Happy 2nd Birthday, Brayden!
Dear Brayden,
2 years ago today, after a very long and painful labor, we met at exactly 3:30pm for the first time. 4 days past due and you had no intentions of coming out so the doctor had to force you out. When the doctor held you up over the curtain for the first time and your Daddy and I saw you we both cried, but later admitted to each other that we thought you were an albino baby. Your hair was as white as your skin and you had bright blue eyes. Regardless, we loved you because you were ours.
2 years ago today you were a stranger. I could only dream of what your voice would sound like when you said, “Mama”. I could only imagine what you would look like when you took your first steps. I could never comprehend how proud I would be every time you learn a new word, when you blew out the candles of your 2nd birthday cake, when you said, “Love Mama” for the first time, and all your other little accomplishments. I would have never guessed how much joy and happiness you could bring to me.
2 years ago today I wasn’t sure I could do it. I still have days that I’m not sure I can do it. But, I hope you know how much I try to be the best mom possible. I love making you laugh so hard that your face turns red. I love tickling you so hard that you giggle and say, “No, Mama! No!”. I love that I’m the only one who can understand your “Branglish”. I love that I get just as excited as you (okay, maybe more excited) when we get stuck at a train crossing. I love getting to discover new things with you.
2 years ago today I knew I loved you, but I could have never imagined how much more I could love you today. Brayden, I love you so much and am so proud of the boy you are. I can’t wait to see how much you change and grow over the next year. But, please don’t grow up too fast. These past two years have flown by. I’d just like you to stay my baby for a little bit longer.
Love,
Mama
I was going to try to take credit for this outfit, but I can’t. I would never pick out something this cool. The outfit was a birthday present the very stylish Trista Lerit. Trista has been buying Brayden designer duds since before he was even born. Thanks Trista!
And a big special thanks to my hubby who helped me take these pictures during the Super Bowl 
He’s so awesome!
And with Brayden’s birthday it also means that’s it’s the 1 year anniversary of Mom*tog! 192 posts, 2372 comments, over 350,000 hits, and countless new friends. It’s been a great year! Thanks for the support. Thanks for reading. Thanks for the fun! I can’t wait to see what the next year has in store!
And as a Happy Birthday / Happy Anniversary gift the UNposing Guide is 25% off until Sunday at midnight! Enter in the code “Anniversary” at checkout.
About DrewB
I’ve started this blog as a way to connect with other moms who love photography. Whether you are a professional photographer who is looking for advice on how to manage your own business and your family or if you are a mom who is looking for tips on how to take better pictures of your kids, I hope that you can find some good information and be inspired!
Aww….what a sweet post. Isn’t being a mom the most incredible thing ever? It just keeps getting better. Love the outfit.
Happy Birthday, Brayden!!!!!
.-= Courtney´s last blog ..It Just Wasn’t in the Cards… =-.
Happy 2nd birthday Brayden and Happy anniversary Momtog! I’m one of your biggest fans. Keep spreading the love here, Drew!
Holy Cute Photos B!!!!! Well Drew… but it’s so easy when you have such a cute subject! Love these photos! Love the post too! You’re such a great mom, and Brayden is so lucky to have you! And I’m lucky that you guys are my neighbors and that B finally likes me!! hehe. My favorite thing is how Bradyen says “HA” to everything! Enjoy that before he learns the word “NO”. heheeh. Happy Birthday Brayden! xoxo.
.-= Jamie Bengard´s last blog ..Flashback Friday #18 =-.
What a wonderful letter to your son…and of course pictures that are too cute for words! Enjoy this day – and yes, these days and years pass way too quickly.
Your little guy has the best smile! Happy birthday, Brayden!
.-= Danielle´s last blog ..Memory Making =-.
You said that beautifully, I love everything you said. Isn’t amazing how fast we can fall in love with these little children of ours? Love all the pictures, the train tracks were a great idea for him!
Hope he has a wonderful birthday! I had to have a c-section with my first two, as after 4 hours of pushing he just wouldn’t come out.
The pictures are amazing!! And that outfit is awesome.
.-= Emmy´s last blog ..The V-Day that Changed it All =-.
I left you a comment on your Drew B blog but since I see more pics here I have to comment again! His expressions are priceless, the colors are beautiful! I love the jazz hands pic!
.-= Alicia Damron´s last blog ..{Personal} New Home Dining Area =-.
What a sweet and special post to Brayden. He’ll enjoy reading these in a few years but not nearly as much as you will (bring your tissues!). That outfit looks like it’s straight out of a Gap ad – I need a friend like that! Happy Birthday Brayden!!
.-= Danielle´s last blog ..Weekly Recipe Roundup =-.
Happy Birthday to your sweet boy! I have commented once before on how similar our boys seem to me. My boy, Soren, turns two tomorrow. I was 4 days late as well. We have a choo-choo party all ready for him for tomorrow. Thank you also for your great photography and blog. I am an aspiring photographer and have always loved how bright, full of color, simple and classic your photos are.
.-= Linnea´s last blog ..Chef Soren =-.
Awwwww…so sweet! I remember those early days when you just had Brayden..and how he refused to come out!! Can’t believe he is already two! He looks so handsome in his pictures!!! So glad he liked his new outfit
He should be a model 
.-= Trista´s last blog ..My Favorite Things! =-.
You have me bawling like a baby! Such a sweet post and something I can totally relate to with my bubbas. *sniff sniff*
Happy Birthday Brayden! The love your Mama has for you pours from her beautiful pictures. You are such a handsome lil’ man! So with that being said….can I have nibble of that awesome gigantic cupcake?!?! Yummo!!
