As I work on the finishing touches of a new website, I find myself scrolling through old blog posts and realizing how quickly the last few years have passed by. So much has happened in my life since 2013. I found out I was pregnant early 2014, had a happy, healthy pregnancy, then we suddenly and tragically lost our baby girl due to an unknown complication during what seemed to be a normal labor, on her due date, October 28, 2014. My husband and I went through the initial shock of losing what we had anticipated for so long, having our beautiful Edith Auburn home with us and being a happy little family. I struggled with returning back to work. Being self-employed, it was difficult to find the motivation and energy to be the organized and driven business owner I once was. Eventually, I got back into the swing of things and started photographing families and weddings and found my passion for it once again. I found out I was pregnant just 3.5 months after we lost Edie, and the year of 2015 began in very similar ways than the previous year did. Excitement and joy of expecting a new baby… but with the added anxiety and sadness of knowing what very well could happen at any time. We found out it was a boy, and we anxiously awaited his arrival, which finally came on October 12, 2015. Weston is now 1.5 years old and brings us so much joy. When he was just 9 months old, my husband and I found out we were expecting yet again. This time, we found out it was another girl. The whirlwind of emotions that came with all of these months of being pregnant after losing our first baby were very overwhelming. Samantha arrived safely into our arms on March 13, 2017, and is now 3.5 months old. Each and every day we are embracing every single moment with our littles.
This year, I’ve been working on finding new inspiration and ways to stay focused with my work. I’ve been setting up this new website and working on choosing my favorite images from the past few years that never got the showcase they deserved when I was too busy with my personal life. (It was very hard to keep up with my blog posts and social media previews while going through the motions of losing a child, then expecting two more, all in 2.5 years.) I’m planning on highlighting these images in future blog posts and updating my collection of images on my website with my latest work. It’s been quite some time since updated material has been regularly posted on my website, and it’s time to make that happen!
I would say I’m embarrassed it’s been so long, but to be honest, I have been through hell and I think I needed the time away to focus on me and my husband and supporting one another during these difficult times. I truly appreciate all of the ways my friends, family, and clients have lifted me and my family up, supporting us and encouraging me to stick with it. In a way, I feel like I’m back and I’m stronger than ever before.
Bring it on, 2017.
Photo credit goes to the ever-so-talented Amie Hansen.
