A New Chapter – On Motherhood, Memories, and My Growing Boy

I’ve been meaning to start a blog for a while. Life has a funny way of pulling us in so many directions, but today felt like the perfect moment.

Today, my son Leonardo turns seven. Seven whole years of motherhood. Seven years since my world shifted entirely. And as I sit with all these feelings bubbling to the surface, I realise there's no better time to reflect and finally begin writing.

Becoming a Mother — and a New Version of Myself

Motherhood, for me, began the moment I found out I was pregnant. It was a quiet, overwhelming kind of love that started growing long before I even met him. I remember those early days so clearly — the fluttering kicks, the anticipation, the wonder, the fears.

And yet, nothing prepared me for the transformation that came after. People talk a lot about becoming a mother, but not as much about becoming a new person. That’s what it felt like. The "me" I had known all my life suddenly had to be rediscovered. I wasn’t just adding a role — I was reshaping, relearning, rebuilding who I was from the ground up.

When Everything Shifted

When Leo arrived, everything changed.

The word love found a new depth, new colour. It wasn’t just a feeling anymore — it was an energy, a force, a pulse running through every moment of my day.

And while the early days were exhausting — the sleepless nights, the endless feeding, the guessing game of “what does he need now?” — I never saw any of it as negative. It was intense, yes. But beautiful. It was a journey I had longed for, and I was living it. Fully.

Even in the haze, I can still feel those first moments. His tiny hands curling around my finger. That perfect pout. His sleepy little smiles that made my heart ache with love.

The Power of Memory

I’ve always treasured memories — perhaps even more so since becoming a mum. In those early weeks, I kept a diary, wrote little letters to him, filmed his first bath, and, of course, captured every possible detail of his newborn stage.

I still remember his newborn photoshoot so vividly — the way his little body curled up naturally, how peaceful he looked. Now, Leo loves looking at those photos. He finds it fascinating to see how tiny he once was.

To me, those images are more than just photographs —they’re windows into a time I can never go back to, but will always hold close.

“I Never Got to Say Goodbye to Any of Them”

I recently listened to a podcast (I wish I could remember which one!) where a mum shared something that truly moved me. She spoke about how she’s been a mother to many different boys — her newborn, her toddler, her cheeky preschooler, her curious little schoolboy — and how she never got to say goodbye to any of them.

Each stage passed so quietly, without warning. Those versions of her child are now memories — beloved, but gone.

That thought has sat with me heavily. It reminded me how important it is to live this life with our children fully. To pause. To notice. To make the time together count. Because these early years — they really do go by so fast. And we can’t go back. We can’t press rewind.

Photography as a Way to Hold On

We can’t stop time. But we can honour it.

We can photograph the stages as they come and go — not just to look back, but to celebrate them as they are. Every photo, every note, every little video becomes a thread that connects us to the children we’ve known and the people we were.

That’s why I take Leo’s birthday photos every single year. Last night, I kissed goodnight to my six-year-old. Today, I woke up to a seven-year-old.

This version of him won’t be around forever — and I want to remember him, just as he is now.

I’ll hold him close. Photograph his wild imagination, his toothy smile, his unstoppable curiosity. And I’ll keep creating memories — for me, and for him — for as long as I’m lucky enough to do so.

A Note to Other Families

If this speaks to you — if you’re also feeling the pull to hold onto these moments before they slip away — I’d love to help you create something beautiful. Something that celebrates your family, your love, your journey.

Photography is more than images. It's a way of saying: this mattered. We were here. We lived this.

Get in touch if you're ready to honour your story, just as it is right now.

I specialise in natural and emotional maternity, newborn, baby, and family photography in Milton Keynes serving families in Bedford, Northampton, Buckingham, and Aylesbury.

So if you’re ready to honour your family’s story — right now, in this season — I’d love to hear from you. Let’s create the kind of memories that will last a lifetime.

👉 Get in touch here to book your session.

And to my beautiful Leo – Happy birthday, my love. Thank you for making me a mum. Thank you for changing everything.