Short and Sweet Photography

 9 years ago today, I was in labour…for the first time. I thought that at the end of it all, I would end up with a cute little girl and I would name her Lillian. All the girls in my family are born on the 26th of a month, so I thought it was a sign…I was going to give my beloved grandma her first grandchild that would be named after her. Well, early on the morning of the 27th, when I asked Bob what time it was and he told me it was 2:00am, I knew. I knew that I was having a boy. Still, like any new parent…I didn’t really know what I was in for. It’s only recently that I have come to accept that as a parent, you never really know. You can only act in love and hope that is enough.

Jack Rollo(named after Bob’s grandfather) was born as the sun rose that August morning. I still remember looking at Bob holding him while the sun streamed into the room. That is burned into my memory and tucked into a safe corner of my heart. I pull it out from time to time. Just to look at itMy baby…the one born that morning 9 years ago…is almost as tall as me now. For the last week, I keep looking at him and saying how I can’t believe he’s going to be nine. Then, yesterday morning, when he got up he came into my room, sat on the edge of my bed and told me that he only had two more days left of being 8. And, he patted my hand. He knows that this milestone…this being 9 thing is the hardest one yet for me. I don’t know why…maybe it’s because I am nearing my own milestone(40). What I do know is that now more than ever I want to grab hold of him and never let him go. It’s the disbelief that he is already 9 mingled with the wonderment of the fact that I have only known him for 9 years. How can that be? Either of them?

Happy birthday to my beautiful boy…so kindhearted, so enthusiastic, so curious…it is my pleasure to hold your hand as we walk down this road together. Thanks for still letting me hold it

~ Dana