Miscellany Flix
2010 Mish Mash
{ the little moments matter most }
Posted on March 19, 2012
Moments like these are every day, all day occurrences … but always my favorite part of life. Reading and snuggling time, which always leads to nursing time … and then more reading and snuggling (unless it ends with a nice, long nap). These are the parts of my day that I adore and will always remember the sweetness of my babies (and Addie is always with us during these times too … she just happened to be hard at work with some projects during these photos). 
Eliza has played with my hair while nursing since she was born. I can *not* wear my hair up because of this reason … or rather, have to take it down each time we nurse and snuggle. She also puts her little foot up in the air for me to kiss it … and then the opposite foot is lifted up next just to be sure both footsies are covered.
It’s so sweet how each child has their own special things they do with me .. for Adeline it was my “bows” (my elbows), which she would absolutely have to have available to touch and hold while she nursed and cuddled. Then she started putting her feet on my “bows” and refused to wear tights or socks so she could easily kick off shoes and “me touch feet to bows!!” With Eliza she freaks if my hair isn’t down, ready to be gently (and sometimes not so gently – ouch!) tugged and stroked while she nurses.
For the record, there wasn’t anything at all here “showing” (my swimsuit would actually be more revealing) … however, to squelch any lurkers who might send me another raving lunatic message about beautiful, modest nursing photos being “repulsive and disgusting” (one woman even called it “porno” … LOLOL!!!), I did a little blur. 
There is a saying I have seen that says, “Enjoy the little things in life, for some day you will look back and realize they were the big things.” (quote by Robert Brault) Evening walks in the sun with my girls, husband and dog. Feeling my baby’s breath on my shoulder while she naps and being blessed enough to nurse her to sleep every time she drifts off. The way my daughter’s face lights up with joy when I clap my hands together and say, “Let’s build a fort!!” The dimples on my baby’s chubby, squishy and precious knees, hands and toes. Hearing my older daughter talk to her baby sister in a hushed voice, thinking I’m not listening and as she says, “Our mommy is the sweetest, prettiest mommy ever – we are really lucky. She’s going to teach you really cool things just like she did with me,” and topping it of by calling her sister “Honey.” Watching Adeline brush our horse and sneak her peppermints before walking her back out to the pasture after a long ride. Being silly and jumping on the bed with my family and hearing the giggles filling up our little home. These are the little details that I cherish and revel in every day – simple, beautiful, pure joy.
If you enjoy my little, rambling blog, and have a second (literally), I would so appreciate it if you could pretty please click the banner below to vote for me (and thank you so much if you do!) … each click you make is your vote – heck, you can even vote every day, LOL!
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28 Comments so far
I think its awesome you can get these moments with your little ones. Its so hard to do it yourself! Kudos to you and your wonderful photography!
Awww, it’s always nice to see other babies adorable habits while nursing. My son loves to rest his foot on my collarbone and every few seconds puts his foot to my mouth so I can kiss it
Beautiful family!
It is beyond wonderful to see such warm acceptance of breastfeeding. Going on 2 years with my youngest and I cant tell you how refreshing it is to see these images. Such love. Thank you for sharing!!!
LOVE these photos, it is so nice to see older babes nursing, so beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
What a beautiful post!! The images are beautiful as always!
Absolutely beautiful how these precious moments are captured! Can’t wait for the next post
xx
Utterly beautiful. How lucky you are to not only have mental images of these awesome moments, but also proof that you can hold in your hands! Makes me want to hire a photographer to follow my boys and I around for the day! It’s so refreshing when people understand how important all the little moments are!
Everytime I come here I am amazed at how Eliza is all grown. I always think “OMg, this girl is so big! Just yesterday she was a tiny baby”. And then I look beside me and see Olivia and realize that she`s only one month younger than Eliza and that she`s all grown up too.
I love my toddler but I miss that little tiny baby girl. Time flies too fast
All the details of life… pure beauty to the heart. Bows & curling little fingers around mamas hair are for sure the little things that are really the big things in life. Thanks for sharing.
Hey Miss Annie. I can’t find you to vote and this is not the first time I have tried!
Thanks, my dear … once you click, that IS your vote!
It tracks who clicks from my blog. THANK YOU! <3
Awww, thank you for the kind and sweetly stated message.
I know, Camila … I do the same thing! I can’t believe how fast they grow!
You shouldn’t have to blur. Silly people. It’s great to see images of breastfeeding toddlers out there. Helps to normalise it. I am currently still feeding my two precious girls who have just turned 3 and 1 *shockhorror*
Oh, Sara … I’m not worried one bit about what others think, I’m just trying to protect my family from the crazies out there. You wouldn’t believe some of the hate mail I’ve received over beautiful, natural and very “modest” (so silly to have to use that word with something that is so natural, goodness sakes) images of me and my babes nursing. I’ve been called horrible things and the hate and anger that emanated from those emails (with an even greater dose of ignorance) just scared me to have them talking about my babies like that. Thus, the blur.
I grew up with a La Leche League Leader mama who nursed both me and my brother until we were four and wore us everywhere in her handmade slings – back when formula, disposable nappies and strollers were all the rage.
