When children enter our lives, a subtle shift occurs that changes, well, everything. Their presence is far more than simply +1. Even news of their arrival brings unexpected experiences…some good, some terrifying.
Children give us new reasons to grow. Without thought, we readily leave selfish pursuits behind to tend to their every need. Children teach us patience, test our resilience and push us to expect higher standards for ourselves. They open us up to new ways of loving that seem beyond the realm of possibility.
That is not to say it’s easy. No, children can be difficult and precocious. They are boundless energy unleashed at times when we most seek peace. They are rambunctious and fearless, stubborn and sometimes downright ornery. Yet at their core they are pure goodness…souls born to love….completely free of judgments and without prejudice.
Children are everything we were and all we hope to be. And simply because of their presence in our lives, we become better versions of ourselves.
Andy & I don’t have children of our own, but we have been blessed with many incredible children in our lives, including the children of our Bello families. And, the time we spend with them has certainly made our lives richer.
A couple of weeks ago, we spent an afternoon with one of our long-time bello families. Thomas, the younger brother of Rachel, one of our brides from 2005, was coming to the Cape to visit his mother, Susan, and Susan had contacted us about photographing Thomas with his wife, Kathleen, and their little girl, Eliza.
We had done the same thing for Rachel, her husband, Chris, and their little girl, Sabine, two years ago, so we were happy to get to see Susan again and spend some more quality time with Thomas and his family. Here are a few of our favorite moments from our time together.
A little tea time toast with Mommy & Daddy…Cheers!
Swings…what is it about swings that makes children light up with sheer delight and lets their parents harness their own inner child? Don’t know, but whatever it is….we love it!
Picking pears with Nana and raspberries with Mommy…Can we talk about Eliza’s eyelashes for a second? Oh, if mascara makers could only bottle what babies have naturally!
Love this…If you roll your mouse over the next image you’ll see Kathleen & Thomas getting down with Eliza! Too cute!
When I look at this next one, I hear Debby Boone’s 70’s classic “You Light Up My Life” playing in my head. Could Kathleen & Thomas look any prouder of their little girl? Love it!
If ever there was a sweet-as-pie face…this next one of Eliza is surely it! Deeee-licious!
This next series makes me smile…love Eliza’s reaction to getting a little too close to the prickly flower…
Susan has this fabulous koi pond on her property and the koi are massive, but Eliza showed no fear as she excitedly fed them with mom & dad at her side…
Climbing the apple tree with Daddy….oh, the joy!
Bellisima!
Just hanging out under the apple tree with her blue bucket…
Off to collect some apples…
A quick change, followed by some snacks and a little snuggle time…
Love these two photos…while I was focused on Thomas & Kathleen’s reaction to their little girl, Andy was behind them, focusing on Eliza’s reaction to them. Oh, the love! See what I mean about how children change our lives!! Makes my heart smile BIG!!
More evidence of how families become richer with the addition of children…look at all of the adults faces as they watch Eliza….{heart}
Family photo…
I still can remember being a young girl and the way I felt when my Dad held me…it was the safest place in the world!
Wanna play?
Yup! This next one is contender for my personal fave of the day….Eliza reminds me of Cindy Lou Who (from the Grinch) with those gorgeous big blue eyes of hers and her cute curly strawberry blond hair & red bow!
Dollies are to little girls what Manolo Blahnik’s are to their grown up counterparts and these next photos say it all…
After three hours together, Eliza was ready to call it a day and attempted to head in for dinner. Here are two perspectives of the same moment….while I wanted to capture the reach in its entirety, my talented husband went in for a closer look at the story and focused on Eliza’s delicious legs. I love it…right down to her spread toes and the dirt on her knee! Precious!
Thank you Susan for sharing your beautiful family with us once again! It was so great seeing you & Thomas again, and finally meeting Kathleen & lovely Eliza! Children grow up so quickly, and so we hope these photos serve as happy reminders of these early years for many happy years still to come.
With love & hugs, Christine & Andy xo