special connection very early on in her life, something that I always felt the two of us missed.

But this day.

She said mama. And looked at me. And kept saying it. And smiled and laughed and came over to me and hugged my legs and I just remember feeling so excited and all the grumpiness and tiredness melted away.

And this morning it had the same effect on both of us. When Lia peeked up from her tear-filled mass of bedhead and jammies she saw a bright-eyed little baby and ran over to get a closer look. I pulled her onto my lap and told her about this day. About how proud I was of her when she said it.

She turned and buried her head in my neck, her little arms wrapped tightly around my shoulders and said, mama, I love you, and with a big smile ran off to finish her breakfast and play with her toys.

And as this Mother’s Day approaches, the moments like those tear drenched tantrums on the kitchen floor  melt away and the sweet and beautiful only remain in our swiftly growing mother hearts.

So… here are my favorite images from my Mini Session families. You guys were AWESOME and so understanding about my crazy shooting schedule. Big fat hugs and thank yous for sticking with me! This post has a ton of photos! I just couldn’t help it. Some from Balboa Park; some from the Poway Midland Train Park. Enjoy!

This was my first time photographing a birth and it was really amazing. And what made it even more amazing is that the parents are close friends of ours from way back when. The day was calm and relaxed. We did a lot of waiting and laughing and waiting. And suddenly it was time. And this rock star mama pushed just a few times and then there was a tiny little newborn baby boy. It was just amazing. He’s almost 7 months old now. But oh wow, his birth was just a miracle and he’s so loved by his parents and his brother and sister and I feel so so grateful to have been a part of his birth day!

P.S. There are a bajillion photos! I couldn’t help it!

Okay, enough wallowing. I love these guys! And their adorably spunky children! And the fact that they sport their Cal gear for family photos. Oh and the fact that we’ve all been friends now for more years than I want to admit because that means I’m getting OLD. It’s just perfect.

I still love them though! And they are still beautiful little children to me.