Thanks to Hannah McNamara of Avenue D Photography for gifting this session.
Kane turned 6 years old on June 7. S I X. More than one whole hand’s worth of fingers. And every year on both his and Karoline, I always reflect on what birthdays mean now, because birthdays are different when you’re a parent. And no, it’s not just because you have kids now.
Before I was a parent, I took birthdays at their face value. Birthdays were a time to celebrate the person who’s birthday it was. My own birthday was no different—I enjoyed celebrating being another year older.
It wasn’t until Kane’s first birthday was approaching that I realized that with his birth, birthdays had taken on a new meaning. Because, you see, while I was so excited to celebrate him for his birthday, it also brought back a rush of feeling. His birthday was one of the best days of my life. It was the day I became a momma. It was the day I welcomed my son into the world. It was the day I faced a huge fear and overcame it (birth is scary, y’all).
And it hit me—birthdays are just a much a celebration for your mother as it is for you. It’s not just your birthday, but it’s her anniversary of bringing you into the world. It’s an incredible feeling to know that you delivered this tiny human into the world.
Now I’m speaking from my own prospective as a mother who gave birth, but this applies to moms in all forms, regardless of how you became a mother.
I can’t believe it’s been 6 years since I first met him, heard him cry, saw his tiny little face, and held his tiny little hand. Six anniversaries of one of the best days of my life. Now he’s big and tall, rough and tumble. He loves Pokemon and Zelda, always has his Nintendo Switch in hand, and is the best big brother yo Karoline. He’s thoughtful and tender-hearted, and still likes to rub noses to give me a snuggle. I look at him and wonder how the years have passed so quickly. How is it that he’s getting ready to start first grade next week?
If your parents are still around, I encourage you to look at your own birthday a little different. Ask your parents each year about the day you were born. Take time to acknowledge them and say a little thank you for everything. Because birthdays are bigger than what you thought.
These photos are from Kane’s 6 year photo session we had with Hannah McNamara of Avenue D Photography. Avenue D Photography is a lifestyle, wedding, and family photographer based in Lexington, KY. She also does some beautiful boudoir photography! Hannah and I have a mutual good friend, and she’s fun to work with, making you feel comfortable. I love light and airy photos, and she nails them! She has a daughter of her own, so she’s great at working with kids and getting good pics in the midst of craziness. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know about her business, including upcoming mini sessions for fall and the holiday season! Heads-up, her sessions typically sell out quickly.
