I have an obsession. It only comes around once a year. But, I simply cannot look away. Those Purple flowers (aka weeds) in the fields right before the farmers start planting. They call my name! They always have and I literally start looking for someone to let me take their photos in them! One year, I made my sister go out there around sunset. I took a chair and she indulged me in my purple field obsession. I couldn’t let that purple hazy look go to waste. Last year I kept saying I was going to take Harper out to play in the purple goodness, but there was always something preventing us from going out. Bad weather, crazy schedules, you know…Life! So we never made it out before they were all tilled up. And I always regretted it!

Well, this year I made it happen! I saw one field completely covered in that lavender hue and I couldn’t resist. Finally after all the rain we have had this past week, the weekend   turned out warmer and sunny. The warmth was only for a couple of days, but enough to dry the ground a bit. But because it was so beautiful out this weekend and I only had one session followed with no other commitments, we were outside all day, both days! My Harper LOVES to be outside. Running, digging, swinging, playing, anything you can think of she wants to do it outside. It also seems like on weekends, naps aren’t as frequent (Much against this mama’s better judgement). So, I’m working with a three year old that has been running around for the last two days outside, who doesn’t fall asleep on her own super early at night (even when she’s been running like a little energizer bunny), and who is so over her mom taking photos of her all the time. I had an uphill battle in front of me. However, after some sweet talking and totally elaborating how EXCITING playing in the purple flowers would be, Miss H was onboard. Or as much as a toddler can be onboard. She had a bath, we threw on a flowy grey dress, her pink cowboy boots, and headed on our way. 

She was very excited when we got there and ready to play in the flowers. I started taking some photos and BOOM….she thought it was funny NOT to look at me! I think at one point she even told me to put my camera down and play with her! The joys of having a mom who doubles as a photographer, right? The method I went with was to turned into a game. I was chasing her around causing her infections giggles to come out with her long hair blowing in the crazy wind. And for those of you who KNOW my child….The headband was on when we started, but the wind was too much so we moved forward without the accessory of choice by little Miss. I think at one point I busted out the “fake cry ploy” and that worked for a minute. She turned her back from me, she hid behind her wind blown hair, she basically did whatever she could not to let me take a photo of her face. But, the unposed moments in that lilac field are probably some of my favorites of my little beauty to date. She looks so grown up and I took several minutes of just watching her play and be happy. This sweet, sassy, incredible, fun-loving child is all mine. And I love her more than words can describe. I think I will make this one of our annual sessions for just her and I.

Warm Regards, 
Lauren

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