A portrait of my daughters every week in 2017

This is the last set of photos for 2017. It’s bittersweet. In a way I loved doing this project again, but in another way it was also pretty difficult for me to accomplish. Two kids are four times the work of one kid and trying to make photographs intentionally each and every week was nearly impossible. After my first 52 project I went on to do a 365 the following year. I know there’s no way I can keep up with that so I’ve been mulling over what to do and am still undecided. I’ve been debating doing a photo series on sleep for 2018. It’s something I find myself continually photographing, and such a huge part of life when you have small children. This weeks photos are two of my favorite from the year.

Big: was ecstatic to see our first real snow of the year on Christmas Eve. It wasn’t in the forecast but made for a White Christmas which was rather nice. And it meant she got to play with our neighbor who she’s been missing since cold weather hit.

Little: is not so much a fan of the winter gear and being outside in it. She didn’t take even one step in the winter boots I put on her. She does seem to like the snowsuit at least, and tries to put it on herself if it’s laying around the house.

A portrait of my daughters every week in 2017

Big: I shared this photo on Instagram, but it really was my favorite from the week so here it is again. She went to her first ballet with her grandma and I and she really loved it. I’ve started making a Christmas bucket list for next year of all of the things I want to do, and going to the Nutcracker again is most definitely on it.

Little: Although she’s walking very confidently, she still refuses to do so outdoors. It’s sort of comical and slightly ridiculous.

A portrait of my daughters every week in 2017

Big: I volunteered in her classroom for the first time this week. The school she goes to has an incredibly diverse population, as it pulls from one of the most affluent neighborhoods and also one of the poorest. I got to witness first hand, the desperate need for more assistants due to a high population of children with developmental issues, the obvious and heart breaking impact of food insecurity, for a four year old, who knows he’s food insecure, and the stress and impact of these issues day to day on educators. Our system, our way of life in this country, is so flawed, so “me” focused, so wealth and gain centric, that these kids at four years old, are already getting left behind. After less than three hours I was completely exhausted and overwhelmed, mostly due to my own inability to do anything to change the situation. It also made me realize how truly lucky and privileged we are. And it made me wish I had given her one more year at Waldorf. What I did see in her classroom that made me happy, and that was amazing, was her. Her independence, her incredible intelligence, her relationship with her peers, and her kindness and creativity. I was so impressed by her ability to navigate different scenarios with ease and grace. I’m hoping to find more time to volunteer in her class more often.

Little: Is officially a toddling toddler as she has mastered walking this week. She still reverts to crawling a lot of the time as she’s quite fast at it. Last night however, she started running, so I’m sure once she’s mastered that, it will be her go to. It’s so bittersweet, watching her grow so very quickly. I love who she’s becoming but am already desperately missing the little baby she was. And as my last baby, that bittersweetness stings a little bit more.

A portrait of my daughters every week in 2017

Big: we went to the Winter Festival at her old school today and she clearly still felt right at home. The immense amount she’s grown since being there every day is so obvious however, as her long legs no longer fit in the wooden boat she used to play in.

Little: I never question whether or not she will feel comfortable in unfamiliar places, as she jumps right in with both feet everywhere we go. The second I set her down, she took off and started playing and climbing and zooming little wooden cars back and forth.

A portrait of my daughters every week in 2017

Big: spent the better part of one evening this week playing with her sister and I on the floor trying to coach the baby into walking. It was one of the best evenings I’ve had alone with these two in quite some time.

Little: took her very first step on the evening referenced above. She’s not walking quite yet but is standing on her own quite often and will be running sooner than I care to think about.