My little girl is turning two.
Time is a precious commodity and I haven’t been taking as many pictures of her or Seanan as I would like. This year is going too fast for me. When I started this blog all I did was take pictures of the children. Purely for pleasure and the want to capture every little stage. Things have changed quite a bit from then. Sometimes we have to go back to the beginning of the journey to find the reasons why we began it.
In the world of happy photo blogs sometimes it seems no one ever despairs, or grieves, or has a bad day, or wants for anything. This is not the real truth. I was looking through some photography blogs when I stumbled upon Sheye Rosemeyer. At first I thought I was just looking at the work of a very wonderful photographer but then I read about what happened to Ava and the tears came. It made me think about my daughter and how grateful I am for everyday that I have her. It made me realise how unimportant everything else is in the end. Shoes, holidays, fashion, material wealth, enjoyable but all nonsense just the same. Nothing else matters but the love we have for our family and friends and appreciation of every bit of life thats in them.
This is why I love being a photographer. If there is a chance that even one image can touch someones heart at some point in time, to help them remember, then that is enough for me.
Photography will probably never make me rich, but I know years from now I will be glad I have all these moments to hold, to help me remember her as Sheye remembers Ava.
So here’s to remembering her when she turned two.
Her beautiful blue eyes and honey-coloured hair…
Her giggles and the way she tries so hard to pronounce every word…
Her lashes and soft baby skin…
Her busy mind and pudgy, quick little hands.
Her unstoppable determination, stubbornness and bad temper.
Her happiness and joy in the simplest of things, like soft, warm quilts.
Her ‘schnuggles’ in mummy and daddies bed at six in the morning.
All these things and so much more, I am grateful for.
Emma: Paula this post is stunning, Niamh is growing up to be such a pretty little girl! she looks alot like seanan.
Can you come over and live in a cupboard in my house so I can take you out to take pics whenever I want?! (10/24/09, 9:11 am)
Alan: Beautiful set of shots. (10/24/09, 9:23 am)
Michael Toman: Hi Paudz,
Looking forward to putting some of these shots into my album. I am a proud God-Father of the little cute scrub - some really funny ones, which capture Naoimh perfectly. Her and Caitlin will be quite the pair in a few years!
Your bro,
Michael (10/24/09, 9:52 am)
Jo: She is so cute - and for such a little girl she has a multitude of expressions! So funny! xo (10/24/09, 10:26 am)
Claire: Goodness I just read about Ava and that is so sad. How easily it could all be snatched away from us. Thank you for reminding me to cherish every single second! And Niamh is getting very grown up, she looks like a real little character! (10/24/09, 1:26 pm)
Paula O'Hara: thanks everyone for leaving comments. Niamh bit Seanan on the arm tonight which wasn't quite so adorable! Trouble always kicks off in this house when x-factor is on. Emma I'll come round to yours if you will come around here and be my photo editor as I never know which ones to keep and your always good at that! (10/24/09, 9:22 pm)
Chris: Fantastic work, Paula. I always enjoy visiting your blog! I keep coming back because I want to remember your work when I am doing portraits.
Chris (10/25/09, 3:41 pm)
Gina Emerson: oh Paula, what a dear post. I remember reading about Ava last year and the tears came... I still think about her story and her family sometimes, it's so heartbreaking. Your little one is so adorable, her personality shines through your photographs. (10/30/09, 4:10 pm)
James: I Justwould like to say hi and to let you know that I really like surfing throughyour blog, it is very well written and articulate. Keep up the good work! Check out my new blog called discount snowboard (07/02/10, 9:32 pm)