Tuesday, June 30, 2015

a million photos & zero apologies

My mom recently sent me a coupon code to order a free photo book and it got me thinking about alllllll the photos we have (especially since Mia was born). Then for some reason I thought about all the articles I've read that advise putting down the camera and living in the moment (you know what I'm talking about?), the "rules" about over sharing pictures (there's an unfollow button for a reason), etc, and you know what? I don't care that I take a million photos or that I might be at risk of being an "over sharer"! If anything were to happen to any of us, we would never be sorry for the photos that  bring back a million memories... a way to remember that moment in time and the love and happiness we experienced!


If anything were to happen to me, I would want Mia to look back on our pictures and see how obsessed mommy was with her! I want her to see how her manly daddy ;) was a big ol' puddle for his daughter. If anything were to happen to Eric, I would want Mia to frame the photo that shows a happy 2 year old Mia cuddled in her daddy's arms wearing the dress he picked out for her from Mexico. She looks so beautiful in it and it holds such special meaning to each of us! I want my kids to see that mommy and daddy went on trips together because it was important for us to make time for each other! To reconnect, relax, enjoy each others company and remember how/why we fell in love, and why that love is so worth fighting for! Date nights, though few and far between, are documented because it's one of the little (but big) things we can do to grow closer together instead of apart in this busy life. I want our baby boy to see how loved and wanted he was before even being born! There are good times and there are bad times in every marriage, and all families experience the high's and low's of life. For some reason, the bad times are hard to forget, so I want pictures of alllll the good times because that is truly what I want to remember! Yes, we learn valuable lessons from the hard times, but remembering all the good, the little stuff as well as the big stuff, makes the hard times easier to endure! I want to remember the sweet moments that are too easily forgotten as life carries on, like when Mia had a hard time falling asleep just a few nights ago. She finally called me into her room and asked me to rock and sing her some songs. Usually I sing her a couple of songs and she is ready to be tucked in again and puts herself to sleep. Not that night. My two and a half year old asked to sleep in my arms, and my sweet baby let me rock her to sleep! I don't remember the last time she fell asleep on me (just another reason I want to document) and as much as Mia needed me and the comfort I had to offer her, I needed that moment where my big girl needed to be my baby again.


So, Eric may hate pictures and put up the biggest fight about taking them... and I have family and friends who love to tease me about my picture obsession... but I don't care! I will always be that mom/wife who snaps a few hundred pictures for memories sake then puts the camera away and lives in the moment so that I can truly make the memories that will be attached to the photos!


P.S. Here's a shameless plug to use my code for your Chatbooks order! Did you know that they are raising the price to $8 a book in the next month or two? Hurry and subscribe to lock in the price of $6, and use my code "RUKMQR4C" to get your first book free!

23 comments:

sara [at] journey of doing said...

As someone who lost ALLLLLLLLLLL her childhood pictures when my cross-country movers stole my stuff, I fully support documenting life EVERYWHERE you can, particularly because it's so easy now. I lost everything and only have a small number of photos of life before my dad passed away (he was the photo-loving one in my family) that I have collected from a few family members. GET ON WITH YOURSELF AND TAKE THOSE PHOTOS! Sorry, soapbox! ;)

Caroline @ Windy City Chic said...

Beautiful pictures Courtney!!! That one of you and Eric is definitely a framer too!! :-) LOVE that floral dress that you're wearing in that one picture too! :-) I always enjoy seeing your photos so I say keep them coming!! :-)

Marli said...

AAAAMEN! there is no such thing as too many pictures. the end.

P!nky said...

I think it's important to document family and friends, because those moments are so special. I get sad when people got to concerts or vacations and are more worried about taking pictures for everyone back home on social media than enjoying the moment. You're on your honeymoon, why are you instagraming constantly? Put down the phone and just be!!!!

Elizabeth [Chasin' Mason] said...

I completely agree! Forget the nay sayers. If you want to take pictures, take pictures! The only one who will regret it if you don't is you, so forget them and do what makes you happy. I know I am :) You should see the millions of pictures in photo albums on my computer!

BLovedBoston said...

I've never heard of chat books so thank you for the code - I literally just bought like 200 of our photos from europe lol!! You will have the last laugh because 50 years from now you'll have so many memories to look back on! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

Desiree Macke said...

