I used to rave about what a good baby Carter was.  Oh, he’s so amazingly content all the time.  Really. . . I can leave him in the same place for like twenty minutes and he’ll just keep himself busy.  He’s an angel!  So perfect.  Takes amazing naps.  A dream!  Those were all the types of things that used to come out of my mouth.  

Uhhh. . . hello?? Has anyone seen that baby anywhere?  Because I seem to not be able to locate him.  All I have is this nearly-seven month old baby who is only happy when he is being held while walking around.  I’m not at all sure where he came from.  Mars?  

Don’t get me wrong.  He is still a gigantic joy in my life.  He’s still happy.  And he still giggles and smiles and does a million other cute baby coos and goos.  

But he doesn’t just like to hang out anymore.  He likes to be attached to the hip.  Swings and exersaucers and johnny jump ups are for the birds, in his eyes.  

And naps?  Well, who likes to sleep for more than thirty minutes anyhow?  

And of course, we are readjusting to life with just the three of us during the day.  The absence of James while he’s off doing only something a little important like making money for us keeps me running a million miles a minute.  

Lately, there has been no “relax after the kids go to bed” time.  Nowadays, when the kids go to bed, I get to stare at a gigantic computer screen clickclickclicking dodge tools and dragging crop tools and clone tools and actions, actions, actions.  A little bit of vignette.  Some contrast and glowy color.  This is what my life has become.  Mommy by day, photographer and image artist by night.  And although there isn’t much time for play anymore, I am still extremely blessed and forever in awe at the journey that God has brought me down, to get to this very place where I am now called Wedding Photographer.  Baby photographer.  Engagement photographer.  Where in some people’s little worlds, I am called a professional.  

And if it means that I have seventeen hour days filled with nonstop activity, I’ll take it.  Because there is nothing better in this world than being home with your children and watching them do life completely together.  Watching them take strides one baby step at a time. . . sometimes gigantic steps.  Watching your oldest child sit behind your youngest and hug him, saying mommy, take our picture! 

So I will continue being the best mommy I can.  And when night has fallen, and we tuck them in for the evening, I will continue to set foot into another world.   Where I can make the hearts of people in love forever remember the best moments in life.  Clickclickclicking the last few hours of the day away.    

That, my friends, is a dream come true.