a look back at the 52 project for 2016

it's amazing how quick the weeks fly by.  joining in on the 52 project has been one of my favorite blogging adventures.  lately I find sharing a thousand photos of a single event here just too tedious, and instead, my passion in this past year or so has been making our mini-films.  however, as much as I love those little films, there is still something to be said for the simplicity of a good photograph, and that is what the 52 project has allowed me to focus on.  one photograph of my daughter, every week of the year.  here's just a little sample of a few of my favorite 52 portraits I took of everly this year. look at that baby face taken at the beginning of 2016, and then full on little girl in the last photo taken on christmas day.  I can't think of clearer proof of how my little toddler is no more, and I'm clearly raising a little girl these days.

50/52

 "A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2016."

in this moment:

right now, in this moment, I'm in love with how thoughtful you are.  as excited you were to open your presents, you were just as excited to find presents for everyone else to open under the tree.  and I melted, in this moment. 

49/52

 "A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2016."

in this moment:

right now, in this moment, I'm in love with how much your sentences and phrases are changing everyday.  at night you will ask me about christmas when I was little, asking if I ever heard santa's clatter, or if I had sugarplums dancing in my head. and I melted, in this moment. 

40/52

 "A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2016."

in this moment:

right now, in this moment, I'm in love with how grown up you seem these days. last night we were reading "the little old lady who wasn't afraid of anything," and you decided that you preferred the character in the story to be little red riding hood, and not the little old lady.  by the third page, I was 'reading' the story correctly in your mind, and read instead, 'little red riding hood'.  when you realized I had done it right, you looked right at me and said, "good job mommy." and I melted, in this moment. 

25/52

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2016."

in this moment:

right now, in this moment, I'm in love with your little daddy moments.  while in Disneyland this last trip you tried your first beignet, and excitedly chatting about your beignets with your daddy and getting covered in powder sugar was too sweet. and I melted, in this moment. 

24/52

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2016."

in this moment:

right now, in this moment, I'm in love your love and support for your Nona. while helping Nona with her errands, you kept repeating to her whenever she said something to you, "you are such a cute little adorable Nona."  and I melted, in this moment. 

mom blogger note:  no diet-coke was consumed in this photo, at least not by the three year old!

23/53

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2016."

in this moment:

right now, in this moment, I'm in love with how special you knew this dress was.  when it came time to say goodbye to your papa, I instantly remembered this dress we had seen weeks ago.  knowing that being a merchant marine was such an important part of papa's life, and the reason he met your nona, I knew this would be the perfect little gesture.  I'm trying so hard to get you to understand a concept that is really hard, and somehow, you just knew how important this little dress was.  yesterday, when normally getting dressed is a struggle that includes tears, you were beyond excited to wear your new dress for papa, and even agreed to wear sandals that weren't flip flops.  you refused to even take the dress off last night.  twirling, smiling, and dancing in this little dress.  and I melted, in this moment. 

16/52

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2016."

in this moment:

right now, in this moment, I'm in love with the littlest comments that have such big meaning to me.  while holding my hand, and kissing my cheek, you leaned in and said to me, "you are my best mommy."  and I melted, in this moment. 

14/52

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2016."

in this moment:

right now, in this moment, I'm in love with your manners.  and attempts at manners, saying "cough you" whenever someone coughs.  and I melted, in this moment. 

12/52

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2016."

in this moment:

right now, in this moment, I'm in love with your companionship.  You came into this world with a greater purpose, and seeing how much you help everyone around you by just being you is amazing.  Every day I see that you are one of the best companions for your nona, and exactly who she needs right now in her life. your little kisses, and hugs, and hand holding.  and I melted, in this moment. 

6/52

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2016."

in this moment:

right now, in this moment, I'm in love with your love of little things.  snuggling your daddy's stuffed dog from his childhood, letting me know that you would be careful with sammy, because he was daddy's when he was a tiny baby.  and I melted, in this moment. 

4/52

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2016."

in this moment:

right now, in this moment, I'm in love with your love of our home.   and everything that comes with this little neighborhood finally feeling like ours. we've lived here three years, but now that we own here, the permanence just makes everything different.   you are so excited to show your friends your new home, and exclaim daily how much you love a little part of the home.  on our way out to dinner last night you chose Skip's, and commented on the delicious smells as we walked in the door.  and I melted, in this moment. 

3/52

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2016."

in this moment:

right now, in this moment, I'm in love with imagination.  playing in your new playroom is happiness.  our stories, our games, our time together.  the castles, the towers, the bridges from the beach.  walking babies through the park, the voices, intricate plot lines.  whispering, "mama, your my friend.  my best friend."  and I melted, in this moment. 

2/52

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2016."

in this moment:

right now, in this moment, I'm in love with gratitude.  learning to say thank you was a little tricky, especially when it made you overwhelmed with shyness, but now, your thank you's are overflowing.  you thank me for being your mom repeatedly... when you thank me for playing with you at the park, or for taking you to pizza, or my favorite, when you thank me for bringing all your favorite things to the new house, including sweetie.  and I melted, in this moment. 

1/52

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2016."

in this moment:

right now, in this moment, I'm in love with "ugga mugga".  the first time you said it, we were face to face, you leaned in, rubbed your nose against mine, and let me know that it was what Daniel Tiger said to his mom.  and I melted, in this moment.