My friend Banner recently dropped off a package for us full of fun baby goodies to celebrate Seamus’ arrival. Within the box were these two cute onesies. One of them has a trade mark symbol on the front and the other has a bunch of old cameras on it and says, “Take My Picture”. (You can see it featured below.)

I had to laugh because I think that all I’ve been doing since he arrived is to take his picture! I actually feel a bit of pressure, mostly self-imposed, to take new and creative photos of him as often as possible. He’s presents a great creative challenge. I oscillate between thinking about various set ups to put him in and trying to capture the day to day life, regardless of how “nice the light is” or optimal the situation.

Even though I’ve had nieces and nephews and friends’ babies to practice on, there’s nothing like practicing on your own son. I’ve learned a lot about babies in these first four weeks. For instance, he really does sleep well when it’s warm and toasty. And an afternoon on the porch in the hammock knocks him right out. I’ve also learned that babies are really hard to photograph! But the pictures we have of him are priceless.

I can endlessly look back of the photos of him from the past four weeks over and over and never tire of looking at them. There are some from the hospital that Bryan took in his first few hours that make me get all teary eyed every time I see them. Even the ones that I’ve taken that aren’t perfect- where they’re underexposed or not perfectly composed or maybe not even in focus- some of those are my favorite ones because it was about the moment and not about getting a perfect shot.

I feel like my perspective has changed on how I see the photos I take. I imagine it’s going to effect how I edit photo shoots in the future and alter what images I choose to keep or delete.I guess we’re all growing every day.

Seamus begs for more.

It’s hard to resist the toes. And the lips.

I love this photo for many reasons, but most importantly it’s because these sock monkeys were made by my Grandmother Webber. I’ve had the one on the left for a long time. Then the day Seamus was born, my dad arrived to the hospital with a paper bag that had my name on it and was dated 2003. Within it was the second sock monkey, the one on the right. He had had my grandmother make an extra sock monkey for me before she passed away so that my first born child would have one of his own.

I love how these three guys are all the same size, triplets!

Bryan and I are very proud to announce the arrival of our son, Seamus David Deel. He was born on August 5, 2010 weighing 5 lbs. 14 oz. and 19.5 inches long. He was a tiny little guy as he arrived 3.5 weeks early, but he’s packing on the ounces now!

Thinking back to those first few days, I’m overwhelmed with emotion. At the time, I think I was in survival mode. But looking at the photos from those first moments, I am reminded how powerful those first few days were and how precious even these days are as we usher him into day to day life. He’s an excellent reminder to “slow down” and absorb every moment. He changes every day and already he’s outgrowing a few outfits and I feel like he’s leaving me for college.

Having a newborn also makes me realize what a privilege it is for me to be invited into someone’s house to take photos of their new baby. Time and wherewithal are at such a premium that having any one to the house is a big deal, much less a photographer! I will definitely not take that role for granted in the future.

We’ve taken a million photos and tons of video of him already in his first few weeks of life. The photos from the first two and a half weeks of life already make me melt. I imagine that he will continue to be our muse for a long time to come.

I love this photo that Bryan took of Seamus getting cleaned up and checked out in the nursery. I hadn’t gotten a good look at him yet so he brought me these photos to see while I was in the recovery room.

Do babies dream?

Sweet Lips

He’s a regular Casanova

Bella, Bryan and Baby

These are my two 7 pounders. It’s hard to believe that when he was born, Seamus was smaller than Diego, the chihuahua!

Party On

For my 35th birthday, we went out to Sullivans Island for a little morning jaunt down to the beach. We dipped Seamus’ toes in and took lots of photos. I love this one.