My daughter is winding down on the last days of her 5th year and I’m wondering —
How in the world did 6 years go by so quickly?
My world changed in such a surreal, incredible and fulfilling way that morning, when that faint second line appeared on my pregnancy test. It had been years of waiting and trying. This morning, I was just a few feet away from the same spot where I showed my husband that very test. That same surreal feeling washed over me as I took in this morning’s scene. There she was sitting on my bathroom counter, getting ready for a birthday party at a friend’s house. Her long legs were to the side in her “mermaid” position and she was brushing her hair with her newly painted nails.
Nearly 6 years ago, I held her head in my palm and her body just fit into the length of my forearm.
As much as the feel of her head in my palm takes me back to her infancy, the sight of her in her mermaid pose marks this moment in her life for me.
Capture these Every Day Moments
Every year I take her out for her annual birthday portraits. I let her showcase her blossoming style and dab on a little gloss to her lips for a little fun.
These every day moments, however, are the milestones I truly love to capture because of the story they tell. Over the course of this year, she has spent a great deal of time in this particular spot watching me as I get myself ready. I see her soaking up what I do and storing it away as she figures out how it fits into the things she likes. It’s in that spot that she peppers me with questions from the silly to the serious.
I work hard at keeping her my little girl but she still eyes my make-up brushes with interest. She always makes sure her hair is just right and continues to amaze me with her effervescent personality.
When I looked up this morning and took in this scene, I was hit with the realization, once again, that time goes by so fast. I blink and moments like these are gone. As she winds down her year as a 5 year old, this is how I remember this time in her life. It’s a year of independence, curiosity, individuality and just the beginning for a blossoming young lady.
How I Took the Shot
The morning light was coming in from the left window, putting her in a patch of light. As I observed her from the closet, I grabbed my camera to get the story. Since the light was so bright from the window, I under exposed to tame it’s harshness.
I kept the door frame & towel in the shot to frame her in the composition, as well as give my perspective from the closet. To hide my reflection, I positioned myself behind her in the mirror. I loved the results. From the general clutter of a bathroom to her perch on the counter, the photos provide an accurate portrayal of our every day moments.
Leave a Reply