Memories

Shortly after Logan was born Doug had to go back to work.  We were looking at a long hospital stay and decided that it would be better for Doug to take time off when it was time to take Logan home than to use his vacation days sitting in the hospital.  Since Doug was missing so much, I was tasked with taking at least one picture per day and at least one video per week.  Looking back, I'm so thankful we set up those rules because we probably wouldn't have nearly as many pictures if we hadn't.

When I was pregnant with Eli I decided that it would be a good idea to set the same rules for Eli, one picture per day and one video per week.  I started out with good intentions and took a lot of pictures and made several videos, but before long days passed with no pictures.

To tell the truth, I've been feeling pretty guilty about it.  I mean, we have tons more pictures of Eli than we do of Logan, but that's because we had so little time with him.  I feel guilty because I made it such a priority to take pictures of Logan and I just haven't with Eli.

But it occurred to me last night, as I was on the floor playing with Eli... life is for living, not documenting.  Sure I'll cherish the pictures we have of him, but when I'm looking back on my life I want to have memories of rolling on the floor with him, big hugs and rocking him to sleep, not memories of watching him play through the lens of my camera.  I'm taking pictures in my mind every step of the way.  They won't be put in a scrapbook or hung on my walls, but they'll be cherished just the same.