NAPERVILLE NEWPBORN PHOTOGRAPHER: MELISSA MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY: CHRISTOPHER

You won’t remember exactly what it was like for their perfectly swaddled, napping pristine photo. But what you will remember, mama, is the countless selfless hours you had a burp cloth slung over your shoulder. Soothing your baby to sleep when nothing else could. Rock a little longer...These moments get shorter.

When you’re in the thick of sleeplessness, or as they get older, I’m missy of toddler mayhem, it can be tempting to “wish away” the time. I get it...I live for...I mean I love nap time (can every parent out there shout “amen?” But soon enough the days of: “one more hug...one more book...one more drink of water...” will be just a memory. And so I love when I can capture some real motherhood. I love a perfectly swaddled babe, but I love even more that Julia will have a keepsake if what this time in life looks like. And more importantly, what it feels like.