FTM seeks other FTM for conversation & support

Translation:  First Time Mom seeks other First Time Mom for commiseration & cocktails

Once you have a baby, you enter this crazy world you never knew existed before called 'Mommy Dating'. It's just as hard as regular dating - trust me.  You give a girl your number because she seems nice and you hope she calls.  Did she like me?  Did she approve of the way I parent?  Was she annoyed that my kid sneezed on her?  Why hasn't she called yet?  This is all quite stressful to the first time mom who has very few mommy friends and is desperate for some interaction and little commiseration.

I met Megan at the park.  Her daughter was on the swing next to Ben.  She struck up a conversation and before you knew it we were exchanging digits.  It was only my second real pick up (after debbi)!  She called within the week and we became fast friends.  

Four years have gone by and we've watched each other become second time moms, we've exchanged everything from recipes to parenting tips, and we've shared much wine and many laughs and good times.  Needless to say, I was thrilled when Megan asked me to photograph her family.  They are getting ready to move out of their West Roxbury home - a home that is special not only because she and her husband started their family there, but because they also started their marriage there (they got married in the back yard). This is one special house and one special lady.  I'm so excited to show some highlights. 

For the record, her daughter Margot was my most cooperative and enthusiastic model to date!

best room in the house? georgie's closet!

My favorite shot by far.  Pretty much sums up this tenacious 4 year old: satin hair bow, broken arm in purple cast, skinned knee, and shiny red mary janes

chance encounter

"Hey, that's a cool sling!"

That was the first thing Debbi said to me about 5 years ago when she saw me at Birch Street House & Garden in Roslindale.  I was wearing Ben ( 3 weeks old ) in a fleece pouch sling and pretending to shop.   It was my first time out of the house that day (close to 5pm).  I had no shopping to do but needed a reason to get out so I ended up in Roslindale Village.  I was frazzled - as new moms have a tendency to be - and was hardly capable of carrying on a conversation with a total stranger.  But Debbi had a friendly smile and a baby around Ben's age ( a boy!) so we talked slings for a bit.  The store owner asked if we wanted paper and pen so we could exchange information.  We both declined.  Wouldn't want to seem desperate for friendship or anything right?

The whole walk home I kicked myself for not getting her number.  stupid! stupid! stupid!  I swore up and down the next time it happened I would gladly ask for a number.    ( being a new mom is like being on the dating scene all over again ).  Just as I was about to turn the corner to walk down my street I glanced into the window of Boschetto's Bakery.  There she was again!!  I laughed out loud and marched into the bakery to ask this girl out.  Turned out she was feeling the same way.

Fast forward three months and many playdates later.   Debbi and I managed to sneak out for dinner without the kids. We were drinking wine and telling stories about old boyfriends when we realized that some of our stories were just a wee bit too similar.  Well, Fate has a seriously funny sense of humor because it turns out  we dated the SAME guy in college.  I dated him first, then he transferred to her college and she dated him.  Isn't that just a little too weird?  We are forever connected by our poor choice in boyfriend!  Seriously though, I feel so lucky to have Debbi as my friend and I'm so glad we exchanged numbers that day.  She is one of the most caring and kind hearted people I know.

A lot has changed in five years for Debbi.  She has three beautiful babies now and I had the pleasure of photographing them today!

Here are some of the highlights:

Bring it on, Summer.

What a perfect way to usher in the unofficial start of summer.  Eating, drinking, being merry, and sliding really fast down a slippery slide into a small pool.  

always trying to practice the action shots. 
went with ISO 1600 here to freeze the water droplets 
and can definitely see the noise in the photos
maybe should have tried 800

dress-up-a-holics and BFFs

who's the big girl?

I just want to eat this girl up she's so cute

Little Miss M&M

Most people have probably read, or at least heard of the book, The five people you meet in heaven.  It's about an old man who dies and then meets five people in heaven who each had a significant impact on his life.  Whenever I think about this story, I think about Katie. She's one of my people.

Fate brought us together 7 years ago. We shared a tent at our wedding venue (we got married Saturday, they got married Sunday) and since then we've shared so much more. She has become a close friend and confidante. She has the special honor of being Ben's godmother.  She always knows the right thing to say no matter the situation.  She sees the bright side of everything and the good in everyone.  The world is a better place because she's here.

I was so excited to be able to take some photos of Katie with her granddaughter Mackenzie ( nicknamed M&M ). Trying to capture the essence of someone's emotion in a second (or 1/160th of a second, as the case may be) is a challenge, but I can't help wanting to keep doing it.  I think I'm addicted.