In order to showcase some of my clients, I will be periodically sharing some of their stories with you. Here is Michael, Lori and Dylan’s story:

Before her son Dylan was born, Lori had no idea what a strong woman she was…both mentally and physically. Throughout her pregnancy, having  a c-section and getting to know herself as a mother and Dylan as her son, Lori has found out just what she can accomplish. “I still don’t think I fully realize how much I’ve matured in the past 10 months Dylan has been alive. Because of my son, I am a stronger, better person. I have become a much kinder, gentler human being. But when it comes down to it, I can power through anything for the sake of my son and my family.”

Lori isn’t the only one who’s changed. Dylan has grown as well - in both size and personality. He was small when he was born, not quite seven pounds, most of it his head of spiky black hair. As he’s grown, he’s become very outgoing, to the point of flirting with anyone who will make eye contact with him in public. When asked who Dylan looks like, Lori says with a smile,” He looks strikingly like me, but his true character is just like his dad’s…he definitely has Mike’s mischievous grin. “Dylan is beginning to talk a lot now. Not being a “man of few words,” he jabbers away like his mom.

Lori remembers the day Dylan rolled over for the first time. It was a Sunday, and football Sundays are a tradition in the Shea household. Lori and Mike were about to watch the game when they noticed Dylan trying to roll. He tried and tried and tried some more. This went on for 30 minutes. They sat there watching him, entranced. Lori doesn’t recall ever watching the game, but can give you a play-by-play of Dylan accomplishing his goal. “Seeing him roll is probably my most memorable moment so far with my son. It was so amazing to see him achieve something we had been helping him do for weeks, all on his own. We were so proud. I think we actually cheered!” She also loves seeing parts of her immediate family in Dylan: her brother’s eyes, her father’s hands. It brings all of them closer to her, which means a lot since they live so far away in Pennsylvania.

What is the absolute, hands-down best part of Lori’s day? There are two: When she comes home from work and the first thing she sees is Dylan crawling madly across the floor towards her with a huge smile. And as the day winds down, after they give him a bath and get him ready for bed. “The moment Dylan falls asleep in my arms and his body relaxes into mine is truly the best feeling. It’s like he melts right into me.”

Lori says: “Melanie is able to capture on film what we see intimately in our son every day. That’s not easy to do, especially with a baby! She not only displays his essence as an individual, but our essence as a family as well. She can also get Mike to smile for photos - which doesn’t happen too often! But it’s more than that. Melanie documents our family. She has gotten to know us and she truly, genuinely cares. That means more to us than anything.”