In case you didn’t know, I’m a mother to none, but an Aunt to many. I have my two nieces and two nephews from my brother and my sister, but then I have Littles in my life that might as well be blood because I love them oh-so-much. My godson, Heath. My adorable and heart-stoppingly perfect Emmylou Elise. And then there’s this little bundle of fire.
Meet Lyla.
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If this first picture doesn’t give you a clue as to the attitude she possesses, just get a load of these faces …
Lyla May is the daughter of a dear friend of mine. She and her husband have entrusted Lyla’s photos to me since the time she was born, and it always tugs at my heart strings when it’s time to do photos again – it marks the passing of time, as surely as the change of seasons.
With looks alone, Lyla has the holy trifecta of cuteness – long eyelashes, beautiful eyes, and curls that make you want to tug them to hear if they “boing” when you do. But the best part about Lyla is her mouth – and the endless entertainment it provides. One of the last times I was watching Lyla, she asked me, “Auntie Kate, what’s a soul?”
I stared at her in shock, my mind racing. How do I explain this abstract concept to a four year old? How do I use my acquired cognitive skills, my degrees, my experience, to help Lyla understand what a soul is? So, I did what any good baby-sitter would do. I told her to ask her mom when she got home. Let’s be honest here – I would have preferred it if she had asked me where babies come from – I have a concrete answer for that one!
Now, you’ve met one of my Littles in one of my first-ever blog posts. Thank you, Penni & John, for trusting me to capture these beautiful moments in your daughter’s life. And thank you, Lyla, for being so. gosh. darn. cute!
xoxo – Auntie Kate
