The mommy of this precious child is a photographer in Knoxville. She has never allowed anyone to professionally photograph her daughter (obviously because she is mucho capable). She happened to see a life, actually on my blog one day, then we found "the field" and decided to do impromptu mini sessions within a few days later...so she said, why not? 

Can I tell you how glad I am that she did!?!!!! My life may have not had the same amounts of sweetness in it had I not met her little girl. She's my new pal. What a beautiful, giggly, precious little soul this child is. I love her to bits!

You can see more of this little beauty :: 

here 

and here  

(((warning...I'm not a writer...I'm a dreamer))) 

I love moments when our kids struggle with the decision to be totally independent vs. needing to be held or touched continually. I watched way too many cartoons as a kid (ahem...and maybe even as an adult...). When I see these images, I see the picture in my mind of the momma birdie who is scooching (yeah, I said scooching) her baby birds toward the edge of the nest to let them fly, but there's still an uncertainty that they can really do it on their own, so they retract. Then what? Then of course, momma bird is right there to cuddle them up and give reassurance that it truly will be okay. 

That's how it happened in the cartoons I watched anyway. I'm a sucker for symbolism. 

note : the image where he's walking through the field with his arms up....sigh....I love what is happening in this image...."hold me, mommy...get me". Blissful, fleeting mushiness.

I've had the privilege of photographing this family's journey for the last several years. Their youngest son was just a baby when we first met. I say this all this all the time, but it never gets old to me....watching kids grow and documenting their journey through childhood is one of the most fulfilling, meaningful aspects of my life. It is such a huge part of things I'm most grateful for. Another aspect of that gratitude is the parents that trust me to do it. Gigantically blessed.

Some kids just radiate joy...even when they're quiet. This little girl is full of it. Joy, that is.

These friends came up from Cleveland for our session and even after traveling in the car for 3 hours to get here, she popped right out of the car ready to go! I'm not certain my kids would have been that easy to deal with when they were that age, given the same circumstances. 

Anyway, I love the colorfulness, the quietness, the giggles, the texture and the sweetness of this little session. Makes me very, very happy.