Let me tell you something – #longdistanceauntie life is hard. FaceTime is great (except when your nephew tries to play hide and seek with you & throws the phone under his pillow) but it’s no substitution for story time cuddles, swing pushing at the park, and experiencing their ever evolving personalities first hand. I found out earlier this year that both of my sisters were pregnant with their second & third babies, so I immediately launched into a game plan to visit my new nephews once they had arrived in December. Stops would include Nashville, TN for Heather’s third (George), and Savannah, GA for Kayleigh’s second (Walter). Add into the mix that an old sorority sister was getting married in Virginia about that time, so I purchased my plane tickets for a proper adventure around the southeast, and what I began to call “#tourdebebe2016”. This trip also began just one week after we returned from our adventure to Costa Rica so some may say I was crazy… but an auntie’s gotta do what an auntie’s gotta do! My visits of course included some updated family photos & I’m beyond thrilled to share some images of my beautiful family! Welcome to the world, George & Walter – you are so loved!! xoxo, auntie m
The day after Christmas I got to photograph two very special family sessions. One was an in-home lifestyle shoot including 9-month old William’s grandparents visiting from Texas. We made coffee, played on the floor and fed William. Later that afternoon I photographed a baptism – filled with the love of the entire family: aunts, uncles, cousins & grandparents. I especially treasured these sessions because my grandfather passed away on Christmas day & it was bittersweet that I was able to capture these moments for these families. My kids won’t get to meet my grandfather one day, but he did have the joy loving his own 3 children, 8 grandchildren, and 10 (and counting) great-grandchildren.
In honor of my Gramdad I wanted to share a photo that I took on my grandmother’s 90th birthday – when they met their first great-grandchild for the first time. I love this moment of my tiny nephew Lee (can you believe he’s grown into the wild little 5-year-old in the pictures earlier in this post!?) holding Gram’s hand, and my grandfather, martini in hand, gazing adoringly. These are the moments I’ll cherish forever – Love you Gramdad!
