A year ago my heart exploded. I finally knew what it meant to love something so much it hurt.  Now we chase, snuggle (when she lets us), learn, love and laugh with our ONE YEAR OLD baby girl. It was a journey that started with cautious optimism and many doctors appointments, but was filled with excitement, love and anticipation as we welcomed our girl. It's hard to believe how much can change in a year. I didn't think I could feel so much love for someone I just met or fall even more in love with Morgan, but I did. Before another year goes by, time seems to fly with a baby, I wanted to share the story of the BEST DAY EVER. Normally I am the storyteller of our family but since I was pretty much in a haze for the first month of Mila's life, Morgan is guest-blogging for me and reliving the moments that we grew our family and hearts by one. He took the time to write it all down when Mila was two weeks old so we wouldn't forget anything ...excuse me while I grab the Kleenex.

As I'm wrapping up my maternity leave (as much as a small business owner can take maternity leave) and wedding season is upon us, I wanted to share a little behind the scenes look at what life has been like the past few weeks. In early July we welcomed our baby girl, Mila. Our hearts, home and hands have never been more full. We have had late night feedings, approximately one million loads of laundry, a few boxes of diapers, hours of sweet snuggles, a few accidental smiles and lately more intentional smiles. As far as babies go, we think we got a good one... even when she scrunches her face and it turns bright red before letting out a cry. Our house has been a revolving door of family that can't get enough of her and graciously babysits so we can have a few date nights ...and help me see the outside world a bit. In the last few weeks I've learned more about myself and what I'm capable of than I ever expected.  Life with a newborn is like living in the movie Groundhog Day... but on a three hour cycle. For someone that is used to a great deal of independence during the day, that is a challenge.  

So the news is out. This tiny nugget of joy that we have kept close to our hearts has been shared to the world ...OK I know the entire world doesn't know (or care), but at least OUR world knows. Our whole life is being disrupted in a few months and if you had asked me if I was ready for this 5 years ago, hell even a little over 2 years ago, I would have said "NOPE". That's the funny thing about not getting what you want when you want it - it tends to makes you want it more. I always try to be as authentic as possible in how I communicate with any audience, although typically it looks like images of beautiful people in some of the happiest times of their lives, but this story's happy ending (or beginning) started right here in this picture. I have no idea why I took this picture that day, but I did and I'm so glad I did. It reminds me of this journey we've been on...

You know that time period between Christmas and New Year when you don't know what day it is or what you're supposed to be doing? For me it is a time to recharge and reflect back on the year... and stay in my pajamas while soaking up the last few days of decorations and twinkle lights. 2017 was a jam-packed and wonderful year for JDP - 25 weddings, a mini session marathon benefitting the Atlanta Humane Society, countless hours in the car, two winter storms, three rainy days, two wedding dogs, eight church weddings, six outdoor ceremonies, almost 300 friends standing beside the bride and groom, and thousands of images delivered to to be enjoyed by the countless family and friends that made these wedding days so much fun.