Elizabeth & Her Boys

Elizabeth something that I never expected.
I arrived at her house at sunrise, to sleepy eyes and sweet dispositions. I saw the pictures of a handsome solider on the wall, holding the beautiful boys that surrounded me. There was a thick sense of perseverance soaked into each room. One acquired by many military families.
And there in the middle of it all, was Elizabeth. Soft and sure, a safe haven for some of the sweetest boys I've ever met. Thank you, mama, for allowing me to photograph your family.

From Elizabeth
"Oh Mae, may you never tire of hearing how special is your gift of art!  I may have teared up.  Thank you a thousand times over! 
As a mom of three here on earth and one angel  in heaven, I know that these little years are fleeting.  With my baby coming up on his first birthday, our days of him being my little nursling will soon be behind us... whether soon is weeks or months or years.  After those weeks and months and years I hope I will look back on this time with fondness.  Though these are the hard years full of selfless care, countless diaper changes, midnight wakings (plural), constant character building, bottomless pouring of drinks and fixing of food (whyyyyy do kids eat so much?!)....  there is magic in those moments that is such a privilege to be a part of... that the Lord should choose me to mother these children is beyond my comprehension.  I am grateful for his blessings, and I am grateful for you, Mae!"

Brekke & Her Boy

Brekke met me on a SWELTERING evening in Huntsville and is one of the most joyous women I have ever met, and knowing her story... ugh, that is just beautiful!
From Brekke:
"Corbin just turned two a week before our session and I wanted to celebrate and document making it to two!  You captured him and us perfectly! This is exactly what we're like in our lives right now :) 

"Corbin just turned two a week before our session and I wanted to celebrate and document making it to two!  You captured him and us perfectly! This is exactly what we're like in our lives right now :) 
I had a rough time with postpartum depression and anxiety after I had him and didn't have the courage to get help until he was four months old.  Photography (and my doctor!) helped dig me out of that dark hole and I'll forever be grateful for all of the photos that I've taken of Corbin over the past two years so I can remember everything about his first couple of years.  Sometimes it hurts to think of what I missed before I was able to ask my doctor for help but I'm thankful for all the memories that I have through photographs.  And now I have images with our whole family in them and my heart is so happy!  Being a Mom is hard.  SO hard.  It's the only thing I ever wanted and when I finally got it, it was harder than I ever thought.  I'm so thankful for my husband, he's a huge reason that I am able to be a good Mom to my boy.  And I'm so so glad you captured us exactly how we are right now...on the other side of that dark hole.  Is it still hard? Incredibly!  But I've found a joy that I didn't know existed and you helped me document that.  And I'll have these memories forever! Thank you!!"