Sunday, April 1, 2012

Snapshots of Motherhood

I love my camera.  I love taking pictures; capturing snapshots of the day-to-day and the sweet moments of parenthood.  I think my photography skills have improved leaps and bounds over the past two years.  But no matter how proficient I get, there are some moments in time; some moods and feelings I just cannot capture through my lens and convey in a two dimensional image.  I don't think even the best photographer could.  These are the moments of motherhood I try to imprint on my brain, that they may stay burnt into memory to sustain me in my old age.

Reading stories in the rocking chair at bedtime, locks of her fair hair falling into mine; dark and light weaving together.

Glancing back from the driver's seat to glimpse a small body nestled into the car seat, blond head bobbing rhythmically to the music playing on the radio.

The sheer joy of nakedness streaking past me after a bath, face full of mirth, squeaky clean scent wafting off baby soft skin.

Sleepered feet padding down the hallway, eyes squinty against the morning light, hair fuzzy, lovey clutched tightly in small arms, greeting me with a sleepy smile.

A sweet, high-pitched voice, sing-songing nursery rhymes, snippets of songs she has learned, and startlingly accurate imitations of things she has heard and seen.  A whole internal monologue made external.

The same high-pitched voice calling me "Mama," always needing, sometimes maddeningly so.

Arms reaching up to be carried.  The fit of small legs on either side of my waist, even as her weight becomes almost too much.

Tickles and squeals of delight and out-of-control flailing limbs.

The fit of a her frame against mine in quiet moments, chin tucked over my shoulder, arms around my neck, pouring comfort between us to share.

These are the images that no flood, no fire, no crashed hard drive can take from me.  These are the pictures I hope to keep locked in the safe deposit box of my memory forever.


Linking up with the Listmaster, since this is a list of sorts,
though not exactly what Miss Marina Star had in mind.

Also linking up with

26 comments:

  1. Major swoon. And I never say swoon :) such a beautiful post. Motherhood really becomes you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful! We can't capture everything on film, and really to do so would ruin the moment. I LOVE the pre or post-bath naked runaround. It fills me with joy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kids have it right. We should all streak around naked and take such joy in it!

      Delete
  3. Oh my. Beautiful. I was right there in each of those moments with you.

    ReplyDelete
  4. How beautiful. I love how you capture the emotions of motherhood perfectly, things that can't be captured by a camera.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very poetic description of motherhood!

    ReplyDelete
  6. They really will be locked in your memory forever. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Purty with a capital P!! I love my camera too and the tribute to moments that cannot be captured on film touched me. Truly. Erin

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh gosh...you made me get all choked up.

    Really beautiful, Amanda.
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  9. Even though there weren't any photographs in the post, your writing was clear as a photograph. Well-done! (-:

    ReplyDelete
  10. Beautiful! You will always have those "photographs" in your head, just for you

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love this, so much.

    Those moments of motherhood that I, too, hope to etch in my mind and heart and wherever else I can.

    This is lovely, you. Pure lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Such a beautiful quote and so true. I love it when my kids first wake up in the morning. Sarah's hair is always crazy and all over the place and her big brown eyes are smiling. Jack loves a morning snuggle and pats my back. I love that.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This post is so beautifully written, it took my breath away. You so eloquently put words to those precious moments shared between mother and child.

    ReplyDelete
  14. So beautifully written and you've captured each of the moments I love so much.
    Many times I wish I had started a blog sooner so that I could have saved these memories...I do have a keepsake book for each child as I find you forget. {you can't imagine you ever will, but you do!}
    Hope you're feeling good?

    ReplyDelete
  15. I loved this...so very, very sweet :) Simply beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh, those sweet moments!

    ReplyDelete
  17. So sweet Amanda, and you are so right! It's those moments we can't snap with a camera, instead we have to hold them in our heart.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Coming by from PYHO.. Oh how I miss those moments although mine were with boys.. they grow up entirely too quickly anymore.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Beautiful! I love those sweet moments, and your right. Nothing can ever take them from us. Stopping by from PYHO

    ReplyDelete
  20. This is beautiful! Such perfect word pictures you've shared with us.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I don't mind that you didn't go with my topic. Your list was beautiful and true. I loved how you mentioned that none of these moments could be lost by any disaster.

    ReplyDelete
  22. You've captured the sweetness of those moments so beautifully. On one hand, we love that we are experiencing them, determined to commit them to memory, but on the other, it would be nice to be able to capture them on a medium that is able to be shared.

    ReplyDelete

Comments: I love 'em. Tell me what you think!

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...