Meet Elizabeth--SENIOR 2010!

Sooo. . . how many times did I say, "Oh, this is so cute!" after snapping a photograph of Elizabeth?? I wish I wouldn't look at the LCD screen so much! I can't help it! Cute really isn't the best word for Elizabeth. She's more than cute! She's. . . lovely. But that would've been weird to say, "Oh, you're so lovely!" over and over again. Maybe I should just keep my mouth shut until I have something profound to say? Yeah, right.

Elizabeth is the drum major at her school as well as the editor of the literary magazine. Impressive! However, I was even more impressed with her demeanor during the photo shoot. She's easy-going, yet poised. A very confident girl with a creative flair that ranges from music to photography. I must say, I'm at ease when I think of young people like her as our future!

Thanks to her mom, Allison, for choosing me to photograph this beautiful young lady!

Happy Birthday, Arden

Our air conditioner quit on us tonight. Perfect timing: we are moving AGAIN to another rent house. Soon. In about 1-3 weeks? I can't sleep. No surprise. Most nights I crawl into bed with Arden. "Mommy, will you lay down with me?" is her whimper. I tell her she's too big for me to sleep with her every night. But secretly I don't mind. I grab her hand, and she falls asleep quickly while I stare at the dark ceiling trying desperately to remember everything I can about her as a baby.

We were in the 1915 Bethlehem house. Her crib and room furniture were black, walls light pink, carpet taupe. I remembering photographing her for the first time when she was only 2 weeks old. I used my 35mm camera with black and white film. I framed the pictures. I still like them. She had this doe-eyed face, observant. I loved laying her out on the floor after a bath and massaging her little body while lullabies played in the background. She would kick her legs with delight and coo. I'd stare at her and ask her who she was going to be when she grew up, what was she going to sound like. I longed to hear her talk. How would she sound? Those evenings were so calm and peaceful. I can't get that time back.

We were in the front living room of the Bethlehem house. The large-paned window let the light in and I held 5 month old Arden in my arms as we waltzed around the room to George Strait's "You'll Be There." She sometimes fell asleep while I danced with her.

These times have passed, and I can't get them back. I can't stop thinking about this, even though I know you are supposed to "live in the moment." What's done is done. There's no turning back. But I'm afraid I am a person of memories. I can't let them go. I long for those days, but I know I will one day long for today. So, I guess it's true. We should live in the moment.

My first-born will be 5 on August 14. She starts kindergarten August 24. Here's to you, Arden Jean. I love you!