Black Shirt For Sale

When my oldest son, Will, turned 9 months old I decided it was time to play around with my camera and try to catch some pictures of this chubby little baby. Even as a first time parent, I knew that time would fly and he wouldn't stay this little for long. I had gotten professional photos done at 2 weeks and 6 months old and planned to go back when he turned a year. A lot happens around 9 months though that I didn't want to miss.

I looked in my husband's closet for a 'back drop.' I found one of his solid black dress shirts. 'Perfect' I thought. I went in our front room that caught most of the morning light through the windows and I turned our large ottoman to the side facing the light. I then draped my husband's shirt across the side of the ottoman and 'Voila!' a backdrop! I undressed my first born down to only his diaper with the idea of capturing the more natural look. My goals for these pictures were to get shots of those baby parts that go away; the wrist and ankle bracelets, little toe and knuckle dimples, chubby cheeks, round belly, soft shoulders and a glimpse of those first few teeth.  Will, as always, was great in front of the camera for what turned out to be my first of four 9 month baby photo shoots. My favorite pictures from that day are in Will's baby scrapbook as are my other two sons' 9 month pictures. I used the same black shirt for each photo shoot, as well as the same ottoman. Here are the pictures from each of the boys' 9 month photos that I have arranged in their scrap books.

William, August 2005

Cole, March 2007

Rhett, March 2011

Last month I started thinking about Cora Love's milestone that was quickly approaching on February 22.  I couldn't believe that 9 months had already passed. As a mother, it has always fascinated me how slowly the 9 months go when you're pregnant and anticipating your baby's arrival. But once they're here, those same number of months are gone in a flash.

There wasn't any planning or preparations for her photos.  We have the same ottoman, now 8 years old. Since Daddo never gets rid of any of his clothes, that black shirt was for sure hanging in his closet. My biggest challenge was to REMEMBER to take the photos on the exact day she turned 9 months as I did with the other three babies.

She was my least cooperative poser. With just being a month into crawling, she had absolutely no interest in sitting still. She has the look of impatience across her face in this picture.... but it's her and her wrinkles in all their glory. I'm sure I'll see this same face a hundred times in the next 18 years. I can hear her now, "Mom, stop it."

                                                          Cora Love, February 2013

So now that our last child has reached this milestone and had her pictures taken, I have no need for the black dress shirt. Actually it scares me just a little that it is still in my home. So if anyone's the least bit interested:

Black Shirt FOR SALE, size 2X, button up, long sleeve.

Make offer.