Valentine's Photo Shoot

Meg and Miss came to our home a couple of weeks ago to hang out for the weekend, and most importantly to help me wrangle sunbeams since Matt worked that Sunday. Bribery of chocolate cake was offered, although I think Jaden snuggles and shenanigans are bribery enough. ;) Megan brought her camera and offered to take some pictures of Jaden and I for a Valentine’s print.

Guys… I died. He’s so big! He looks like a strong-willed, leggy toddler and I’m in serious denial. (More on that later.) The fun part about this shoot was that I felt pretty too. Normally I just tolerate pictures because I want to have some of myself with Jaden so he can look back and see that I existed haha. (Not that he’ll care probably. If he follows suit with Matt he won’t be half as sentimental as me.) The past year has taken me on quite a roller-coaster ride of self value. Being able to feel beautiful in these pictures was something that meant the world to me! To be honest, the reason I feel beautiful in these pictures is that it shows my greatest ambition and calling- motherhood. The little boy in these pictures doesn’t see skin care routines or if I have split ends; he doesn’t notice if my nose is funny looking, or that I’m short, or that I haven’t worked out in months. The little boy in these pictures sees someone who loves him beyond words, who he trusts, and who is his world. Motherhood is without a doubt the most challenging positions I’ve had. It stretches me well beyond what I would have said I could handle, and it brings out some of my most intense emotions- both good and bad. :) Motherhood is also the thing that has given me the most motivation, helped me understand my relationship with Heavenly Father better (and really my relationships in general), and has given me comfort I can’t put into words. No matter what I may see in the mirror on any given day, or the numbers that scales tell me; no matter how my hair or makeup looks, or the way my clothes fit, there is a part of me that feels unstoppable because I am a mother.

Thank you, Meg, for giving us these moments on paper. :)