So, there is just nothing more natural and beautiful than the bonding and nurturing experience of nursing a child. And kudos to you and your blessed little ones … my Adeline nursed through my pregnancy too. She couldn’t wait until baby sis came so they could “share nursies” together … however, after my milk dried up while pregnant she kind of forgot how to nurse even though she was still going through the motions every night when we climbed into bed. When baby sis came she was so excited to nurse and get some milk again, and it about tore my heart in two when she tried and then cried out, “Why can baby get milk but not me?” She tried a few more times with frustration and then two weeks after Eliza was born she woke in the middle of the night. I took her to go potty, then carried her back to bed when she asked to nurse … somehow all sleepy in the middle of the night it all came back to her and she remembered. My heart was so happy because she was going to have our last nurse and it was beautiful and so special curled up between daddy and newborn Eliza. That was the last time she nursed and she was a “shocking” four and a half. 
I need to blog or journal about that special night before the memories fade!! 
Oh wow, that’s awful you received that kind of response! People can be so narrow minded
I understand what you mean now, just about protecting your babies from ridiculous people.
Wow, your mum is awesome! I wish my family was more understanding. I think they think I’m weird. Although it is paying off now that they see how well my girls are growing up, they are changing their minds about my ‘gentle’ techniques…slowly.
Oh what a special last time you had with Addie. That is so sweet! Your girls are too gorgeous Annie
Your family reminds me of my own, I think we are very similar in our parenting styles.
Annie I LOVE your beautiful photos and all the emotion in them. I still nurse my daughter who’s 2 years and 8 months. I wish I had photos like these but it never dawned on me to take them. Time to change that. I’m sorry there are such sick individuals out there that take something so beautiful and turn it into something twisted and ugly. Keep doing what you’re doing because we ADORE you and your family. Thank you for sharing! BTW, what you said about Adeline’s last nursing brought tears to my eyes. I know that we’re getting closer and closer to the day that Aubrey stops nursing and it’s bittersweet. It’s been such a special bonding between us. She’s growing up too fast as you well know!
I absolutely LOVE reading your BLOG – Love this post <3
My son loved to twirl my hair too and hold the other boob…*sigh* which was always a challenge. I nursed him longer than a lot of people thought I should. Whatever. And those people who write you letters about nursing should be ashamed. It is the most natural thing in the world besides giving birth.
I love how affectionate toddlers are…snuggle time is such a priceless time.
I love your beautiful pics.
I love these photos. So precious
I nursed both of my boys until they decided to stop on their own…sadly each at 1yr 
They are still fantastic snugglers who love their mama!! My youngest was a hair twirler and my oldest loved to rub my back while he nursed. I truly miss those times. Thanks so much for sharing your stories with us!!!
How am I just finding your blog now? I am going to be so tired in the morning after scrolling though your archives. Wow. I LOVE that you post nursing photos. I have so many of my girlies nursing, but never want to appear political about it to my potential clients who choose not to nurse (or even those that do!). I think having a personal blog is a great idea and something I might have to think about. Nursing older toddlers should not be as much of a taboo in our culture as it is. My husband and I practice attachment parenting. I have had people ask me when I’m going to wean my youngest, and if they only knew my three and a half year old still nurses, what would they say? LOL. Nursing a toddler is such an incredible experience that you only understand if you have done it yourself. Lilah (my three year old) and I are currently *trying* to wean. Tonight I was reading Lilah a Fancy Nancy book. Nancy tells her grandfather that she is “practically an expert on butterflies.” I was nursing Millie (my youngest) during Lilah’s bedtime story, and without missing a beat, Lilah looks at me and says: “Well, I am practically an expert on nursing. I know you have two boobs and Millie is only using one!”
This post brings me to tears. Tears of joy and tears of regret. I nursed my first son for 13 months – we stopped one day and he never asked for it again until he was about 33 months old and his younger brother was nursing (at 10.5 months). The same week the older one asked for “Mommy milk”… and I let him try, but he had long forgotten how… broke my heart in two… anyway, that same week the younger one stopped nursing. I regret it every day (he is 12.5 months old now). We moved and I returned to work at the beginning of the year and I wasn’t getting anything when I pumped, he was frustrated when he nursed, and just preferred to chug it out of a bottle (that we actually had to fight so hard to get him to even take a few months earlier so I could return to work… sigh). Anyway – these pictures make me regret that it’s all over. As much as it is so hard sometimes to be “on-call” 24/7… I really miss it. *tears*
One of my most treasured photos is that which was taken when our first son was about 1 month old. A photographer friend came to our house to do a photo shoot and he needed to nurse mid-shoot. She took pictures (that are completely “modest”… I agree, so stupid we even have to think about it…) but they are some of my most treasured photos. I would’ve never thought to take a picture of me nursing, but I spent SOOOO much time over the last 3 years with these boys doing just that!! Thanks for the post… sorry for the rambling!
Your photos are beautiful. I’ve really felt convicted lately to photograph the “details of life” as you’ve shared. My big question: how do you photograph yourself?!? Those nursing photos are too precious. I nursed all 3 of mine and have maybe 2 photographs of those precious times that my hubby took. I am basically never in our “daily life” photos but I’m definitely always here so I’d love to know any suggestions on ways in which to include myself in our daily life photographs.
I think breastfeeding pictures are beautiful. My daughter Roxanne likes to grab my hair while nursing also.
Why would you let someone force you to censor yourself? Honestly I’d show it all just to piss them off
But that’s just me. Seriously, don’t let people tell you how you should be doing things. Do what you want, and screw anyone else who says otherwise.
Beautiful photos though
Love ‘em!!
I’ve had you on my FB feed for years and always enjoyed your photos, but this is the first time I’ve read this blog. I love your approach to life
Annie these are so sweet, I loved feeing my twins, till they were two and then just had to stop. How do you manage to take these beautiful images while feeding or do you get a little help from your hubby? I think they are totally wonderful and I wish I had done something like this at the time.