Portraits of Newborn

I’m getting so much practice in capturing these tender moments of our sweet Henry. We are all taken in with his charms.

It’s not all a bed of roses here; the hard moments are plentiful as we navigate his tube feedings and days without rest. It’s nothing when I remember the prayer I wrote while Henry was still in the hospital- that someday I’d rock him at home. Every time I get in that chair and I hold him amongst our own pillows and that light my heart fills with gratitude that I’m here living that prayer. I’m noticing the extraordinary beauty in this phase, from calming swaddle baths to a stolen moment during nap time. I’m thankful it’s Christmas break and we are a complete family at home again.

He has a special connection with each of us. Can you tell how much Fletcher is reveling in being a Big Brother? Lily has told me that she longs to hold Baby from the moment she wakes up.

Baby Henry rewards us with a big fleeting smile if we look at him long enough to catch it. I feel like I’m witnessing a moment I wasn’t meant to see in the wild, that he saves his smiles for me. He has quite a teasing sense of humor! While he’s feeding he will refuse to take the bottle, and then break out into a grin.

It’s the juxtaposition of how tiny his physical being is when compared to the vastness of his presence. I love seeing tiny limbs peeking out from the bouncer, or from being wrapped “burrito style”.

I haven’t gotten a chance to photograph this yet, but one of the best parts of my day is strapping Henry into the car seat, attaching it to the stroller, and going on a nice walk outside with Jer and the dog. Baby usually gets a nice bouncy ride and nap, and I get fresh air and vitamin D.

It makes me so happy to be able to treasure these fleeting precious moments with our new baby. I hope there are many more intimate ordinary peeks into motherhood I can share in the future.

Love, Kat