I'm all about taking a million photos. I don't want to forget anything and I want to document everything! Scott often gives me a hard time. But, like you mentioned, there are so many things (like a babe falling asleep on me) that I don't remember happening in the longest time, that looking back on those photos bring so many sweet memories and a flood of emotions.

Keep taking those pictures!!

Kelly Mock said...

I definitely agree with you!! These are adorably sweet!

Whitney @ Work it Mommy said...

Wise words! As a fellow extreme photo-taker I cherish ALL the moments I captured. One picture definitely is worth 1000 words and I want my babies to know them all.

Kristin DiCristofano said...

I completely agree! Our first year of marriage we took the saddest amount of pictures... And I've always regretted it! So since then I'm always the one with the camera, documenting every little thing. I don't do it for social media or even for my blog but for the photo books I make because it makes me so happy to look through those time and time again!

Christina Lea Loves said...

These are GORGEOUS! I love your partial braid in the second one and that last one - so romantic and beautiful!

tina bumblebee said...

People make comments all the time (non blogging people obviously) about how I must take more photos of Lyla than any parent ever has of their child and blah blah. For second I feel kind of weird but then I remember that I'm doing this for her and then for myself, that's it. I want her to look back and see ALL of the things we did, and all the clothes she wore (which later in life probably will be so out of style and look silly!), and just give her photo evidence of how loved she was growing up. Obviously she'll have memories and she'll feel my love later on, but it's so great that she'll be able to see how great of a childhood she has. Also, remember, anything can happen. Anyone can pass away or something and these photos willl be so important if that were to happen. GOSH that was depressing but true!!!!!!!! I love these 3 photos you posted so so much!

Anonymous said...

I wish I remembered to take pictures of me & my boyfriend..we have like 1 since we started dating a year and a half ago..lame I know! But I have no problem taking them of my nephews & niece....

Ashley said...

Did you bawl your eyes out when you wrote these words?! Because this made me a little teary-eyed thinking about something bad happening to me or my husband and my child might only have pictures to remember us. Awwww! I love documenting things through pictures too. I sometimes realize that I need to set down my phone while we're on a vacation, but it's so hard to stop when you want to remember it all through pictures. I love photos too!! :-)

Mandie said...

I love taking pictures & documenting memories so you continue doing it, girlie. I know that I enjoy viewing pictures of your beautiful family. :)

Mandie ~ http://badbrewpack.blogspot.com/

Candace Shiflet said...

love this!! and I am just like you- I take like 5573589272 pictures and Jason has to be like "k... step awayyy from the camera" haha I also blog because I love the memories and I want my kids to see how much I love them and love their dad!
xo, Candace | Lovely Little Rants

Our Pretty Little Girls said...

Amen girl. You tell them. I couldn't possibly agree more. Life just needs to be remembered and what better way to do that than with pictures.

P.S. my hubby isn't a photo fan either :).

Anonymous said...

yes yes yes! I totally snap WAY too many pictures and have no apologies for it. I love this post! and you and your little family!!!!

Evelina said...

I have also been the girl with tons of pictures. And I love it! Growing up cameras were new technology in Poland and I have few very pics of my early days. But I love looking back on pictures I hav taken and I love that our future generations will have them as well.

Brittany said...

Amen all around, friend. You're absolutely right! I take a million pictures, too. Friends and family tease me, but I'm okay with it because I'm always documenting the precious moments. I'm always the one they go to with questions about a certain event, too...because they know I remember (due to my pictures!). Your family is lucky to have you keeping track of everything! Love these pictures as always - and absolutely love your gorgeous hair!

Elle Sees said...

i think this is so precious. take all the pics--no regrets!! and that pic of you in the floral dress is gorgeous. love that dress on you. happy thursday and here's to more pics :)

Laura Marie Keenan said...

I completely agree with this! I am an oversharer to the max, and I'm okay with it!

Kirsty and Seth said...

I seriously couldn't agree more! My dad died when I was 12 and I didn't realise how few pictures I had of just me and him. I always make sure that there are plenty of pictures of us with the boys (even if it means lots of selfies with them - Seth doesn't take photos much!) So that there will always be pictures. You can never have too many!

kirstyandseth.blogspot.co.uk

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