I have written this a thousand times in my head, while doing my make up, while nursing a baby at 6am, while staring into my coffee at 4pm that I just remembered that I forgot to drink, while sitting in the pick up line to get J from school, while driving to work. A photography community I am part of has challenged it’s members to post their best pictures of 2017. For the past week I have been going through every single picture I have taken (with my camera) in 2017, as you can imagine, it is A LOT.
I have been loving reliving our year through these snaps. I love having these glimpses of our moments. As you may know, I never could have imagined how 2017 would bless us, but I spent the majority of it, being very sick. Pregnancy does not generally agree with me, and doubling up on pregnancy hormones took its toll. I feel for those who suffer from chronic illness, while mine was temporary and worth every second and beyond for my little babes, it was fairly miserable. I began the year with only eating cheerios for every meal (or the times I actually felt I could eat), and fleeing from rooms at work so I wouldn’t puke in front of a patient. Johnna and I got a routine down pat. I would pick her up from school and drive as fast (as was safe and legal) home, whip into the driveway and throw my door open, handing her the keys as she unlocked to house so I could run to the bathroom, and attempt to keep from vomiting the whole way there, it was quite undignified but worked.
I don’t consider myself an overly anxious person (although maybe my husband thinks otherwise) but with a recent miscarriage and the general increased risk with twins, my entire pregnancy I was a basket case. Every day I would come home with some new horror story to tell Brandon. He calmly listened and assured me that would not be our story. Mid way through the pregnancy, as nausea subsided, severe pain became my new constant. I was certain something was wrong, after a scare of preterm labor I was taken off work. I was completely overwhelmed by the love and support I was showered with by all those I work with, I will never forget their kindness and generosity.
At 38 weeks and 1 day, after a fairly seamless delivery we met Saylor and Addison. When Johnna came into the room and starting crying, muttering how happy she was, I lost it. How did i get so lucky, my heart was overflowing with love (and hormones). I was terrified about having twins, would I be able to handle it? How would I be able to be there for Johnna, would I ever sleep again? Would I ever leave the house again? How would I feed both of them? Would Brandon and I ever be ab;e to have a date night again? Now, reflecting back on the past three months, I cannot fathom how wonderful life is. Johnna is incredible, her love for the babies, and the way she cares for them, makes me melt, the way Brandon has settled into this insanity that is now routine has amazed me, I still cant believe how lucky I am to have such a loving and supportive partner.
Alas, I digress, this post was going to be about photography, but this brings me to my point. As I look through this past year, and the images that I have captured, I have relived it all, every laugh, every cry, every beautiful, imperfect, hilarious love-filled moment. I’m so thankful for Brandon’s blog chronicling our highs and lows, and like you, am waiting with bated breath for his next post. Brandon?
So here is a (very) small collection of my favorite images of 2017, and proves I have taken pictures of something besides babies. I am so grateful for those who have trusted me with their moments, and opened their hearts and homes to me, so I may capture their moments forever. I hope when you look back on them, it brings you back to that moment, as it does for me. Here’s to 2018. Peace and Love, Lauren
Black Dog photography 