Last year, one of my dear friends invited me to participate in a project. A project in which we would write letters to our children each month. In our home, we’re very affectionate and often tell our children how much we love them but I think it’s important for them to read the words too. What we tell our children becomes that little voice they hear in their head and I hope and pray it’s only good things. So each month I will join this group of amazingly talented women in writing and photographing our children – and I will try my best to convey what they mean to me. I hope that you will click the links to follow each blog in the series – it will be so worth it!
Dear Shelby,
You are my first baby. That long, lean baby with the red hair who I clutched tightly… the one I used two hands to hold even if you were in a carrier.
You put yourself last… even when I tell you not to. You can’t help it. It’s not your nature to think of yourself first.
Your brother and sisters come running to you for comfort – knowing that you love them unconditionally and will happily mend their boo-boos.
You are the glue of our family.
Each day I think I cannot possibly love you more and inevitably you prove me wrong with your kindness and generosity.
I don’t think you enjoy posing too much but I take these pictures of you so that you can see what I see – what everyone around you sees – a beautiful, sweet person who is at once softhearted but capable of kicking the world in the behind.
I can’t wait to be right there behind you.
We love you more than you will ever know.
Please click here to read the next blog entry in this project by Summer Murdock
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by Jennifer Warthan
What sweet words!! I also have a red head
Beautiful girl & words!! Jennifer!
This is remarkably beautiful.
beautiful and haeart warming. she sounds like a gem.
Love what you said about the first being “the one that you used two hands to hold even if you were in a baby carrier”…as a mom of four I can totally relate to that and how we evolve and grow and so do they…lovely post Jennifer…she is gorgeous!
Love all of these but the third to the last is beyond words! Beautiful images of a beautiful young lady.
Beautiful words friend. She sounds like a special young woman. <3
you are my official first tears…i feel the tenderness, the rawness, the deep love you feel, the protection. she is still your baby, and she is beautiful. and the film makes this even more organic. so fitting. oh, is this sweet. xoxo
it’s funny that i sensed who she was before i read your beautiful words. she has such a beautiful energy about her. soft yet strong.
What a lucky girl to have you as her Mom! My mother was very cruel to me. I’m the Mom to my daughter that I always wanted. Thank you for this beautiful post!
What beautiful words! This will inevitably make her blush now and cherish later. Perhaps I can speak for everyone who reads… your words easily paint a picture of who she is and her role in your family. Beautiful.
– your beautiful, tender words touched my heart — & these lovely images are just amazing — A VERY SPECIAL *LOVE* STORY –
What a sweet sweet soul you have. I can see it in her eyes. Thank you for sharing your world with us!
these are just beautiful Jennifer. and your words just perfect!
I can see so much of your Dad in her. I’m so glad that you are taking the time to do this for your children. It will be a treasure for them and their children. Thank you for sharing with us. Your heart is full of love…
Jennifer, as I said earlier this month, you are so inspiring (and fancy!). I LOVE that you took all these portraits of Shelby in film. You have a very lovely digital style, but what you’re doing with film and self developing is beautiful and nostalgic in the best of ways. Glad to be doing another project with you. =)
You are a master at using few words to convey huge, huge sentiment. I love this, Jennifer. I love your tribute to your girl who is transitioning from girl to woman. I’m glad you are doing this, too.
lovely images and a beautiful letter <3
Beautiful words and images.