and then there were four… | ashburn, VA family photography

I have a secret to share.  No one but my husband knows.  Intrigued?  Keep reading.

The year before my oldest daughter was to attend kindergarten, I went to our local elementary school to attend their “back to school” night.  There were two kindergarten teachers, and I wanted to check them out.  I’m a little anal that way.  I used to be a Girl Scout you know.

What I found was the organized list-making quiet two-job-working teacher, and the young, cool, like awesome, hip, talkative, crazy teacher.  I’m summarizing, okay?  The first one seemed a bit like me, and well, the second one seemed, well, young.  Like really young.  Really really young.  And really really outgoing.  I’m a bit introverted, so those outgoing souls sometimes intimidate me.  I know, poor little old me.

So I went home and declared that if OUR children were to attend such elementary school, they would be best with (what I equated to) the “responsible” teacher, and not the talkative friendly one.  HA!

Time passes.  Parent matures.  Our oldest doesn’t attend said elementary school for kindergarten, BUT our second does, and do you know what?  I wanted the crazy teacher.  You see, my second child, at that time, was timid and shy.  Hesitant to participate, she, I knew, would be best placed with a teacher who would draw her out and nurture her, not someone to hold her “responsible,” as I was taking care of that very well at home, thank you very much.  I’m the oldest, have I mentioned that?  It will come up later.  Remember that.  I.am.very.responsible.

I LOVED the crazy teacher.  Perhaps I should stop calling her that.  I LOVED the teacher whom my child loved.  And do you know why all the kids love her??  Because she’s crazy that’s why!  She is like a child.  And I mean that in a genuinely nice way.  She is on-the-ground, singing, laughing, silly-dancing, cooking, paint-spilling FUN.  And kids LOVE that.

I loved her so much that when it came time for my third child to attend kindergarten, I prayed every night that she would be placed into the crazy teacher’s classroom.  And she was!  Hooray!  And my third daughter loved her just as much as my second daughter and almost as much as me. 

And then I found out I was having yet another child.  Whew, keeping those public schools in business.  And as soon as I found out, I started praying again, please let him have the crazy kindergarten teacher.  But, oh no….

Something went wrong.  And yet, something went so terribly right.

She got married.  { sigh }

And her husband had a daughter who now made my crazy teacher a mother.  { more sighs }

And then she had a baby.  { even more sighs }

And now she won’t be my children’s crazy kindergarten teacher anymore as she will be staying home to mother her own children.  { more sighs }

But now instead of calling her my children’s crazy kindergarten teacher, I call her “friend.”  { go ahead….  sigh }

So, my friend had a baby and of course, I took some pictures. 

Let me introduce the star of the show, the little baby boy.

Isn’t he adorable?

And here is my favorite kindergarten teacher, now “Mom.”  She’s a natural.  And I had no doubt about that.

Oh my gosh, can you just feel the love here?

That peaceful sleeping baby face.  Melts my heart.  Look at that soft skin.  Precious.

But wait!  His sweet baby life gets even better!  He has a Big Sister!

She loves him dearly.  You can just tell.

It’s all in the protective embrace.  The big sister “I’m not going to let anything happen to you” embrace.

Even though I’d only met her a couple times, I found that while photographing her, I had a special place in my heart for her.  Blended families can be hard.  There are lots of emotions and adjustments involved.  I know because I come from one.  And at the same age that this big sister is, I too became a big sister, to a new baby boy in my new family.  I wanted to capture her in the “now,” in the “this is me at this time in my life.”  She doesn’t know it now, but her life has changed, and she has so much ahead of her with this little brother.  He will be a pain at times, guaranteed.  I know that’s hard to believe from looking at that little sweet face, but trust me on that one.  More than that though, she has found a friend.  This little guy will always look up to her, even when they’re big and all grown up.  And it will surprise her when that happens.  With his birth, she became a Hero, without even knowing it.

When I took this next image below, I knew it would be my favorite of the day.  The lighting, the look, the age, the gorgeous eyelashes.  As if she knows the responsibility that comes with being a Big Sister.  She is humbled to begin.

What fun they will have together!

And what love they will share.

Yes, blended families can be hard.  But they don’t have to be.  And when you have a crazy kindergarten teacher as the Mom, and an adorably cute little baby brother, life is looking good.

Thanks so much for a great morning and for a peek into your family.  Congrats!

And next time, we’ll have to do this when Dad isn’t working!

xo,

A