I remember the day before she turned one month old. Between her naps, instead of sleep, I would scroll through image after image, idea after idea, looking for the perfect way to capture her first 12 months in a photo series.
Rewind.
After I graduated from college in 2009, my younger brother and I moved in together. My closest friends moved away and I found myself in the same 'ol resale shop every weekend, Room Service Vintage. I don't really know what I was looking for other than some way to past the time until the next work day.
My room had this awkward five foot wide nook with the best morning light you ever did see. I moved in not really having a plan for this hole in wall. I would just browse. Looking for records, a good pair of used cowboy boots and oh - oh - what's THAT. That's beautiful. How much? $10 off. Let me get on the phone. I need to beg my brother to come pick it up with his truck.
THAT was a couch. At the time, just something I loved. That fit perfectly in the nook.
It's hard to believe that the couch I bought three years earlier - that fit so perfectly in the five foot nook - was to become the centerpiece for my daughter's first year photos.
If you count the photos from month one to month 12 you will notice one month is missing. Month seven. Month seven was full with a move to a new city, leaving a job behind and battling hand-foot-mouth. By the time I found the makings of the photo - pearls, leggings, headband, baby - she was in month eight.
But that's OK. I think of it as a tiny reflection on life at the time and how unpredictable the path was/is.
Tip: If you're a mom in my shoes, still looking for ideas the day before the big "month one" photo - here's a tip - less is more. I may have been able to capture that month seven photo if I didn't spend the first half of the month unpacking every box looking for the three different items I needed to complete the picture. And the second half of the month waiting for hand-foot-mouth to disappear after I decided I didn't care.
So beautiful! I'm doing the same thing for my son but with the monthly shirt stickers. If and when were blessed with a girl I would love to copy your idea with the lace and pearls
ReplyDeleteCopy away Marissa! And please share your monthly photos with us. We would LOVE to see them :)
DeleteWhat a gorgeous series and keepsake of your daughter's first year, Megan! And that couch looks so pretty. Love it all.
ReplyDeleteThank you Colleen! Going to integrate a full shot of the couch hopefully tomorrow.
DeleteLove these photos. Great advice. Wish I would have been so diligent with my little one. She'll be two next month and all our photos are still on a big mish mash on my computer. -Anna q.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Girl get those together! You just have to find 12. I need to clean my computer up BADLY before I do any other sessions.
DeleteI love that you wrote this. I often give up on things if I miss one part and looking at this gorgeous pic, it would have been so sad if you had stopped just because month seven didn't happen. I've been trying to do a 365 with my kids and I missed a couple of days but I now feel like I should just plow ahead. Who knows what I would I would miss otherwise. Thanks!
ReplyDelete:-)
Traci
Absolutely Traci! I did the same thing with the 365 and well...i have a bunch of photos and only so much time to edit them/delete the excess so my computer will still run haha Good luck! I would LOVE to see the result! No one will notice a thing if you miss it!
DeleteJust had baby number 5 and this looks like so much fun! Where did you ever find lace britches ;). I'm going to use one of the headbands you made for her!
ReplyDeleteCindy
Humm i will have to check the label and let you know. We love them! So happy you like your headband too! Please send me a pic :)
DeleteAwesome photos, Megan!
ReplyDeleteThank you Tori!
DeleteWe used a soccer ball and a sign indication what month it was - I only did it with my youngest - wish I had done it with more!
ReplyDeleteOhhh cool! Link me!
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