...What do you want to remember most about this moment? The one you are in, right now, breastfeeding your baby?...

...Find your momma-tribe so that you know who to turn to when you need commiseration or advice...

2.3.2017 – I spy…

I spy champions. I don’t care who you wanted to win the game, no one can say this didn’t turn out to be one heck of a super bowl. Congratulation Patriots, please don’t let it come out you cheated. 

Let-Down – The let-down reflex is when the brain tells the body to release all of the milk from the breast. Usually this happens after the baby has been sucking on the breast. Let-down’s can also happen quite a bit in the early months while the mothers supply is being established. Some women can feel when they have a let-down while others do no

...Anyway, I do remember at the beginning sitting in bed, sore and tired in the middle of the night after Hubby brought her to me and just crying because it hurt so badly. That eventually got better and she started sleeping longer stretches which helped me heal a little more...

1.23.2017 - Natural: Breastfeeding is natural. It is one of the most natural things you can do as a human. I will forever advocate for any mom who wants to breastfeed....

But guess what: my baby is about to turn two. And all of the questions, the looks, the snide comments – they are all coming back. Not only from my family but now, more than ever, from strangers. From those people we walk by or sit across the restaurant...

For many years, my mom enjoyed her wine. This little shadow box holds some of the corks (wine bottle toppers) that she enjoyed. I love the texture in them...

You can find a photographer at almost any price point. Sometimes you can even find free photography from someone who is building a portfolio. So if you can always find someone who for less, what is the point in investing in someone else? Many of us see a more experienced photographer’s investment number and wonder why does this cost so much; or maybe why am I paying so much for only 10 images or even no images, where all products are additional?....

For some moms breastfeeding is what they have always wanted to do and for others, it is something they never thought about. Amy grew up around breastfeeding, as her mom breastfed all of her siblings. So when she became pregnant with her first child, it was a no brainer – she was going to breastfeed. “It was an easy decision for me, and I didn't put much thought into the alternative (formula feed). I made sure that my family and doctors/pediatricians knew that it was my plan at the very beginning.”

Shadow - Sure we all make shadows and are attached to one at all times, but I chose to practice some harsh, side lighting for this one. Photographing mostly newborns I don’t get to have the fun of this lighting often but this was the perfect time. This is my brother, graciously modeling for me. We all have two sides, which do you show?

Learn the thoughts behind week one of my 365 photo challenge.

...my daughter is two. And I became determined to love the snow. For weeks we have been talking about all the wondrous things we can do as a family when it snows. So I decided to build a list of traditions for the first snow of the year... 

Maile knew from the beginning that she was going to breastfeed. Her mom breastfed both her and her sister, plus she knew all of the amazing benefits that breastfeeding has to offer. Both mom and baby are benefitted so much it seems that everyone should try once. For her it was a given...

When we were expecting my son I assumed we would breastfeed. I had no bad experiences with my first.   But then I developed Preeclampsia and had to be induced at 30 weeks...

Breastfeeding was a given for us. We knew it would be better for him and I wanted to create that special bond between me and him that can only be done with breastfeeding... this was until we had some issues...

Honestly I don't remember thinking at all about breastfeeding before my first baby was born.  He was born, they put him on my breast in the first half hour. He latched on immediately, and I never considered doing anything else...

There are over 50 true benefits to breastfeeding a baby into toddlerhood – both for mom and for baby. The first 3 months being the most important, but also typically the most difficult. Learning to latch, and getting through the pain and the sleepless nights (not that you would get more sleep with another method) is hard, confusing work...

I wanted to breastfeed since I wanted to be a mama. I struggled with my first, and only breastfed a month despite working hard. The second time around, knowing this was our last kiddo, I was determined to fight harder and do everything in my power to make it work if it was possible...

When I first found out I was pregnant, I had no opinions on breastfeeding. I had never thought about how I would feed my child. I started reading pregnancy books and blogs and decided I would try to breastfeed after learning how beneficial it was for both baby and mother. I never expected to love it as much as I do! L and I have been EXTREMELY lucky in our journey so far. We have not had any production or latch issues, no tongue or lip ties, no mastitis or cracked nipples. I know we have been extremely fortunate in that respect!.....