When I arrived at the Sieders’ family home to photograph the last days of Anne Marie’s pregnancy, I was struck with the memory of family life with only one child while anticipating the second. I remember the countless moments Mike and I shared, filled with love for this pint sized being who was at the centre of our family and our hearts. As a mother, I wondered how I would ever love the child in my womb as much as the child in my arms. I wondered how I would ever be able to divide my love. I spent the last few weeks of pregnancy filled with excitement and anticipation about welcoming our second daughter into the family, but with the bittersweet knowledge that life for my oldest child was going to change so much. She would have to share my time and my lap and my love. So we played and we tickled, we laughed and we cuddled. We hugged her a little bit tighter and a little bit longer. We did not hurry. Then one stormy day, we welcomed our second daughter into our family and I instantly realized that all of my fears were unwarranted. We didn’t have to divide our hearts or our love. Instead, our hearts and our love multiplied.

The Sieders’ family is close to my heart. I have been able to capture a part of their story in photographs since their oldest daughter was about six months old. I recently photographed them at home as they welcomed their week old daughter into their family and was able to watch as all three of them fell in love with this tiny miracle who fit in the crook of an arm and expanded the corners of their hearts. I’ll share the next part of their story soon, but for now, here is a glimpse of their maternity session…