Fluvanna Teen Girl Birthday Portraits in Charlottesville

Fifteen years ago, I was soaking up every minute of my last few days of being pregnant with this precious girl…until the glorious moment that I laid eyes on her for the first time and my heart exploded. Being a mother has been more wonderful than I ever could have imagined, and it started with her, my firstborn. Being “the oldest” is hard; I rely on her too much, expect too much of her, and am learning by trial every day of her existence. I hate myself for the many ways I fail her and fall short of being the mother that she deserves, but I thank God for her grace, love, forgiveness…and for all the ways she enriches my life. How did I ever get so lucky to be a mother?!

“My first born baby, I’m not quite sure how time has passed so quickly.  Some days it feels like I found out I was pregnant with you—pregnant for the first time ever—just days ago, not years ago. But then again, it feels like you’ve been around forever, that you’ve always been by my side. You are the incredible gift who gave me my cherished title of ‘mother.’”- Colleen Temple