I first met this lovely mother-daughter duo a year ago during one of my group breastfeeding photography sessions. Their love was palpable. I was delighted to work with them again, this sweet girl now a walking, running, dancing toddler. I am always so humbled and grateful to work with families year after year, as I am intrigued by and love the story of people's lives, their connection, the way they grow and change.
That I am privileged to capture and share these moments for them in imagery to cherish always fills my heart.

I am Mother
I am nurturer, protector, guide, healer
I embody love
I am uncertain
I am strong

My heart... My arms... are full
I laugh daily
I cry often
I close my eyes
I cannot often remember before motherhood

Little arms wrap around me
They are warm, they yearn comfort
Little toes press into my back
A whisper in my ear
A hand on my chest
Sometimes, I melt into their touch
Sometimes, I muffle a silent scream

I am consumed
I am loved
I am often overwhelmed
I am always learning, growing, listening
I flow, I crash
I adapt

I am my own Journey
I am Me
I am Mother

The two precious souls who made me a Mother

Do small things with great love

When this young, aspiring gymnast mentioned that he wanted his Photo Session on the rocks of Peggy's Cove, it seemed so fitting! He said he loves the big rocks and is a huge fan of lighthouses. He wanted to jump from rock to rock and do handstands! I knew he was excited and it is this excitement and child-led involvement that brings so much JOY to my Simply Kids Sessions!

My Simply Kids Sessions are exactly that... a session where your child can simply be themselves, doing something that they love, in a place/environment that they love! My job is to capture this love and happiness!

Photos are so very special, and whether this boy decides to stop his gymnasts training next year, or goes on to compete at a National or even International level, these images will always be a reminder and representation of him as his 9 yr old self, flying high at one of his favorite places, Peggy's Cove :)

Add in "jumping over his parents" and "holding the lighthouse" ...and he was one happy guy! :)

Every homebirth needs homemade lemon pie! Mmmm

It sounds, in those simple terms stated above, that for me life is smooth and well taken care of... and in a way, yes it is, but I stop and take a step back.... and I look at the bigger picture.  I think about everything that I have done in my life, in these last 36 years, and realize that through it all, one of the single greatest challenges has been finding my "tribe" / my "community" outside of my immediate and close family. Building a network... a SISTERHOOD of Mothers and women that I can call on, count on, be surrounded by. Women who value my opinions, dreams, troubles... who listen and hold space, who love my children with a fierceness and who I love and trust.

A community, that one time, would have been close-knit and dependable due to a need to survive... before sprawling subdivisions and technology... villages of woman and girls working side by side, embracing and welcoming womanhood, not fearing body changes or trying to "hide" their newly forming breasts or menses. A community where girls, women, mothers, grandmothers had each others backs through the heartbreak of a miscarriage, illness, food shortage, home fire, death. To comfort those filled with grief was natural instead of taboo.

I have come to understand that in this time, in this country, the likelihood of me living in this type of close-knit village is slim, so instead I have sought out my own version of this village. I have created bonds in every location that I have lived, lifelong bonds. I seek out women whom I know will forever be part of my forever tribe. My tribe, my community, my sisterhood is growing and I am glowing with the love and warmth that it fills my heart. I made technology my friend, a way to bridge distance, a way to educate and inspire.

I have supported girls and women as a Naturopathic Doctor; listened, respected, educated... and although medical practice was not my passion and calling in this life, this experience and training was a major part of my realization that I want to play a role in other women's journey's as they find and build their own Sisterhood of Womanhood... of Motherhood... This is where my passion to hold Group Motherhood Photography Sessions took root. These sessions are more than photos... they are bonding, inspiring, nurturing... a meeting of other Mothers in your area, they are a way of capturing and sharing this moment with the world.

Building a community can take on many forms. For someone, it may be that just seeing the imagery gives them hope and strength. Whether that hope and strength propels them to continue nursing their toddler when family or friends disagree, whether it gives them the courage to start a local Mommy-Group, whether it allows them to stand up for a personal value that they believe in with regards to their body/baby/lifestyle. In all these ways, we are building a Community... A Sisterhood.

Mothers out there, I believe in you! Find your Mommas and Women. Stand together in your similarities and your differences. Support and love each other fiercely. Be a friend, feel with your heart, follow your intuition, love yourself... mind-body-spirit-... and help other woman do the same. The WOMAN is a symbol of LIFE. Teach our young girls this. Be there for each other, truly, with your whole heart!

We are Girls, We are WOMEN, We are Daughters, We are Mothers... We are a SISTERHOOD!

I look forward to meeting so many more of you amazing women! I look forward to inspiring you through my photography, events, and words!
So much love from Welcome Arms,
Mandy