We all know it. They grow so fast. We hear this from the lady behind us in line at the grocery store. We hear it from the woman watching us struggle with our opinionated toddler in the toy store. We hear it from Grandparents, from Aunts and Uncles, and from our childrens’ teachers and coaches. And we know it’s true. They DO grow SO fast.
Over Christmas break, while cleaning out our garage, I came across some old canvases of family photos we had taken when Grace, our oldest, was two and a half, and our twin boys were just 8 weeks old. Just looking at the photos brought back so many memories for me of that day. Our twins were just a few weeks out of the hospital, and I remember the process of getting all of us ready for a photo shoot seemed like an impossible mountain to climb. And it was. We all know how difficult it is to get ourselves ready for anything where we need to look presentable, let alone get three children ready. Photo shoots are daunting, right!?
I remember the studio where we did the shoot was super hot – intentionally warm so that we could get some good naked shots of the babies without them being uncomfortable. I remember sweating through my clothes, the room a seemingly unbearable desert for a hormonal, breastfeeding Mom of twins who was still trying to figure the whole thing out. I remember the boys crying. I remember trying to keep Grace entertained until it was her turn to get in the shot. I remember the gentle “shhhhh” of the photographer with her hand on the boys’ backs, soothing them to sleep.
When I came across these canvases in the garage, I felt so grateful that we had captured that moment in time for our babes despite how difficult that process really was. Looking at my kids from across the room at that moment, I imagined how fun it would be to do a little side-by-side with them, now 8 years old and 6 years old. The kids were confused at first, but willingly agreed. We had a blast staging the shots, and the kids were belly-laughing non-stop upon seeing them on my camera. It was a fun moment with them.
As difficult as the process seems sometimes, documenting our family preserves small glimpses into the past. These photos not only allow us to slip back, even if momentarily, into the time and space of our life in the past – they allow our children that same opportunity. Photos are the memories we need when our minds forget. Always take the photos. Always record the videos. After all, our kids are changing before our very eyes – every day. They really do grow so fast.
