In 6 years time, a lot has happened. Yet, time has passed by so quickly. 6 years ago, Grandma Jean passed and I’ll never forget her response when I said, “Grandma, I’m pregnant!” It was, “Will you have one for each of us, Lesli?” Yes, she loved babies and she would have been thrilled to know Arden Jean.

6 years ago on August 14, 2004 in the late afternoon, Arden came into the world totally silent. No crying, not even a peep. All I could hear was the nurses whispering and the clinking of hospital utensils as they tended to baby Arden. It was a serene scene. Some babies just don’t cry, they said. That was Arden. It still is. She’s the calm one, the gentle one, the pleaser. Sweet Arden. When she tries to be mean, it just doesn’t work.

5 years ago, Arden started daycare two days a week at St. Rose. I thought I was going to die. A mother’s guilt is awful! But, we survived.

4 years ago, I went back to work full-time. Arden was in daycare every day and that was even harder than leaving her two days a week. She sliced open her forehead at school. In the ER, the doctor glued her gaping skin back together. She was quiet, as usual.

3 years ago, Arden was back in the hospital but it was to meet her baby sister, Tess. 9 months later, Arden visited the hospital again with a broken arm.

2 years ago, Arden slept through Ike’s wrath, then spent the next two weeks with Mimi and Papa in Gonzales.

1 year ago, kindergarten started and Arden sat at her school desk in Mrs. Cates class with 21 other anxious-eyed children. We parents cried, all feeling the same way about our “babies.” Reluctantly, we walked to our cars, wondering if there was some way we could turn back time just for a moment. I know where I would go. To 1915 Bethlehem St., in the April spring weather, on a picnic blanket in the front yard watching 8 month old Arden grab the tree trunk and pull herself up into a standing position. Daddy drives up from work just in time to see her feat. He lies down on the blanket with us and we smile.

Happy 6th birthday, Arden! I can hear you upstairs right now singing “White Horse” by Taylor Swift. I’m sure one day I will wish to turn back time to now.

Notice the IPad in her lap.

Miss Mayra, my daughter Tess’s former daycare teacher, asked me if I would photograph her in my new studio. . .twist my arm! YES!!! I think Tess was even more excited than I was! Mayra came with her mom (who is GORGEOUS. She looks more like Mayra’s sister than mother), and I was so happy mom wanted to be in some of the shots.

I recently wrote a post about Mayra on my blog, so if you want to read about how much she means to me and my family, read this:  http://www.leslidabneyphotographyblog.com/2010/05/11/miss-mayra/

During the session, we talked about how just about the only times we get our pictures professionally taken are when we are babies, in grade school, graduation, prom, wedding. We do sometimes take family photos, but we seldom have just ourselves photographed when we are in our 30s and 40s. There is a void at this age and in my opinion, your 30s and 40s are the best years of your life!!  I’m so flattered Mayra asked me to photograph her at this moment in her life. She will be so glad she did.

What did I tell you about the mom? Beautiful and so is Mayra!

I love the expression on her face!

Of course, I can't leave out a pic of Mayra with Tess! They are best buds.

I had some old winged-back chairs re-upholstered. . . I’m very excited on these new additions to the studio/location shots:

Stay tuned. . . more fun to come!

Lesli

Remember that lullaby from The Sound of Music? I love it! But I never sang it to Tess as an infant. What I do remember is rocking this little bundle of tightness that shrieked and hollered like she was on fire, looking at David one evening and saying through sobs, “I can’t do this. I’m leaving her at the fire station. Isn’t it legal to do that?” Yes, I really did say that. I was serious. I didn’t think I could stand anymore of her incessant screaming. I couldn’t calm her down. I had to let her get it all out, which lasted from about 4 p.m.-9 p.m. The colic crying started at about 6 weeks and lasted until she was about 5 months old. Now, it’s a blur. I’m not writing this for sympathy at all, although I did feel sorry for myself at the time! I’m writing this to all parents of colic babies. You will get through it. Do whatever you can to survive:  a glass of wine, medication (for you and baby!), put the baby in the crib and walk away, use the swing (I let Tess sleep all night in the swing because it was the only thing that calmed her!), go outside, go for a run, go for a drive, get a sitter. Get help. I did all those things.

So, look what I have now! Tess will be 3 tomorrow. She crawls in my lap and says, “Mama, what did I do when I was a little baby?” She asks me, scrunching up her nose like she smells something strange. She knows exactly what she did as I’ve told her the story over and over. “I went, ‘WAAAAAA!!! WAAAAAA!!! WAAAAAA!!!!” Yes, you did. Happy birthday, Tess! I can’t imagine my life without you and would go through the colic all over again (but I’d be much more prepared and relaxed the second time around!).

Taking a reprieve from a colic fit. She was exhausted!

I didn't take many photos of Tess as an infant. It was hard to catch her at peace! Here are some rare moments.

This particular class is extra special to me. During the 2006-07 school year, I taught a group of 8th graders at Presbyterian School in Houston. It was my one and only year teaching at this school because I had my second daughter the summer of 07 and decided to stay home with her. Anyway, these kids are now SENIORS!!!! I can’t believe it’s already their senior year. I can forever mark their age by adding my daughter’s age to 13/14. So, dear Kaitlyn, one of my former Presbyterian students, is inaugurating my 2011 senior images. It’s sure to be a memorable year for me because all of them hold a special place in my heart. Kaitlyn and I hit it off from the beginning. She is a passionate artist. She loves to read, write, create. She’s also a very good swimmer. Because she and I were able to connect as teacher/student, it was incredibly easy to photograph her. All around us, there were dark clouds, thunderstorms looming in the distance. Yet, in our little macrocosm on the outskirts of downtown Houston, we found the calm before the storm and photographed our hearts out. A special thank you to Kaitlyn’s parents for inviting me into their home while the storm passed. What fun we had watching So You Think You Can Dance and talking about parenting. I can see why Kaitlyn has turned into a beautiful, intelligent, compassionate young lady. She has good role models at home. Here’s to you, Kaitlyn! May 2011 be your best year yet!

