A New Perspective.

A couple of days ago, while at my parents house, I started to look through our old family picture albums, something I do from time to time. A few years ago, my Mom spent a great deal of time changing the regular photo albums into scrapbook type books so they are all organized by year, but also by events such as Christmas', birthdays and trips.

As I looked through the books, I became overwhelmed with gratitude that my parents took as many pictures as they did while we were growing up. I love looking at the 3 of us kids, on trips, at parties and just playing and hanging out together. Even more though, I love looking at my parents 30+years ago. It is so interesting for me to imagine them, at the stage of their life that my handyman and I are in now with our little man. We are in fact, the exact same age as my parents were when my brother was born. In the first pictures my parents have with my brother, they look so sure of themselves, so under control, like experts. However, I'm sure if I could dive into those pictures and be back in March of 1977, they would actually be quite the same as we are today. Unsure, nervous and second guessing what is the right thing for their little man. Through all the questions and concerns, it calms me to know that EVERY parent, including mine who in my mind were and are perfect parents, have gone through this stage, especially with their 1st born.

Another thing I noticed, while flipping through the photo albums is that there are almost no pictures of my Mom and I just the two of us. I decided that this is the case for two reasons. For one, she made the books and I'm sure (just as I do a lot of time), left out some pictures with her in them purposely because she didn't like the way she looked in them :). But secondly, and much more importantly, it was because she was the one taking the majority of the pictures. She was the one creating the memories, planning the trips, and organizing activities for us to take part in. So although she may not be in many of the pictures, my own memories are the proof that she was there...every Christmas, every birthday, every game, every DAY. I did find this one picture though...

It was taken with a polaroid camera so I'm not too sure who took it as I don't think we ever had one...but I love it. I am probably just over 2 years old here.

I have always loved pictures...loved taking them, loved looking at them. I often look through the pictures we have of our little man on my computer, just to see the changes in him over the past 4 months. Since having him, I look at pictures with even more importance as I now want to make sure I capture all the milestones and special days we have with him. I want him to be able to look back and see how he looked as a baby, but also how his Dad and I look as well. This year, I want to make sure we get lots of pictures of the 3 of us together, lots of each of us with him, and lots of him. The more the better. I hope that one day he will cherish the pictures I have taken, just as I do with the ones my Mom took.