Kara Layne Photography » The Blog | Wedding & Lifestyle Photographer

I came out of the studio with my camera in hand, reminding you that your birthday was in a week.

“Mmm hmmm…” you answered while still looking at the TV.

“You know that we have to take your birthday portraits, right?”

You rolled your eyes. For the record, I hate when you roll your eyes. You still didn’t move. I sat down next to you and pulled the pregnancy card – that I am creating life and that takes a lot and everyone in the house needs to make sure and make things easy on me. You tried not to smile as you listened to my dramatic pleading. I scooted a touch closer, put my arm around you and continued with, “and I made you so I win”.

You giggled with my last remark, let out a big sigh and answered with, “Okay, Mom. You win. But just a few pictures.” Deal.

You see, Tanner. What you don’t understand or have the depths of being able to comprehend at your young age is the importance of these photographs. These will be the pieces that I clutch to my chest as I watch you graduate high school. These images will play as a rusty slideshow in my head as your dad and I send you off to college. They will be the tear stained pieces of paper that I dust off as you get ready to say “I do” to your future wife. You see, Tanner. These photographs are everything to me. Absolutely priceless.

They preserve who you are in this fleeting moment that only a mother could know all too well how quickly will be gone. My heart holds these tiny details and moments without the possibility of them ever getting lost and that is what will make me smile as I think of you in the years to come. As you live your own life. As you enjoy the best years. Because right now? These are my best years, Tanner.

These years are the ones that fill my soul with warmth. These are the years the fill my heart to the point of exploding and complete me in a way that you will never be able to understand. And that’s okay. You shouldn’t. Because as a mother, it’s a treasured piece of what I get to do and experience.

The past seven years have been such an unforgettable experience. You have grown into a young man that I am constantly in awe of and truly proud of in every way possible. Your heart is one of the good ones and I hope that nothing in life ever changes that because it is a rare gift.

Thank you for being amazing. You take my breath away in the smallest, but most significant ways and I am the lucky one. I am the lucky one that gets to watch you from day to day, hold your hand through the hard times, celebrate with you in the good, pull you in close and breathe you in at night when I just need time to slow down. When I need it to slow down just long enough to savor the moment a touch longer. And remember every single detail.

Tomorrow you will turn seven. And as you blow out the candles, all those years will come rushing back to me and bring a smile to my face. And I will pull you close, breathe you in and savor the moment. Happy birthday, my love.

With every part of me, Mom.