We had to take some quick shots at this location. The security guard eyed us the entire time!

I love the pensive look on Kaitlyn's face. That's her.

Like a page ripped out of the Anthropologie catalog.

I pretty much love everything about these photos. She has a way of making a rough-edged outfit look soft. So feminine!

This is when it started to rain all around us. This dress looks amazing on Kaitlyn!

A shopping cart in the middle of nowhere outside downtown? Yep. Prop? You bet!

One of my favorites!

Alas, another newborn I had the privilege of photographing: Leyton. I’m really liking newborn photography because it’s relaxing. No rush. The baby’s not going anywhere. I can even pose them how I want! They really are fairly cooperative compared to wild, running children (oh, but those are fun,too, just in a different way). Leyton is absolutely adorable. And he’s the third child for my friend Candice. Her first, Landon, is in my daughter’s kindergarten class. I photographed him when he was 1 year old! Truly, this is one of the things I love most about being a photographer: the relationships I’ve developed with people. I’ve kept in touch with Candice since I met her for the first time a few years ago for that family session. Her 3 year old daughter, Caroline, is a doll, and now little Leyton. . . When Candice asked me to photograph him, I was thrilled! She said, “I mean, I know you.” That really meant a lot. I want my clients to know me and feel comfortable enough to call on me when they want a something special. I really feel weird calling Candice a “client.” She’s more like a friend! Here are some sneak peeks of Leyton at 2.5 weeks old:

I think he really knew I was taking his picture!

I love this one! Is he a ham or what?

The pensive look on his face is priceless!

Another great shot of Leyton's sweet face.

This beautiful newborn is my good friend Mandy’s third baby. She has two girls who are exactly the same age as my two daughters and they have all gone to school together since they were babies. Fun times! I was so excited when Mandy told me she was having another baby and especially excited when she had a BOY!!!! Ryder was born on April 26. He is so precious. I forgot how tiny newborns are! They grow so fast. . . Mandy you will be so glad to have these pictures because time is so fleeting when it comes to babies. A newborn only looks “new” for about 2-3 weeks! Here are a few pics of baby Ryder:

Ryder sleeping peacefully cupped in Mama's hands.

Look at how awake he is!

Miss Mayra, the one you talk to at school, who sings with the voice of a bird, smiles at you and your friends with a loving gleam in her eyes. The artistic one who drew your name TESS on typing paper with lavender flowers and leaves swirling around it (I kept it). The one you told me had spider bites on her hand. Yes, she did. And she has more than spider bites. She has ovarian cancer. Stage 4. In 2008, she was given 2-3 months to live. I didn’t know any of this until last Friday when I casually asked her about the spider bites. It was the first time I’ve actually talked to Mayra. Always the friendly hello, smile, nod, and thank you. Thank you for taking care of my daughter and loving her. Thank you for your sweet, gentle ways, your sparkly eyes, your birdsongs, and your magical hands that make an ordinary name look special.

I thought the hats were her style. I thought she was cool like that. I didn’t know the hats covered the effects of many months of chemo and other drugs.

Tess, when she told me I cried. Right in front of her. You were standing there by my knee caps gazing up. You didn’t understand then, but I hope one day you do. I cried because I had no idea. Not that I thought she should tell me. I cried because she gave no indication of being sick. She laughs, loves, shares her talents, floats in and out of St. Rose every day like an angel. You love her. Miss Kate says so. She says, “Tess snubs me when I try to join in on hers and Mayra’s conversations.”

Bye, Tess! She says every day you go. See you Wednesday (or Friday or Monday). She means it. Every day counts for her. And every day I thank her for being your teacher.

Your sister Arden took this one of us. I love it! I need to take one of you and Miss Mayra.

I designed Lauren’s invitations this year. She’s graduating from Huntsville HS in June. Congratulations, Lauren!

The front of the invitation.

And the back of it.

Almost 3 years ago, this young lady was an 8th grade student in my English class at Presbyterian School. Now, Hannah is almost finished with her junior year in high school! Unbelievable! I can accurately determine Hannah’s age by adding how old my younger daughter is to 13 because I was pregnant with Tess while teaching Hannah. What a super creative, kind, hilarious, thoughtful, unique thinker Hannah was then and still is. She has a creative gift. In English class, she was a wonderful writer and reader. She’s also an aspiring actress, photographer, and interior designer. I’m sure her high school teachers love her just as much as I did, but I’m extra fond of her because she’s been more than just a photo assistant to me. She has taught me a lot about teenagers and how to get ready for my daughters adolescent years. Hannah has a really good head on her shoulders. She also has wonderful parents who have nurtured her and who trust her–one reason why she’s blossoming into a young adult that will surely contribute to society. If this is the face of our future, I’m confident that our world is in good hands!

What in the world am I going to do without her after next year?? She’s most likely going to college out of state. Sigh. I can’t think about that right now. Here’s to you, Hannah!

Hannah reluctantly let me photograph her to test the light. Gorgeous!!!!