Ashton: three years.

I am your parent, you are my child
I am your quiet place, you are my wild
I am your calm face, you are my giggle
I am your wait, you are my wiggle

I am your nightlight, you are my sunshine
I am your favourite book, you are my new lines
I am your lullaby, you are my peek-a-boo
I am your kiss goodnight, you are my I love you

-Maryann K Cusimano











Last month Ashton and I set out on a little adventure. One where he thought he would get to play more and one where I thought I'd get a more attentive model. We compromised somewhere in the middle. We went to the same bridge I shot his big brother's five year photos in August in hopes of having a similarly matched set for our walls at home. While chasing his little legs around, begging, bribing, pleading with him to please slow down for five seconds, I managed to get a handful of portraits. The rest I settled for candid shots of him exploring the setting.








Three-year-old Ashton is very similar to two-year-old Ashton, except with a healthy dose of more. More sass. More attitude. More defiance. More stubbornness. More opinions. More wants and needs and desires. More, more, more. With that also comes the same capacity to feel big emotions and his desire to cuddle the scary, frustrating, unknown ones away. His hugs are big, his kisses slobbery, his voice loud. Yet when he sings, it's quiet, unsure, so soft and sweet that it brings an instant grin to my mouth and I scoot closer to hear more. 








Slow--oh so slowly--he's embracing this new big boy status. And soon they'll be no stopping the growth. For now, I'll enjoy this three-year-old version of my Ashton.