I almost didn’t go through with this session. I had all the normal excuses: “Oh, I just gave birth/I’m exhausted and haven’t slept/I don’t feel my best/let’s do a session after I lose some weight, etc.”

But I was reminded by my photographer friend Erika of Erika Brown Photography, that this precious and sacred time in our lives goes by so fast. She only stays little for a short period of time, and that I will regret not being in any images with my daughter during these first few weeks of her life. And she was right. I am so glad I went through with it, despite all my misgivings and silly insecurities. And I want Sophia to grow up seeing her mommy loving life and herself, and not only being behind the camera, but putting herself in front of it no matter the circumstance, her size, or whether or not she’s had her hair colored or her nails done recently.

My mom recently bought me a piece of wall art (that is now hanging up in my home office) that says, “Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful.” This statement has helped set me free and is my new motto in life. When I begin to overthink something, or get too hard on myself, I go back to this statement and I let go. I let go of unrealistic expectations that I have for myself and my body, as a mother, a wife, and for my life in general. Life will constantly be filled with challenges, surprises, heartaches, messes, and so much beauty and grace that will make me cry and bring me to my knees in worship. All of this is my life, and not everything has to be all shiny and organized to be absolutely wonderful. Perhaps even the detours, the spilled milk, and the rainy days bring the most happiness. Why should I think they can’t be wonderful too? And laughing, I’m learning to laugh at myself (and at life) so much more these days.

And so two weeks after Sophia was born, we invited Erika into our home in Lewes, Delaware for a family session to celebrate the birth of this sweet girl, who cries and poops and has my whole heart. I wanted the images to reflect our relaxed at-home lifestyle, which means I’m in my comfy robe from Plum Pretty Sugar, and our two house cats (Penny and LuLu) are snuggling up to us.

Thank you Erika for these darling images that I will cherish for the rest of my life; my imperfect but beautifully wonderful life.