PS…totally saving my pennies for the unposing guide!!!! Can’t wait!
.-= Bre´s last blog ..No Snow Here =-.
Oh my goodness!! Brayden is TOO cute!! He would be the most perfect GAP kid! I LOVE the photos you take of Brayden, but these are just the cutest ever!! Seriously, SO adorable! I would blow these up and hang them all around me house for realz. ha! Happy Birthday Brayden!
Such great pictures or your beautiful baby!! They are so adorable, his personality really comes through! Thanks for sharing a year of Mom*tog with us!
Love it! And I’m glad no one is giving you crap for doing these photos on the train track! : )
.-= Laycee Lemons´s last blog ..Jessica & Josh {Inland Empire Maternity Photographer} =-.
I love these photos, his outfit is just adorable and he has the most gorgeous blue eyes! Happy Birthday Brayden!!
.-= Jen Madigan Photography´s last blog ..Mandie and Tyler =-.
super, super cute! love the pictures! i can’t wait until my little lady will stay still long enough so i can get a good picture. or does this ever happen???
.-= amy´s last blog ..blizzard warning =-.
Such a sweet little letter to your boy…brought tears to my eyes! I love his bday pics too! Happy Birthday to your little man!
What a cutie pie!! Happy birthday to Brayden!!
Happy birthday, Brayden! What a sweet post! I love writing letters to my baby boy- what a great way to keep all these memories in a concrete way! Have a fun day with your little guy!
My adorable grandbaby is now an even more adorable little man. Nana and PopPop love him so much! Happy BDay!
I can so relate to your very honest statement about him being an “albino baby!” My little man came along 13 years after my brown eyed girl who tans when she thinks of sunlight. I thought she was upset a bit after his birth, so I pulled her aside especially to give her some love about an hour after the birth. When I reminded her that I would always love her and asked if she was ok, she said she was fine. She just thought he was an albino, but nobody else had mentioned it!! LOL He does have some gorgeous blue eyes. I just can’t get them to pop so well like your B’s. If you have tips for that I’d love to try them!
.-= kristi knitter´s last blog ..Brown Eyed Babies =-.
Happy Birthday B! Those are some of the most awesome photos of him EVER!!
Happy Bday to B and mom tog, one of my favorite blogs! i love the emotion in your letter to B. his is one cool little dude.
.-= elizabeth´s last blog ..Isn’t this lovely? =-.
Happy Birthday to the cutest boy ever in the history of cute boys!!!
Love the train shoot. The clothes… ridiculously amazing.
Happy birthday to Momtog too!!! I can’t believe how much you have helped me learn over this year and I look forward to the next one!
Yay for you today!!!
Happy Birthday Brayden!!!! I love these pictures Drew!!!!! The lighting is amazing, and the colors really pop. You are genius for using the train tracks! The perfect setting for a boy who loves trains. And his outfit is probably way cooler than anything I have ever worn!
.-= Jessica´s last blog ..ICY =-.
Happy Birthday to your baby boy!
.-= Melanie @ Whimsical Creations´s last blog ..Heads Up… =-.
Drew!
Such cute pictures! What a perfect place to take them! He looks adorable!
Happy birthday to Brayden and Momtog!
Thanks for all you do for us moms!
Aww, Happy Birthday to your baby and momtog! The letter almost made me cry. I have a 16 month old and I also think time flies!! There are times when I have so much stuff to do around the house, or for school, then he starts tugging at me , doesn’t want me to do anything…and I really just have to stop and play with him and love him!! That is much more important. Everything else can wait… Congratulations to you for being so awesome and balancing everything. You are so giving, not only to your family but to all of us “aspiring” photographers! Thank you!!
I’m late, but Happy Birthday Brayden! How do you get him to pose so well?! My 18 month old will NOT sit still! I love, love, love those pictures on the tracks.
.-= Bethp´s last blog ..Happy Valentine’s Day! =-.
I thought I had already commented on these? But it is in my google reader so maybe I commented on your other blog… because there are def more pictures here that I know I didn’t get to see! SO, here is comment #2 because I just can’t help myself! I LOVE LOVE LOVE these pictures! Everything about them! Question: does he like for you to take his pictures? Because Kennedy hates for me to take hers, and I Brayden always looks like he is happy to be in front of your camera! Oh, and a huge Happy Anniversary to MomTog! Yay! Keep up the excellent work!
.-= Bobbie Brown´s last blog ..Miscellaneous Monday =-.
how cute! My baby just turned 2 too! I took his 18 mo photos on a suitcase similar to your blue one. Too cute! I love these! I should go to a railroad track too some time.
Oh my goodness Drew, he is such a little stylish man! I remember when he was born (via blog of course) and it has been so fun watching him turn into this big 2 year old. My hubby and I found out recently that our little growing baby is a little boy, and I cant wait to experience all these fun things with our little guy that we already LOVE so much (and we haven’t even met him!). I know my heart will just explode with love once we actually get to see him – your blog post totally brought tears to my eyes. Happy Birthday Brayden !!!
That made me cry, Drew! What a smile that little man has…melts my heart! I hope he had an amazing birthday. Totally made me cry about growing up too fast- They.Just.Keep.Growing.Up.
xo
.-= Kimmie´s last blog ..Free Memories =-.
drew! this totally made me cry. i could relate on so many levels & i just loved all the words. then came the pictures, HE IS RIDICULOUSLY CUTE! i’ve loved watching him grow up, just precious. i love your work.
Wow, you got some awesome shots of him! Those you can treasure forever! Very nice!